October Newsletter 2026
Membership Update
Please join me in welcoming our new members to the club:
Gill Holmes
Mike Platt
Edie Platt
Katherine West
Eugenie Lumsdon
Nick Jones
Rob Singer
Richard Coates
Roger May
Shivani Kanabar
Dom Dos Remedios
Bella Jethwa
Nandini Rawat
Eoin Donnelly
Erin Brady
I hope you will enjoy training with us!
For anyone that wants to get the most out of the club and would like a call to talk this through – please let me know. Please join the WhatsApp community to keep up to date with what is going on.
Coach’s Corner
For most of us, race season is over and we’re in need of a mental and physical break. Your “off season” can actually be one of the most important and fun parts of the year! Here are some tips for getting the most out of it:
DO have a proper break after your last race – anything from 1-6 weeks depending on how you feel.
DON’T stop exercising altogether.
DO retain some routine & structure e.g. club swims, gym class, your Sunday ride – build habits that will last when motivation wanes.
DO make strength training (twice a week) a priority.
DON’T just carry on like you were in race season with high volume training or you’ll be burnt out by Spring.
DO some cross training! Hiking, climbing, rowing, team sports, racket sports – it’s all good for general athleticism and keeping healthy.
DON’T train exclusively long and slow.
DO some high intensity: short hard (20-30s) intervals e.g. 6 x 20s with 30s recovery between intervals, building to 8 reps, up to 3 rounds – but you only need 1-2x per week (and not in all 3 disciplines!)
DO things you find really fun!
DON’T try to fix all your limiters at once.
DO identify one weakness and really focus on it; swim technique is a great choice for many. Consider a video analysis or some specific technique sessions.
DO make time for the things in life that have been squeezed out: social life, friends and family.
DO embrace the rain, mud, wind and trails – they are great for balance, skills, strength and stability, both on two wheels and two feet. Winter Run Series races are a great way to incorporate this into your off season.
DO make the most of what daylight we have and get outside in nature whenever you can: it’s been proven to be good for mental health and wellbeing.
DO train with others, even if that means sacrificing some specificity; it helps build routines and is fun.
If you need a bit of motivation, perhaps try a new club session, or suggest a club ride route, set up some social runs with fellow Tri2Oers – our WhatsApp community is a great way to do this.
Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions as fellow members and the coaching team will always be happy to help.
Enjoy the off season and don’t underestimate how much it can impact your racing performance next year. There is no one single way of doing it right, but there are lots of ways to do it wrong!
Your club head coach,
Georgia Jackson
DNF
Written by James Lemin
Weymouth 2025 I’ve qualified for the 70.3 World Championships [Nice (France)].
When the realisation settled and I looked at the course wow only one slight slope? can’t be that bad, look again it’s got steep bits and it is 10 km long, prioritise cycling.
Fast forward to “Nice” the water temperature was / and stayed at 27 degrees forcing a non-wetsuit swim.
T1 went well, until when mounting my bike the rear wheel was caught by an enthusiastic rider and several riders ended up on top of me.
Then the small matter of the Col de Vence, round the corner and sure enough a 14 deg. slope challenging but I was ready for it. 5 km into the hill feeling thirsty I stopped gulped water and off I rode again.
I have always thought “look no further than 4-5 metres when climbing, sadly I looked up at the 6 km point (sign said only 4 km to the summit).
What I saw ahead was a string of cyclists leading up the road to the summit, I lost it for a couple of minutes but got my mojo working again and reached the summit.
Fabulous cycle down to the finish my TCR was so happy when it came to a sleeping policeman it decided to my horror to jump it (I now know my TCR can fly all of 5 metres), I nearly P’d my pants.
Sadly I timed out, so did not get my medal or a podium place, I had been lying in 3rd place according to my supporters.
Sad?
No, I achieved what I set out to do “I climbed the Col de Vence” so win win.
Every day there are good points and not so good points cannot change the bad points so just rejoice in the good points.
“Nice” (France) is full for 2027 but 2028 is not far away, I want my medal.
DNF. Delayed Not Finished (Yet)
From “Less Running Sounds Good” to Triathlon!
Written by James Hooper
A few years ago, my partner Angela and I had run a couple of half marathons, but since then we’d really struggled to find the motivation to get back into fitness.
Then one of us, and neither of us can remember which one, spotted something about triathlons on social media. We thought, less running doesn’t sound too bad! So we started looking into it.
That led us to Reading Lake and outdoor swimming. After a few nervous starts, we absolutely loved it. We got chatting to Jamie, who was incredibly friendly and encouraging, and gradually started thinking that maybe joining the club wasn’t such a crazy idea. There was just one slight problem: neither of us even owned a bike!
A couple of cheap Facebook bikes later, we went along to watch Reading Triathlon last year and thought, “We could do this!”
So, we joined the club and signed up for the Blenheim Palace Sprint Triathlon. When Angela mentioned being nervous about the race and transitions, more great advice followed, and somehow, a few weeks before Blenheim, we found ourselves entering a super sprint at Dorney too!
After those two races, I decided to take things a step further and enter the Reading Standard Triathlon.
For me, it was amazing to think that only a year earlier I hadn’t ridden a bike in years, and now I was cycling 40km after swimming in the very place where the whole triathlon idea had really started for us.
From early club swims and social rides to the social events we’ve managed to make, everyone has been so welcoming and encouraging.
Thank you to everyone at the club. We’re really glad we took the plunge!
The best laid plans…
Written by Sean Stewart
Being a Scot, I guess it’s only right in times of strife that I turn to Robert Burns for solace! And so it was during and after my last race of the 2026 calendar.
We were at Thruxton Race Circuit taking part in the Mass Attack Sprint Duathlon, which once again was the final qualification race for selection to next year’s World Duathlon Champs, which are being held in Edmonton, Canada. We enjoyed racing the 2014 Triathlon Worlds there and so we wanted to go back.
My aspirations were dealt a blow when I saw who else was going to be toeing the start line with the express intent of qualifying for Edmonton; two recent World Champ’s and a couple of European superstars were coming up to my age group, so there were at least four people who at nearly 60 can still run a 17 minute 5 km!! My spirits lifted when I was queuing for registration and saw a couple of them finishing the Standard race, so their legs might be a bit heavy, or so I hoped.
As we had decided to plan a holiday in Canada around the race, I knew that I had to do all that I could to qualify so I tried to give it all that I had from the get-go. Some of you may know that in the past three years I’ve developed some cardiac issues – nothing too serious, or indeed unexpected for my age and sporting history, but when my heart decides it doesn’t want to play, I have little choice but to listen to it.
Ten minutes into the first run and my heart rate went from a comfortable 130 bpm to 208 bpm in a blink of the eye. I immediately knew I was in trouble so slowed down a bit, but my HR didn’t drop. By the time I hit the uphill stretch to complete the first run I was forced to walk. A first for me in any duathlon I can remember. I tried to remain calm and got onto the bike where my HR rate dropped but would immediately spike again if I tried to get into a group to draft or whenever I rode up the hill, which we had to do five times.
In T2, I didn’t hear the announcer saying that the winner in my age group was crossing the finish line, so I set off hoping there was still a chance I could get within 120% of my Age-Group winner’s time. My HR was just about staying below an acceptable threshold as I ran down the hill and I thought I had a chance, but as soon as the racing circuit turned uphill again, I was forced to walk, but I managed to keep moving forward. Eventually the hill flattened out, and I was able to run through the finish funnel and at last it was over.
A couple of days later we were able to check the results and I’m afraid my time was 28 seconds too slow to meet the 120% selection criteria; so unless the BTF has a sudden softening of its criteria I will not be laying it on the line in Canada next summer.
Is a chain catcher helpful…?
Written by Sally Waterman
At the start of the year, we decided it would a good idea and more cost-effective to combine a long-desired holiday in Canada with competing in the World Sprint Duathlon Championships in Edmonton. The first two of the three qualification races for this event were in March and April at Oulton Park and Mallory Park. However, we decided to take a chance on qualifying by only racing at the third qualifier which was held at Thruxton Circuit on 4 October. Unfortunately, it didn’t go to plan….
Following a frustrating incident at a triathlon in Nottingham, a long time ago, when my chain came off and I lost a lot of time unjamming it and getting it back on, I have had a chain catcher on my bike. I replaced my 10-year-old Liv Envie race bike this year with the equivalent newest model, a Liv EnviLiv. I bought my bike from Pedal On – anyone who has done this will know that you get Podium Points to spend on accessories when you buy a new bike from them. A chain catcher was one of the many items I chose and I asked for it to be put on when they set the bike up for me. They did question whether I really needed it but, I thought somewhat reluctantly, they obliged.
Back to the race at Thruxton. I checked that my gears and brakes were working before taking my bike into transition to rack it and made sure it was in an appropriate gear for my exit from T1 onto the race circuit. However, when I mounted my bike, my chain came off. I got it back on and the same thing happened. I turned the bike upside down and had another go, again it seemed to go on but immediately came off again when I got on it and tried to pedal. Sean was at the side of the track and called me over and whilst he was looking over the barrier at my bike one of the race officials came over. He noticed that my chain had gone the wrong side of the chain catcher. He sorted it out and I was then ready to go.
I was already very near the back of the pack so everyone had left T1 and I really didn’t think it worth continuing but Sean said I should get out there and finish the race and, to motivate me, told me to try and catch Sheila Fox, who is in the age group above and was the last to go out (she is Clare Harris’ mother). With my race head on I set out only to find that I could change between the small and the large cogs at the front but had no gears at the back. The bike course is five laps, with a long uphill at the end of each (which also has to be tackled on the runs). I worked as hard as I could (98% Z4 HR), with leg muscles burning on the uphill, and finally overtook Sheila half way around the last lap. I was pretty happy with my average speed on the bike (28.5 kph) in the circumstances.
The final run was another lap of the track (3.8k). I headed out of T2 with one other person; someone I know fairly well and who was struggling to breathe and ended up in the medical tent after the race. I crossed the line ahead of her and Sheila, so not quite last, as I had anticipated. To qualify for the World Champs, I had to be within 120% of the time of the winner of my age group (65-69). It was worth the hard effort on the bike as I achieved 119.19% and have a Q against my name. Unfortunately, Sean’s time was just over 120% so he will not qualify (read his race report to find out why).
We’ve pondered what caused the chain to come off. The chain was in the hardest gear at the back , which is not where I had left it. I ran with my bike by holding the saddle so my hands were not near the Di2 levers. I may, however, have inadvertently knocked a lever when I took it off the racking. This combined with me not having the pedal in the correct place (a rooky error which I cursed) meant I moved the crank backwards a little before mounting. The lack of gears even after the chain was on seemed to imply something else might be wrong but a bit of Googling when we arrived home revealed that my Di2 gears have a crash recovery mode which automatically shuts them down; Shimano doesn’t seem to publicise this very much! We assume that when I turned my bike upside down this was activated. We now know how to reactivate them – thank you YouTube. As for the chain catcher, I am undecided as to whether to leave it on or take it off… apparently, I can adjust my gear sequences on the ETube app to make getting the chain back on much easier in the event it is dropped.
Slaying the Dragon – My first Ironman
Written by Ocean Allen
THE SWIM 🏊♀️
After repeatedly waking in cold sweats, I eventually got up at 04:00 and struggled to eat breakfast, which is very unlike me. Swimming is where I lack the most experience and confidence, so after saying goodbye to my support crew, I felt absolutely terrified and alone walking down the zigzag to the start.
I spent around an hour in the pens trying to calm my nerves, unable to see or hear the Welsh national anthem or Thunderstruck playing. The romantic picture I’d imagined for the start of this day was quickly washed away by the relentless rain and reality hit hard.
As we shuffled towards the water, I positioned myself on the left as planned and threw myself into the chaos. It was crowded, as expected, but the leg grabs, shoulder grabs and slaps to the head were something else. Etiquette was well and truly out the window! 🤼♀️
I settled into my rhythm for the long slog along the back stretch, which seemed to go on forever. Turning back towards the beach, I could hear the music and crowds spurring me on.
The Aussie exit was a welcome reset before heading back out for lap two. Being a slower swimmer, the clock was ticking and the tide was rapidly going out, making the current along the back stretch even stronger.
Then a jellyfish decided to make my day harder by stinging me across the face. Not much worse than a nettle sting, but certainly distracting (and something I could feel for the rest of the day). 🪼 The second lap was also choppier and I managed to swallow a mouthful of seawater for good measure.
Finally, I exited the sea, stripped my wetsuit to my waist and breathed a HUGE sigh of relief. I’d conquered my fear and bloody done it! The furthest I’d ever swum and my first race in proper sea conditions. ✅
I grabbed my pink bag (not difficult given how few were left), pulled on my trainers and jogged the 1km to transition.
THE BIKE 🚴♀️
“The rain will stop at 8am.”
It did not stop. Not once. The mist and surface water made for treacherous conditions, with plenty of accidents and mechanicals along the course. My mantra quickly became: “Just make it home safely.”
Ironically, this was where I finally started getting excited. Hills don’t scare me and neither does bad weather. Mark and I had spent the winter training outdoors on the Torture40, in wind, rain and cold rather than hiding on the turbo. I was confident in my bike handling and climbing fitness and ready to take on the 180km.
Unfortunately, my stomach had other ideas. From Angle to Narberth I was doubled over my tri bars in pain. I’d never experienced stomach trouble this early in a race and it sent me into a bit of a panic. I focused on my nutrition intervals and hoped it would pass, which thankfully it did. I put it down to swallowing seawater, day one of my period and leaving it too long before a toilet stop thanks to stage fright. 😅
I knew the first 60km would be the fastest and that my average speed would gradually slip away after that. I also knew the stretch from Lamphey (where Mum was waiting) to Narberth (where my friends were) could feel a little mind-numbing. Knowing this beforehand helped me mentally prepare and focus on the good things still to come. That, and the large glass of wine and massage I’d promised myself.
Even better was the support from the people of Pembrokeshire. My God! The atmosphere at this race trumps London and Berlin easily, particularly Heartbreak Hill. Twice, the course gives you the opportunity to feel like you’re riding the Tour de France, climbing single file through the crowds. The energy was infectious and I couldn’t stop smiling. 🥹
I stopped at Personal Needs around 112km to restock, something I wouldn’t repeat if racing Wales again. Carrying less is great in theory, but the time it eats up is significant. I’d planned my nutrition to get me to the finish, but once I was in the saddle I just wanted to keep moving. Lesson learnt!
Lap two seemed to fly by. Knowing the course gave me the confidence to ride a little braver. By Wiseman’s, others were starting to flag on the climbs, with some even getting off to push. I felt pretty smug weaving between them as the crowds shouted, “Go on girl! Do it for the girls!” 💪
On a better-weather day, I know I could take a significant chunk of time off my bike split. Flying down the hill into Tenby, seeing so many athletes already out running, I caught myself thinking: “I’m going to come back one day and see what I can really do.”
THE RUN 🏃♀️
What can only be described as a slow death.
The first 10km was brilliant. My legs felt good, I was hitting my target HR and pace, and on track for my 4.5-hour marathon. “Just three more of these and I’ll be hitting that red carpet!” 💃
Shortly into lap two, my right leg (the one I’d injured in a crash eight weeks earlier) started aching around the inside of my knee and up through my inner thigh. I tried to focus on my form and shake it off with a few butt kicks, but the pain gradually became more acute until I had no choice but to walk.
Another walking athlete asked if I was worried about the cut-off. I wasn’t… until she asked. 😅
THE PITS 💀
Around 19km, at about 20:30, I spotted my family cheering me on in the dark. I fought back tears as I explained how much pain I was in and admitted I was worried about the cut-off.
Mark started running alongside me while I explained that I’d never even considered needing to outrun the cut-offs, so I didn’t know what they were! I asked him to do the maths ready for when I returned to Tenby after lap three. He reassured me that walking the rest was absolutely fine. I just needed to finish. ❤️🩹
Walking and shuffling up the hill out of Tenby, I could see barriers coming down and spectators heading home. It was completely dark and still raining. It felt like the day was crumbling around me and I started to cry. 😭
The mental battle had well and truly begun. I focused on putting one foot in front of the other, pushing through the pain and reminding myself to keep eating and drinking despite having raced for 13 hours.
To make matters worse, my Garmin was set to keep me in a target HR zone. Now I was walking, it beeped constantly for being too low. I couldn’t work out how to turn it off in triathlon mode, so my watch bullied me relentlessly for the next two hours. 🫠
Back in Tenby, Mark reassured me I had two hours left, meaning I could walk the rest and still make it. I strongly objected to spending another two hours out there, which earned me a slap on the back and some firm encouragement.
Everyone thinks the final lap must be the hardest, but it’s not. Lap three is. Once I turned for home at New Hedges for the final time, I threw myself into the downhill and used whatever I had left to get to the finish.
I was dead behind the eyes until I reached the lights of Tenby, marking 2km to go.
I’m pretty sure a part of my soul is still somewhere on that hill in the dark. 👻
THE FINAL 50m 🏁
The final 50m represented not just the end of 140.6 miles, but the culmination of the journey I’d been on for the past 10 months.
Dad ran alongside me briefly through the final turns of Tenby, describing the atmosphere on the red carpet and listing everyone waiting for me. I could just about hear the crowds, which gave me the energy to pick my feet up again. Satisfied he’d sufficiently motivated me, he took a shortcut and promised to meet me at the finish.
Turning towards the finish line, blinded by the red lights, felt euphoric. I ran straight to the first-timers bell and rang it with great enthusiasm, leaving absolutely no doubt about what I’d just achieved!
Two years ago, I learnt to swim and ride a road bike for a sprint triathlon I’d entered on a whim with a friend.
One year ago, I raced my first Ironman 70.3 in Turkey and came home hungry for more.
Eight weeks before race day, I crashed my bike, resulting in nine stitches in my knee and five weeks off.
Four weeks before race day, I got back on my bike for the first time, unsure of what was possible.
On race day, I became an Ironman and proved that anything is possible. 🌅
A MOMENT FOR THE GIRLS 💅🏼
The support for and between the girls on course was incredible. I LOVE seeing women thrive in male-dominated sports and can’t wait to see that 13% participation continue to grow.
If you’re ever in doubt, know that you’re stronger than you think. We’re all out here waiting to cheer you on. 💪
After all… how hard can it be? Boys do it. 🤷♀️😉
“No Way, Man!” — My First Ironman at Cascais
Written by Ray Norris
IRONMAN Portugal–Cascais
After months of training, endless bike tinkering and probably far too much obsessing over the finer details, I finally found myself on the beach in Cascais, about to attempt my first full Ironman.
Given my reputation within Tri2O for frequent toilet stops during races, I’d also taken the precaution of eating virtually nothing but chicken and rice for lunch and dinner during the two days leading up to the event. I was determined to keep my digestive system as settled as possible. What could possibly go wrong?
I was excited, a little nervous, and very much hoping that all the preparation would pay off!
The Swim — 1:32:36
Swimming has been the discipline where I’ve probably made the biggest improvements, thanks in no small part to the club’s coached sessions.
For the first time in any triathlon, I completed the entire swim doing freestyle rather than predominantly breaststroke. And what a distance to finally achieve that — 3.8 km!
Sighting proved surprisingly difficult. The Atlantic was rather inconsiderate in its lack of useful landmarks, and following other swimmers wasn’t necessarily a great idea either. Some were weaving all over the place, while others were swimming perfectly straight, just in completely the wrong direction!
Apparently I now generally swim in straight lines in open water!
In the second half of the swim, I noticed swimmers alongside me with dropped elbows during their catch and pull, which reminded me to concentrate on my own technique. I focused on a high-elbow catch, with Georgia’s mantra “Finish and Feel” running through my head, alongside Jennie’s advice about starting my catch as my other hand passed my leg.
Suddenly, the people I’d been swimming alongside started falling behind me, seemingly without any additional effort on my part.
It was a fantastic feeling. All those coached sessions were paying off, and I was actually enjoying an Ironman-distance swim!
I even increased my kick over the final 100 metres to get my legs working again before standing up. For once, I felt like I knew what I was doing!
I also managed my first wee of the race while still in the wetsuit. Given my previous racing history, the toilet-stop tally was already underway! 🤣
T1 — 18:25
Let’s just say I wasn’t challenging for the fastest transition award. I appear to have developed a bit of a reputation as a “faffer”.
The lengthy journey from the beach involved around 600 metres of walking, followed by meticulously removing sand from my feet, applying enough sunscreen to protect a small army (apparently cream comes out a lot quicker if the bottle has been in the hot sun for a few hours!), and consulting my written checklist to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything.
I also fitted in another toilet stop. Wee number two!
When Georgia saw my T1 time, she commented that it was long enough for a three-course meal. Another clubmate promptly replied, “Remind me never to come round yours for dinner, then!”
Fair point. Apparently my reputation as a faffer is well deserved! 🤣
Eventually, I reached the bike mount line, where the usual collection of athletes were stationary, desperately trying to clip into their pedals.
With a little jog and a few scoots, I hopped onto the bike and headed off, happy with my swim and my relaxing T1.
The Bike — 6:55:25
Anyone who’s heard about my bike preparations will know that my TT bike has been something of an ongoing engineering project.
After years of dealing with a snapping tendon around my knee, I’d eventually settled on some rather unconventional 125 mm cranks, which completely solved the problem. Yes, 125 mm! I got them from kidsracing.co.uk!
Thankfully, the bike behaved itself throughout.
The weather, however, had other ideas.
The wind was absolutely brutal in places, particularly the crosswinds on some fast descents. I later spoke to a local cyclist who said he’d never experienced winds quite like it on those roads.
There were some enjoyable fast sections, including a lovely stretch with a strong tailwind. Comfortably cruising at just over 40 km/h, I felt like I was flying, until the race leader came past me like I was standing still!
The highlight of the bike leg, though, involved a security guard at the Estoril Grand Prix circuit.
The previous day, Dad and I had been doing a recce of part of the bike course when we stopped at the barriers to the circuit entrance. Keeping completely straight faces, we told the security guard we’d come to do two laps of the circuit.
After a moment’s hesitation, he replied in a dodgy American accent:
“No way, man!”
We offered him €10, to which he replied:
“Portugal is cheap, but it’s not THAT cheap!”
We all laughed and explained I’d be cycling through the circuit during the Ironman the following day.
Sure enough, during the race I spotted him.
As I rode past, I shouted in my best American accent:
“NO WAY, MAN!”
And on the way out:
“TWO LAPS FOR TEN EUROS!”
He recognised me, waved and burst out laughing.
Definitely one of my favourite moments of the day!
My fuelling and hydration strategy was possibly a little too successful, as I found myself stopping for a wee three times during the first 90 km lap!
Given my reputation for toilet stops, I could almost hear my Tri2O clubmates laughing from back home.
Determined to complete the second lap without adding to my tally, I reduced my fluid intake slightly and successfully completed it without another stop, finishing with a 2 km/h higher average speed as a result!
The headwinds were brutal and soul-destroying, my quads and calves were tiring, my neck and shoulders were aching, and my backside was becoming increasingly numb after so long in aero. But I listened to the advice of my wonderful fellow Tri2O members and managed my effort carefully to conserve my energy.
Eventually, I sailed into the dismount line with a swift hop off the bike, feeling very relieved to get off after seven hours curled up on a TT bike. It felt like a very, very long time!
Naturally, I celebrated surviving the bike leg with another wee in T2.
The Run — 5:20:39
I started the marathon feeling surprisingly good, running the opening kilometres around 6:00–6:20/km.
Unfortunately, my legs soon reminded me that I’d just cycled 180 km.
My quads were particularly uncomfortable on the uphill sections, so I adopted a strategy of running the flats and downhills while walking the climbs and aid stations.
Nutrition gradually became an exercise in finding something I could tolerate. Bananas were initially a welcome change from gels, although by the end I’d had enough bananas to last me several lifetimes.
Despite my meticulously planned chicken-and-rice diet to keep my stomach settled, I still managed two poo stops during the marathon, one on each of the first two laps, plus more wees than I could possibly count!
I even ended up queueing for a portaloo at one point.
By the end of the second lap, with the temperature dropping and my sweat rate presumably falling, I decided I’d probably had more than enough to drink.
I also discovered the less glamorous side of Ironman racing: using portaloos after thousands of athletes have been through them.
At night.
When they’ve run out of toilet paper.
And the previous occupants have apparently been aiming with their eyes closed.
Fortunately, my Garmin’s built-in torch and the baby wipes I’d stuffed into my trisuit pocket proved to be two of my best equipment choices!
As the evening progressed, the temperature dropped and I began getting genuinely cold, even shivering during some walking sections.
But with around three kilometres remaining, something changed.
The course was now predominantly downhill or flat, my legs felt better running than walking, and I realised I could pick up the pace.
Suddenly, I was running at around 5:30/km, overtaking people and chasing down another runner ahead.
After hours of trying to preserve my legs, I was actually racing again!
The Finish — 14:17:37
I’d originally planned to ring the first-timers’ bell and take my time enjoying the famous Ironman red carpet.
But as I approached the finish, I realised there was nobody immediately ahead of me and nobody particularly close behind.
I had the chance to run down that red carpet completely on my own!
Having spent fourteen hours getting there, I wasn’t about to let someone come along and gate-crash my moment. 🤣
I spotted Carlie and then my parents cheering from the sidelines.
Apparently, they’d been expecting me to stop for a lovely emotional cuddle before crossing the line.
Instead, I went charging past them!
Carlie even started running after me because she thought I hadn’t seen her.
I had. I just had a finish line to get to!
The announcer had time to give me my own introduction, including a little joke about Ray being a “ray of sunshine”.
As I approached the arch, I put my hands to my ears.
“RAY, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!”
What an incredible moment.
Afterwards, wrapped in a wonderfully warm foil blanket, I finally got to eat something other than gels, bananas and energy bars. Pizza had never tasted so good!
I also experienced some lovely camaraderie from another athlete, Sam, who checked I was okay, fetched me food and drink, and helped me contact Carlie while I recovered.
Would I do it again?
I’ve certainly learnt a lot.
I now know I can swim 3.8 km freestyle and actually enjoy it. I know that aching legs don’t always mean you can’t keep running. And I’ve experienced those famous Ironman highs and lows that people talk about.
Looking back, there are things I’d approach differently, particularly on the marathon, and I suspect there’s a faster Ironman in me somewhere.
If nothing else, I reckon I could knock a good few minutes off my finishing time simply by spending less of it sitting on the toilet!
For now, though, I’m delighted to have completed my first one.
A huge thank you to everyone at the club I’ve trained with, particularly Georgia and Jennie for the swimming coaching, and of course to Carlie, the children and my parents for supporting me throughout.
Upstaged by Spider-Man!
There was, however, one final twist to our Portuguese adventure.
On our EasyJet flight home, we spotted none other than Tom Holland!
He was wearing a baseball cap and a Covid-style face mask, clearly trying to remain incognito. We discreetly pointed him out to the children but made sure to leave him in peace.
The kids were absolutely beside themselves with excitement.
After months of training and fourteen hours of racing, I’d finally achieved something I’d been working towards for so long.
I’d become an Ironman!
But apparently, that was no longer the most exciting thing about our holiday.
The children couldn’t wait to get back to school and tell their friends that they’d been on a plane with Spider-Man!
And just like that, Ironman wasn’t cool anymore.
Turns out even an Ironman can’t compete with Spider-Man. 🤣
Final time: 14:17:37 — IRONMAN Portugal–Cascais 2026
Unofficial fourth discipline: Toilet stops — too many to count!
A bit of fun – a triathlon quiz!
Fancy yourself a triathlon expert? 🏊♀️🚴♂️🏃♀️ Put your knowledge to the test with Sally’s special edition club quiz — from swim, bike and run trivia to the weird and wonderful world of triathlon. How many can you get right?
- What nationality is Fanni Szalai? Which race did she win in 2026?
- Which duathlon Age Group winner now competes on the track? Which race did they win at the 2026 European Athletics Championships?
- How many DNFs has Alex Yee had in 2026? What caused him to DNF at the Supertri Pro Series Final?
- Which British triathlete announced their retirement from long distance racing in 2026? How many full-distance race wins have they had in their career?
- Which brother and sister competed in the World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) in 2026. Why was one of them disqualified at the WTCS Grand Final?
- Which triathlete competed in the UCI World Time Trial Championships in 2026. Which race did they win less than a month later?
- Which nation had clean sweep of the podium at the IM World Champs in 2025? At what other triathlon has the same athletes had a clean sweep of the podium?
- At which race in 2026 was there a 4-way photo-finish? Which nation was awarded the win?
- Which Olympian raced in four races over different distances in September 2026? What health issue did this athlete suffer from prior to these races?
- Who won 5 WCTS races in 2026? Which 22-year-old record did they break in 2026?
Think you’ve got all the answers? Get in touch with Sally Waterman via the Tri2O WhatsApp Community to see how you did!
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