Update 2nd June 2008
I DID IT!!!
After an early start at 4.20am on Sunday, we drove to the site and got my bike racked, kit set up and wetsuit on in the water for 6.15am. The water was lovely and warm. There were 200 in our wave and the mass start was good fun, a bit like white water rafting; a mass of froth with bodies everywhere. A big surprise was a bloom of jelly fish that had washed into the estuary.
I did well in the swim but fell behind on the bike leg, managing to finish the 54 miles in 3 hours 10 minutes which is good going for me but the others were flying, I was very impressed. Tom, my training partner, had swum a bit quicker than me but he really pulled away on the bike, finishing in less than 3 hours. I came back into my own in the running leg, my favourite part, but it still took me 8 miles to catch Tom up. I like running and to be fair Tom really hates it.
After the first 7 miles of running I knew finishing was possible, if I could avoid hurting myself. I was so amazed to finish (5 hours 43 minutes in total) and, strange as it may seem, it was such good fun. The New Forest was beautiful and my family and good friends were there to cheer me on. Thanks everyone for your amazing support.
I really enjoyed the event and would love to do another one, but probably next year…though there is another Half Iron Man in Rutland on the 6th September 2008, so I could be tempted…”
*******************************************
22 May 2008
Thanks for visiting my fundraising page. I'm Oli Foot (32) a development scientist, living in Penarth with my partner Mia and our two daughters. I'm also Chair of the Cardiff Steiner Early Years Centre Trustees.
I'm taking part in the The Half Iron Man Triathlon to raise funds for the Centre's new Bursary Fund. The Half Iron Man is infamous for its gruelling length and race conditions, with a 1.19 mile river swim, 56 mile bike ride and a 13 mile half marathon taking place one after the other on the same day!
I got involved by accident through a friend looking for a training buddy. I told him I didn't have a suitable bike and thought that was that... Two weeks later he emailed me saying I could borrow his Dad's bike, and now here I am with only a few days to go until my first competition...
Worst thing about training...winter running after work to Cardiff station in the cold and wet with bad trainers, getting blisters on my feet that took a week to heal and sore nipples from wet clothes, waiting on the platform freezing cold for the train home.
Best thing about training...my training partner Tom.
Both our children went to the Cardiff Steiner Centre giving them a fantastic opportunity to develop and mature in a caring, family like environment before being immersed in more formal mainstream education. By supporting the bursary fund, children of parents with lower incomes can benefit from Steiner Education at the Centre too.
The money raised is going to a very special cause, so please sponsor me now! Many thanks for your encouragement and support.
Oli
