Ironman Wales race report - Angharad Pocock

Angharad Pocock raced her first Iron distance triathlon, Ironman Wales, a few weeks go, lets hear what she went through on race day!

I’m lying in the sunshine in Sicily and it’s been 2 weeks since Ironman Wales. It’s hard to know where to begin with this really as there’s so much whirling around my mind at the moment after the high of finishing my first Ironman.

I signed up in September last year, the aim being to complete an Ironman in celebration of turning 40, which would be 12 days after Ironman Wales 2017. What better way to celebrate a 40th birthday?!

There was only one way I was tackling this Ironman training and that was with the expert guidance and coaching of Mark Whittle. I started my training in October as I wanted to build up to it very slowly, providing me with the best possible chance of finishing. I can honestly say that I would never have completed Ironman Wales without his training program, not only with regards to fitness and mental strength, but getting there injury free and with a smile on my face.

I felt sick with nerves in the week leading up to Ironman, it was horrible, but once I arrived in Tenby on Friday morning the nerves subsided as there was lots to do to keep me occupied, and also chatting to lots of my fellow triathletes who were taking part. The next couple of days went to plan, swimming practise, registering, getting my bike into transition, all of those tasks that need to be done. I spent Saturday afternoon relaxing, but by Saturday night when I was trying to get to sleep all I could hear was my heart thumping through my chest. I must have got some good sleep though as when the alarm went off at 4am I actually felt ok.

The 3 hours from getting up to the start of the race flew by. There was no time to get nervous! I followed Mark’s advice and skipped the athletes parade, instead I got down to the beach which gave me a chance for a quick dip (and a much needed wetsuit wee!). I saw Mark at the beach which was great - big hug and off I went. The national anthem was sung, it was so emotional but I kept the tears at bay. The cheers from the crowds as we filed down to the water’s edge was incredible and it was great to see lots of my friends there, and as I entered the water I felt surprisingly calm. I began with some very steady single strokes to ensure I could catch my breath and before I knew it I was swimming along nicely and heading to the 1st mark. On the first lap the sea conditions were fairly good, I came out for the Australian exit to the cheering crowds and again saw lots of my friends shouting my name, what an experience, such a buzz. To begin with the sea felt fine but as we got to the first buoy for the second time the swell had definitely increased and the back straight was surprisingly choppy. This didn’t bother me, I just kept trucking.

Out of the water, up the zigzag path, trainers on and off I go on the 1k jog to T1. The noise from the crowds was crazy. I loved this bit, again I saw some of my friends but I didn’t see Stuart. I was looking for him but it was so hard to spot people amongst the crowds and noise (turns out I did see him but looked straight past him…sorry Stu). Once into T1 I took my time (no surprise there) and did a full kit change. Comfort was key for me especially with the unpredictable weather forecast.

Stuart asked me after the race what went through my mind while on the bike, the weird thing is it was really hard to give an answer. It was like I went into some kind of numb zone in my mind, just keep pushing those pedals, stay upright, stay safe, must finish bike, eat, drink, eat, drink, stay upright…and so on and so on. I was very conscious of Mark’s advice to keep it steady on the bike and not get carried away. For some parts it took all my efforts just to stay on my bike in those crosswinds. I’m fairly petite and my bike is very light so I was getting whipped around quite a bit. 

I was very glad for the week of training in Lanzarote which we’d done in April as I’d had plenty of practise cycling in strong winds. The weather really was dreadful but I just kept going and the incredible support from both friends and strangers gave a huge boost. Going up heartbreak hill on the first lap was so emotional I nearly cried! First the @Crappers and then the Cardiff tri gang in their crazy fancy dress, just a brilliant unforgettable experience. This is when I first saw Stuart since I’d left him for the race start, I was so relieved to see him and he ran alongside me. On the second lap I found that my ‘steady Eddie’ tactics were paying off as I began to overtake quite a few athletes. This really helped give me the boost to keep pushing. I felt pretty good mentally and physically (this is relative to Ironman by the way, not based on a ‘normal’ day of feeling good!) the worst bit by this point was making sure I’d drunk and eaten enough. I could tell I’d more or less followed my nutrition plan but my stomach did feel a bit uncomfortable.

Heartbreak Hill for the second time was equally as entertaining and elation set in as I knew I was just a few minutes from being able to get off the bike. Into T2, aquick loo stop and another full change. My original plan had been tri suit for bike and stay in it for the run, but the wet weather meant I’d changed that to proper bib shorts on bike then tri suit for the run. It was so nice to get out of the soaking wet bike gear, even if it did take up extra time. Going out on the run didn’t feel as bad as I thought it might. Coach had insured I’d done lots of brick sessions. The first two laps of the run were ok and again, weren’t as bad as I thought they might have been. Running is my weakest discipline but I’d improved a lot through my training; still, I’d never run a marathon before so this was all new territory to me. I stuck to a plan of power walking the hills and running the flats and declines which was going really well and I was making better progress than some that were trying to run the up hills also.

Alas, during lap 3 my stomach decided it had had enough and every time I tried to run I had a very urgent need to go to the loo. I was forced to power walk the rest of the run course. I power walked my socks off! I knew I had plenty of time to finish but it was slightly disheartening to see that I was now being overtaken. However, the support I had through the whole run course was on another level. It felt as if there was someone I knew on every corner shouting my name and willing me on. I would like a say a huge thanks to every one of you who cheered for me, it was a very overwhelming and emotional. I can honestly say that I felt in good spirits for the whole of that run course. I had found myself a power walking buddy which was good too, a complete random guy, and we kept each other going. I was so determined to finish and finish strong. Even though my stomach wouldn’t allow me to run, mentally I was fine and my legs, although sore, didn’t feel too bad (again, I stress, this is relative to Ironman and not how your legs would feel good on a normal day!). I am obviously disappointed that I couldn’t have pushed harder on the run and maybe hit my 14 hours and something finish target, but it didn’t really matter. Just finishing on that day was one hell of an achievement. So yes, I did finish, and what a thrill that was. Up to the red carpet that wasn’t actually there as the weather was too bad! I saw Stuart and my friends and stopped for a very quick hug and then jogged to the line doing a double fist pump up into the air and a face splitting grin…woo hoo, I am an Ironman.

So how to summarise? The weather was terrible, the crowds and support were outstanding, I am far stronger physically and mentally than I could imagine, I have a sensitive stomach (I knew this bit already) I have awesome friends and family, I made a new friend (my power walking buddy), I loved the whole day it was freaking awesome…however…I won’t be doing Ironman Wales again! I’m not saying never to an Ironman but I feel like I’ve conquered Wales.

A special thanks to Mark for helping me become Iron! to Frank Whittle for taking the most awesome photo of me on the bike at Pembroke and to my family and Stuart who have supported and put up with me for the past year. Now where’s that glass of prosecco?