Rookie Goes for 5 in a row @ IMUK Week 23/26
Areet?
What i’m about to tell you now, it’s really important you understand that I’m not taking the piss, nor do I think I’m ‘big’ or ‘clever’ – i’m just giving an honest account of what has actually happened these last 2 weeks from a ‘real world’ ‘average Joe’ perspective as I don’t know any other way…..
So here goes….
2 weeks ago, I went on the piss…..
“It’s a beautiful day and I fancy a beer” – so onto the piss I went…..
I then fell of the wagon big style……
I have drank ale, smoked fags and ate whatever I wanted pretty much every day for the last 2 weeks, managing just one pool mile the entire time…..
Why?
Because i’m fucked in the head, that’s why……
I’m sure you can imagine my trepidation then when I attempted 3 laps of the Ironman UK bike circuit for the first time at 5am this morning…..
Not exactly the best of preparations is it?
2 weeks on the piss???
Can’t imagine Joe Skipper does that, can you?
Anyhow, here is what happened…..
10 mile ‘pre loop’ – 50 minutes…..
Lap 1 of the 33 mile IMUK bike loop – 2:14 – feeling surprisingly ok
Lap 2 of the 33 mile IMUK bike loop – 2:10 (WTF?) However this was mainly due to the boys from Bolton Tri who gave me a tow all the way into town and then a first timer called ‘Sally from Stafford’ who did likewise the rest of the loop
Lap 3 of the 33 mile IMUK Bike loop – 2:30 – again largely thanks to ‘Sally from Stafford’ who asked if ‘she could join me’ (??) “no problem babe’ I replied and she went on to give me a tow the entire way round the final lap….
I make that 7:44 for the lot – mix in the 1:30 swim (join me as we pray to the iron gods for this) 15 mins in t1 (don’t ask) plus 15 minutes back end of lap 3 to queens park and that’s a total time of 9:44 versus a cut of 10:30.
45 minutes to play with……
A guaranteed ticket onto the magical red carpet…..
Jackpot….
In terms of ‘how it felt’ I am struggling to find the words to describe……
It hurt like hell at times but overall I felt much stronger than anticipated as I was expecting the circuit to absolutely kick the shit out of me today but it didn’t, or at least it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be given the prior debauchery…….
One thing Ironman teaches you mind and that is how to take a beating…..
Boy I have had some kickings from the loops in the past….
But not today….
It was areet…..
What do I put it down to?
‘Perfect’ weather?
The Bolton Boys?
‘Sally from Stafford’?
Prior training?
2 weeks off?
2 weeks on the piss?
Surely not…..
I reckon it’s a blend of points 1-5 above…..
One thing is for certain……
If I can replicate that performance on race day, i’ll be as happy as a pig in shit my friend…..
www.strava.com/activities/5465118076
Like this article? so will your mates – feel free to share it and don’t forget to ‘add’ me on FB, strava & twitter
By the way, have you heard about this book? its nearly 500 pages crammed full of hints and tips detailing exactly how I was able to go from zero fitness to completing an Ironman triathlon and covers super sprint, sprint, olympic 70.3 & full iron distances all from a ‘first timer’ perspective – please take a moment to read the reviews on amazon www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Ironmen-Iron-Rookie/dp/1974002322/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540676777&sr=8-1&keywords=iron+rookie
Ironman® is a registered trademark of the world triathlon corporation and in no way is this website affiliated with or endorsed by Ironman® or the WTC
