Embracing my inner Britishness I’m just going to start with ‘holy crap that was HOT!’

Definitely the highest temperatures I’ve dealt with on any of my challenges (30 degrees Celsius +) and it added another level of discomfort for sure.

The swim went really well and I actually think I enjoyed it! Partly because I knew I was swimming well but also because the water temperature was delightful and the lake incredibly beautiful.

The first 72km lap on the bike wasn’t too bad either, I maintained a record average speed, but it was still early, and by the end of the first lap I’d already received the comment from an overtaking competitor ‘must have been a good swim’- I’m still not sure if that was a compliment or not as he wizzed past!

By the second lap the heat really kicked in and I tried to maintain some sun-cream discipline as I really didn’t want heat stroke at the end. Some competitors clearly considered that too time consuming and therefore finished as red raw as a cooked lobster- I’m glad I multitasked on the bike!

I did start to wonder on the final 35km loop whether or not I would manage the run; the wind had picked up and I’d been sat in the same position on the bike for 6 hours, pushing 7. I swore profusely at the head wind and even the slightest incline. The road had also emptied considerably with all of the pros and anyone who’s a decent cyclist having smashed on ahead. 

But I wasn’t alone and I still got a friendly nudge of encouragement as another Brit, American or Irishman peddled past.

I emptied copious amounts of water onto myself prior to the second transition (and so managed to remain soggy all day) and, once sat in transition took a moment to decide whether the run was achievable. Of course when you’re sat down, un-injured and still breathing there’s literally no excuse! 

So off I went and I felt surprisingly OK considering 180km was now the farthest I’d ever cycled in one go. However, I don’t think my brain quite registered what I was about to do immediately after; a whole frickin marathon.

But I found that as I plodded/ jogged/ walked it felt relatively achievable, at least to begin with. It was shady and the atmosphere was fantastic in the city. I also bumped into an old university friend who was competing and spent a whole lap chatting to a lovely French girl who actually lives in Harpenden. But the slow cycle had really set me back, and as these ladies approached their final lap I still had one to go which was definitely something I had to get over mentally. At that point the field had significantly emptied and, although those of us at the rear were definitely within the cut off, it was harder going the quieter it got. Thankfully my mindset had changed at the start of the third lap when my ego gave in and I just wanted to get to the finish.

I’ve never felt like vomiting from just walking before and it’s been a long time since I felt like I could fall asleep whilst jogging. I realised in the last 10km that this is why it’s an Ironman; it’s the last little bit that is really super human. I definitely had thoughts of sitting down and closing my eyes, I’d seen many competitors doing just that. But I was slowing down enough as it was so, I just kept moving (whilst occasionally retching). 

It always amazes me how we can continue to find strength when we think we are spent. When I finally reached the run up to the finish and grabbed the veterans flag off my dad, I did get a little burst which allowed me to jog it in. But after crossing the line, fireworks galore, I definitely waddle walked into the finish tent!

I was 100% spent

I feel very lucky to have finished un-injured and I put that down entirely to embracing my lack of training and putting my ego back in its box. Taking it slow and steady in the heat was the best tactic. And even then I could feel the effects of minor heat stroke the following day. 

There were plenty of DNFs or ambulance jobbies, I’m just glad I wasn’t one of them and was able to complete the 7^th challenge.

My resounding memory is from the run where I literally said to myself out loud, you never have to do this again… but just like the canoe marathon I’m already thinking about how I could give it another go and do it better… must be the endorphins because that was genuinely rats!