Ironman UK A Tribute

I've had a few days to reflect on the UK race, so here is a slightly different blog!!

Whats a blog all about? Bigging yourself up, spreading an important message, informing people, telling funny stories, who knows? It would have been really easy to tell you all about my race this weekend, but I decided to save that for Kona. Instead, I am gonna profile and give you a view on the guys and girls who I know and who smashed it at the weekend!!

Mr Adam Critchley. A man you will have read about before if you have been on the blog. I train with Adam quite a lot, he is sincere, always interested in what you are up to and what you are saying, which in my case is a lot. Adam had a great race at weekend finishing in a time of 11:05, he has worked really hard all winter on his bike and had good and bad days like us all, but you know he will always be back for more trying to improve his game. The work on the bike paid off, as he not only biked well but did a PB on the marathon course. Was he happy NO! first thing he said to me was 'I should have dipped under 11 hours'. Looks like another tough winter coming up!!

Jonathon Mann 'the Iron rookie'. I say this because he made a rookie mistake 3 weeks ago with his nutrition at A Day in the Lakes, a situation far from ideal 3 weeks from your 'A' race. A few conversations later and Manny was the proud owner of a box of Cliff Block Shots, far better than bleeding Jelly babies. They did him proud, as he looked good every time I saw him on the run, a far cry from the state he was in, in the lakes. I can only imagine what was going round in his head prior to the start with regards to his nutrition. A well executed race and well deserved result, although I'm sure like Adam he will want to get better and he WILL!!

Nicki Rushton AKA 'Nickipoo's' . In Nicki's own words after our Day In the Lakes jolly, 'Oh my god Joe I'm not gonna be able to do an Ironman'. My answer 'Course you will'. Was i right, hell yes. Not only did Nicki do the race she qualified for the World Championships in Kona Hawaii YEAH!!!!!! but, she turned down the slot BOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Nevertheless, Nicki did brilliantly, she was carrying an injury which has been plaguing her for some time, but, thanks to yours truly is now on the road to recovery after visiting Summit Physio. Tough cookie our Nicki and really did do it for the girls, well done!! told you not to worry!

Mr Joe Elding. Joe Is one of my best mates and an inspiration. He got cancer at the age of 17 and really was knocking on heavens door. Since then he has gone from strength to strength and serves the Ironman mantra of 'Anything Is Possible' perfectly. He is trained by the same coach as me, Ian Murphy. Joe did a couple of minutes oves12 hours on Sunday not a bad effort for a guy who wasn't expected to see 20, and all without performance enhancing drugs, take note Mr Armstrong. One thing Joe we have to sort out your run style mate, it's a bit effeminate. But who am I to question it, Joe came in 1 hour quicker than he expected. 

Dave Hindle. Dave came to watch me at Ironman Wales last September. He had booked UK and thought if prudent to come and see how I prepared for the race and see the razzamatazz of the day itself. Back in the car after the race when I asked him what he thought, his exact words were 'I'm petrified'. What a difference 10 months of training has made under the watchful eyes of Ian Murphy. Dave has always been good on the bike and is what I would class as a 'bike tart', he builds em and all that!! He swam a time of sub 1:30 breast stroking!!! had a steady bike and a good run, something he really couldn't do 10 months ago due to knee issues. Enter yours truly with the Hoka sales pitch. I'm sure the Endurance Store must owe me some commission by now!! Dave and Joe had their own 'Iron War' with Dave just coming out on top. Must have been the Hoka's!!

Pete Welsh. A good friend from my school days, came up to play out with us and didn't disappoint. Despite falling off on the Pennington Flash speed humps, Pete showed true Coppull grit by only crying for a few minutes, mainly about the scratches on the bike!! He picked himself up and performed brilliantly. I'm not entirely sure how the race referee would view the attempted mugging he performed on me at the Chorley Street aid station. I never knew that the red, yellow and blue lap bands had the same effect as the ring out of 'Lord Of The Rings'. It was like being mugged by Gollum!! Still he must have enjoyed himself cos he's booked Lanzarote with me for 2015. Not enough hills at UK apparently!

Last but by no means least Andy Turner. What can I say except what a guy!! I've trained with Andy all year. Both being firefighters is perfect, we train together in the week, sharing ideas and a lot of pain believe me. we paired up for races and have done well. I really think Andy is going to go from strength to strength and I'm hoping he joins us in Lanza next year. He smashed it on Sunday despite suffering on the run showing great tenacity to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Ironman really can boil down to that simple action!! There were hi fives a plenty and it has been a pleasure watching all the hard work pay off. I look forward to our training days from now until Kona. Well done pal you should be proud of yourself!!

As for my race, well there isn't a lot to tell you really other than it went really well. In the swim I never really got touched which is unusual. I held back on the bike showing a little experience for once and if I my be so bold smashed the Marathon with a 3:21. My finishing time was 10:20. I have to give a massive amount of credit to my coach Ian Murphy who seems to have got the training spot on again. This was a PB for me at Bolton by some 20 minutes on a tougher course than previous years. So cheers mate! Oh and I met Craig Alexander who gave me some tips for Kona. I'm keeping these to myself though!!!

      

I could go on and on but I would be here all night so here are some quick mentions, if I miss anyone out I'm sorry. Jonathon Baron, Jullian Goudge, Rob Baldwin. Rob Darlington, Gary Vernal, all the Tri Preston lot (and there is a lot), the guys from FITT (Brian, Matt and Paul), Mark Laithwaite (I'm gonna be closer to you at Lanza!!),  Chris Horner well done to you all it was a privilege sharing the experience with you and hopefully we will do it again soon!!

As for the spectators. I have the best mate you could hope to have on Ironman race day. So much so that Pete said that everyone should have a Marlon for race day. Pete I couldn't have put if better myself. So for stopping over every time I race, getting up and looking after me at 3am, running me to the venue, keeping me calm and entertained with such sayings as 'I'd rather shit on my hands and clap' . But most importantly looking after my lovely wife and kids all day, not an easy task. I thank you mate. Just think how nice the next time will be in Hawaii!! Also Chris and Howard. I'm still trying to fathom how they got to so many different parts of the course. Incredible supporters, cheers guys!!

Spectators on the course, again, to many to mention, my sister Ann and all the family, Stevie, Jan, Chaddy and Carmen from work,  Nozzer, Moose and Ian From GMC, Dave and Heather from Summit Physio, Anna and Ian from Chorley AC & Tri, Matt, Dave and Scott and his family (The uber bikers), Ian and Emily and any one else who said 'go on Joe' a massive thanks, it means a lot on the day. Not forgetting Mr Neil Mercer not only the best age group Ironman I know but also a total Ironman groupie, cheers mate!

Finally my long suffering wife Johanna and Anna & Lucy who for the most part have a grumpy, hungry, tired dad. I think they get it when they watch me race and it spares me on to be better each time. I just hope I don't disappoint! XXX

So the next blog will be from the Erias 70.3+ in Wales, unless something funny happens!!

Well done everyone and take it easy.

 

Joe D