Tag Archives: #swimming

Training, Racing & Nutrition

IronMan

On Saturday, 19th September 2020, I joined the small group of humans that can call themselves Ironmen.


5k swim (long story), 180k bike and 42.2k run.

It took me 14 hours and 52 mins.

Transition 1 – Swim > Bike

One thing I learnt is that when you are on a long journey like that you can’t count what you’ve done so far to act as credit for what you still have to do. It’s just too big of an epic, a third to go is still a whole marathon.

Time trial section along Basin Road during the 180k ride

Instead, be grateful for the past as it’s got you here. Enjoy this moment, there isn’t anything else other than this moment. The future contains a marathon still but because of our training we know we can complete it.
I still don’t know what happened out there but I do know I didn’t quit, my mood was steady, my body hummed the whole way and took me over the line – for that I am truly grateful. I’m grateful for the blessing of this body and of life and spirit and soul.

Completing the first 10.5k run loop between Carrots Cafe and Hove Lawns Cafe

What a wonderful opportunity we have to push ourselves beyond our impossible.

We are more capable than we know, all it takes is to dare to dream a little…

Sitting down after completing the marathon run and therefore, the IronMan
Training, Racing & Nutrition

Confront the unknown: swim to Alcatraz

This morning I got up early, put on my wet suit, called an Uber and went out to confront the unknown….in the cold.

I met a woman called Sylvia who took me out on her boat to just under the Golden Gate Bridge where I jumped out and started swimming towards Alcatraz with the aid of the flood current coming into the bay.

The sun was coming up over the city and I had an amazing unique view of the Golden Gate Bridge, the City of San Francisco and Alcatraz.

After just under an hour I’d swam around 4.5k (again with the big help of the current!). The hardest part of this swim was the lead up to it, I reminded myself to just go one step at a time and could hear Kurt’s mantra of “avoid paralysis by analysis” in my ear.

Life’s challenge can be daunting but it really does help to break it down and not let yourself over think unnecessarily, the reward of tackling them head on is not to be underestimated. I’m so happy I found a swimming family in Brighton that welcomed me to open water swimming this year and have been a source of friendship and encouragement.

After swimming right up to Alcatraz Captain Sylvia picked me up and we headed back to shore
Just starting the swim having been dropped off under the Golden Gate Bridge

More information on Brighton Triathlon Race Series can be found here http://brightontriathlonraceseries.co.uk/

More information on Syliva and Pacific Swim Company can be found here: https://www.pacificswim.co/