I am Half an Iron (wo)man.


With Mama and Papa Kelk, my Number 1 support team (they are potentially holding me up in this pic). 

I've done it. I am half an Iron (Wo)man, and frankly I can't quite believe it. 

This year, my first triathlon season has been a busy one, full of 'firsts' and many, many lessons learned. It has been fun, inspiring and I have loved (almost) every moment of it. I have made new friends, I have improved my times, I have built up a collection of assorted bikes and own more lycra than is strictly necessary. 

Despite an overwhelmingly positive season, I approached the New Forest Middle Distance Triathlon with some trepidation. Not only is it a massive step up from the Olympic Distance I had done a couple of months prior, I had also not had the training build-up I had hoped for, mainly due to reasons out of my control. 
Transition after the swim
Swim Start

There was nothing more to it than to trust the months of training I put in earlier on in the year, and brace myself for a good dose of '(wo)man up'. 

In fact, for the most part, my training kicked in and I enjoyed myself. After a shaky start in the middle of the melee, the 1.9km swim was a smooth and non-technical two lap course, made all the better as the sun rose above us and flocks of geese flew over the lake, off to warmer lands for the winter. 

Onto the bike

The 90km cycle took us round three, mainly flat, laps in and around the beautiful New Forest. The roads are in great condition, and as the route took us across the wild plains, I could get down onto my aero bars and get some real speed (or at least it felt fast ...) . The only small problems were a nasty headwind, which sapped the energy from my legs, and the assortment of ponies, donkeys and cows, roaming the fields and roads freely without any concern for cars or indeed bikes. I had a very near miss with a bull.



The run is always the hardest for me and this was no exception. Hilly and on trails, the 23km route was, however, suited to my running style and until just over half way, I actually enjoyed myself. From there though it went downhill (unfortunately not literally), and as I passed the five and half hour mark, it became a real mental challenge to keep going. 



I did it! 

I made it across the finish line in just under 6hrs30 relieved, exhausted, injury-free and (unusually for me!) very emotional. 

Here is what I have achieved this year... watch this space for some big plans for 2015. :)

- 2nd Place in the London Brik Sprint Tri 
- Taking more than 17min off my 2013 Sprint Tri time
- My first cycle Sportives 
- My first 10mile Trail Run 
- My first Olympic Triathlon - 15th in AG
- My first Half Ironman

Soph x

Bit emotional.
In need of some support. Quite literally.


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