10/06/2026
IRONMAN BOLTON 70.3 - RACE DEBRIEF 🏊 🚲 🏃🏼
After a 3:45am wake up call, we headed for the Athletes bus to take us to the race start. At this point my heart rate was already 105bpm and I felt so sick with nerves 😅
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1.9km Swim - The speedy competitors race start was 6:15am which left slower swimmers like myself gradually moving forward to the start line. I eventually got in the water at around 7:10am. I was aiming for around 45 mins but after getting out I realised my wetsuit had somehow managed to come undone, leaving me feeling like I was towing a cruise ship 😅 finished at 50mins.
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90km Bike - the first 40km I felt good, legs felt fresh, head was in a good place and I felt positive 💪 This is where I had to do my first bag empty, as I got off my bike my hamstring decided to completely cramp up. A quick stretch and some electrolytes and I cracked on. The one thing I was dreading all day was the BIG hill (twice)! I am not the best cyclist but after the first rep of the hill, I thought it was all over! Both quads cramped up whilst cruising downhill and I was in agony. With 20km left to go and another rep of heartbreak hill to go, I had to really dig deep! Another 2 bag empties on the bike did not help with time! Bike 3:41hrs
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21km Run - Coming into T2 I managed to roll my ankle which set me up for a great start 🤦♂️ there was no way I wasn’t getting through this half marathon, I had to finish! My original goal pace was 5:30 per kilometre but had to slow that down to around 6:15. I just put my head down and counted down the Kilometres. I did a fair chunk of walking to try stretch off the legs but at the end of the day, I finished it.
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Finish line - on my route in I saw cheering me on and I knew I’d done it! Getting on the red carpet I saw my mum, sisters and girlfriend, this was the best feeling in the world! Having the people around me that have been there through my journey from Soldier to Stoma to Ironman! Thank you!!
Finish time - 7:05:10. I am more than happy with that but we can only get better and learn from this as I first! 💪
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