The Big Woody Race Report - Dominating the Dojo!

I actually wrote this on Sunday morning, but unfortunately I've been lost in the Forest of Dean for two days!!! A broken exhaust on the van prevented us heading back out to civilisation and down to Devon and Cornwall.

I'm writing this feeling unexpectedly stiff and sore, drinking coffee and eating pastries! Yesterday was the Big Woody Ironman Distance race. Having had a Tibia stress fracture during Ironman Hawaii, last October, (and more importantly lacking in cash to go abroad for an Ironman) it was good to feel like I could race Ironman again. My goal was just to put in a solid performance. The day before the race it was blowing a gale and very cold – had fingers and toes crossed that the weather would improve. The crossing of all digits obviously worked as race morning was pretty much perfect – cool, with just a light breeze. After a 20 minute delay to the start the 4 laps of Drummonds Dub. Swimming up the lake, into the low sun was a nightmare. I swear I swam in a zig zag fashion adding on 100m each lap. My orange lenses probably didn't help (In that 20 minute delay the sun came up and stayed out!!). But I've been reassured by my boyfriend who did the Little Woody that with dark lens it wasn't much better. Some how my 1:10 swim got me out as 1st lady, must have been by Zoot Wetsuit (shameless plug). Looking at swim times think it was a bit long. Out of transition saw us going straight up a hill – nice to wake the legs up. Before joining the course, of which i'd do 2 and a bit times. The course was winding and hilly, typical British - “I'm riding along, then who put that steep, out the saddle climb, in my path” making it hard to maintain pedalling rhythm. I'll shamelessly admit that I used by 29 sprocket on each of the three times going up the 12% climb out of English Bicknor. Better to save my legs for the run. I was sensible on the bike – my coach Sarah Coope will be proud. I came off the bike still in first place. To be cheered by my boyfriend Simon, who on finishing the Little Woody, had become my support crew. Out on the run, my back was feeling tight, but I quickly found my run legs and settled into a comfortable pace. The run was a lumpy! mainly off road run, of 4 out and backs. I'm not sure where I first saw the 2nd lady but knew I had a comfortable lead. Each time heading back through transition, I was greeted by cheers, encouragement and new bottles for my fuel belt from Simon. By the 3rd lap, my soles of my feet had become really sore (something to do with wearing new Birkenstocks to walk to work, then from work to the seafront and back home on the Monday before the race, stupid!). I passed up the offer of new socks and trainers on the last lap, I've been told I looked liked I was going to burst into tears, but then just trotted off again. If I can try to run with a stress fracture, I can run with sore and blistered soles. In the last mile I lapped the 2nd place lady – I could see her up ahead, she was too much of a target. I finished in 10:55:05, in 5th overall. Swim 1:10. Bike 6:17. Run 3:23 (run a bit short!) Still can't quite believe that my performance and result. Being injured last winter, had put a lot of doubt into my running ability, but had also given me a lot of focus and determination.

Thanks to Trevor and Julian, at Black Sheep Sports for putting on a good event. Challenging course to say the least! If you're after something a bit different from the M dot events this is definitely one to test yourself on, both physically, but also mentally due to minimal crowd support on the course.

Thanks to Martin Branfoot, DJM Products/ Zoot sports from continuing his sponsorship of me this year. Providing me with lots of lovely Zoot training and racing kit – Ultra Tri Shorts are just fabulous!! (girls, you know what I mean).

Also thank you to The Tri Store (Eastbourne), Lawrence and Simon for continued support and interest. Especially thanks and kisses to Simon for all his support both at the race and in training.

Thanks to Sarah Coope, Bodywork xtc, for coaching me this year and being a constant source of encouragement and enthusiasm and also to Glen Cook, for letting me join his morning squad sessions. I'm sure the trashing by speedy 10 – 12 year old swimmers, had built my mental toughness and I definitely came out the water feeling fresher, than previous races, if not faster.

So now for holiday, 10 days in Devon and Cornwall, this time I might get to have a go at surfing. Not quite the north shore of Ohau, Hawaii but at least I can stand and balance after this Ironman!