Ironman UK race report

This might get a bit long winded, but I don't care! I hope you enjoy reading it.

Well, after months of pain, punishing training sessions and sacrifices, the biggest race of my life was finally here.

After a massive 2 hours sleep, I got up at around 02:30, so that I could drive up to the Macron and get the shuttle bus to Penny Flash. I tried to nibble on some breakfast, but my stomach was just in knots. I ended up giving up and just drank my SiS drink instead.

Getting to Pennington Flash at around 04:00, on a still and dry Sunday morning, my nerves were in bits. I haven't been nervous at all for the last few races that I've done, but this one was a whole new kettle of fish. After a day of torrential rain on the Saturday, Sunday was forecast as sunshine with a bit of cloud, little breeze and low 20's.

I think Clare was the first familiar face that I saw, she was incredibly giddy and seemed to find it amusing that I looked terrified :-)

I just tried to sort my stuff out, get my wetsuit on and wander round, until the race start. Some last minute photo's and seeing Ruth and Hannah was a nice start, although Hannah looked as worried as me. I felt really emotional all the time, I was surprised at that.
Jumping into the dark and murky water, it definitely wasn't like swimming at Eccleston Delph, I made my way right to the front, I prefer it there, but stayed out to the right. The nerves were still there and my stomach was churning as we waited for the hooter to sound. I was still waiting for the 10 second countdown when the hooter suddenly went. This is it, time to get going. I stayed out quite wide to the right of the swim, and tried to find some clear water where I wasn't fighting with other competitors. It felt like I was swimming in porridge and couldn't get into my stroke properly. After taking a ridiculously long route around the top of the course I was on my way back to completing my first lap. I suddenly let out about 4 huge burps and that was it then, I suddenly felt great. I quickly settled into my stroke and thought "right, time to race now". I got out at the Australian exit and glanced at my watch, 39 mins for the first lap. Not too bad considering how bad I'd felt. I heard my dad shout my name and I think I managed a quick smile before jumping back in and getting going on the second lap. No fannying about on this lap, I wanted to swim as tight a line as possible to the buoys and mix it with all the other swimmers. My second lap felt like I was going much better and getting out of the swim I felt like I'd clawed some time back, I'd done it in about 1hr 19mins. It was about 10 mins slower than I'd expected, but far from disastrous. Looking at my Garmin stats, I swam 2.74 miles! Looking at Gamin Connect after the race, the track for my first lap is all over the place. It was only when I was watching the footage back that I realised they'd played AC/DC - Thunderstruck at the race start, awesome track and I half wished I'd listened to it :-)

T1 was fairly quiet when I got there. There were quite a lot of people in there but it wasn't exactly heaving. I just took my time and got changed as quick as possible before running out and grabbing my bike.

The bike started really nicely, I just did what I'd been advised to by Paul and Andy, our coaches. I took it easy and didn't try to race too soon. I was passing a few people, but not really exerting myself. Others were coming past me like a train, but I knew some of them would blow up sooner or later. I'd got through Westhoughton and Horwich and was just going past Rivington reservoir when my front wheel clipped a kerb. I've no idea what happened, whether I was looking round, not concentrating properly or whether the wind had blown me. I hit the kerb and went down hard onto the armco barrier at the side of the road. It really hurt my chest and thighs. I quickly checked everything on the bike and took a minute or two to gather myself together before jumping back on and getting going again. Then I realised that half of my Oakleys were missing, so I just took them off and stuck them in my race belt. I was going ok and knew that I'd got a good ride in me so just tried to settle, but for a few miles after the crash I was in a bad place, mentally. I think I spent a few minutes arguing with myself about whether I should jack it in and stop, luckily common sense prevailed and I cracked on. Going up the Belmont Road, I was surprised at how breezy it was. It was also quite warm and humid. Luckily the breeze on the bike cooled me down a little bit though. I think I was up towards Abbey Village before I started feeling really good again. I pushed a bit for the rest of the lap, people out on the course cheering us on, but it wasn't too busy at this point. When I got round to Hunters Hill, it was great on there. Seeing Mark and Alan and with Mark running alongside me chatting to me was brilliant. I was just in an easy gear, tapping it out, as per the advice that Paul had given me about the benefits of efficient climbing. After that I felt like I was going really well and I was making excellent time round the rest of the lap. When we got to Anderton and the turn into Babylon Lane, the atmosphere was unbelievable. I remember saying "bloody hell" out loud as I rounded the corner,  It was like something out of the Tour de France, huge crowds, and only a small gap between them that we rode through, with all of them shouting, cheering and blowing hooters etc, it was absolutely brilliant and even a bit emotional, I think a tear or two may have escaped at this point. Going up Sheephouse Lane the second time was brilliant. I heard someone screaming "come on Team True Spirit" at me, that felt brilliant. I saw Chris and Phil near the top of Sheephouse, with Phil giving me the obligatory time checks between myself and a couple of mates. After descending into Belmont at a truly bonkers speed and taking lines that Guy Martin would have ben proud of, before rounding the corner to climb up Belmont Road, I could see Cash ahead of me. That really surprised me as he'd passed me on the first lap, going through Wheelton. I was still going at a good pace and not burning too much energy. Going up towards the turning for Tockholes I put my chain on to the small ring to save a bit of energy and there was a loud crack from the shifter. I didn't think anything of it until I got over the hill and started the long fast descent in to Abbey Village. I couldn't get the chain back on to the big ring. I kept trying and trying but the derailleur wouldn't stay in position. That was it, I was stuck on the small ring for the rest of the bike leg. I knew it'd be tough and I'd lose speed, but hey ho. By the time I got round to Leyland, I passed Scott, who was just at the side of the road, doing something to his bike. It didn't stay like that for long though, as he re-passed me just after Runshaw College. The next few miles were a case of spinning my legs way too fast and then freewheeling. Going along Southport Road, I was subjected to a torrent of abuse from one of the marshalls, telling me to "get my arse in gear!!" When I looked over my shoulder, it turned out to be Phil, my old swim coach and a great source of help and advice over the last 18 months or so. By the time I got to Hunters Hill on the second lap my legs were on fire and I was in agony with them cramping on every pedal stroke because of all the lactic in them. I got up to Mark Gallagher again and had to do the unthinkable. I had to get off and push, how embarrassing considering I'd never ever had to walk up there before. I was cramping all the time and couldn't generate any power at all. Phil and Chris had done an awesome job of cycling from Sheephouse across to Hunters, so that they'd see us on more of the course and Phil ran part of the way up Hunters with me. By the time I'd got to the top I'd loosened my legs off a bit, so jumped back on. Not before shouting some good natured abuse at someone holding a Saints RL flag though. When I got to the Rigbye Arms, all my family was there. It was brilliant seeing them all. My dad perched behind his camera, a la David Bailey. I remember seeing Hannah first and then Ruth seemed to run towards me shouting encouragement. It was amazing seeing them all and gave me a huge boost, cue a few more tears. Ste was holding what looked like a great big banner, but it didn't register what it said. 
The rest of the lap was a case of leap frogging with Cash, both of us keeping each other going. I saw an old schoolmate as we crossed the A6, that was great. Then as I approached Babylon lane for the second time I heard one of my oldest and best mates shout "Come on Sutty". It was great seeing Martin out there. From then on it was just a case of getting back to the Macron Stadium and T2. My legs were totally shot because of the mechanical issues and I knew I'd struggle on the run. I had averaged 16mph for the ride and it's a far from flat course. Given the problems that I had, I'm really pleased with that.

T2 was fine and I was helped by Chris' daughter, Louise. It was good to see a familiar face in there. I asked her if she'd seen Cash, but she hadn't. So I set off on the run. Paul and Phil were at T2 as well (I'm sure Phil must have had a time machine, to keep popping up at so many points on the course) and it was brilliant to have more encouragement from my mates.

As soon as I started the run I knew I was in trouble, the skies had cleared and the sun was out in full, although it was probably only in the low 20's, it felt red hot and I was just pouring with sweat within seconds of starting. Typically, I cramped within 100m of starting the run and a Royal Marine stopped to help me stretch. What a fantastic gesture. Then Cash caught up with me (he'd been getting changed in a cubicle). From there it was me, Cash and the Marine running towards the first feed station. I told the Marine to just crack on and not let me spoil his race. I tried running but my legs were just solid with cramp. When we got to the river alongside the railway, we saw James (an old Tri Team Wigan mate) and he ran along with us for a little way, before we turned and went back up the track towards Chorley New Road. From there the atmosphere was like nothing I've ever seen before. The encouragement was amazing. We passed Paul a few times and thought that we must have missed Andy, as we'd not passed him. Cash was an absolute legend on the run (shuffle) and really kept me going. When we went past the Team Deane "fan club", the noise and cheering for Team True Spirit was awesome. All around the town centre was ridiculously loud, I've never heard anything like it. When we got to the top of "the crescent" I saw all my family again as well as Matt and Martin, my two oldest mates. Matt was on fine form with the piss taking, which was great for morale. I wouldn't have him any other way. That's when I got a proper look at the banner that Ste had got. It was fastened to the barriers and had a load of pictures of me and said "Team Sutty" on it. I got a few choice words from Cash, about the size of me in the pictures. I still say that the camera adds a few pounds :-) It was then that Ruth asked what had happened to Andy, because she was tracking all of us from Team True Spirit Tri Club and his timing just stopped. We were speculating about him losing his chip or a faulty chip etc. We had no idea what had happened.
From then on it just became a war of attrition. I was just in so much pain and I could barely run without cramping up and I felt really sick. I just kept trying to get some pretzels down my neck and some flat coke and water. Running along Chorley New Road on one of my laps I saw Phil AGAIN!!. He must have put some mega miles in on the bike, just to follow us round the course. I'm really grateful for that. The crowd on the course is something else, the support that the Team True Spirit colours get is absolutely amazing and it still makes the hairs stand up on my arms when I think of it. The thought of seeing my family and friends on every lap is something that really kept me going. Not to mention the mental strength of Cash. At one point, he said that if I collapse, he'll drag me over the finish line by my ankles. There was no way that he was going to let me fail. Not that it was an option for me either, I remember saying to him "There's absolutely no way I'm not finishing this, 15 hours of pain is nothing, when I can say that I'm an Ironman, for the rest of my life". On the final lap he said that he'd wait and let me go down the finish chute in front of him, whilst it was my first Ironman. I told him no way, we're going over the line together after what he'd done for me that day. Getting to the finish chute, I remember the lady with the mic shouting "congratulations Paul, you are an Ironman". Then she said something about me running over the line. I just told her that I wanted to find my wife. I couldn't see any of my supporters yet, and I crossed the line with Cash, an absolute legend of a man and one who I owe a hell of a lot to. I honestly don't know if I'd have got through the marathon leg without him.
Behind the finish line the first person I saw was Phil Love, my old swim coach (and source of previous said abuse) and I felt really chuffed that it was him that put the medal around my neck, after calling me a "skinny get" ha. Then we saw Paul, our coach. I could have almost kissed him. Nah, not really, just a handshake and some congratulations was enough :-). He told me that my family and friends were near the finishers area so I ran over to them and gave Ruth a massive hug. That was it, I had completed my biggest ever physical challenge and I WAS AN IRONMAN!!

It was one of the most emotional days of my life, I'm not sure why. I just kept crying. Every time I went through a big crowd, cheering on the Team True Spirit colours and every time I saw my mates and family, I was in pieces. It's hard to describe the pride in the colours and all that they represent. To have been part of Team True Spirit is a true privilege and I'll never forget how I felt being cheered on by the absolutely amazing crowds on the course, all the while being in total awe of the injured personnel that were racing and being truly humbled by them.

I stayed behind for an hour or two because I wanted to see as many of my team mates finish as possible, the work that they've all put in has been absolutely amazing. It was only after finishing that we found out what happened to Andy, he'd collapsed on the run and been taken to a medical facility. I feel gutted for him after all the hard work he's put in. I told him in a message that there are always positives, in every situation and in time, he'll see these. It'll not be any consolation at the moment, but I know how strong his character is and he'll be back, better and stronger than ever.

I would have never even got close to competing in an Irondistance race, let alone finishing it, if it hadn't been for a fantastic bunch of coaches in Paul, Donna, Andy, Phil and many more. Plus the many experienced Ironmen that have offered advice and encouragement along the way. To race with such a close knit team and with people that I class as good friends, knowing what we've all been through has been amazing.

Although it's taken a couple of days for the achievement to sink in, I'm absolutely buzzing now, I even thought of wearing my finishers medal at work :-). I feel proud to have dug so deep and still managed to finish the race. What an absolute buzz and one that I'll never forget.