the Day I became AWESOME

SWIM.

Picture the scene 1991. its 6am and I’m standing in a field next to a lake, I have been up all night ‘raving’ faithless are playing full blast on the sound system and I’m off my head.

Now jump forward 15 years. Again 6am in a field (well car park), again faithless on the sound system only this time I’m a lot more focused and there is a lot less of me about 4st to be exact, HOW MY LIFE HAS CHANGED.

I was worried about the, No actually I was petrified I was not going to make the cut off. But still in walked in to the water like a condemned man. And as the horn went off I thought oh well just swim and see what happens.

First thing I noticed was how warm the water was. Well it was in my wet suit. (We all do it) once I started and got in to a rhythm not a lot else happened. As I came out of the water I looked at my watch. 1:30hr I could not believe it. That must be wrong.

In to transition and I’m helped to change by a fellow B.R.A.T. also in there are Dave, and Ceri. Out to my bike and away at 1:40hr.

BIKE.

Rain !!!!!!! this was perfect cycling weather. Now what had I been told Do NOT go off too fast! Obey your HR and eat as much as possible. SOD THAT I’m flying this ironman thingy is a piece of …… that’s not how it went at all, I just tucked in and got my legs spinning and thought about getting to the first feed station. Soon enough I was there. Swapped bottles, grabbed 2 bananas and did not stop,

Its funny what you think about when your alone for 7hr on a bike, if I’m spinning at 90 r/p/m then times that by 60 then times that by 7 and I will have turned my legs 37,800 times by the time I get off the bike,

I was actually enjoying the bike until about 70 miles when I realised that for about 10 miles I had been chasing the bike in front, STOP RACING!!! So I got off the bike for a toilet break, that way I bike in front would go on and I could get back to my own rhythm, just as I get back on the bike . Someone passes me, Now I have a bike 100yds in front of me. NOT FOR LONG,   “stop racing”.

Once I reached 80 miles and the turn for home. I feel great. I’m boosted by seeing John and Sue Ward. And as I’m riding up the duel carriage way. Their car pulls up by the side of me and they spend the next 5 minutes lying to me about how good I look, Do they not realise I can in the wing mirror.

The last 12 miles on the bike is nothing but hard work, Mainly because I do not want to get of the bike and I certainly do not want to run a MARATHON.

But like all good things the bike soon comes to an end and I stagger in to T2.