Race report
Thanks everyone for your sponsorship.
I made it and I'm still in one piece. My time was 7hrs 39mins 55secs.
The weather conditions were very favourable and Wimbleball Lake looked fantastic with a few fluffy clouds hanging on the horizon. Once we were all in the water waiting for the start the national anthem was played and all the competitors spontaneously erupted in song! Quite an experience. From the gun the 1500 strong field spread out around the course but even by the last buoy it was still so busy around me in the water that the odd whack on the head or kick from in front found it's mark. Nonetheless a very enjoyable swim.
There was a short run up to transition to remove the wetsuit and pick up the bike.
The bike course has 52 hills some of which are very steep but I got stuck in and did a very reasonable time, 4 hours 5 minutes for the 56 miles. There was a lot of support on the course and the camaraderie with the other competitors was great, especially on the steep bits where we were all suffering! At the bike dismount the legs couldn't remember how to walk so it must have been quite comical watching.
Gradually brain connected with legs and after a slow transition I began the run.
Only 13.1 miles to go. I have to admit that I didn't run up many of the inclines but not wanting to let myself down, and everybody who sponsored me and friends and family, kept me going when the legs just didn't want to go and the pain was at times quite intense. I'd promised myself I could walk the last lap (there were 3) but the fact that the end was now in sight kept me running and the joy of seeing the finish line is indescribable.
So, I'm now the proud owner of a Wimbleball 70.3 rucksack, medal and the T-shirt.
Was it worth it? Yes.
Would I do it again? NO!!!
The Wimbleball 70.3 claims to be the hardest Ironman 70.3 race in the world and it felt like it!
I took up Triathlon 3 years ago, just after I became a grandmother and have completed a number of Sprint and Olympic distance races. The Wimbleball race is half the Ironman distance, twice the Olympic distance that I have competed in previously. It's a total of 70.3 miles which includes a 1.2 mile swim in Wimbleball Lake, a 56 mile bike over some very tough Exmoor terrain and a 13.1 mile run just to finish with.
Check out the courses here: http://www.ironmanuk.com/ironman-uk-703/race-details/courses
