One month on

It has been over a month since Ironman. Since then I raced in a local 5k (stupidly, it really hurt), cycled to work a few times and been for a few light jogs. I also got round to getting the backs of the medals engraved.

 

This week (and one decent beasting week before which made me hurt so much I couldn't keep up with C at soft play and I almost got stuck in an underground tunnel) I have decided to get back to being fit. I want to improve my run a lot and I'm at a stage where I can run and enjoy it. I may have had a stress fracture or done something to the muscles in my right foot and two of my toes on that foot lost their nails and ached. The foot was quite swollen for the week or two after the race. This week none of those things have bothered me though a month off has taken a bit of a dent in my pace.

The runs I have done have included 100 push ups and sit ups to break things up and steady jogs. Being out of practice those hurt considerably.

Yesterday I ran to the copper horse, turned right to pick up a bridle path and as I hit it noticed a chap running alongside me who I remembered having been stretching by the statue. I wrapped up my head phones and said hello so we got chatting. I noticed however that he got steadily faster to a point just beyond my current comfort zone given the strange twings and twangs my legs have been throwing at me. Once I found out he was nearly 70 (and had a cold) I realised there was no way I couldnt keep up with him. HE then kindly showed me a shortcut back though to my dismay I found that it was a shortcut to his car and not to where I needed to be, extending my run further. I did at one point have to knock back the pace but I take solace in the fact that he was 23 years in the military and personal trainer and about to head off to run an ultra marathon in the kalahari desert.

Today I went for another run with Chris which was really nice and despite the twinges was happy at 6mph with conversation. Calves got really tight by the end, reallymust stretch.

I'm still elated by my Ironman experience, I love having the picture of Tenby beach on the wall with us all lined up ready to start and the lack of pressure is fantastic. I didn't realise just how much I had it hanging over me and struggled with any missed training opportunities. 

Geoff Hurst You Are An Ironman! (Part Dva)

First lap nearly done, seeing Jan was good fun and looking at some of his stop motion pics I was overtaking...

Again, I promise I'll proof read this one day.

One of my really nice memories about the ride, other than the scenery, was the company. A bloke called Richard who I spent some time talking to about being a larger gentleman being in one's element downhill I saw a few times. A German guy on an excellent Giant bike which he had bought off a pro I had a nice chat with for some time until he admitted that he was struggling to match my pace so had to slow down. A guy who was given an almost empty bottle of water and then missed some food and carried on, he was ever so grateful when I shared banana with him. The girl called Fran he seemed to introduce me after the second time around Narbeth who had an amusing, dry sense of humour.

I had also been spotted by Lauren, Corin's better half, which I considered to be superb Hurst-recognition skills. It was nice to get a cheer from her, her mum and Corin's mum.

The second lap I stepped up a bit with my effort levels and had an amazing time. I seemed to be flying past people. The lumpy part towards the end presented some fun, quite a few people walking here on the 16% incline. I managed to keep spinning...

As I flew into T2 in the town I seem to recall seeing some of the family and possibly hearing my name but I was focusing on not running over the marshal.


Bike finished in 7hrs 6 minutes.

T2 was fine, a lot of people seemed to be sitting on little seats and being checked by some medics or bantering with marshals. I did stop to tell an Air Cadet off for their messily worn Beret and have a bit of faffing with glasses but otherwise I strolled on out to do a marathon.


Leaving transition to start my run could not have been more incredible. At this point I knew that my legs were a bit wobbly but I felt like I had bags of energy still and that I wasn't scared of the run. More than that I saw Jan then Dad again, stood by the exit of transition.

I'm not sure why Dad chose to stand next to a lady with that written on her back, I hope it wasn't thinking it was my fan club.

A short way up the road I then saw the family with Paul and Jenna. Everyone got a kiss except for Paul who recoiled in horror then off I set, wondering how long it would be before my legs started to work.

The way out of town is a little bit stumbly and bumpy but then it lead past my rented cottage and up a hill. A big hill. Then down a hill a bit. Then up it again. And then down a lot. Seeing Peter and Rosie at the top was good and knowing they were there drove me on to reach them and made me keep  the pace up when on the shuttle run at the top. THey were well positioned so I got to see them a lot. They have a way of just being completely at home anywhere. It would not have looked amiss if Peter had held up score cards and gave pointers from when he was an elite triathlete but hadn't ever mentioned to me. Don't know if thats true but he was in the choir at the Queen's coronation. 

I made a concious effort to take my time throuh feed stations and get as much down me as I could. I alternated what I ate and drank and completely avoided the red bull which absolutely stank of chemicals and was the messiest feed station.

Oh yes, on the way up the hill there was a line of about 5 little old ladies, one of whom had a trombone and played us on. Men of Harlech was being played when I went up first.

Shortly after her were Macmillan cheering team who provided an amazing level of encouragement. Must have been a tiring day for them. Not as tiring as doing an ironman probably though.

My memories of the race, just three weeks on, are just snap shots of amazing moments. Mini anecdotes. Conversations with people who I kept pace with for a short time before being left behind or plodding on ahead of. 

General thoughts and impressions during first lap:
OK this is a hilly course. Anyone can run 10k, just do this then worry about the marathon part. People keep cheering me on and saying I'm doing well for a big lad or 'bless him'. Damn my back hurts. thank goodness for those drugs hopefully they'll kick in.

Lap two:
Hey, just get through this one and you're at half way. That is LESS than a run to work and you did that quite a few times without any dramas. Stick to the game plan, dont burn out. Oh! I can run fast downhill and it doesnt hurt as much. People cheering me now properly as I have a coverted 'lap' band on my arm. Someone called me Jolly Green Giant. Streets of people keep yelling my name I could get used to this.

Lap three:
Got to go carefully now, take it easy Hurst, dont burn out. Keep those hips pushed forward, keep form, keep moving the legs efficiently, if walking its power walking.

Lap four:
OK this must be where I hit the wall. Back and foot are pretty painful. Keep hips forward. Gentle pace and can do sub 14. Shit I'm not going to make sub 14 go faster. Shit I'm not going to make 14 hours, how depressing. Yay I made sub 14 hours.

Each time I ran past the house there would be a sentry outside ready to call otheers out to cheer on. I usually had to call ahead to be noticed despite being mean green and not very lean. My daughter refused to come out at lap three so I had to look through the window to see her bundled up on the sofa. Awww. Passing the house was always the best bit of the run for me.

At one point I ran with Corin for a while which was great, really enjoyed sharing our success and the experience with him. 

I rarely needed to dip into my strategies for keeping my mind off things such as reciting poetry in head as the support was so good. Thanks Tenby.

I also ran with Fran again for a while. We found we were going a similar pace and could make 14 hours but then at the top of the hill I regretfully parted company with her. Then she overtook me at a feed station. Then I went past her downhill. Then I found out afterwards she was Iaim's friend. Coincidence or WHAT??

In Tenby on the last lap I had Jan ahead of me, a green flash prompting streets full of people to yell GEOFF GEOFF GEOFF etc. They didnt yell etc. I meant they kept yelling GEOFF. before I had even gone around the corner. Downhill I went as fast as I could, uphill I jogged or power walked. I'm really interested in seeing the watch information to see how fast I was going with the perceived effort. I didnt think I was going to make sub 14 hours but then I heard an announcement along the lines of 'athletes out there you havent long for a sub 14 hours race!' I ran really hard around the corner towards the finishing line, saw paul kaye @Kayeman and really went for it not sure exactly how long I had. I saw the finishing clock and had a surge of emotion equal (almost) to that of C's arrival into the world: I'm here safely and no one can take this moment away from me.

Geoff Hurst, you are an Ironman!

I was so pleased that I could share the moment with Nicky, I was rather stunned and almost got given two medals because I walked in a circle around the mayor. I say the mayor, someone with a large gold chain around their neck I think. Could have been Mr T. "You aint gettin' no second medal fool!" they said in a Welsh accent and I found my wife to give her a big hug. This was her moment as much as mine, she might have been a bit worried after she and my mum almost cancelled the marathon I had done over a year ago as I was suffering so much. Months of supporting me to this place, all the sacrifices of husband going out at stupid oclock etc over. A little while after the race she asked if I could start doing weights again as she likes me with bulging arm guns it seems.

Hmmmm protein shake and wife to lean on.

Waiting for Corin before N had to go relieve the babysitters.

After this I had an amazing time with my dad, stood at the finish line, listening to Paul Kaye tell people they had finished and getting really caught up in the emotion and triumph of others and reflecting on my own succes. I was grateful to Jan for allowing me to do that by babysitting my bike and kit, I really want to see Corin finish and cheer him in. He didn't notice us yelling but he was having a jolly nice time.

Official photos of the race were all crap and I'm gutted there was not a video of my finish (that I can find anyway).

As Jan and I walked back to the house at 11 oclock ish, there were still people running. Barriers were being taken down, signs taken away, hopes of their finish on the edge. I suddenly felt very tired.

It was not the race I thought it would be but I loved it and am very happy with under 14 hours. I'll smash that next time.

I am so indebted to so many for donating http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GeoffHurst I made my macmillan target, for words of encouragement, for fixing my bike, for coming to see me, for  that cheering for me at home, for training with me, for advice and everything that I cant think of. Thank you all.

I'm an Ironman.