DOUBLE IRONMAN UK
Arriving at Avon Tyrell in the New Forest for the Double, I was greeted by what looked like a fishing pond. Looked lovely until I spotted the inflatable buoys in the water, then realised that I had to swim 7.6km in it, along with 49 other athletes! That was going to be fun. Especially as I have lost a lot of open water bottle after the hammering I got in the water at IM France last year.
Once in the camping area, the pop up tent soon went up, but could I get the tent pegs to go into the ground. Must be near tree roots I thought. Move the tent, try again, no success. Eventually after 20 minutes of searching, I found a piece of ground good enough to set up the tent. At least I could get the tent pegs in the ground.
All set up, car unpacked and a decent cup of tea. As we were sitting in the sun, we soon realised that we were no far from Bournemouth Airport with the planes taking off over our heads.
Looking around the area, there were not many tents and not many athletes or spectators. The Deca, Quin and Triple had all started that mornings IM but no-one was off the bike and on the run. This was at 3pm, very odd!
Eventually an old familiar face was spotted on the run course, the legend that is TC. If you don’t know him, then no point explaining. At least TC had invested in a new bike for this season and the clunking softride was relegated to a ‘spare’ bike.
Registration was at 5pm. By now the wind had really picked up and the organisers were desperately trying to anchor down all the support tents (unsuccessfully).
Registration was over in a flash, walk in, shake of hands, registration bag and out.
Race briefing took place soon after registration. Checking through to other events competitor lists, there were several athletes who competed at Lichfield the previous year who were taking on the bigger events this year. At least I would be able to catch up with them at some point over the next 2 days of racing (or so I thought).
Briefing over, quick drive to the train station to collect Dermot Galea (Coach and Support Crew). Final briefing from coach about race plan and how important it is to stick to the plan on race day. This did not go in one ear and out of the other, as missing food can cost you the race.
Big bowl of pasta and red pesto (which Pam cannot stand!) for evening food, then crashed out for the night (with the planes still taking off and landing).
The usual pre-race nights sleep was had (nothing!) and up early to check the bike and kit into T1. With another 3 hours before my race started, it was a wander down to the water’s edge to watch the Deca, Quin and Triple start. The Deca and Quin athletes did not look in a good condition at all. They were struggling to get in the water and get moving. The water was 21 degrees (far warmer than Bosworth with its 14 degrees and rising!) but they were still at risk of hypothermia due to the volume of racing they had done.
Double Start
50 swimmers in the pond! Each lap was 300m. A total of 26 laps were to be done before you had completed the swim. 300 x 26 works out at 7.8km, 200 more than the official Double but you are limited to your race venue. You had to swim 2 laps first, then after each lap, you had to stop, shout out your race number and wait until it had been repeated before heading off for another lap. The original swim had been set at 24 laps, which we had worked out perfect for the nutrition, stop every 4 laps for fluid, carbs and electrolytes. Changing it to 26 threw us out a little but decided to swim 2, then start the race nutrition 4 laps earlier.
So off I went, the last athlete to cross the start line, let the idiots mash themselves out at the front. I soon got into a good steady rhythm and was making some progress through the back markers. Turning left through the lily pads proved a bit difficult, trying to move through what felt like a cargo net for 20 metres, with the stems and pads grabbing your arms and feet, not good for the nerves.
2 laps done, nutrition, then back to counting 4 laps for the next feed. Each lap stop, shout out your race number, wait for the reply then back out for the swim. When I had reached 22 laps, I asked how many I had completed, only to be told that I had only completed 20 laps. No point arguing with the counters, just get on and finish the swim. Coach had to get extra nutrition to cover the extra 2 laps (600m!) swim that I had to complete. Finally the last lap was confirmed by the marshalls, and I was out of the water in 2:25 in 8th position having swum 8.4km. Then it was a long way up the hill to the timing mat to get the final swim time (2.28).
Out of the wetsuit, dry off and the cycle gear on. Plenty of anti-chaff cream was applied, looked more like a channel swimmer in goose fat that a cyclist. Another long walk up a hill to T1 to collect the bike.
Off onto the bike course. This was a 20 lap route over undulating and exposed countryside. 20 laps of 11.7 miles to give you a total of 234 miles! Having not ridden the route beforehand, it was a steady spin for the first lap assessing the route. After all, I was going to be on the bike for a long, long time! Funny how the wind was still blowing, but in your face! Across the exposed moorland, avoiding the cattle and ponies just wandering across the road. Then the car drivers who refuse to budge an inch at the bottle necks, so you lost speed very time you came across them. Off the moors,and up a hill, down the hill into Burley, through Burley full of tourists and potholes, then up another hill, drop down onto another exposed area of moorland (more headwind), across the moors, then another hill, before another decent. Finally a flattish, undulating road (which had been recently tarred and chipped) took you back through the forest towards the bike turnaround. On this patch, you had some protection from the wind. Then you turned towards the bike turnaround, again up a hill! So 4 big hills, times 20 laps, makes it a lot of climbing on the legs!
Each lap passed, and the big black clouds were looming. Not in my head (not yet) but outside. You could see them gathering and the wind was blowing them onto the course. Lap after lap passed, stop every 2 laps, take on extra food and drink. Stop every 4 laps to take solid food and a hot drink (pastie and tea, thank you Mr Ginster!). The half way mark soon passed at 10 laps, then the rain started. Yes, rain, coupled with the relentless wind, it just was not going to be fun.
As it was getting close to lighting up time, all riders were getting stopped to put on their lights and hi-vis vests. This was the point when I realised that my £75 200 lumen light was not going to be good enough to get me through the night. The race organiser had advised on a 200 lumen minimum, I should have paid the £160 for the 400 lumen lights, but too late!
Funny how you do all the planning in the world for your race, then you realise that you cannot see the road in front of you let alone your speedometer. The light had worked fine at home when I done my night ride, but that was in the dry. Once the roads were wet, they just absorbed the light so you were virtually riding blind, not good! Even the athletes with the 400+ lumens were struggling to see where they were going, but more importantly what to avoid!
Lap 14 was a bad lap. I had already covered 154 miles and the demons were setting in. There were things in the woods chasing me. They were on my left and right, shadows pulling at the branches trying to pull me off the bike. Time to stop and rest at the next turnaround having completed 164 miles.
Into the tent, soaked clothing off, dry off, re-apply the anti-chaff everywhere, dry clothes, warm food and a hot drink, then a quick crash out in the sleeping bag. 2 hours later and back on the bike to complete the final 6 laps. I didn’t stay dry for long as the wind and rain were still destroying the athletes. It was difficult to get any heat into your muscles to keep them working.
Finally the last lap was approaching, only 11.7 miles to go and 4 more hills, hills which now seemed like climbing St Martine hill, every time! Those who know, know what I mean!!
It was a relief to get off the bike after covering 234 miles with an average speed of 15.4 mph. The actual time in the saddle was 15.30 hours, but include the 2 hour rest period, 17.30 hours for the total bike.
The funny thing was that I still felt in a good condition, my legs were not aching, but maybe that was because they had been subjected to constant wind and rain for most of the night!
Back into the tent, wet clothes off, dry off, more anti-chaff, dry running gear, hot food and drink and into the sleeping bag for 1 hour to raise my core temperature. 1 hour later, and an extra layer, then off the the run course.
This is where it all went wrong. Originally, it had been a 26 x 2 mile run, with 1 mile off road and 1 mile on tarmac. This had been changed to a 52 mile off road run, 52 laps off road, in the cold and rain. Again, the run had x4 hills which took all the strength from your legs each time you hit a hill.
The race organiser then informed us that the cut off time had been extended by 4 hours due to the bad weather. Not that we had noticed, as we had been soaked and frozen for hours! So the cut off time was now 39 hours instead of 35.
Each lap ticked off, 1 by 1. On lap 20, it all went bad. Coming down off one of the hills, there was no grip and I went over twisting my knee. Not good. I tried to run but could not put any pressure on the knee, so had to resort to a speed walk.
This is the point where your head goes through numerous calculations about time, speed and distance. If I could keep to 3.5 miles an hour distance, I could just get under the cut off time of 39 hours. My original plan of running to 30 miles had gone with the fall.
The rain was making the run course ridiculous now. Athletes were even falling over on the flat due to the course being a complete mudbath. Dermot had joined me for a lap to assess the course, but I know he was checking on me.
After completing 10 laps walking the course, the weather and conditions had taken their toll. My calculations were telling me that even if I kept going for the next 7 hours at my current walking pace, then I would not make the cut-off time.
I made the decision to get to 32 laps then call it a day. Not an easy decision to make after putting so much into this race.
I completed lap 32 and gave my chip to the organiser. We talked for 15 minutes about the times and I said that there was no way I could get under the current cut off time, explaining that the course was getting worse every hour with more and more athletes going round.
So, it was off to find the support crew and head back to the tent to try to get my core temperature back to a healthy level.
It was strange, but I did not have any regrets about withdrawing from the race.
After getting some sleep and hot food, things seemed a lot brighter the next day. The race organiser had decided to extend the cut-off by another 5 hours to 4am as the athletes were struggling with the difficult conditions. Even knowing this post race, I don’t think it would have made any difference to my final decision. I had no more dry clothes, all 3 pairs of trainers had been used, even my normal clothes had been worn to try to keep my core temperature healthy. It was just impossible to stay dry and keep and temperature in your body.
So I have my second DNF in a 24 year career!
Only 24 athletes finished out of 50 starters. If you took the original cut-off time of 35 hours, less than 10 athletes would have completed the full event.
This course was far harder than the course at Lichfield the previous year, the course itself was more physically demanding and the weather was completely atrocious.
My ultimate respect goes to those who completed the Double and they deserve to wear their finishers T shirt with pride.
My thanks go to the following:
Pam , for losing me for most of the last year with my training.
Sophie, for Dad not being around to annoy her!
Dermot, for getting me in the best condition for the race, both physically and mentally.
Finally.
Thanks to all who sent messages of support, I was getting a constant feed from my support crew (Pam and Dermot) during the event, which during the dark times helped keep me going.
Arriving at Avon Tyrell in the New Forest for the Double, I was greeted by what looked like a fishing pond. Looked lovely until I spotted the inflatable buoys in the water, then realised that I had to swim 7.6km in it, along with 49 other athletes! That was going to be fun. Especially as I have lost a lot of open water bottle after the hammering I got in the water at IM France last year.
Once in the camping area, the pop up tent soon went up, but could I get the tent pegs to go into the ground. Must be near tree roots I thought. Move the tent, try again, no success. Eventually after 20 minutes of searching, I found a piece of ground good enough to set up the tent. At least I could get the tent pegs in the ground.
All set up, car unpacked and a decent cup of tea. As we were sitting in the sun, we soon realised that we were no far from Bournemouth Airport with the planes taking off over our heads.
Looking around the area, there were not many tents and not many athletes or spectators. The Deca, Quin and Triple had all started that mornings IM but no-one was off the bike and on the run. This was at 3pm, very odd!
Eventually an old familiar face was spotted on the run course, the legend that is TC. If you don’t know him, then no point explaining. At least TC had invested in a new bike for this season and the clunking softride was relegated to a ‘spare’ bike.
Registration was at 5pm. By now the wind had really picked up and the organisers were desperately trying to anchor down all the support tents (unsuccessfully).
Registration was over in a flash, walk in, shake of hands, registration bag and out.
Race briefing took place soon after registration. Checking through to other events competitor lists, there were several athletes who competed at Lichfield the previous year who were taking on the bigger events this year. At least I would be able to catch up with them at some point over the next 2 days of racing (or so I thought).
Briefing over, quick drive to the train station to collect Dermot Galea (Coach and Support Crew). Final briefing from coach about race plan and how important it is to stick to the plan on race day. This did not go in one ear and out of the other, as missing food can cost you the race.
Big bowl of pasta and red pesto (which Pam cannot stand!) for evening food, then crashed out for the night (with the planes still taking off and landing).
The usual pre-race nights sleep was had (nothing!) and up early to check the bike and kit into T1. With another 3 hours before my race started, it was a wander down to the water’s edge to watch the Deca, Quin and Triple start. The Deca and Quin athletes did not look in a good condition at all. They were struggling to get in the water and get moving. The water was 21 degrees (far warmer than Bosworth with its 14 degrees and rising!) but they were still at risk of hypothermia due to the volume of racing they had done.
Double Start
50 swimmers in the pond! Each lap was 300m. A total of 26 laps were to be done before you had completed the swim. 300 x 26 works out at 7.8km, 200 more than the official Double but you are limited to your race venue. You had to swim 2 laps first, then after each lap, you had to stop, shout out your race number and wait until it had been repeated before heading off for another lap. The original swim had been set at 24 laps, which we had worked out perfect for the nutrition, stop every 4 laps for fluid, carbs and electrolytes. Changing it to 26 threw us out a little but decided to swim 2, then start the race nutrition 4 laps earlier.
So off I went, the last athlete to cross the start line, let the idiots mash themselves out at the front. I soon got into a good steady rhythm and was making some progress through the back markers. Turning left through the lily pads proved a bit difficult, trying to move through what felt like a cargo net for 20 metres, with the stems and pads grabbing your arms and feet, not good for the nerves.
2 laps done, nutrition, then back to counting 4 laps for the next feed. Each lap stop, shout out your race number, wait for the reply then back out for the swim. When I had reached 22 laps, I asked how many I had completed, only to be told that I had only completed 20 laps. No point arguing with the counters, just get on and finish the swim. Coach had to get extra nutrition to cover the extra 2 laps (600m!) swim that I had to complete. Finally the last lap was confirmed by the marshalls, and I was out of the water in 2:25 in 8th position having swum 8.4km. Then it was a long way up the hill to the timing mat to get the final swim time (2.28).
Out of the wetsuit, dry off and the cycle gear on. Plenty of anti-chaff cream was applied, looked more like a channel swimmer in goose fat that a cyclist. Another long walk up a hill to T1 to collect the bike.
Off onto the bike course. This was a 20 lap route over undulating and exposed countryside. 20 laps of 11.7 miles to give you a total of 234 miles! Having not ridden the route beforehand, it was a steady spin for the first lap assessing the route. After all, I was going to be on the bike for a long, long time! Funny how the wind was still blowing, but in your face! Across the exposed moorland, avoiding the cattle and ponies just wandering across the road. Then the car drivers who refuse to budge an inch at the bottle necks, so you lost speed very time you came across them. Off the moors,and up a hill, down the hill into Burley, through Burley full of tourists and potholes, then up another hill, drop down onto another exposed area of moorland (more headwind), across the moors, then another hill, before another decent. Finally a flattish, undulating road (which had been recently tarred and chipped) took you back through the forest towards the bike turnaround. On this patch, you had some protection from the wind. Then you turned towards the bike turnaround, again up a hill! So 4 big hills, times 20 laps, makes it a lot of climbing on the legs!
Each lap passed, and the big black clouds were looming. Not in my head (not yet) but outside. You could see them gathering and the wind was blowing them onto the course. Lap after lap passed, stop every 2 laps, take on extra food and drink. Stop every 4 laps to take solid food and a hot drink (pastie and tea, thank you Mr Ginster!). The half way mark soon passed at 10 laps, then the rain started. Yes, rain, coupled with the relentless wind, it just was not going to be fun.
As it was getting close to lighting up time, all riders were getting stopped to put on their lights and hi-vis vests. This was the point when I realised that my £75 200 lumen light was not going to be good enough to get me through the night. The race organiser had advised on a 200 lumen minimum, I should have paid the £160 for the 400 lumen lights, but too late!
Funny how you do all the planning in the world for your race, then you realise that you cannot see the road in front of you let alone your speedometer. The light had worked fine at home when I done my night ride, but that was in the dry. Once the roads were wet, they just absorbed the light so you were virtually riding blind, not good! Even the athletes with the 400+ lumens were struggling to see where they were going, but more importantly what to avoid!
Lap 14 was a bad lap. I had already covered 154 miles and the demons were setting in. There were things in the woods chasing me. They were on my left and right, shadows pulling at the branches trying to pull me off the bike. Time to stop and rest at the next turnaround having completed 164 miles.
Into the tent, soaked clothing off, dry off, re-apply the anti-chaff everywhere, dry clothes, warm food and a hot drink, then a quick crash out in the sleeping bag. 2 hours later and back on the bike to complete the final 6 laps. I didn’t stay dry for long as the wind and rain were still destroying the athletes. It was difficult to get any heat into your muscles to keep them working.
Finally the last lap was approaching, only 11.7 miles to go and 4 more hills, hills which now seemed like climbing St Martine hill, every time! Those who know, know what I mean!!
It was a relief to get off the bike after covering 234 miles with an average speed of 15.4 mph. The actual time in the saddle was 15.30 hours, but include the 2 hour rest period, 17.30 hours for the total bike.
The funny thing was that I still felt in a good condition, my legs were not aching, but maybe that was because they had been subjected to constant wind and rain for most of the night!
Back into the tent, wet clothes off, dry off, more anti-chaff, dry running gear, hot food and drink and into the sleeping bag for 1 hour to raise my core temperature. 1 hour later, and an extra layer, then off the the run course.
This is where it all went wrong. Originally, it had been a 26 x 2 mile run, with 1 mile off road and 1 mile on tarmac. This had been changed to a 52 mile off road run, 52 laps off road, in the cold and rain. Again, the run had x4 hills which took all the strength from your legs each time you hit a hill.
The race organiser then informed us that the cut off time had been extended by 4 hours due to the bad weather. Not that we had noticed, as we had been soaked and frozen for hours! So the cut off time was now 39 hours instead of 35.
Each lap ticked off, 1 by 1. On lap 20, it all went bad. Coming down off one of the hills, there was no grip and I went over twisting my knee. Not good. I tried to run but could not put any pressure on the knee, so had to resort to a speed walk.
This is the point where your head goes through numerous calculations about time, speed and distance. If I could keep to 3.5 miles an hour distance, I could just get under the cut off time of 39 hours. My original plan of running to 30 miles had gone with the fall.
The rain was making the run course ridiculous now. Athletes were even falling over on the flat due to the course being a complete mudbath. Dermot had joined me for a lap to assess the course, but I know he was checking on me.
After completing 10 laps walking the course, the weather and conditions had taken their toll. My calculations were telling me that even if I kept going for the next 7 hours at my current walking pace, then I would not make the cut-off time.
I made the decision to get to 32 laps then call it a day. Not an easy decision to make after putting so much into this race.
I completed lap 32 and gave my chip to the organiser. We talked for 15 minutes about the times and I said that there was no way I could get under the current cut off time, explaining that the course was getting worse every hour with more and more athletes going round.
So, it was off to find the support crew and head back to the tent to try to get my core temperature back to a healthy level.
It was strange, but I did not have any regrets about withdrawing from the race.
After getting some sleep and hot food, things seemed a lot brighter the next day. The race organiser had decided to extend the cut-off by another 5 hours to 4am as the athletes were struggling with the difficult conditions. Even knowing this post race, I don’t think it would have made any difference to my final decision. I had no more dry clothes, all 3 pairs of trainers had been used, even my normal clothes had been worn to try to keep my core temperature healthy. It was just impossible to stay dry and keep and temperature in your body.
So I have my second DNF in a 24 year career!
Only 24 athletes finished out of 50 starters. If you took the original cut-off time of 35 hours, less than 10 athletes would have completed the full event.
This course was far harder than the course at Lichfield the previous year, the course itself was more physically demanding and the weather was completely atrocious.
My ultimate respect goes to those who completed the Double and they deserve to wear their finishers T shirt with pride.
My thanks go to the following:
Pam , for losing me for most of the last year with my training.
Sophie, for Dad not being around to annoy her!
Dermot, for getting me in the best condition for the race, both physically and mentally.
Finally.
Thanks to all who sent messages of support, I was getting a constant feed from my support crew (Pam and Dermot) during the event, which during the dark times helped keep me going.
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