Report from Alan Wheeler:

                              IRONMAN UK

You are an Ironman! Those are the words I was waiting to hear come Sunday 7th September 08.

The day before (Saturday) was about registering and racking my bike.

Having read the race info 500 times I needed to remember my photo ID. Yes I left it back at the B&B, great start. One hour late I returned with my passport. I received my registration pack of numbers, swim hat, blue bag for cycle clothing, and red bag for run clothing. Also in the bag was the race chip plus free goodies.

Sunday 3am arrived, time for breakfast. Back to sleep until 4am. At 4am I had some more food and drink.

At 5am I arrived in darkness at the Ironman UK venue, Sherbourne Castle. Time for the final checks of the bike and put on my wetsuit.

At 6am 1200 triathletes, myself included, made our way down to the start. At 6.30a.m all triathletes had been counted into the water. First job 200m swim to the start. The claxson went shortly afterwards signalling the start of the race. With 2.4miles made up of two laps and 90mins of swimming ahead of me I settled into a steady pace. Lap one went well just keeping a steady rhythm with the odd person swimming over me or across me. During lap 2 I could feel someone on my heels drafting me. Not a problem but I had to concentrate hard as I kept getting hit on the feet. With the finish of the swim in sight I decided to work a little harder and decided to push for the shore. I was helped out by two volunteers who brought me up the steep bank. Light headed I walked to the changing tent and picked up my clothes for cycling.

I set off up the one mile incline towards Dorchester which marked the start of 112 miles to go, made up of three laps of 37miles. The first half of the lap gave a small tailwind. Having climbed up to the top course a strong head wind greeted you. No fast times today, so I decided that I would conserve energy and keep it steady. Lap 2 came and went this was the pretty close to my longest ride. It was at this stage where I had to talk to myself as I felt low. I quickly pulled myself together and completed my final lap. I made my way back the Sherbourne Castle some 7hr 7mins after leaving it. 

This time I jogged to the changing tent and set off on the 26.2mile (3laps x 8.7miles) running course which would be made up of half off road in the castle grounds and half in the town. My plan was to run at ten minute per mile pace. Lap one went well and I was running really strong and quicker than my intended pace. Lap two was slower but on track for ten minute mile pace. Lap three and the hills started to become really hard which resulted in me walking some of them. At mile 24 I decided I would run to mile 25. I did not see the mile marker and realised I was only half a mile from the finish. I picked up the pace and was amazed to find I had a sprint finish that would frighten Usain Bolt! I crossed the line in 13hr 23min, slower than the time I predicted myself, but I had finished. As the commentator said, “ You are an Ironman!”