Viva Velo Ride Leader, Rhian Denton tells the story of her first ever Ironman race showing just how tough Viva Velo ride leaders have to be!
RACE REPORT : 3.8km Swim
Well ... one thing is for sure it wasn’t my favourite leg of the day! However walking down to the swim start with the “Vichy Support Crew” blasting out Spice Girls at 5.30am was the best race prep EVER! As I arrived at the start and began putting final nutrition on the bike - I was also lucky to have a helping hand for last min lubing and to squeeze into my Wetsuit - it started to really hit home that this was it. This was what I had been training for all these months and today was the day! Then it was on to the start line surrounded by the other crazy people taking on the challenge; thinking how everyone’s journey to this day would have been so different; this is your own race .. don’t worry what others are doing, just pace yourself!! Everyone was clapping. It was the most inspiring atmosphere to be surrounded by! Countdown began and the first swimmers were off. Then it was my turn. Run and jump! Let’s go! Instantly I was just trying to get a rhythm and settle in but with splashes everywhere it’s hard to focus .. at 500m I thought literally “kill me now”. I felt like I had done miles but was only at the 500m marker. But then I was, like, “just get me on my bike ASAP!” and ploughed on! I finished in 1 hour 15 minutes!
RACE REPORT : 180km Bike
It’s very safe to say from the smiles on my face captured by professional race photographer @annegibson6 that is was by far my favourite part of the day! Once I’d left the water and jumped on my bike all I thought was it’s only a causal 180km. Having cycled 15,000km already this year this was easy. Instantly my LIV bike flew and I just felt stronger and stronger as the course went on for 3 very undulating loops. Each loop I passed Anne and Jules (NOOT NOOT) on the sideline and that made me feel so overwhelmed to have had all the cycling crew part of this journey to help me to this point! The best part of the bike was smashing past people on their TTbikes - just so much fun. The training had really paid off so when I came into the last transition my legs weren’t too tired. I thought, “Right I can run a marathon now!” Bike time 6 hours 13 minutes.
RACE REPORT : Marathon
Bike racked and into last transition my legs felt fresh, however, I had the worst stomach cramps.! Taking water on and changing for the run I was thinking even if I walked now I would have time to complete the course! But me being me, I wasn’t going to be happy walking the marathon! I started to run and within 3km I was in a world of pain. Passing my family I remember shouting “this is not fun” and thinking I’m going to have to walk! But NO I kept the pace steady and the more I ran the easier it got and I started to settle. The Vichy Support Crew were outstanding and I could not thank them enough for being there at all points on the course! Even a cheeky FaceTime with @denton_ed in Florida to cheer me along helped me keep going! Each of the 4 loops you passed through the finish and got a taste of the atmosphere. It was so motivating! When they put the final yellow wristband to mark the start of my final 10km Loop I burst into tears knowing that next time I am back here I will be an “Ironman!” I think my last 10km was the quickest of all. So desperate to get over the finish and shower was I that as I entered the finish area any pain was erased by the feeling of accomplishment. I had done it. Completing the marathon in 4 hours 13 minutes.
RACE REPORT : The Finish
That moment you have been waiting, training and dreaming of is over in a second as you step over the finish line so take the time to enjoy it. I couldn’t even begin to describe the feeling, a whole mixture of “relief it’s over”, “never again”, “I can’t believe I actually did it” and “that was crazy/but awesome”. Oh, and “my legs”! But the picture below really captures the fact I don’t know what to think but burst into tears. What a feeling! I’m sure everyone has different emotional reactions over the line, clearly from the (somewhat nonchalant) guy behind me! But I will never feel that 1st Ironman finish feeling again!
