Story
<p><strong>In 2009, many of you generously sponsored me in the London Marathon. My Dad continues his tragic battle with dementia. Glimpses of this special man still exist.</strong></p>
<p><strong>My mid life crisis continues! The challenge I have now set myself is tough - success is not guaranteed. On the 24th July I will race in the Outlaw Ironman Distance Triathlon. Success is only achieved if you Swim 3.8km, Cycle 180km and run a marathon (42.2 km) in less than 17 hours. If I don't finish in 17 hours - I lose!</strong></p>
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<p><strong>12th Sept 2011: I couldn't leave it with the disqualification in Nottingham. On the the 11th September, I completed Ironman Wales; it was incredibly hard but I did it in 16:15:06!</strong></p>
<p><strong>I am an Ironman!!!!!</strong></p>
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<p><strong>24th July 2011: good news and bad news. I completed the course in 14:29:53 which I am absolutely delighted with. Unfortunately and astonishingly, I was disqualified for drafting (following the bike in front of me too closely). I am astonished and heartbroken by the decision but have been told there is no appeal.</strong></p>
<p><strong>In short, I failed! I will not expect you to pay any top up sponsorship as this was based on success.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Thank you to all for your incredible support and encouragement, I couldn't have done this without you. I am very proud of my achievement for getting a sub 14:30 time. </strong></p>
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<p><strong>3 word countdown.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Sat 23rd: For my Dad</strong></p>
<p><strong>Fri 22nd: Get Ironman Haircut</strong></p>
<p><strong>Thu 21st: Carbohydrates, fluids, rest</strong></p>
<p><strong>Wed 20th: Should I epilate?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Tue 19th: Planning next one!!</strong></p>
<p><strong>Mon 18th: Promised never again!</strong></p>
<p><strong>Sun 17th: Feeling pretty nervous</strong></p>
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<p><strong>-1: Last training event completed - Ripon Triathlon. I pushed the swim and bike as hard as possible to find out what is was like to have absolutely nothing left on the run. After 5k of the 10k run, I found out! and shuffled to the end very slowly. All training pretty much done now. Time to taper.</strong></p>
<p><strong>-2: Completed my 1st ever Half Ironman today (at the British Championships would you believe! - I didn't win!). 6 hours 39 mins - incredibly hard. All I have to do is double that on 24/7!! </strong></p>
<p><strong>-3: "Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion". 104 mile bike in the Cheviots yesterday - very, very tough but I made it.</strong></p>
<p><strong>-4: I did the Windermere Great North Swim (2 miles) on Friday - went well - 1 hour 7 minutes. Only 2 weeks of tough training left before the taper begins - keep going - must keep going!</strong></p>
<p><strong>-5: This time in 6 weeks (hopefully!) I will be an Ironman. Training excellent - food intake not right yet. I need 6 weeks of perfect nutrition - no more rubbish - if you see me eating rubbish - STOP ME!!!!</strong></p>
<p><strong>-6: Completed the Wetherby Triathlon on Monday, then the Ironman Wales course: Friday (3.8k sea swim), Saturday (180k bike) and Sunday (Marathon). Feel great.</strong></p>
<p><strong>-7: Only 8 hours training this week as I rested for next week!. If I survive the 20 hours of actual racing - I will let you know!! </strong></p>
<p><strong>-8: T</strong><strong>ired with 16 hours training this week, but also feeling good. Special thanks to you all, family and friends for all your support and encouragement, I can't express how much this means to me. xx</strong></p>
<p><strong>-9: "Well we made a promise, we swore we'd always remember; no retreat baby, no surrender."</strong></p>
<p><strong>- 10: A real struggle this week. I failed to motivate myself to get all the training in. I mustn't let this go off the rails now. Feeling low today - need to bring the training back to life.</strong></p>
<p><strong>- 11: Fallen out with my bike! After losing nearly 2 stones and a hard winter's training, I cycled a route I had previously cycled in September. Only knocking 4 minutes off my 1:45 time was pathetic. Focusing on running instead - I ran 30k today and felt good all the way. 14 hours training this week.</strong></p>
<p><strong>- 12: Starting to believe I can really do this! Must stay focused on the intense training. If I quit, my sponsors won't care, but I will always know!</strong></p>
<p><strong>-13: Watching Andy, Gio, Jo and Nathalie in the Marathon motivated me to get out on the road again - a long run today. Now the most intense 8 weeks of training: 14 - 16 hours per week.</strong></p>
<p><strong>-14: The Good: I cycled the full 180k twice in the last 8 days. The Bad: I pulled out of the London Marathon to avoid aggravating my hamstring injury. The Ugly: Open water swimming starts soon - me in a wet suit!!!</strong></p>
<p><strong>-15: Happy mothers' day Rosie Evans. I couldn't do all these daft things without your love and support. You are my hero. xx</strong></p>
<p><strong>-16: Hamstring still stopping me running. I cycled 140K in the Yorkshire Dales today (much hillier than the Ironman course). The last 20k were agony and filled with self doubt. Struggling to walk now!</strong></p>
<p><strong>-17: May need to pull out of the London Marathon as I have a slight pull of my hamstring. However, cycling going very well - I did 128km on the actual route in Nottingham yesterday - went very well.</strong></p>
<p><strong>-18: Two learning points this week. 1) Rosie gave me a stern talking to about diet - I will work on that. 2) Don't expect sympathy when you tell the lovely lady who has given birth to your three children that joggers' nipple is as painful as it gets! </strong></p>
<p><strong>-19: I did the Lancaster 20 mile run today. Went well. 3 hours 13 and ran all the way. V. happy with that. </strong></p>
<p><strong>- 20: Plenty of coaching and advice recently. I attended a swim analysis (filming me swimming from underwater followed by coaching), bike maintenance (speedy repairs in race conditions) and a great coaching session from Olympic marathon runner Tracey Morris. Managed a 1 hour swim, 2 hour bike and 70 minute run yesterday.</strong></p>
<p><strong>- 21: Another good week of training. The London Marathon, which I am using as a training run, is only 7 weeks away so I am picking up on the running (4 runs per week). My long run was 16 miles this week - managed to keep my heart rate below 150 all the way.</strong></p>
<p><strong>- 22: Back into some solid training. Did a 15 mile run and also rode up some nasty hills with Gio and Rosie P. Got home, washed STIG (my bike!) with power hose, left hose on by mistake - took us 2 days to work out why there was no water pressure! Phil in bad books again.</strong></p>
<p><strong>- 23: Not good - bad cold for the week, v. little training</strong></p>
<p><strong>- 24: Most successful week yet. Did a great mini tri (1 hour swim, 2 hours bike, 30 mins running). Went so well, it can't continue!</strong></p>