This year I participated in the Outlaw event in Nottingham, which was originally meant to be an Ironman-distance triathlon. Unfortunately, due to algae, they had to replace the swim with a 5km run. While I was initially heartbroken about the change, I reminded myself that this is part of the triathlon experience. Overall, it was a lovely event, featuring friendly volunteers, a well-designed course, and amazing weather, even though it reached around 26 degrees!
I was pleased with my performance: my total time was 11 hours and 58 minutes, with a 28-minute finish for the first run (working hard to avoid starting too fast!), a bike split of 6:41, and a marathon time of 4:34. I finished 5th in my category and was the 24th woman out of 81 who completed the race—many others did not finish.
The first two hours of the bike were a bit challenging for me; I felt grumpy as I tried to keep my pace steady while others zipped past. However, that strategy clearly paid off—many competitors struggled on the run, while I was able to maintain my pace! Once I found my rhythm on the bike, it turned into a lot of fun, and I finished that segment feeling great.
I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone for their support and advice on pacing and nutrition; it made a real difference. Special thanks to Fiona Kent for her nutrition plan, which I followed closely—the potatoes were a lifesaver!
Now, I’m excited to sign up for an Ironman in Amsterdam this September. I can’t let all my swim training go to waste!
