Congratulations to Toro CSC athletes Kat Roberts, Sarah Hulme and Tim Savage who on Sunday September 11th 2011 became members of the exclusive Ironman finishers club when they crossed the finish line at Ironman Wales.
I've asked for each of the athletes to put together a race report to give you an appreciation of the race and their experiences from varying viewpoints, they will be posted here as soon as they're received.
2011 was the first running of Ironman Wales, and with the reputation of races such as Ironman Austria and Ironman Lanzarote to contend with, and the competition for athletes in an increasingly busy UK long distance race calendar the event management team had a big job ahead of them if they were to deliver a high quality sustainable event.
It's refreshing to be able to report that the Ironman Wales team hit the nail on the head and the event was an incredible success.
Staged in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, the area came alive for an event in a way we don't often experience in the UK, the town was buzzing with Ironman fever from the minute we arrived and with 1500 athletes from over 50 Countries in town there was a real International feel to Tenby.
The Ironman Wales course is in a word, Brutal! Most races have an easier or not so harsh section, but in the case of Ironman Wales there's no respite from start to finish.
The race started with a 3.8 kilometre two lap sea swim in 12 foot swells, which once you had managed to get through the waves and start swimming had you riding a roller coaster of waves, often not being able to see any of the other competitors until a rogue wave dropped them on top of you without warning. The swim was, for most competitors a mixture of the most fun and exciting and most terrifying and brutal swims possible.
On leaving the swim athletes were faced with a leg sapping and lung busting climb up the ramp which zig zagged up the cliff face before starting a 1.2 kilometre run through the hilly streets of Tenby to T1. The streets were lined with cheering crowds blowing horns and ringing cow bells, which made the run a fantastic experience.
The bike course continued the relentless theme with climbs and descents throughout and very little in the way of flat. The first lap hit athletes with 20 miles in to 30mph+ head winds as they worked towards the most Westerly point in South Wales, but while the winds were hard work the scenery and views of the coast were breath taking (more so than the wind) and a fantastic distraction from the riding. The bike route then came back East and took in two North to South laps between Tenby and Narberth, the hills didn't stop and 3 miles from the end of each lap were three killer hills, one after another over the course of a couple of miles, leg draining on the first lap and soul destroying on the second lap with 109 very hilly and very windy miles in the legs.
After the last hill there was a fast down hill back to Tenby, topped off with one final climb back in to T2.
Taking brutal to the natural conclusion the run route was extreme to say the least. Starting with a 2 mile climb out of the town the route undulated and wound to a turn point and a slight deviation up another hill before heading downhill back in to Tenby town centre. The down hill isn't as refreshing as it sounds when the legs are tired, every pace makes the quads scream. Once in the town there's the small matter of dropping down to the lifeboat station before climbing (almost straight up) to get back to the town centre where athletes ran up and down almost every street (up and down in every way) before arriving at the turn point and heading for the next lap. Four laps of the run course hurt. Lots.
The finish line was incredible, a long run along the Esplanade at the top of the cliffs next to the City walls and past a huge screen before 200 metres of grandstands filled with cheering crowds.
Doesn't sound brutal enough? The tail of Hurricane Katia hit Tenby on race weekend which is the reason for 12ft swells in the sea and the 30mph winds. During the run the full hurricane force struck South Wales, rain and all.
While the race was unquestionably tough (the pro's were an hour slower than Ironman UK and the average Age Group athletes 1.5 - 2 hours slower than average) it was also once of the best supported and delivered races experienced in the UK. The whole of Pembrokeshire supported the event from start to finish, athletes ran through narrow corridors of thousands of screaming supporters to get from the swim to T1 and there wasn't a space on the pavement watching the bike leave Tenby.
Along the bike route every town and village was lined with crowds of supporters, Pembroke, Narberth, Wisemans Bridge and Saundersfoot even had discos and street parties to celebrate the Ironman and support competitors as they passed through, making for a real party atmosphere even at the toughest parts of the bike route.
The part of the run route through Tenby centre couldn't have been better supported, it passed what seemed like every pub in the town and every pub was packed with spectators cheering on every competitor by name, four laps of that was incredible. Even the dark areas of the run route out of the town to the turn point were well supported, with local residents cheering and the aid stations well staffed with the most supportive volunteers you could ask for.
The finish line had an extra special touch for the Toro CSC Athletes, Mark and Helen Bielby and their family had volunteered at the event and somehow managed to secure medal presenting duties, so after 226 kilometres of pain in the howling winds and driving rain of a hurricane there was a friendly face putting the medal around your neck. A little surreal at first but very welcome.
The team performed to the highest standards as expected, all battled personal demons to complete the race and each took something different from finishing. The finishers medal and shirt are great, but the biggest reward anyone can take from finishing an Ironman race is the satisfaction of knowing they've done it.
Congratulations to the Ironman Wales Toro CSC Athletes and thank you to Mark, Helen and Tom Bielby and their family, Claire & Family, and Adam and family for coming along to support, it made the whole experience even more enjoyable.
Be warned, Adam and Mark are toying with the idea of entering Ironman Wales next year, stand too close and you may end up joining them...
