You never know how far you can go, until you decide to do it!

It’s the day after this huge event that’s been in my mind for the last nine months. The Nottingham Outlaw. Swim 2.4 miles, bike 112miles and run 26.2 miles. And I’ve woken up this morning and realised I’ve actually achieved it. It is almost as if someone else has done it – I can’t quite get my head round it. However I have the physical reminders that it was me out there with the elements.

My major worry all along was the swim. It wasn’t the best start but I always knew that was going to happen – I hit a huge bank of weed and it was really energy sapping in those early adrenalin fuelled stages. Once I found a bit of clear water I gradually got into a rythm and just tried to focus on anything but the fear that was ready to rear its ugly head (if I let it) – You’ll laugh but the song that I had going through my mind was the theme tune to the children’s programme ‘Rainbow’ that Dave and I had been watching the night before as we couldn’t find any other comedy – “up above the streets and houses” – was what I kept singing to myself as I swum and it had the effect of completely relaxing me. I did pray a little too and I think it all helped. Once I’d finally reached the turnaround point (and crossed the water – my other previous fear) – I knew I was on the home stretch and so I eventually relaxed a bit more and I kept saying to myself where’s that scoreboard, it’s not in sight yet, where is it! However eventually and this really is the key word for the day I realised it was PATIENCE that I had to master, because eventually it all came into sight – the scoreboard, then the 500m sign and soon I knew the Speedo gantry wouldn’t be much further. I was ecstatic with the thought that I’d soon be finishing and that I’d been able to master that blooming lake that had been the master of me for so long – it was a fantastic feeling and I punched the air as I emerged. If the race had ended here I would have looked back with happiness to have achieved this because it has been my nemisis for all this time – and also my first ever competitive open water swim.

So into transition and a complete change of clothes because I wanted to be comfortable for that distance – however it was tricky getting the clothing on after being wet – although I had a towel. Out on my bike – one lap round the lake before heading off towards Southwell and 3 loops there. The third loop was the most mentally sapping. But I kept saing that – well this is now the last time you’ll see that particular hill or that particular landmark and that helped. The riders had thinned out too on that last lap so being able to see at least one or two others helped. The loneliness can be hard if it finds you when you’re feeling weak. At other times it can be fine. It depends where you are mentally at the time. The only small problem I had on the bike is that on the second lap I couldn’t get my chain into the big ring and part way through I thought I had a puncture and then another point I thought I’d lost my race belt – but it was all fine. I did lose two bottles out of my back holders on a ramp just coming into H Pierrepont which was pretty ironic as you’re not expecting something to happen so close to home. The support on the bike was great – the supporters, my mum and Dad and bother and sister-in-law had set up camp at the side of the road and I went by them every 2 hours or whatever it was – 3 times, I also saw Jez and Pat marshalling at one of the round abouts and there was this chap dressed as a mexican with cowbells who was a great sight to see as he was at the top of a really horrible long hill.

So, two disciplines down in 9 hours and just the run to go. I’d run one marathon before in 5hrs 35 and so was thinking I could probably finish the Outlaw in 15 hours. However nothing was to prepare me for the gastric problems I encountered on the run. I had to dart in and out of toilets and must have spent an hour messing around trying to sort it out. Unfortunately the medics didn’t have any imodium and it was a really tough thing to hear as I still had another lap to go – about 7 miles and I was in pain and also had little control! It was a real low point as a previous medical point had told me that this paricular point would have some. Then just as I turned the corner near the boat house I could see my bother running towards me – I’ve got some imodium – I couldn’t believe it! It was like a huge gift there infront of me. I couldn’t wait to get to the scoreboard point where there was some water and get it down. Then another ‘gift’ happened. I’d just taken on the water and was walking a bit towards the embankment and hoping the tablet would quickly kick in and a runner came up to me and said – shall we do this last lap together? It was like something sent from heaven. It was starting to get dark and I knew it would be lonely out there. Well this was probably one of my favourite points in the race – because we were able to run some way and walk some way and were limping along like this and chatting. This man was called Roger and had done two previous ironmans but had failed to complete the last one prior to this and was wanting to lay some of his demons to rest – he thought it was to do with getting older. So we were actually walking really well – striding out and because the running had brought on my cramps I was happy what we were doing and we were both keeping an eye on time and saying – well even if we did this bit in such and such a time we’d still get back – it was a really nice moment – I say moment – it was two hours we were together and it was just fantastic. When we finally appeared back on to the main lake it was dark and the flood lights were on and near the top of the lake, two 4life junior members, Ellen & Sophie cycled over and it was great to see them too – I could also hear cheers from across the water from 4Life who had been fantastic all day. That support is vital I can’t tell you how much. You look forward to the fact that just around the corner there is this or that person and it really does help get you through.

So we were running and walking around the main lake, so knew it was only a couple of miles to go. My run had been dominated by gastric issues and yes if I hadn’t have had them I may have come in an hour sooner – however, it taught me alot too. That you can get through some real low points, that if you brave some of these things there is always a turning point somewhere along the line even if you think it will never come, that patience is a massive virtue and is vital for an event such as this to believe and then know that eventually it will all come together. The support of that fellow runner who had his own painful issues to deal with and the diverting of attention from our pain to other stuff really helped and made the time pass too. That there were so many people there yesterday I could never really feel alone and looking back I was a long time out there but it didn’t seem so long as that in reality.

I want to thank everyone who supported me in raising funds for research into pancreatic cancer, and everyone who was there on the day. I hope to repay my support to you on your next races.

Cheers
And if I can do this, seriously anyone can! You just have to decide to DO it!

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