True! I think Swiss Bobby got hooked after going to watch IMCH in 2005. He entered Frankfurt in 2006 without being able to swim properly. I think he ended up doing Bala as his first tri when he decided he needed some practise!
Didnt quite a few enter Frankfurt totally incapable of swimming....... I can still hear the thud when the nice race director at the briefing said it was a non wetsuit swim and mine and Smiley Lady's chins hit the table Mon dragged me down to the lake the next morning and made me swim at least a hundred yards without a wetsuit to somehow prove that 38 times that far would be easy peasy..........
Jj, I've got the speedo's pic at home. I'll post it when I get back! Garr looks well fit in it!! I wonder just how many people who would never have done an Ironman have gone on to finish one inspired by the originals? And how many did it the Pirate way, coming from a background in nuffink? I remember the first time I read Candy, Mon and Rosie's first race reports. Omg!! Soooo funny!!!
Cougie couldn't swim before 2005 either. And Suffolk Punch had major hydrophobia issues.
lol - Little Sister, I remember being with Swiss Bobby at the first one when a wasp got into my t-shirt and stung me on the boobs. I think he was worried I was going to whip 'em out! ¦oD
And to think it all started with a pirate sticker on a modified Pringle tin, and the antics of Candy, Mon and Rosey. Didn't Rosey wear a lovely white shirt to the post race party and roll in shitty water or something?
I was, Hope! When I entered TBW (and yes I know it was short blah blah ), I didn't own a bike and could only do breastsroke. I remember going to Warrington pool with Fat Face and Viking and daring each other to swim four lengths FC non stop! Which we failed at, needless to say! And I emember my fist 'long' bike - 90 minutes of pure hell! I did about 9 miles and cried!
And in hindsight, I would never have entered Lanza if a) I wasn't drunk when i entered it and b) I had known no other female Pirate had done it before!
Aaah, fun times. The pirate awards ceremony that just sort of happened. Asking Carl when you saw him, how many fags he'd had so far. Finding out what everyone was going to do new on race day. Going from anonymity to infamy as a tri-group during the time taken swim, bike, and get onto the run course of IMCH. Who had their aero-bar elbow rests on backwards (Fegan?!). Whose randomly concocted nutrition strategy would pay dividends (again, Fegan!), and whose would make them hurl (Candy?!). Aaah, them was the days. When I finally get my career sorted out, I'll buy a decent bike, and do another one, but till then... I'm trying to hide my six-pack!!!
It's occurred to me, I'm probably about the same age now as many of the original IMCHers were when they first raced. The yellow hair was just to show commitment to the pirate theme btw. Never dyed my hair before or since. ...though now I'm starting to get natural highlights!
I'm still on that same bike btw. Although it is more like Trigger's broom it's had so much replaced. I think it's just the frame and the cranks that are still part of the original bike.
Hallooo I was going to attempt a picture, but I realised 2004 Austria are pre digital and I think they're in my mum and dad's garage.
Yes the after race awards party at Austria was fab, we took over the stage dancing to euro pop and Rosey did a knee slide across the dance floor which all the mud had seeped through as it was a marquee. I think I stole the winning guys bouquet of flowers as well.
Just about sums him up! Min like you, I came from a background in nuffink. Actually, the most active thing I did was the Hokey-Cokey in Mums 'n' Tods group! I did 1 half mara and a sprint tri before entering IMCH (while drunk! Seems to be the Pirate way!) I had to learn to front crawl and all the rest. I would never have become an Ironman with out the PSOF support, and I definitely wouldn't have had so many laughs along the way!
Comments
I think Swiss Bobby got hooked after going to watch IMCH in 2005. He entered Frankfurt in 2006 without being able to swim properly. I think he ended up doing Bala as his first tri when he decided he needed some practise!
Mon dragged me down to the lake the next morning and made me swim at least a hundred yards without a wetsuit to somehow prove that 38 times that far would be easy peasy..........
Garr looks well fit in it!!
I wonder just how many people who would never have done an Ironman have gone on to finish one inspired by the originals? And how many did it the Pirate way, coming from a background in nuffink?
I remember the first time I read Candy, Mon and Rosie's first race reports. Omg!! Soooo funny!!!
lol - Little Sister, I remember being with Swiss Bobby at the first one when a wasp got into my t-shirt and stung me on the boobs. I think he was worried I was going to whip 'em out! ¦oD
Found em!! But I have to go and run now.
Here's one, anyway:
(no rude comments about the knickers, please - the owner was just a little girl showing off the back of her t-shirt)
I was, Hope! When I entered TBW (and yes I know it was short blah blah ), I didn't own a bike and could only do breastsroke. I remember going to Warrington pool with Fat Face and Viking and daring each other to swim four lengths FC non stop! Which we failed at, needless to say! And I emember my fist 'long' bike - 90 minutes of pure hell! I did about 9 miles and cried!
And in hindsight, I would never have entered Lanza if a) I wasn't drunk when i entered it and b) I had known no other female Pirate had done it before!
It's occurred to me, I'm probably about the same age now as many of the original IMCHers were when they first raced. The yellow hair was just to show commitment to the pirate theme btw. Never dyed my hair before or since. ...though now I'm starting to get natural highlights!
Seriously! I'd love to see Garr race again, even more so if he actually trained lol!!
Hallooo I was going to attempt a picture, but I realised 2004 Austria are pre digital and I think they're in my mum and dad's garage.
Yes the after race awards party at Austria was fab, we took over the stage dancing to euro pop and Rosey did a knee slide across the dance floor which all the mud had seeped through as it was a marquee. I think I stole the winning guys bouquet of flowers as well.
The behaviour hasn't improved I'm glad to say.
Still having hydrophobia issues Jj....
...but have also finished IMNZ and the Outlaw since in 2010. Fancy having a go at IM Lake Placid next.
I remember the look on Cougie's face at the start of the swim. We were both at the back looking like startled rabbits as the swim got under way.
Coming out of T2 just as they were about to close the gate.
Ahh yes, and getting totally sh*t faced at the party the following day!
I'd have given it one!
My favorite pic is of Punchy crossing the line being congratulated by his missus and looking like one of the Hoytes
.
.
.
.(not the dad)
Not half as pleased as I was.
Jeez, I remember thinking as I approached the swim exit that it would be plain sailing from here.
Hah! I nearly fell back in when I tried to stand up.
I'm the 2nd shot down, just before passing out after finishing, not doing much lately though
http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/event-editorial/ironman-zurich-photos---finishline-2/1983.html
Right I can't seem to load the pic for FB. Will try the link thing and hope it works.
It's not for the fainthearted... but ladies.... You're welcome!
Garr IMCH speedolicious!
Maybe my fave pic of Barley!
Min like you, I came from a background in nuffink. Actually, the most active thing I did was the Hokey-Cokey in Mums 'n' Tods group! I did 1 half mara and a sprint tri before entering IMCH (while drunk! Seems to be the Pirate way!)
I had to learn to front crawl and all the rest.
I would never have become an Ironman with out the PSOF support, and I definitely wouldn't have had so many laughs along the way!
and it isnt the 'love you long time' one either