The Ironman in 2019 thread

It was genuinely a lot of fun, the whole day, and that’s a first for me. Ironman distance has previously hobbled me and sent me to very dark places, despite the challenges I had a very upbeat day!

Swim 1h09
Bike 8h56
Run 5h39

I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I’m very embarrassed about the bike split, but we’re in this forum to get faster right? So the analysis Ive started on another thread to avoid muddying up this one.

The swim was epic. Running down the beach with 1,600 triathletes and into the melee, lots of people swimming over or being swim over, pileups where I had to stop altogether, and big swells made it a bit of a roller coaster ride. But when I came out into the beach and saw the big digital clock showing 33:something I had a huge grin for the second lap and just knew I was coming in with a personal best.

Being out among the lava fields on the bike is also epic! The wind was ridiculous at points and downright dangerous crosswinds descending at 80/90kph skittering the front wheel about on the tarmac, gnarly black rocks to one side and a cliff edge down to a beautiful blue lagoon on the other :grinning:

The upside of such a long bike was that it was relatively cool on the run, and my legs were great (another first) it was just a bout of dizziness and some struggles with nausea that were a challenge. Loads of people cheering and clapping and singing on the sea front.

I know why this course has such a reputation, if you love long course triathlon you just have to do it. :+1:

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