I decided to enter this as a training event for my full Ironman event in Sep 2016 as although only half the distance at a total of 68 miles, it was a very similar structured event with a sea swim, hilly bike ride (1,000m of climbing) and a looping flat coastal run to finish. It was also going to be an ideal opportunity to refresh the experience of a mass start Sea swim... Usually quite a brutal experience!
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| 3m run to start |
My training in the months before had been going pretty well but on reflection, the previous weekend of partying in Mallorca for my wife Karen's birthday with a very late mid week flight back and disturbed sleep in the run up to the event was perhaps not the best preparation for my first half Ironman (but a bloody good party)! ;-)
Unfortunately, despite flat calm seas on the day, due to an accidental sewage spill in the area the day before, the swim was pulled and replaced with a 3 mile run to proceed the bike and proper run. That was a bit of a setback but with such a good atmosphere and organisation, soon sorted!
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| One of the climbs |
The initial run was good. I hadn't really thought about the pace and went out quick... 24mins 21secs for the 3 miles which is the quickest run I've done all year!
I paid for this on the start of the bike leg which immediately climbed from the coast into the hills around Betws-y-Coed. For the most part the bike leg was stunning and felt great. Steep ascents and descents, a total of 1,300m climbing.
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| A very wet return |
And then the heavens opened :-(... The last 20 miles on the bike were grim. Heavy rain and slippy roads. There were more than a couple of spills but fortunately I managed to stay tyre side down! 3 hours 46mins for the bike leg
Fortunately the rain blew over and with a complete change of clothes (and socks), the two lap, 13mile run went pretty well!
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| Crossing the finish line! |
I felt pretty strong at the finish, with a run time of 2hours 9mins which I was pleased with to give me an overall time of 6 hours 31mins which bode very well for the Ironman cut of times.
All in all, a really good event and great preparation for Ironman Weymouth! :-)
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