2 Months later should finally do a race report whilst sitting here eating none other than Tenby rock.
So the decision was made to head back to sunny south Wales back in 2025 when a number of conversations floated about to get a good contingent of TTG to participate in IM Wales. A group of lads Jon M, Adey and Steve I believe went down on the Friday to get ahead of the game and sign up for 2026. Jon M exchanged details and I was in the mix it was booked.
I did it in 2023 before I joined the club and believed I could go back and go better than that year. So the plan was set and project -12 was drafted up. And I was going to self-coached and do it all off my own back.
The winter was all about running and long long runs as i was booked in for cape wrath ultra in May 2026. with IM Wales still being my A race.
I had many doubts heading into winter and over the Xmas break if I was capable of a 400K ultra across the Scottish highlands and then bouncing straight into an Ironman build. I had discussed with close mates about my potential and maybe i bit off more than I could chew and whether to defer either. But me being me I’m an in for a penny in for a pound kinda guy. I’m never
one to shy away from the hard yards.
After a lot of deliberation whether I was even capable of completing the ultra i doubted myself if I could reach the 12 hour target time at ironman Wales.
So around Feb/March time the company who ran cape wrath ultra went into administration and along with £1900 entry fee. that I was devastated and relived at the same time. So then it was all eyes on Triathlon.
I got back in the pool and got the TT bike setup on the turbo trainer and slowly started to build into a structured routine around march time. A big group had entered 51fiver which I didn’t plan as was the same weekend as cape wrath began.
I managed to pick up a late entry and used this to springboard the build into project -12. the times at this didn’t represent my true capabilities but it was a good platform to know where I was at fitness wise. So back to the planner and started to build a 16 week plan which would take me to Tenby.
Getting back out on the bike in the earlier months for the first bridge loop of the year with Jish, Pete S and Chris A. my first proper outing of the year the bike bug was back and I wanted more.
The summer build went well adding in a lot of structure. The key for me this build was consistency no matter how boring it looked, consistency is key. The mileage ramped up the distance ramped up and it went well. Chasing Pete S and Biff up and down the pool at Nuffield. 13 weeks of Slad loops with Wayne and Biff every Wednesday across the summer all chasing -60 for roundabout to roundabout. IYKYK. Tricky joined in one of these albeit being tucked up behind me for the majority of the A46 stretch 😂.
Many more bridge loops until middle of July on the TT I got spat off at 25mph. A split second lapse of concentration ended up with me on the deck on the A38 near Dursley. This was caused by fatigue as the previous day I was doing a sunrise hike up try fan. Woke up late the next day and was 10mins down on Wayne and Biff. So jumped on the TT and shot down the A48 before catching them before Westbury.
The off threw me and knocked my confidence and I was questioning whether I would be on the start line. But back in the saddle on Wednesday to keep up the Wednesday tradition of the Slad loop. A couple of open water timed swims to stick the distance in the bank was a massive confidence booster up Lake 86 with the TTG bouts as the distance in the pool wasn’t up there. hitting the Cotswold Way for my long runs for time on feet and the 11mile run was the exact same election as the Tenby marathon.
Heading towards the end of August and knowing the bulk of the work was done I was starting to doubt myself and ability as to whether -12 was still possible. I was always analysing each session and feeding back and cross referencing with previous sessions on previous dates.
A road trip to Tenby with a few TTG lads to recce the bike and run to refresh the memory was to pay dividends on race day albeit the weather was a slight contrast to what we were to face.
Down on the south cost on a camping holiday I did my last long ride of 100 miles along the south coast throwing in plenty of elevation as I knew what was to come on race day. But backed up with a hilly 10 miles run I went back to the plan and it was still on track for -12.
10 days out and we were into September race month. Wednesday morning hit Slad loop with Biff for the 13th week in a row on the TT bikes and boy it was dark at 5am now. Heading up over to stroud was black and I was still grinding questioning myself and whether I was where I needed to be. Coming up to Birdlip the sun was beaming and we chatted. That was it the work was done and we laughed and joked about the paparazzi chasing us. The last dance was done!!
Now race week is upon us and I booked the Friday and Monday off. Myself and James B went for a steady swim and sauna on the Friday morning for one last shake out, and ultimately for me to take possession of his bike to courier it to South Wales and keep hold until racking as that boy can’t be trusted on 2 wheels this year. That’s it the vans loaded with both bikes and off to Tenby to face the Dragon on what feels has been the biggest and most consistent build to date. I had been constantly checking weather window for race day and diff forecasts as was undecided which bike I would race so took both and both wheel options for the TT to cover all bases.
Got to Tenby checked in and got the kit, walked round did a bit if mooching and had a great fish and chips with a the TTG crew followed by a nice pint of Guiness.
Saturday T – 1 day
I was up early checking everything and going through all kit, had a wonder round town and got everything racked early. Decided on the TT with shallow rims as was meant to be dry as the day went on and the punchy winds I didn’t want to be battling the rear disc. Locked and loaded and with 2 of my best friends we went and had one last look at the red carpet.
Sunday September 13
This is it all roads lead here up early breakfast in everything double checked headed to Transition to rack and it was bloody miserable dreary weather.
Swim 1:31
Got in the water and was a chop to it not as bad as I was expecting but I stuck to the plan and kept going and sticking to as straight a line as I could, lap 1 43 mins bang on pace into lap 2 and the current picked up along the back straight what felt like an eternity. Don’t know why but thought oh haven’t seen any jellyfish then bang straight in the face and boy did it sting. I kept my composure and exited the water with my face stinging like hell.
T1 16:39
Decided to stay in the tri suit and put the arm warmers on as knew they would pay dividends looking up at the sky running into the tent I knew the drizzle wasn’t going to let up anytime soon. Running by the town walls I saw Adey coming round the corner on his bike and in my head that was the target and he had a 60min timer on his head he didn’t know about.
Bike 6:10
Come through town and headed out to angle tucked up tight finding a sweet spot to motor along and get comfortable. I managed to get by a lot of traffic albeit a lot of people being blow around on disc wheels. First up saw Chris A and Tricky shouted as past keep going boys. Heading into the no overtaking zone I just passed Dave Neil’s before winding off and a barrage of abuse for overtaking even though I hadn’t actually entered the no overtaking zone.
Coming by freshwater I saw Adey and the clock said 1:01 so don’t quite catch on the hour. I remember telling him keep the HR low and keep ticking don’t chase. I motored up Freshwater and into the first aid station. Grabbed some fluids and got my head back down. Heading back into Lamphey I hit a speed bump and shot into the verge but just managed to keep the bike upright and guide into the tarmac. The decent back down was sketchy and being on rim brakes I found I was on them most the day and had to back off a lot sooner than I would otherwise with a lot of sharp descents and turns.
Out to Narbeth the motorbike come past with the lead bike in tow. So I dropped some W and went with him for a bit maintaining the gap and trying to build on momentum, found this wasn’t sustainable not with lacking fitness but the ups and downs and turns in the drizzling rain made me back off and race my own race. For lap 2 ended up in no mans land and kept the head down and maintaining good power but doing the calcs the possibility of a -6 bike started to run away from me. I didn’t chase the clock and risk a DNF as seeing so many crashes and people in bushes and hedges I didn’t want to jeopardise my race for chasing a time.
The final descents into Wiseman’s and Saundersfoot was none other than dangerous and had to box clever on this. Actually rode with my brain for this one. Racing down the hill into T2 I had gone over 6 hour mark but just wanted to get into and off the bike. 2 dropped bottle less meant I had to re#calc my nutrition and ended up running 93g carbs instead of the planned 100g.
T2 10:27
Racked the bike and hit the portaloo to finally have a proper toilet break as opposed to pissing down my leg which I had done for the previous 6 hours. Went for full kit change as wanted to feel fresh on the run with everything clean and dry. Laced up the Saucony and it was mission catch Pete.
Run 4:15
Coming out of T2 I saw Max and Jess on the sideline and said how far is up the road is Pete and Jess said about 10 mins. That was it game on, for me it wasn’t about racing against Pete but racing with him and using him to bring out the best in me like we had to in a lot of training sessions I believe we pushed each other on. Let the legs go through the town and looked down to see 4:30 pace ooppss back off and wind it in. Remember it’s a marathon today gwilty!!!
Lap 1 59 bang on time I had settled into a nice rhythm using the descents to carry momentum up hill and checking HR going uphill as to try maintain and not go too hard.
Lap 2 coming out of town I saw James in the crowds and asked what happened. He said he missed the cut off and I went FFS. For me that added fuel to the fire and I know as one of my best friends he wanted me to perform that day. At the turn around I just past Pete coming the other way and caught him on the descend into town. We had a brief chat and both knew we were on the same lap and cross ref times he was bang on 10 mins into the run ahead of me. Collected the second band and down the hill I went for the second time. went through half way bang in track 1:59 the 4:00 was still a possibility but I knew the Welsh hills had other ideas.
Lap 3 Jish came alongside and passed me on his first lap we chatted briefly and off he went, I soon caught him on the drop back into town and passed him for my forth and final lap. Coming up the hill I walked to keep the Hr down had a steady stroll with Steve G and we had a chat and discussed the day. I decided to kick on and get to the turnaround point. Coming through the gates to get my last band the feeling of relief knowing that was nearly over was great. Just a drop into town and back to the red carpet now. Coming back up the high street I saw Adey walking I joined him for a brief moment. I tried to find some words of encouragement as I know how he felt every one of the 140 miles loaded into the legs I knew the pain and suffering he was facing. I told him it’s going to get dark but these are the moments you find out who you really are. I slapped him on the ass and said keep going.
Coming round to hit the red carpet I was looking left and right to find the fan club, James B was in the right I hugged him and high 5 and they cheered. I found my support group just past the finish line and had a huge cuddle with my son who said good job dad. For me that was it the months and months of graft was done. I crossed the line in 12:24 so the -12 dream wasn’t to be. But for me the only person I beat was the man I was yesterday and on that day in those conditions I truly believe -12 isn’t far out of reach.
In the week following the race I wasn’t satisfied with my performance and with Cheltenham Half Marathon the following Sunday I looked for an entry bib. As a friend of mine was returning from injury I said I’ll try get one and would love to let the legs go.
I did the parkrun on the Saturday to see how the legs felt and luckily another fellow Wales IM lad was there and we ran a steady 30 mins. We chatted to let the legs tick over and keep the HR down. The legs felt good I knew I could go do Chelt half the following day.
Cheltenham Half Marathon 1:42
So I arrived without a plan and just wanted to let the legs go if they wanted too and had a time of 1:50ish. got in the 1:45 pen and went out steady HR shot through the roof and I couldn’t keep up with my mate he kept checking for me I told him to go on, I wound off and wanted to keep the hr in check so I did n blow up. I kept a distance behind the 1:45 pacer and kept ticking along at the 5:00 pace. with about 3 k to go I devices it was time to let the legs go and pulled the pin to up the pace. I cleared the 1:45 pacer and round the Pitville Park I see a mate out with his dog and got back to the racecourse and shot downhill towards the finish crossing in 1:42 not bad considering had a full IM loaded into the legs only 7 days prior.
