Woke up to the sound of a car trying to get out of the field and by the sounds of it trying to get into our tent (or it was Kerry snoring which she NEVER does). It's 3.30 not bad, go to the loo then some good old flapjack and a bottle or two of Genr8 S2. It's not raining thank god, but the wind is up no turning back now. Not that I want to I have been looking forward to this for a long time. I've been like a boy waiting for Christmas day for the last two weeks and now it's here. 

 

Walking down to the starting area with Kerry I got to the end of the camp site and I needed the loo again so popped into the porta loo's ( that's twice keep count!). Now in transition cant find the boys then I see Phil and Tony having a chat but lose them when I go to get rid of my white bag.

 

The swim started good well the swim to the start line that is, but when we were kept waiting in the water I started to feel the need for a wee well I'll just have a little one now before the gun goes BUGGER we've started. Felt good on the swim took the short cut that Phil G showed me to the first turn (I need a wee) then I lost my way a little till the end of lap 1 then back across the short cut (I need a wee) to the turn and back to the finish taking another short cut. On the whole I think I was in clear water for around 75% of the swim and coming into the finish all I could think about was having a wee.

 

T1- straight to the porta loo looking like a 8 month pregnant woman GOD YES! AHHHH! THANK GOD! AHHHH! Come on hurry up! COME ON! COME ON! 1h8min of held in wee later I came out of the loo minus my water baby. Got my kit on and out for my bike, "Don't forget its in the row after the tree so where is it? someone has took my bike I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" I was in the wrong row and after I had found it I had spent over 7 minuets in T1.

 

Out on the bike and at home, all I kept saying to my self was don't hammer the bike remember last time (2005 I killed myself on the bike and when I went out on the run I had big problems with my ITB to the point that at 18 miles I struggled to walk never mind run). So the plan was to stick rigidly to what I'd done in training and use my HR monitor to control my pace. 3/4 of a lap into the bike I passed Steve of Sun City then 10 min later he passed me while I was taking another wee and by the end of the first lap I'd caught him back and passed him. The rest of the bike went to plan apart from another wee stop half way round lap3 and felt really good going into T2

 

T2 was a lot better in and out in under 2 minuets.

 

The run if it was to go wrong it will happen in the run but I can not believe how good I felt. I saw Dave as I came out of trasnition and thought there's someone to aim for but no for 3 mile into the run it all started. OH NO I can feel my Right ITB tighting up but not as bad as last time "Just dont stop till you have to it might go away" I found I could still run fast on the down hills and the flat but on the up hills it was painfull but I could still run just slowley. The 8 mile into the run my left ITB started but once again not to the point where I had to stop so kept on running hard on the down hills and flat's but taking it real easy on the hills. Then 2 mile into the last lap all the pain went none at all but by then it was a bit late you see my main target was to take an hour off my 2005 time but I was hoping to get under 11 hours. But not to be beaten I gave it everything till the end and just missed it.

 

Will I be back next year? Oh Yes

 

Ironman UK 2008

 

Just like to say thanks to Phil G, Emma, Ian, Eve,Cameron, Woody and the Wife for their support thank's Peeps.

 

And a special thanks to the Jelly Baby Lady who ever you were.

 

Bring on Lanzarote