I’m back at the Outlaw for another helping of Ironman pain. Last year this race was a bit of a breakthrough for me. It was the first time that I felt I had conquered the iron distance. It was the first time that I ran relatively strong all the way to the line. I wasn't a complete slobbering mess with 10km to go, dragging my battered body forward in small pigeon like steps.
I don't feel super race fit, my preparation has not been ideal. I will be leaning a lot more on the knowledge that I've got four iron-distance races under my belt, two more than last year. I now know the distance and I know how my body works.
That experience counts when you get into the dirty end of the race. I’ve already delved deep into the Iron pain cave. The next time I visit on Sunday hopefully i can just retrace my steps and then explore a little deeper.
Endurance is like a fine wine, it gets better with age.
I've a lot of friends at the race, most of them doing it as a relay. Namely my girlfriend Lauren 'The Little Ball of Muscle' Bradleyton; my very handsome friend, mentor and inspiration (he may be sat next to me as I'm writing this), Stuart 'Porcelain Calves' Hodgson; James 'Quadfather' Gill, who is just going to do a little swim and then spend the rest of the day swanning round in his speedos; Kathryn 'Isn't She Just' Lovelies, who says she is going to go flat out on the bike to see how long she can stay in front of me; And Lucy 'Fun Runner' Gossage who has finally deflated since her little race last week - we were getting worried that she was pregnant at one point, with her adorable little pot belly. Happily though it was just the whimpering souls of all the male pros she crushed at Ironman UK.
If i can just replicate What Gill and Goss did last week (with a sub 3hr run) i’ll be dead chuffed. Lets hope to lay some more happy memories!
Best of Luck to all
I don't feel super race fit, my preparation has not been ideal. I will be leaning a lot more on the knowledge that I've got four iron-distance races under my belt, two more than last year. I now know the distance and I know how my body works.
That experience counts when you get into the dirty end of the race. I’ve already delved deep into the Iron pain cave. The next time I visit on Sunday hopefully i can just retrace my steps and then explore a little deeper.
Endurance is like a fine wine, it gets better with age.
I've a lot of friends at the race, most of them doing it as a relay. Namely my girlfriend Lauren 'The Little Ball of Muscle' Bradleyton; my very handsome friend, mentor and inspiration (he may be sat next to me as I'm writing this), Stuart 'Porcelain Calves' Hodgson; James 'Quadfather' Gill, who is just going to do a little swim and then spend the rest of the day swanning round in his speedos; Kathryn 'Isn't She Just' Lovelies, who says she is going to go flat out on the bike to see how long she can stay in front of me; And Lucy 'Fun Runner' Gossage who has finally deflated since her little race last week - we were getting worried that she was pregnant at one point, with her adorable little pot belly. Happily though it was just the whimpering souls of all the male pros she crushed at Ironman UK.
If i can just replicate What Gill and Goss did last week (with a sub 3hr run) i’ll be dead chuffed. Lets hope to lay some more happy memories!
Best of Luck to all