News

Walking towards T1 in the dark at 4 o'clock in the morning was a strange experience. After all the training, preparation and waiting, I was now only two hours away from the start and feeling very nervous. Yes I had listened to the advice about only thinking about one discipline at a time but I was suddenly completely overwhelmed and daunted by the enormity of the task ahead. A good proportion of the next two hours was spent using the toilets and worrying that I hadn't trained enough, I haven't got enough fluid in me, I haven't packed everything I need into the bags but then at half past five something happened that I will never forget. Twelve hundred triathletes were led down to the water with hundreds of spectators lining the route cheering, followed by loads of photographers and a film crew: and I was a part of it. I felt like a celebrity and the race hadn't even started yet! By the time I got to the water all nerves had gone and I had a real feeling of euphoria, a feeling that I would get again and again as the day went on.

Swimming out towards the start line with the crowd behind us was incredible and there was so much camaraderie between the athletes. The sight of so many in the water was truly awe inspiring. And then all of a sudden without any warning that I could hear we were off! I had positioned my self quite near the front but on the extreme right hand side thinking I would have plenty of space but once we got going I had little room to swim. However it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I didn't get punched or kicked, it was tight but not impossibly so, however I was very disorientated and lost all sense of direction. I just kept swimming relying on the wisdom of the heard. It went by very quickly and the swimmers spread out more and more as we went on. Pushing hard to the end and right at the feet of another swimmer , I clambered out of the water in a shockingly good one hour eleven minutes, what an incredible start! A huge adrenalin rush and no horrible steep slopes meant a quick run into transition, however putting on full cycling kit in a tight changing area, making sure I packed everything away and a toilet stop meant it was a whole ten minutes before I got onto the bike.

The adrenaline was still pumping and I was off quite quick wanting to take advantage of the fairly flat ride out to Rivington where I knew things would slow down. As I approached Sheephouse lane for the first time there was already a fair few people out willing us on. Taking it easy upthe start of the climb I heard a call of ‘Hey Man Tri'. ‘Arghh you must be Amy then' I said as I overtook, although if everything I had heard was true, I knew this wouldn't be the last I saw of her today.

There was a bit of rain as we got to the top and apart from quite a wind on some parts of the course the weather was ideal. As I approached sheephouse lane for the second time the crowds had thickened including quite a few Man Tri members, a real ‘home advantage' which I would rely on more and more as the day progressed. Average speed so far was 17.8 mph, great for me , but it wasn't to last. A slower second lap - in which I was lapped by some pro's with their motorcycle outriders and camera crew, and then overtaken by my other Man Tri comrade, Alan - was followed by an excruciating final climb of Winter Hill. I was being quite vocal when I got to the top. A spectator called out ‘ Go on let it all out, you'll never have to climb that hill again!', the thought of which left me feeling very elated. However it wasn't to last and the last part of the bike course was a slow affair in which I was passed by my other Man Tri comrade, Alan. I had really had enough, and my back was starting to hurt a lot. In the end it wasn't a case of ‘Oh no I've got a marathon to run' but I can't wait to get off this bike and start running. After a ridiculously long transition (10:34) I was out on the bit I was dreading before the race. But to my surprise I felt amazing despite it starting out on a hill. With some much welcome support from Mark Hannah at the start I soon hit my stride and by the time I got out onto the road I was flying. However there was someone else out there who was also flying on the run and I was soon caught and after a brief chat, was way behind Amy.

And I kept going from strength to strength wondering when I was going to hit the wall, but it never really came. I took gel and water from every feed station, with the occasional banana and only really stopped running to take some hydration tablets (thanks Rob for mentioning those to me, they worked a treat!).

Surprisingly was overtaken by Amy again (who had had to make an unscheduled stop) just after the turn right in front of the finish line! Seeing the finish line before the half way stage wasn't as bad as I thought, in fact it willed me on even more, knowing what I had to look forward to.

Managed the first half in 1:58 at which point I saw Amy again who had pulled over with a dodgy tum. However wasn't long before she whizzed passed me again and I only saw her again running past the other way on the return to the finish, as I did Alan and managed a quick high five as he ran past!

By twenty miles I was slowing a bit but still not stopping. I knew I could still make 13 hours as long as I didn't walk, and then with about 5 miles to go this amazing sense of euphoria came over me and lasted for ages. It was the biggest bout of runners buzz I've ever experienced and I started speeding up, helped a long a great deal by the Man tri members who had made it down to the river part of the course. I did the last 3 miles in 25 minutes, and came round the corner to see the finish line, and a huge amount of noise from a large group of Man Tri members who helped me put on a sprint to the line to finish in 12:36 with a run split of only 14 mintutes slower than my marathon PB.

The feeling I got when I crossed the line and heard the words ‘SIMON GRAY, YOU ARE AN IRON MAN!' is almost indescribable and I must say I got very emotional. I still can't believe I did it. It truly was the race of my life!

Thank you to all those who came out and supported the three of us and well done to Alan and Amy (who was so close to going under 4 hours on the run despite having to stop twice).

Now, if I had some silky smooth continental roads, a flatter course, speedier transitions......... oh know, what have I started!