And here we are – RACE DAY!!!

Very early start this morning, 3.00am in fact, so I can get a bowl of porridge down me with enough time to digest before the swim – we need to be in the water by 5.545am!

I don’t really remember a lot about the drive across to Bolton, fortunately I wasn’t driving, and we were soon at the swim start, strolling up the road with my white “dry” bag in hand, wondering why I was doing this. The closer I got to the start, the better I felt, so I checked in, checked my bike, and changed into my wetsuit.

A long walk down to the waters edge. I’ve got to run back up this!

It’s a deepwater start so we’re shepherded in, 05.55 the national anthem is played and we’re off!

It’s chaos! I expected a bit of a bun fight at the start, actually, it wasn’t quite as bad as I expected, I think everyone was thinking of the long hours ahead, there was a bit of bumping, but nothing to bad, and I soon settled into a rhythm. 

I don’t feel too comfortable on the swim, but I’ve trained long and hard for this event and I’m really looking forward to the bike. All my “sighting” practice has proved dividends as I make up some places simply by swimming in a straight line, which a number of competitors seem unable to do!

Two laps of the swim course and back to shore

Swim 2.6miles 1 hour: 38

 Changing is inside the transition tent, I’ve opted to completely change, rather than wear a tri-suit for the whole event, it slows me down in transition, but I hop to be comfortable for the whole day. Change, gel, drink and get bike

T1 time 11:17

Out on the bike and a quick high 5 to Jo on the way past and I’m on the road. I want to conserve my heart rate at least for the first hour and try not to go haring off up the road. It’s not long before I’m starting to pull past a fair few riders and quite early on too, which lifts my spirits no end.

The course is an outward leg of around 20 miles, then 3 loops of around 30 miles. It’s not long before I get to the first of the loops and up sheep house lane, the main climb of the ride. It’s fairly sustained, but nothing enormous, mindful of the rest of the day, I take it easy on the first of the climbs and then I’m at the top and tucking in on the bars for a greatly deserved descent. There is on section on the lap which is a newly tarmacced descent down though an industrial estate, so smooth and fast, roads closed to traffic – AMAZING!!

Second lap and the main junction is filling with spectators and… THERE THEY ARE!!!!!! My amazing support team J

I have a code on these events, if I’m moving hard and can’t speak, I can normally wave a hand, it’s marks out of five, one being on on my last legs and five on top of the world (one hand off the bars you see!) Jo shouts “How many?” “5.5” I reply in return with a big wave.

I AM ABSOLUTLEY LOVING IT.

Bike 112 miles 6:51

This time, transition is in a school hall, with proper changing rooms – again, it sort of goes against the grain, but I’m convinced I was all the more comfortable for a complete change, an energy gel, more fluid and judicious application of Vaseline. I didn’t hang around, but made sure I was ready for my first ever marathon! (One guy even had a shower – jealous)

T2 time 13:24

Out on the run. Making sure I properly took it easy, my plan was to run to heart rate, between 130-140 for the out leg (8 miles) and then see how I felt for the 3 Bolton laps (6 miles each) but to try and increase my pace there.

Running with 100 bike miles in your legs feels funny to start with, but I soon warmed up nicely into a comfortable pace. No more than a couple of miles, the route leads right past a pub beer garden that was jam packed with spectators, cheering at the top of their voices, I look around, there’s no-one else! They’re all cheering me!!! Quite emotional at that point.

Round the corner and I hear a familiar “race you Stuey!!!” Jo and Myles have found a vantage point early on in the run.

Strange to say it, but that was the point I knew I would finish, no matter what.

Down onto the canal side path which leads to the town centre laps. Smooth and flat I could up my pace a little here, without pushing too much and started pulling back some places.

The roar of the crowd as we joined the main loops was amazing. Never heard anything like it.

There are a lot of people struggling now. I keep to my nutrition plan – a gel every 50 minutes and a drink every twenty – this coincides nicely with the feed stations, so I haven’t needed to carry any fluid with me. The three laps go really well, we’re handed a red band at each turn point, so when we have three it’s time for the finishing straight – which is handy for counting when your mind is switched off. I’m no big fan of all the charity wristbands, but even now, I find myself putting one of these on to remind myself of the achievement.

My whole support crew are at the finish cheering me through as the announcer shouts

“STUART BRUCE, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!!!”

Ironman UK 2011 13 hours 24 minutes

Stay tuned for my thoughts on the event, what went well, what I could do better and will I do it again!

Trans Wales next week J