Event: Ironman Copenhagen
Date: 18th August 2024
“If I can, anyone can!” Which is what started this off some years ago when I met a lady at a cycling event and she had taken part in an Ironman, she wasn’t the lean athlete that I assumed did these events. I just don’t see myself as sporty, I was the kid at school who hated PE and swimming was taught to you at school to save you in case you fell in the water.
I’ve been having swimming lessons for years, initially learning to balance and breathe out in the water, so I have come a long way but I am so slow – I’m the one at the back when we do the lake training.
My anxiety comes with too – will I make it out alive and will I make the cut of time – plus cramps swimming, cycling, and running. The one thing I did better this time was more Precision hydration – I don’t get royalties.
I was recommended Austria, Copenhagen, and Challenge Roth for beginners/good events. CR is pretty impossible to get an entry.
I did my first IM in Austria five years ago—I really didn’t need to do another. However, this year, I would be 60 and for some reason, I was dreading it. I guess as a child, people seemed so old and retired at 60. Life has nothing to do with your age; it’s your attitude, so I decided I would do another IM.
It does become all-consuming fitting it in around work and family, I followed Be Iron Fit by Don and Melanie Fink, sticking as closely as life allows to follow the program. Breaking my @£* toe halfway through by walking into the sofa didn’t help.
Having paid a huge amount to enter, flights, bike box, and accommodation all add to the pressure to be healthy on the day and finish. The night before I couldn’t sleep and got maybe 1-2 hours, of course they always say the previous night’s sleep is the most important.
The day was perfect, the temperature had cooled and the water was flat. I was in the last wave, the 1:24hr plus. They set you off in groups of 6, mostly I was swimming on my own with the small jellyfish and eels, plus areas of tangly weed! A great course to easily sight and cheers from the bridges breaking the 3.8km swim into manageable chunks. 500m from the end my left leg cramped (pulling it along like a dead weight not wanting to make it worse or my other leg to cramp up too). At the swim finish I held the hand of the marshal for far too long, grinning and crying at the same time but managed to stand up, last IM I fell over in agonising cramp.
On to the bike, my best discipline, and I was looking forward to the views, crowds, and rolling hills. The wind was ever present even having to peddle down hills – no respite. I was keeping a steady rate, drinking and eating correctly and toilet stops as needed.
On the first lap I was overtaken by the guys with the solid wheels, TT bars and fancy helmets. The second lap I was pretty much on my own. Panic, my bad maths made me wonder if I was going to be okay for time, should be 7 hours plus 2 must be out by 9.5hrs allowed. At the time with the headwind I was back down to 14mph, so my head said needed another hour! Guess I turned a corner and picked up speed, to arrive in Copenhagen Centre with time to spare. They have bike catchers, so no need to rack the bike, and another full change into my running gear.
Set off with the brick legs (brick training really pays off) and still felt good. The course is 4 loops with each loop passing the finish with its continual announcements, ‘You are an Ironman,’ and big crowds. Strangely I didn’t mind passing this, I knew I would make it now – bearing complete disaster – as I had plenty of time.
Still running until lap 3.5, I had only had one gel on the run, feeling nauseous I really couldn’t eat anything and struggling to drink anything but sips of water, I walked for some sections, particularly on the cobbles (there are too many of these). I gave myself a pep talk, “My legs are fine, this is your final lap, you must try running!” So run I did, with extra energy at the finish to run through the crowds and onto the red carpet.
You are an Ironman!
Copenhagen is a beautiful city with lots of waterways, good architecture and good food, and everyone seems to speak English. We felt so welcome, and it’s only a 2-hour flight.
The IM had 60% first-timers, only 15% women but that’s increasing every year.
