Last blog! Thought about writing a race report.... You really wouldnt finish it. So much to say....so many emotions. Suffice to say Id didnt get my dream race yet Im prouder of myself than if I had. Demons like Ive never known, feeling yucky on most the bike and at times very ill on the run. It was not what id dreamed of but I found out about myself. Sounds full of it but Im just reflecting on what I experienced. I found out that I do have mental strength as well as physical. Will I do another. Im afraid so. Im chasing the sub 14 dream but am as proud as anyone should be for crossing the line. I had the most humbling day. The race was full of friends participating and friends and family supporting. I doubt Ill ever experience anything like it again. 10 months of training came down to 14 hours and 42 minutes. Friends and family gathering on Hunters Hill, Sheephouse lane, Church lane, Wheelton, the Houghton Arms, Buckshaw, Leyland. I never travelled far until I was greeted with such amazing support. It was the most humbling part of the whole thing. If you were there, if you written my name on a placard or chalked it in a road, texted me b4 or after, who FBd me messages.... I thank you! You helped me finish. In the race itself, Endurance store race friends and friends from Team Pie and Team True Spirit where never far away and from chats in transition before the swim, to having the legend Mark Stanton literally putting his arm around me and walking with me when I really lost the plot.... It was a Wow day! A really WOW day. Congrats to all my friend who became Ironmen and ladies! Too many people to mention but the last 10 months have been really tough. Ive experienced some real lows that training for this race has helped me through even though at times the pressure Ive put on myself hasnt been that helpful either lol. But in no particular order.... I must acknowledge and thank.... In first place lol ( no order follows though lol after this one....the main one....) my adorable husband Gaz. You only had to watch him yesterday to see what kind of guy he is. The best supporter you could ever want. I love him dearly and couldnt have done it without him! For 10 months he has encouraged me, put up with me disappearing for hours on end and eased my pains when Ive got home after a tough ride. He is the man and my man! X All the people I train with who are friends of the most honest kind. No egos, just good people you can share a laugh with. Who text you and get you out training, who are prepared to get up at 7am on a winter morning and cycle with you or swim 10 laps with you on a Wednesday or who text you because they arent training for IM but still want to be encourage you. So, thanks to Becky who has pretty much done the IM training with me and has me sussed, Helen for being my swim bud and dependable friend who listens to my nonsense, all the piemen and pie girls who make me smile and make training fun, the foxes, the hounds, the chicks, to Skem boundary and Pink Panther friends Carol, Honor, Fiona, Jane and Sal, to Ellen and Dan who turned up each week at Pimbo, who rode with me on the roughest rides in freezing conditions, who chalked my name and drew angelina pictures! To all hubsters ....I love the Hub! The sarcasm of Marc to the cheekiness of Wayne to the chickenlegness of Steve to the loveability of Alan. Its not a club and thats why it works. The advice from TP, TES and TTS peeps. To my friends outside of triathlon, to Colette for always keeping in touch and lifting me at the right moments, to my buddy Karen for just being Wozza and helping to keep me sane, failing miserably but loving me just the same - ditto Wozz. To my family who endured some tough times watching me go through training, being ill frequently and watching me and cheering me throughout even when they probably needed me to stop. Love to u all, especially my mum and dad, bro and family. To my friends and colleagues at work for putting up with the IM obsession and for allowing me to be obsessed and for being out there on the course yesterday. I work with some really great people. You know who you are. Now....Im writing this off the cuff but hope Ive not missed anyone. When I say hubsters, I mean you all. Same for all the other thankyous. Couldnt name everyone but seriously if Ive trained with you, youve helped. Spent too long training on my own and the last 12 months Ive sorted that out. Thanks for all the sponsorship. So my blog comes to an end.....oh..... Go on then....maybe some pics from Wednesdays IM celebration. But then thats it. I have some goals in mind but not committed to anything yet but if you know me well....youll know Im mad, pedantic, obsessive, sentimental but hopefully a genuine and nice lass. Im going to need a new focus as its what keeps me centred and positive. So Angelina Ballerina will return with a new challenge.... Just not sure what yet. 40th birthday next year and 20th wedding anniversary so a half IM abroad is on the cards along with coast to Coast and back again in 2 days but thats just two things Im doing to celebrate. The next BIG challenge is of yet undecided. Thanks for reading. This blog is intended as a record for me and a motivation strategy to keep me focused. Its worked! Thanks for reading even when Im repetitive. For now.... Enjoy the time youll gain from not reading my blogs ;-) Angelina DID Ironman UK and couldnt have done it without YOUR support. Thanks you x
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 21:09:53 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015