My journey to Tenby Ironman

I’ve wanted to complete an Ironman for a long time, and after returning from my trek to Everest Base Camp last year, I finally decided to take the plunge—signing up for Tenby Ironman this September! This will be a huge challenge for me, as I’ve never done a triathlon and hadn’t swum in years before starting my training.

I officially began training in October, gradually increasing my times and distances each week—though my progress has been interrupted at times by rugby, bad weather, and a few minor injuries.

Training Progress So Far:

October:

• Started running but had to pause due to worsening shin splints.

• Joined Macclesfield Triathlon Club to build confidence and improve technique.

• Got back into mountain biking.

November:

• Reached a 1,500m swim in the pool!

December:

• Got a gravel bike (which I plan to fit with road tires for training and race day).

• Started getting used to drop handlebars and clip-in pedals.

January:

• Snow disrupted the first two weeks of training, so I had to rely on the spin bike.

• Several (thankfully soft) crashes while getting used to clip-in pedals.

• First run—a short but steady 20 minutes to ease in.

• First 2km swim—just over an hour!

Key Takeaways:

• Joining a triathlon club was one of the best decisions I made. Learning from experienced athletes and getting weekly motivation has been invaluable, especially for swimming.

• Sleep and proper nutrition are crucial for recovery and performance.

• Tracking workouts with a smartwatch has been a game-changer for staying motivated and seeing progress.

Now, I’m looking into working with an Ironman-specific coach to optimise my training. Even as a coach myself, I know the value of expert guidance—especially for an event of this scale.