I'll try and give you a little report, but I'm not the best at writing these sort of things...
What an incredible day. The swim was timed perfectly, hence the ridiculous swim times. I was planning for a 75-90 minute swim at best, so a 50 minute swim went down pretty well! I heard other competitors say that they had knocked 30 minutes off their swim PBs. I know that I'll never beat that time again
I felt awesome on the first 75% of the bike but found the last 25% really tough. The nicely named 'asthma attack hill' was horrible, especially when you have to do it 3 times. After 100 miles, a hill that steep isn't the most welcome! I was certainly thankful that the last 3-4 miles were generally downhill. I've never been more relieved to get off my bike, I felt pretty awful. When I got into transition I saw some of the people who had come to support me, they filled the whole transition railing. I had amazing support, I was very lucky. It gave me such a boost after struggling for the last 25-30 miles on the bike.
Put my running shoes on, had a few last words of encouragement from my family/friends and off I went (probably a bit too quickly) on the 4 lap run. The support around Cromer was amazing. Considering there was under 50 people taking part in the full distance, there were hundreds of people around cheering the athletes on. Running along the promenade with lots of people around you was great. Walking/running up a zig-zag ramp up a cliff however, was not too great. It took so much out of your legs just walking. Maybe I should have ran the run route previously, but the next hill really took me by surprise. It was a sand dune so steep, it wouldn't have been easy to run up even if it was tarmac. I walked up this one too! The 1st and 3rd lap felt okay, but the 2nd and 4th felt really hard.
Before you got to the finish line, you had to run 2 laps of the field where the finishing chute was. My little cousin met me just before I got to the big field and started running with me around the 2 laps. She gave me a boost! I did ask her for a piggy back two times, but she said no. Apparently I was looking strong as I started the two laps, I guess my face hides pain quite well! I finished the two laps and headed up the final straight. So many people were there cheering and support me, I've never had such a big smile on my face or felt so great.
I crossed the line in 13:55:46. Best moment of my life!
What a day. I don't think I stopped smiling the whole time!
Sorry to jump on this thread right at the end. I too am looking to 'pop my IM cherry' on Sunday. I've just heard on the news they've called in the bomb squad as a grenade has been found at Blackrod - I think that's near T2!!
Looking at all your training reports I'm sure you'll be fine, I'm getting nervous... I did go on the 'taster day' back in June, did a lap of the bike course, have changed my rear cassette to save the legs up Sheepwash Hill. Not looking forward to the third lap.
Is anyone doing the swim on Friday? I'm going up rom Kent on Thursday evening to try and get a couple of decent nights sleep as I'm sure I won't sleep much on Saturday night. Not sure whether I'm excited or just plain scared!!!
The very best of luck to all especially the first-timers.....CJ
Ive been having jitters for ages. First was the swim, then the bike, then the run, now everything
i'm not doing the swim, got my schedule all mapped out. Driving up Friday morning, registering myself and daughter, she's doing ironkids. Saturday will be Ironkids, T1, T2 Set-up then driving the bike course with Tim. Back to expo for briefing,
Comments
Ooooooh, exciting - go go Budgie
looking good for the feathered one
I believe if he stays on pace the Budgie shall finish in about 20-30 minutes. Go Budgie!
The Budgie is an Ironman!
Whoop whoop, well done budgie
Congrats Budgie
Well done Budgie !!
Will be interested to hear what that course is like
Go budgie
Woooooo hooooooo! Go Budgie
Congrats Budgie! All the best SD (and everyone else too) for the next few days.
well done budgie
My sum total training over the past week has been a 50 minute run on Monday & 30 mile bike ride today.
Couple of short runs & rides to go plus a mile OWS wednesday, job done. We'll see what next Sunday brings
Be glad when its over, free up a bit more worry space out of my head
Well done Budgie.
Wow, thanks for all of your support!
I'll try and give you a little report, but I'm not the best at writing these sort of things...
What an incredible day. The swim was timed perfectly, hence the ridiculous swim times. I was planning for a 75-90 minute swim at best, so a 50 minute swim went down pretty well! I heard other competitors say that they had knocked 30 minutes off their swim PBs. I know that I'll never beat that time again
I felt awesome on the first 75% of the bike but found the last 25% really tough. The nicely named 'asthma attack hill' was horrible, especially when you have to do it 3 times. After 100 miles, a hill that steep isn't the most welcome! I was certainly thankful that the last 3-4 miles were generally downhill. I've never been more relieved to get off my bike, I felt pretty awful. When I got into transition I saw some of the people who had come to support me, they filled the whole transition railing. I had amazing support, I was very lucky. It gave me such a boost after struggling for the last 25-30 miles on the bike.
Put my running shoes on, had a few last words of encouragement from my family/friends and off I went (probably a bit too quickly) on the 4 lap run. The support around Cromer was amazing. Considering there was under 50 people taking part in the full distance, there were hundreds of people around cheering the athletes on. Running along the promenade with lots of people around you was great. Walking/running up a zig-zag ramp up a cliff however, was not too great. It took so much out of your legs just walking. Maybe I should have ran the run route previously, but the next hill really took me by surprise. It was a sand dune so steep, it wouldn't have been easy to run up even if it was tarmac. I walked up this one too! The 1st and 3rd lap felt okay, but the 2nd and 4th felt really hard.
Before you got to the finish line, you had to run 2 laps of the field where the finishing chute was. My little cousin met me just before I got to the big field and started running with me around the 2 laps. She gave me a boost! I did ask her for a piggy back two times, but she said no. Apparently I was looking strong as I started the two laps, I guess my face hides pain quite well! I finished the two laps and headed up the final straight. So many people were there cheering and support me, I've never had such a big smile on my face or felt so great.
I crossed the line in 13:55:46. Best moment of my life!
What a day. I don't think I stopped smiling the whole time!
It's over to you now Sossige, Tim and anyone else who is doing IM Bolton next weekend!
Go smash it!
Wow, what a debut Budgie! Well done you
NIce one Budgie, big congrats!
Well done Budgie, fantastic achievement
Budgie fantastic mate hope you managed to get some fish and chips and a ice cream after.
What's going to be next mate?
Meldy, size 10 required. I have a serious case of cannaebearseditis
Cheers guys
Cake - I'm hoping to get into Ironman Kalmar in 2014!
Well done Budgie.
Other than the supersonic swim I have read that the bike and run were harder than most expected. Great achievement.
Cool why sweden any reason or just for sh*t's and giggles.
I wanted to do a branded Ironman event next year and several other members of my tri club are planning to do it, so I thought I'd tag along!
A flat Ironman course is also very appealing after The Anglian on Saturday too.
1hr swim and 2hrs in the gym for me ... get yer arse out the door
Was it not flat? In cromer? There are no hills around cromer?
Nice one Budgie, i'll see you at the lake on Wednesday, you still have to do those 4 laps
Sorry to jump on this thread right at the end. I too am looking to 'pop my IM cherry' on Sunday. I've just heard on the news they've called in the bomb squad as a grenade has been found at Blackrod - I think that's near T2!!
Looking at all your training reports I'm sure you'll be fine, I'm getting nervous... I did go on the 'taster day' back in June, did a lap of the bike course, have changed my rear cassette to save the legs up Sheepwash Hill. Not looking forward to the third lap.
Is anyone doing the swim on Friday? I'm going up rom Kent on Thursday evening to try and get a couple of decent nights sleep as I'm sure I won't sleep much on Saturday night. Not sure whether I'm excited or just plain scared!!!
The very best of luck to all especially the first-timers.....CJ
Its the end ??? No one told us
Welcome Jim
Ive been having jitters for ages. First was the swim, then the bike, then the run, now everything
i'm not doing the swim, got my schedule all mapped out. Driving up Friday morning, registering myself and daughter, she's doing ironkids. Saturday will be Ironkids, T1, T2 Set-up then driving the bike course with Tim. Back to expo for briefing,