over 6 weeks have passed since the heartbreak of Ironman....i've gone through it time and time again in my head...i should have kept going, i should have kept going.
Its a tough thing to get over but i know that i was at the end...and that if i had kept going i would have missed the cut off anyway.
day to day my feeling on it changed....i will try again...to...i cant commit to the level of training required to finish.
I've managed to watch the TV coverage of it twice (great to see Steve-aka s11 get his mug on there)and the second time it hurt a little less....it did in fact manage to convince me that i HAVE to try again...i want that medal, i want to be an Ironman...so i have pre-registered and will enter again on the day it opens...get my Arse into gear and get training to finish it. I know i can do it, i wont be as fearful next time and i know where i have to make the time up in order to get to the line.
Most people have been incredibly supportive of my efforts. Cat (mrsB)deserves a special mention as not only did she drive around for 15 hours, she had to put up with my moods up and down in the aftermath and has been nothing but encouraging about me trying again. i think she'll even try a 70.3 herself this year. Thanks Babe...i love you
The season is almost finished now....i'm going to try and put some demons to bed in the next 2 weeks, starting with an Oly distance Tri at Tatton park this Sunday. i'm hoping to do under 3.15 total time...i've not really trained much and only been out on the bike once (about 10 miles) and haven't swam...so we'll see.
The following week will be my first marathon.
Me, Mrs B and our friend John will drive down to Berlin to run the Real Berlin Marathon....apparently one of the best 'major' marathons you can do and i'm really looking forward to it.
I'm not a runner by any means and again training hasn't been great (lack of motivation) with 12 miles the most i've run but having kept going for 13.5 hours at IMUK i'm confident i can run/walk it to the finish and get to the line and so end the season on a high note.
I'll do a race report for both and keep this blog going through the year (hoping i can persuade a few more people to read it) in the build up to another crack.
I Can - I Will
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Ironman: A Cruel Mistress indeed
BCTTT has had a fantastic year as far as Ironman is concerned, and before i write this i just want to say how thrilled i am for everybody that conquered a 70.3 or the full 140.6 distance races this year. Its a tough ask, i found out the hard way and i salute you all.
My journey to Ironman like many others started with a little idea of a small triathlon. Just over a year ago, feeling old, waistline getting larger and bored with not being active anymore i saw an internet ad for the Liverpool triathlon. For over 5 years i’d been pretty much a pub/couch potato since having to give up playing football due to a back injury. I secretly harboured the idea for about a month thinking everybody would laugh at me if i told them i was going to try this incredibly elite sport doing swim bike run all in one go.
Then my wife said she fancied doing the Manchester 10k, it would get her out running (something she was good at but i was not) and give her something to aim for so i decided to just go for it and entered the Liverpool supersprint event. Suddenly i was running (though not very fast) cycling (new bike etc) and even swimming (again very slowly...and this one was a shock cause i considered myself a good swimmer...well i was 25 years ago) and was loving being active again.
I did the Liverpool Race and loved it. I think the swim took me 14 minutes (my wet suit didn’t fit properly) the bike about half an hour and the run about 17 minutes...coming in with a final time of 1.04. little did i know that this mediocre effort would lead me to line up at Ironman UK in just over a years time.
If you’re reading this in the club mag then i don’t need to go into how it happened, that i joined this merry bunch of Tri-ers with all different levels of ability, a proper bunch of great people with nothing but encouragement and admiration for those who take part as much as those who win. The die was cast and at the club lash up my mind was made up. I was going to try it.
Fast forward to the 1st August at 5.30am and i was in my wetsuit, shaking with nerves that i couldn’t identify, slowly shuffling my way to the lake at Pennington flash in Leigh about to start on my Ironman experience.
i had trained for this, i’d regularly been swimming in open water, i’d spent a fortune on a wet suit, a new bike (my 3rd since the one i used at Liverpool) club shirts, countless nutrition products and gadgets all to help me get to the end.
i was not confident though, i don’t think you ever can be with Ironman, i live very close to the course, so i’d trained on it. I’d rode the loop countless times....ran on parts of the run course and swam more in this last 7 months than i had in the last 20 years. Had i done enough was all that was going through my mind walking to the lake. I was also nursing a shoulder injury known as rotator cuff syndrome caused by being a rubbish swimmer, i was worried this wouldn’t hold up, though in the end the shoulder proved to be the least of my problems.
So, here we are, and just as i’m heading to the lake in the middle of the pack i realise i’ve left my ear plugs in my bag...ok first mistake....rush back get them in (i hate to swim without them) and get back in line. This put me near the back of the pack (if you can call 1400 swimmers a pack) but i wasn’t too bothered, got in the water and swam out, looking for a little space before the gun went.
I never heard the gun, but we were off and i started swimming.
First few minutes were a little bumpy got an elbow to the ear and also felt a guy on my feet though i only know he was there when my heel struck him. After a while i settled in and just tried to take my time, concentrate on my technique and get round...it seemed to take FOREVER, at the turnaround point it wasn’t tiredness that i was struggling with, it was boredom. Still, on i ploughed starting to tire at about half way in the second lap but sure enough after about 3 hours i was on the home straight and heading for the ramp. I was really nervous swimming to the ramp, i could see loads and loads of people, and i was worried i’d get a cramp as i got out (like i did in the recent Liverpool OD race) or trip over...not to worry, i was dragged out, onto my feet safely, over to the left to kiss Mrs B who then told me i’d done 1.34 for the swim.
Chuffed with that.
Lets get on the bike.
quick change, found out somebody i’d been helping for the weekend (she didn’t know the area) had been pulled out in 41 minutes as she was struggling so i was gutted for her.
I ran to my bike trotted to the exit point to hear my name being shouted over the MC system and exited Pennington flash to claps and cheers (Brilliant).
I headed out towards the loop feeling relaxed and pleased that my day had started about as good as i could hope. Leg out to the loop was uneventful, saying hello to a few people as i passed them, i know the roads and was just trying to take it easy to get my legs going. I got to the start of the loop as i knew it in about 45 minutes but the timed start of the loop was actually half way up sheephouse lane which was about 10 to 15 minutes later. Just before the first aid station which is at the start of the lap a motorbike passed me then a guy on a bike came past almost as fast as the motorbike was going. It was the leader, Frazer Cartmell who would go onto to win the event. He was starting his second lap, i was starting my first.
I was in awe.
So, my first lap started and i knew what i was in for, spin up SH Lane done it loads of times no worries, anywhere downhill i’d go for it....at this point i was passing people and thought i might be on for a 2 hour lap (my best was 2.16 on the open roads) it seemed to be going well and quickly i was at the start of the lap again and going through the crowds up Babylon lane and loving it. I quickly stopped for a pee and (i have to say this as its now the law in race reports) the obligatory mid pee fart. Got a new Gatorade took on some water and replenished my gels into my pockets from my seat pack.
Ok off up SH lane again.
As i passed the timing mat i looked at my watch for the first time.......Hang on. Almost 2.20...that cant be right...i must have made a mistake, lets get up the hill and time it again. Over the top, down to Belmont and onto the long drag back towards Blackburn and Chorley. I knew i wasn’t going that fast but ok i still had plenty of time right.
This is where it all suddenly started to go wrong. My back started to spasm whenever i had to put the power down, not really so much in a fast gears but trying to spin up hills was getting more and more difficult. The back half of the lap is pretty up and down and quite technical meaning i was having to change gear a lot but i just couldn’t find the right one for any given situation and anything uphill was agony in my lower back...every push felt like a knife. I got to the second aid station about halfway and stopped to have a stretch and a couple of pills. Refilled my bottles and went again....just after this i heard a shout on my right, it was Hussler on his 3rd lap. He pulled alongside me for a few minutes had a little chat and gave me some encouragement. This gave me a real lift, we also passed my supporters at their 2nd vantage point which was great. Its shame Jason didn’t have a rope to pull me round, i wished him luck and he shot off like an exorcet missile.
Awesome.
After about another 10 miles i started to get really low. The pills were not easing my back i was heading back to the up hill sections and was really starting to feel i wouldn’t make it.
I fought on and got back to my supporters and pulled over. I was at about 80 miles at this point further than i’ve been able to ride before and i knew the writing was on the wall. I was almost in tears as i told my wife i didn’t think i could carry on, they all cheered me up and my wife said just to have a go. Try and get up the hill and if you cant come back down.
So i zipped up my man suit for one last effort, and headed off to massive cheers from not only my people but also people i didn’t know. This was one of the greatest feelings but strangely made it so difficult to fight back tears..i knew i was in a bit of a state here and by this time it was nearly 2 pm and i was ONE HOUR behind my schedule...with a cut off time of 4.30
i knew this would be tight.
I got up the hill down the other side and was going ok when i had a little chat with myself, i figured time was tight and it was decision time , the first of two big ones i would make today. Either pull up and admit you cant get there. Or just give it everything and try. I chose to try. The next 25 miles are a blur to me now, i have no idea how fast i went, no idea if i took on gels or Gatorade, i do know i passed people and that was my tactic, it was getting lonely out there by now but if i saw a bike in the distance (and there were not many) i set my sights on them and tried to catch them. Before i knew it it was about 4.15 and i was heading back to the uphill section...i was going to fail to beat the cut off.
I got to my supporters who were amazing, i shouted i didn’t think i’d make the cut off and they all shouted just to try...GO FOR IT!!!! So i did. Honest its not far, maybe 5 miles from where they were but i went as hard as i could ignoring the pain in my back and in my legs and just pedalled...marshals and what few supporters were left all cheered me....really incredible...i powered on and then i could see the flags of T2.....marshals were waving and yelling come on....come on.....i hit the speedbump just before the timing mat and my seat pack emptied all over the road (obviously hadn’t zipped it properly last time i got something from it) and i was in. ‘Have i made it?’ i asked a bike handler ‘you made it’ she said ‘8 seconds to spare’.
OH CRAP...that means i’ve got to carry on.
I walked into T2, not realising any food or energy i had was now lost, the guys picked up most things and put them back in my pack but i was too dazed and confused to think about getting any of it. I sat down and started to get changed. I didn’t know how much further i could go but i knew there were people in there that HAD made the cut off but decided not to go and try the run. I wasn’t going to give up just yet so out i went....i was second last out of T2 headed onto the dog leg section just walking till i got some water and a banana on board at the first aid station.....i was going to try run 10 walk 1 which i’ve done in training....Yeah right.
Running 1 walking 10 was more like it....
my legs wouldn’t work and when they did my back wouldn’t work so i was up against it...but i had 6 hours left, i’ll just walk. I got to mile 4 which again is the start of 3 laps and my supporters were there. They all cheered me on and i didn’t have the heart to stop and say that once again that i was doubting i could make it so i just carried on. I was moving slow but everybody was and it was good to be around people again.
I took water and a banana at the first aid station (bananas was all they had and by this time were warm and soggy) and tried to run any downhill sections. The sun was now out and i was hot. I got to the second aid station and this time chose flat coke. It tasted ok going down...it tasted horrible coming back 5 minutes later. Now i am NEVER sick....not even from booze...so i knew something was wrong. A few guys asked if i was ok...and told me (sensibly) not to be a hero...so i text Mrs B and told her i was sick and was just going to see how i went for a few minutes.
I got to the cycle path section, saw Gav (well done mate) and stopped for a pee...but i couldn’t pee...so i tried some water...managed about thimble full, and walked on...running was totally out of the questions now....my legs were ok, my back wasn’t even too bad but i just felt so weak. A medic on a push bike stopped me and asked if i was ok (he didn’t just stop me by the way) i told him i’d been a ‘little’ sick and he asked if i could pee...i said not for a couple of hours. He told me i could carry on but to take on at least a full cup of water at the aid station and again not to be a hero. I tried that...about a thimble full almost made me yack again. I saw S11 who gave me an encouraging shout (well done mate) and had a short chat with Gary aka Triumphant (well done mate) and kept moving.
As i neared the turnaround point i was in such a dark place.i was going from sickness to hunger and back again every minute...i couldn’t run, was moving very slow and the worst part...people were saying well done, your going to do it....they thought i was finishing...i never had the heart to say they’d see me again soon. I rounded the corner to the finish chute and it broke my heart....i had to walk to the start of the cute, with people cheering and people running past me hands in the air, cameras flashing hearing ‘YOU ARE AN IRONMAN’ being shouted at people, but i had to turn away, get a band and walk in the other direction. i knew in my heart that i wouldn’t be back, that i wouldn’t hear my name before those words.
Its at this point i had to make the second big decision of the day.
It was now 7.30pm. I’d been on the go for 13.5 hours and it had taken me 2 hours for one lap...i had 3.5 hours left to do 2 more and i knew i would be slower and had nothing more left. Do i keep going...try...see if i can find anything else...or do i admit defeat, not be a hero and call it.
I called it, left the course, called my wife and went to sit down and cried my eyes out.
Ironman was an incredible experience. I learned a lot about myself, i learned that when i thought i couldn’t go on...i actually could...i also learned i’m determined to the point of forgetting everything else i knew i should be doing. Pig headed it might be called but i wanted to finish. The most important thing i learned is that i know when i’m beaten and i was!!!
I’d like to say it was my back that prevented me from finishing...and it did contribute for sure. But i am honest enough to know i cut corners in training, i missed long sessions too often, especially on the bike, if i hadn’t missed them maybe my back would have shown its card and i could have worked on dealing with it properly. I also know the sickness i felt was because i got my nutrition wrong, maybe a sugar overload, maybe just dehydration, i don’t know enough to say for sure.
126 miles and 13.5 hours is a massive achievement people tell me...nobody else i know outside of this club (BCTTT)would even try it...but that’s little consolation to me, i didn’t finish what i started and thats a bitter pill to swallow.
Right now i don’t know if i’ll be back for another go, i’d like to think i will...but knowing how much i gave it this year without making the end,so what i’ll need to give it if i try again i don’t know if i have it in me to commit to that next year....we’ll see.
Ironman is a cruel mistress indeed.
My journey to Ironman like many others started with a little idea of a small triathlon. Just over a year ago, feeling old, waistline getting larger and bored with not being active anymore i saw an internet ad for the Liverpool triathlon. For over 5 years i’d been pretty much a pub/couch potato since having to give up playing football due to a back injury. I secretly harboured the idea for about a month thinking everybody would laugh at me if i told them i was going to try this incredibly elite sport doing swim bike run all in one go.
Then my wife said she fancied doing the Manchester 10k, it would get her out running (something she was good at but i was not) and give her something to aim for so i decided to just go for it and entered the Liverpool supersprint event. Suddenly i was running (though not very fast) cycling (new bike etc) and even swimming (again very slowly...and this one was a shock cause i considered myself a good swimmer...well i was 25 years ago) and was loving being active again.
I did the Liverpool Race and loved it. I think the swim took me 14 minutes (my wet suit didn’t fit properly) the bike about half an hour and the run about 17 minutes...coming in with a final time of 1.04. little did i know that this mediocre effort would lead me to line up at Ironman UK in just over a years time.
If you’re reading this in the club mag then i don’t need to go into how it happened, that i joined this merry bunch of Tri-ers with all different levels of ability, a proper bunch of great people with nothing but encouragement and admiration for those who take part as much as those who win. The die was cast and at the club lash up my mind was made up. I was going to try it.
Fast forward to the 1st August at 5.30am and i was in my wetsuit, shaking with nerves that i couldn’t identify, slowly shuffling my way to the lake at Pennington flash in Leigh about to start on my Ironman experience.
i had trained for this, i’d regularly been swimming in open water, i’d spent a fortune on a wet suit, a new bike (my 3rd since the one i used at Liverpool) club shirts, countless nutrition products and gadgets all to help me get to the end.
i was not confident though, i don’t think you ever can be with Ironman, i live very close to the course, so i’d trained on it. I’d rode the loop countless times....ran on parts of the run course and swam more in this last 7 months than i had in the last 20 years. Had i done enough was all that was going through my mind walking to the lake. I was also nursing a shoulder injury known as rotator cuff syndrome caused by being a rubbish swimmer, i was worried this wouldn’t hold up, though in the end the shoulder proved to be the least of my problems.
So, here we are, and just as i’m heading to the lake in the middle of the pack i realise i’ve left my ear plugs in my bag...ok first mistake....rush back get them in (i hate to swim without them) and get back in line. This put me near the back of the pack (if you can call 1400 swimmers a pack) but i wasn’t too bothered, got in the water and swam out, looking for a little space before the gun went.
I never heard the gun, but we were off and i started swimming.
First few minutes were a little bumpy got an elbow to the ear and also felt a guy on my feet though i only know he was there when my heel struck him. After a while i settled in and just tried to take my time, concentrate on my technique and get round...it seemed to take FOREVER, at the turnaround point it wasn’t tiredness that i was struggling with, it was boredom. Still, on i ploughed starting to tire at about half way in the second lap but sure enough after about 3 hours i was on the home straight and heading for the ramp. I was really nervous swimming to the ramp, i could see loads and loads of people, and i was worried i’d get a cramp as i got out (like i did in the recent Liverpool OD race) or trip over...not to worry, i was dragged out, onto my feet safely, over to the left to kiss Mrs B who then told me i’d done 1.34 for the swim.
Chuffed with that.
Lets get on the bike.
quick change, found out somebody i’d been helping for the weekend (she didn’t know the area) had been pulled out in 41 minutes as she was struggling so i was gutted for her.
I ran to my bike trotted to the exit point to hear my name being shouted over the MC system and exited Pennington flash to claps and cheers (Brilliant).
I headed out towards the loop feeling relaxed and pleased that my day had started about as good as i could hope. Leg out to the loop was uneventful, saying hello to a few people as i passed them, i know the roads and was just trying to take it easy to get my legs going. I got to the start of the loop as i knew it in about 45 minutes but the timed start of the loop was actually half way up sheephouse lane which was about 10 to 15 minutes later. Just before the first aid station which is at the start of the lap a motorbike passed me then a guy on a bike came past almost as fast as the motorbike was going. It was the leader, Frazer Cartmell who would go onto to win the event. He was starting his second lap, i was starting my first.
I was in awe.
So, my first lap started and i knew what i was in for, spin up SH Lane done it loads of times no worries, anywhere downhill i’d go for it....at this point i was passing people and thought i might be on for a 2 hour lap (my best was 2.16 on the open roads) it seemed to be going well and quickly i was at the start of the lap again and going through the crowds up Babylon lane and loving it. I quickly stopped for a pee and (i have to say this as its now the law in race reports) the obligatory mid pee fart. Got a new Gatorade took on some water and replenished my gels into my pockets from my seat pack.
Ok off up SH lane again.
As i passed the timing mat i looked at my watch for the first time.......Hang on. Almost 2.20...that cant be right...i must have made a mistake, lets get up the hill and time it again. Over the top, down to Belmont and onto the long drag back towards Blackburn and Chorley. I knew i wasn’t going that fast but ok i still had plenty of time right.
This is where it all suddenly started to go wrong. My back started to spasm whenever i had to put the power down, not really so much in a fast gears but trying to spin up hills was getting more and more difficult. The back half of the lap is pretty up and down and quite technical meaning i was having to change gear a lot but i just couldn’t find the right one for any given situation and anything uphill was agony in my lower back...every push felt like a knife. I got to the second aid station about halfway and stopped to have a stretch and a couple of pills. Refilled my bottles and went again....just after this i heard a shout on my right, it was Hussler on his 3rd lap. He pulled alongside me for a few minutes had a little chat and gave me some encouragement. This gave me a real lift, we also passed my supporters at their 2nd vantage point which was great. Its shame Jason didn’t have a rope to pull me round, i wished him luck and he shot off like an exorcet missile.
Awesome.
After about another 10 miles i started to get really low. The pills were not easing my back i was heading back to the up hill sections and was really starting to feel i wouldn’t make it.
I fought on and got back to my supporters and pulled over. I was at about 80 miles at this point further than i’ve been able to ride before and i knew the writing was on the wall. I was almost in tears as i told my wife i didn’t think i could carry on, they all cheered me up and my wife said just to have a go. Try and get up the hill and if you cant come back down.
So i zipped up my man suit for one last effort, and headed off to massive cheers from not only my people but also people i didn’t know. This was one of the greatest feelings but strangely made it so difficult to fight back tears..i knew i was in a bit of a state here and by this time it was nearly 2 pm and i was ONE HOUR behind my schedule...with a cut off time of 4.30
i knew this would be tight.
I got up the hill down the other side and was going ok when i had a little chat with myself, i figured time was tight and it was decision time , the first of two big ones i would make today. Either pull up and admit you cant get there. Or just give it everything and try. I chose to try. The next 25 miles are a blur to me now, i have no idea how fast i went, no idea if i took on gels or Gatorade, i do know i passed people and that was my tactic, it was getting lonely out there by now but if i saw a bike in the distance (and there were not many) i set my sights on them and tried to catch them. Before i knew it it was about 4.15 and i was heading back to the uphill section...i was going to fail to beat the cut off.
I got to my supporters who were amazing, i shouted i didn’t think i’d make the cut off and they all shouted just to try...GO FOR IT!!!! So i did. Honest its not far, maybe 5 miles from where they were but i went as hard as i could ignoring the pain in my back and in my legs and just pedalled...marshals and what few supporters were left all cheered me....really incredible...i powered on and then i could see the flags of T2.....marshals were waving and yelling come on....come on.....i hit the speedbump just before the timing mat and my seat pack emptied all over the road (obviously hadn’t zipped it properly last time i got something from it) and i was in. ‘Have i made it?’ i asked a bike handler ‘you made it’ she said ‘8 seconds to spare’.
OH CRAP...that means i’ve got to carry on.
I walked into T2, not realising any food or energy i had was now lost, the guys picked up most things and put them back in my pack but i was too dazed and confused to think about getting any of it. I sat down and started to get changed. I didn’t know how much further i could go but i knew there were people in there that HAD made the cut off but decided not to go and try the run. I wasn’t going to give up just yet so out i went....i was second last out of T2 headed onto the dog leg section just walking till i got some water and a banana on board at the first aid station.....i was going to try run 10 walk 1 which i’ve done in training....Yeah right.
Running 1 walking 10 was more like it....
my legs wouldn’t work and when they did my back wouldn’t work so i was up against it...but i had 6 hours left, i’ll just walk. I got to mile 4 which again is the start of 3 laps and my supporters were there. They all cheered me on and i didn’t have the heart to stop and say that once again that i was doubting i could make it so i just carried on. I was moving slow but everybody was and it was good to be around people again.
I took water and a banana at the first aid station (bananas was all they had and by this time were warm and soggy) and tried to run any downhill sections. The sun was now out and i was hot. I got to the second aid station and this time chose flat coke. It tasted ok going down...it tasted horrible coming back 5 minutes later. Now i am NEVER sick....not even from booze...so i knew something was wrong. A few guys asked if i was ok...and told me (sensibly) not to be a hero...so i text Mrs B and told her i was sick and was just going to see how i went for a few minutes.
I got to the cycle path section, saw Gav (well done mate) and stopped for a pee...but i couldn’t pee...so i tried some water...managed about thimble full, and walked on...running was totally out of the questions now....my legs were ok, my back wasn’t even too bad but i just felt so weak. A medic on a push bike stopped me and asked if i was ok (he didn’t just stop me by the way) i told him i’d been a ‘little’ sick and he asked if i could pee...i said not for a couple of hours. He told me i could carry on but to take on at least a full cup of water at the aid station and again not to be a hero. I tried that...about a thimble full almost made me yack again. I saw S11 who gave me an encouraging shout (well done mate) and had a short chat with Gary aka Triumphant (well done mate) and kept moving.
As i neared the turnaround point i was in such a dark place.i was going from sickness to hunger and back again every minute...i couldn’t run, was moving very slow and the worst part...people were saying well done, your going to do it....they thought i was finishing...i never had the heart to say they’d see me again soon. I rounded the corner to the finish chute and it broke my heart....i had to walk to the start of the cute, with people cheering and people running past me hands in the air, cameras flashing hearing ‘YOU ARE AN IRONMAN’ being shouted at people, but i had to turn away, get a band and walk in the other direction. i knew in my heart that i wouldn’t be back, that i wouldn’t hear my name before those words.
Its at this point i had to make the second big decision of the day.
It was now 7.30pm. I’d been on the go for 13.5 hours and it had taken me 2 hours for one lap...i had 3.5 hours left to do 2 more and i knew i would be slower and had nothing more left. Do i keep going...try...see if i can find anything else...or do i admit defeat, not be a hero and call it.
I called it, left the course, called my wife and went to sit down and cried my eyes out.
Ironman was an incredible experience. I learned a lot about myself, i learned that when i thought i couldn’t go on...i actually could...i also learned i’m determined to the point of forgetting everything else i knew i should be doing. Pig headed it might be called but i wanted to finish. The most important thing i learned is that i know when i’m beaten and i was!!!
I’d like to say it was my back that prevented me from finishing...and it did contribute for sure. But i am honest enough to know i cut corners in training, i missed long sessions too often, especially on the bike, if i hadn’t missed them maybe my back would have shown its card and i could have worked on dealing with it properly. I also know the sickness i felt was because i got my nutrition wrong, maybe a sugar overload, maybe just dehydration, i don’t know enough to say for sure.
126 miles and 13.5 hours is a massive achievement people tell me...nobody else i know outside of this club (BCTTT)would even try it...but that’s little consolation to me, i didn’t finish what i started and thats a bitter pill to swallow.
Right now i don’t know if i’ll be back for another go, i’d like to think i will...but knowing how much i gave it this year without making the end,so what i’ll need to give it if i try again i don’t know if i have it in me to commit to that next year....we’ll see.
Ironman is a cruel mistress indeed.
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
THIS IS IT
Ironman week is really here....Its really the 1st of August (how did it come so soon)on Sunday and at 5.59am i'll be in the water floating around laughing nervously waiting for the cannon to go off so i can start my 140 mile journey to become an Ironman.
To say i feel under prepared is the understatement of the year. In fact i honestly feel i've got as much chance of winning it as i have of just finishing it but people tell me its natural to feel this way and all you can do is try your best and try to keep moving.
Last weekend was Ironman Switzerland and quite a few BCTTT members took part, and i'm happy to say every one of them finished it with times ranging from 10 hours to 15.....so no pressure on us IMUK boys to keep up eh....not half.
While i feel somewhat inspired by their efforts it brought home to me just what a mammoth task this is. just me Vs the course with nothing to think about but how much its hurting for between 14-17 hours.
As you can tell i'm nervous about this whole thing, i really cant believe its here and i'm going to have a go at it.
so....finish or not i'll write a race report then publish to this blog for the last time...i've got all my excuses (if i dont finish) ready as well as all my overcoming adversity (if i do)tales.
I'm sure all my friends and family cant wait for it to be over as much as me as they are sick of me talking about it..in fact what are we going to talk about once its over?? (IMCH maybe....oops...hope cat doesnt read this)
so come on....eat, drink, breathe, move, eat, drink, breathe, move..and come the end of my day on sunday maybe......just maybe....i'll hear.
.
.
.
.
Andrew Butler.....YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!!!!!!!!!
To say i feel under prepared is the understatement of the year. In fact i honestly feel i've got as much chance of winning it as i have of just finishing it but people tell me its natural to feel this way and all you can do is try your best and try to keep moving.
Last weekend was Ironman Switzerland and quite a few BCTTT members took part, and i'm happy to say every one of them finished it with times ranging from 10 hours to 15.....so no pressure on us IMUK boys to keep up eh....not half.
While i feel somewhat inspired by their efforts it brought home to me just what a mammoth task this is. just me Vs the course with nothing to think about but how much its hurting for between 14-17 hours.
As you can tell i'm nervous about this whole thing, i really cant believe its here and i'm going to have a go at it.
so....finish or not i'll write a race report then publish to this blog for the last time...i've got all my excuses (if i dont finish) ready as well as all my overcoming adversity (if i do)tales.
I'm sure all my friends and family cant wait for it to be over as much as me as they are sick of me talking about it..in fact what are we going to talk about once its over?? (IMCH maybe....oops...hope cat doesnt read this)
so come on....eat, drink, breathe, move, eat, drink, breathe, move..and come the end of my day on sunday maybe......just maybe....i'll hear.
.
.
.
.
Andrew Butler.....YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, 8 July 2010
What??? July Already?
July is months away yet....Denial is a great thing.
Finally its almost here, and am i ready?? not a chance. Truth is i hear nobody ever feels ready for Ironman so why should i be an exception.
Its been a tough journey to here and i'm not even at the start yet. i'm supposed to have been in peak training for the last 4 weeks but unfortunately i've found life getting in the way. Work has take a real dive with massive doubts over whether i'll have a job come October so that didn't help at all. my motivation went right down and i really felt i couldn't be bothered but in fact i did more training miles in June than i've done in any other month.
June also brought my first Olympic Distance Triathlon in Liverpool. It was a great event and felt special cause it was one year exactly after i did the tiny (as it feels now) super sprint tri that started this whole ball rolling.Here's how that went.
Up we got nice and early, only just, cause i ended up drinking red wine on the Saturday night (wont do that again) got in the with the elites (they gave me an 8am start) expecting them to all disappear into the distance.....and some of em did...but to my surprise i did the 1 mile swim (in the most disgusting salt water i might add) in 34 minutes....i was well chuffed and onto the bike.
Within 1 mile i was feeling sick (salt water swallowed...not the red wine... honest) and i really thought i might have to stop and throw up (and possibly face dnf) but i managed to take deep breaths and drink a bit and crack on. i did the 25 mile ride in 1.25 which again is a decent time and i was pleased with it. Then came my nemesis..running.
within 500m i was feeling i needed to walk, earlier after the swim..as i got out of the water i got a cramp in my right hamstring, i stretched it out and didn't feel it on the bike but it came back to haunt me on the run. and i struggled big time. It was hot hot hot and i never over took one single person in the 6 miles. i was running for a couple of minutes then having to walk a bit....it made it worse that you had to pass the finish and do a second lap. it was tough (especially with cramp and the fact i'd hammered the bike) anyway after an hour or so i was into the final mile and managed to keep running into the great chute to loads of cheers (1.10 for the run) for a 3.20 exactly finish....i'm not going to win any AG's with that time but i was pleased with the finish and loved the event.
Big Props need to go to Mrs B who 5 weeks before couldn't swim with her head in the water but not only did she manage a 400m swim in the Albert dock but she also came home in the super sprint race in 1.00 exactly...4 minutes faster than my time last year. (she's now entered into a sprint race...expect her IM blog next year i think)
So June numbers were Swim - 6.9 miles. Bike - 246 miles. Run - 57 Miles.
a week and half more and i'll be into taper, the next time i write will be just before the race to convey my fear and then i'll be into it. wish me luck. I'm going to really really need it.
Finally its almost here, and am i ready?? not a chance. Truth is i hear nobody ever feels ready for Ironman so why should i be an exception.
Its been a tough journey to here and i'm not even at the start yet. i'm supposed to have been in peak training for the last 4 weeks but unfortunately i've found life getting in the way. Work has take a real dive with massive doubts over whether i'll have a job come October so that didn't help at all. my motivation went right down and i really felt i couldn't be bothered but in fact i did more training miles in June than i've done in any other month.
June also brought my first Olympic Distance Triathlon in Liverpool. It was a great event and felt special cause it was one year exactly after i did the tiny (as it feels now) super sprint tri that started this whole ball rolling.Here's how that went.
Up we got nice and early, only just, cause i ended up drinking red wine on the Saturday night (wont do that again) got in the with the elites (they gave me an 8am start) expecting them to all disappear into the distance.....and some of em did...but to my surprise i did the 1 mile swim (in the most disgusting salt water i might add) in 34 minutes....i was well chuffed and onto the bike.
Within 1 mile i was feeling sick (salt water swallowed...not the red wine... honest) and i really thought i might have to stop and throw up (and possibly face dnf) but i managed to take deep breaths and drink a bit and crack on. i did the 25 mile ride in 1.25 which again is a decent time and i was pleased with it. Then came my nemesis..running.
within 500m i was feeling i needed to walk, earlier after the swim..as i got out of the water i got a cramp in my right hamstring, i stretched it out and didn't feel it on the bike but it came back to haunt me on the run. and i struggled big time. It was hot hot hot and i never over took one single person in the 6 miles. i was running for a couple of minutes then having to walk a bit....it made it worse that you had to pass the finish and do a second lap. it was tough (especially with cramp and the fact i'd hammered the bike) anyway after an hour or so i was into the final mile and managed to keep running into the great chute to loads of cheers (1.10 for the run) for a 3.20 exactly finish....i'm not going to win any AG's with that time but i was pleased with the finish and loved the event.
Big Props need to go to Mrs B who 5 weeks before couldn't swim with her head in the water but not only did she manage a 400m swim in the Albert dock but she also came home in the super sprint race in 1.00 exactly...4 minutes faster than my time last year. (she's now entered into a sprint race...expect her IM blog next year i think)
So June numbers were Swim - 6.9 miles. Bike - 246 miles. Run - 57 Miles.
a week and half more and i'll be into taper, the next time i write will be just before the race to convey my fear and then i'll be into it. wish me luck. I'm going to really really need it.
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
becoming very real now
i've not updated the blog for over a month now and theres a simple reason for that...its called 'the fear' and it made me feel a little bit of a hypocrite writing this blog portraying how 'well' training has been going when actually i wonder if i've bitten off much more than i can chew entering Ironman.
i think i've got the measure of the fear for now so i thought i may as well put some more words down.
April and May were decent months...i had a spanking new bike (full carbon) that i covered miles and miles on. i've got the better of sheephouse lane now though i've never had to ride up it 3 times with 20 odd miles in between each go. i plan to try that in the coming months.
The good news is they have changed the course this week so the loop is quite a bit easier after SH Lane so again i'm feeling like i can do that.
my running is still rubbish...and it always will be...so i'm taking on riding as much as i can in the hope that i can finish the bike section on the day with enough time to walk the marathon....not exactly in the spirit of ironman but i think its the only chance i have of getting around.
swimming is improving massively in one sense but not in another. I got a new wetsuit...which made me realise how bad my old one was, at least 3 sizes too big. the new one fits like a second skin (my mrs says it was made for an umpalumpa) and is perfect. i'm only doing OW swimming now and can easily knock out a mile/mile and a half so i'm beginning to believe i can make the cut off on the day....Bad thing is i've developed 'swimmers shoulder' this is from increasing swimming way too quickly coupled with rubbish technique...nothing i can do about it now so i'm just gonna live with it (tough or what??)
I was supposed to do my first Tri of the year last week but due to an unfortunate accident mrs B had on her 2 week old bike (very intimate moment between bike and wall) i decided to stay home on the day and look after her....so my first Tri will be the olympic distance at Liverpool...exactly one year since my first ever Triathlon...and if you'd have told me then i would be doing Ironman i'd have laughed in your face.
i've ordered some new race day kit too....BCTTT cycling top for the bike leg...Teamlaws running top for the run. got to fly them flags eh??
just over 6 weeks to go and its all becoming frighteningly Real, i really am going to have to do this now so if you know me....come out and look out for me....i'll be near the back and will need your support to keep me going.
i think i've got the measure of the fear for now so i thought i may as well put some more words down.
April and May were decent months...i had a spanking new bike (full carbon) that i covered miles and miles on. i've got the better of sheephouse lane now though i've never had to ride up it 3 times with 20 odd miles in between each go. i plan to try that in the coming months.
The good news is they have changed the course this week so the loop is quite a bit easier after SH Lane so again i'm feeling like i can do that.
my running is still rubbish...and it always will be...so i'm taking on riding as much as i can in the hope that i can finish the bike section on the day with enough time to walk the marathon....not exactly in the spirit of ironman but i think its the only chance i have of getting around.
swimming is improving massively in one sense but not in another. I got a new wetsuit...which made me realise how bad my old one was, at least 3 sizes too big. the new one fits like a second skin (my mrs says it was made for an umpalumpa) and is perfect. i'm only doing OW swimming now and can easily knock out a mile/mile and a half so i'm beginning to believe i can make the cut off on the day....Bad thing is i've developed 'swimmers shoulder' this is from increasing swimming way too quickly coupled with rubbish technique...nothing i can do about it now so i'm just gonna live with it (tough or what??)
I was supposed to do my first Tri of the year last week but due to an unfortunate accident mrs B had on her 2 week old bike (very intimate moment between bike and wall) i decided to stay home on the day and look after her....so my first Tri will be the olympic distance at Liverpool...exactly one year since my first ever Triathlon...and if you'd have told me then i would be doing Ironman i'd have laughed in your face.
i've ordered some new race day kit too....BCTTT cycling top for the bike leg...Teamlaws running top for the run. got to fly them flags eh??
just over 6 weeks to go and its all becoming frighteningly Real, i really am going to have to do this now so if you know me....come out and look out for me....i'll be near the back and will need your support to keep me going.
Monday, 12 April 2010
March started happy ended sad
what a mixed month march was. It started really well but ended really badly...in a way that made me question whether to continue....well more whether i could be bothered continuing really.
At the start of march something great happened....i got my hands on my new bike that i want to take me into T2 of IMUK. after much deliberation, window shopping..internet researching and question asking i made the decision to buy a Ribble Nero RC full carbon road bike. Its an absolute cracker. it rides amazing...Shimano 105's all over make it feel totally precise, Its fast enough on the downhill bits and climbs like a billy goat on the uphill bits. spending over £1000 on a bike will always place a bit of worry in your mind (especially when your no expert and everybody has their own opinions) but i'm honestly thrilled to bits with it.
Then a couple of weeks into March my beloved dog Corky died. he'd been battling an illness for months and we finally had to give up as we couldn't seem him in pain any longer. It was heartbreaking to lose my best pal and i totally lost motivation for a few weeks and considered calling it off.
We didn't run the planned Reading half marathon and just about everything suffered. But I came out of the rut and got going again and actually finished the month strongly.
so back on track now...starting to see massive cycling improvements but the swimming is suffering...but I'll keep going on that one.
Numbers for March then
Swim 2.6 miles (i know i know)
Bike 126 miles
Run 52 miles
I think its going pretty well. i have days when i seriously doubt myself...days when i think i can do it. only one way to find out i guess........
JFDI
At the start of march something great happened....i got my hands on my new bike that i want to take me into T2 of IMUK. after much deliberation, window shopping..internet researching and question asking i made the decision to buy a Ribble Nero RC full carbon road bike. Its an absolute cracker. it rides amazing...Shimano 105's all over make it feel totally precise, Its fast enough on the downhill bits and climbs like a billy goat on the uphill bits. spending over £1000 on a bike will always place a bit of worry in your mind (especially when your no expert and everybody has their own opinions) but i'm honestly thrilled to bits with it.
Then a couple of weeks into March my beloved dog Corky died. he'd been battling an illness for months and we finally had to give up as we couldn't seem him in pain any longer. It was heartbreaking to lose my best pal and i totally lost motivation for a few weeks and considered calling it off.
We didn't run the planned Reading half marathon and just about everything suffered. But I came out of the rut and got going again and actually finished the month strongly.
so back on track now...starting to see massive cycling improvements but the swimming is suffering...but I'll keep going on that one.
Numbers for March then
Swim 2.6 miles (i know i know)
Bike 126 miles
Run 52 miles
I think its going pretty well. i have days when i seriously doubt myself...days when i think i can do it. only one way to find out i guess........
JFDI
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
February Made me shiver
I seriously Cant wait for the spring. Feb was cold cold cold....so cold in fact that my biking suffered and i did nowhere near as much as i wanted to....still at least my running is improving. so the Feb stats (as if you're interested)
i swam 3.4 miles...mostly drills but this did include a 45 min 1 mile session which is the first time i've done that distance in that time.
I also Biked 37 miles....this is nowhere near enough even for base training but i'm hating the turbo and have given up on it...so i'm just getting out when i can and will step that up massively this month.
As far as running is concerned...well a bit of success here. total miles is 54...which includes my first half marathon of the year. Last weekend Cat (my mrs) and i ran the Blackpool half marathon on a very brisk and snowy Sunday morning. it was a good event and i managed to come in at 2.27 (cat did 2.04) which is my best time for this distance beating my previous time by 14 minutes, Running isn't my strong suit so i'm well pleased with that progress and hope to continue it...not necessarily quicker but it certainly is getting a little easier as i put more time on my feet.
In other news, i've succumbed to the lure of carbon....yes i've sold my beloved vitus road bike for a lovely flashy all carbon Ribble Nero RC bike. Its an amazing piece of kit and will defiantly cost me a lot in WAT (Wife added Tax) but i think its worth the price and i can't wait to get my hands on it this weekend (i hope). i'll do an update on the ride once i've spent some time in the saddle.
I've also decided to do the cowman sprint distance tri on 4th July. I'm doing this as its the main event for team laws...where Ben and his son Ewan will do a full middle distance triathlon together. Visit www.teamlaws.co.uk to find out just what a fantastic achievement this will be...oh and please support and donate.
On the final note of charity, i think i am going to do some fund raising through the event, selfishly i'm i am having trouble finding time between work and training to even think about it....i sort of just want to concentrate on myself and getting to the end but i'm gonna try.
If i do then my chosen charity will be Teamlaws...as not only do i have a BCTTT interest with ben and ewan being in the club but its also one of the best causes and stories i've heard since i got into Triathlon.
again, Please check out www.teamlaws.co.uk and show your support...until next time thanks for reading.
i swam 3.4 miles...mostly drills but this did include a 45 min 1 mile session which is the first time i've done that distance in that time.
I also Biked 37 miles....this is nowhere near enough even for base training but i'm hating the turbo and have given up on it...so i'm just getting out when i can and will step that up massively this month.
As far as running is concerned...well a bit of success here. total miles is 54...which includes my first half marathon of the year. Last weekend Cat (my mrs) and i ran the Blackpool half marathon on a very brisk and snowy Sunday morning. it was a good event and i managed to come in at 2.27 (cat did 2.04) which is my best time for this distance beating my previous time by 14 minutes, Running isn't my strong suit so i'm well pleased with that progress and hope to continue it...not necessarily quicker but it certainly is getting a little easier as i put more time on my feet.
In other news, i've succumbed to the lure of carbon....yes i've sold my beloved vitus road bike for a lovely flashy all carbon Ribble Nero RC bike. Its an amazing piece of kit and will defiantly cost me a lot in WAT (Wife added Tax) but i think its worth the price and i can't wait to get my hands on it this weekend (i hope). i'll do an update on the ride once i've spent some time in the saddle.
I've also decided to do the cowman sprint distance tri on 4th July. I'm doing this as its the main event for team laws...where Ben and his son Ewan will do a full middle distance triathlon together. Visit www.teamlaws.co.uk to find out just what a fantastic achievement this will be...oh and please support and donate.
On the final note of charity, i think i am going to do some fund raising through the event, selfishly i'm i am having trouble finding time between work and training to even think about it....i sort of just want to concentrate on myself and getting to the end but i'm gonna try.
If i do then my chosen charity will be Teamlaws...as not only do i have a BCTTT interest with ben and ewan being in the club but its also one of the best causes and stories i've heard since i got into Triathlon.
again, Please check out www.teamlaws.co.uk and show your support...until next time thanks for reading.
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