“Hi Mike. I had a meniscus operation last month - can you to train me for an Iron Man this year?”
As New Year New You gambits go it was pure fantasy.
But after 3 years training and 3 deferrals having not fulfilled my dream (illness, lockdown, torn meniscus) reality would not intervene.
Luckily Mike realised “Anything Is Possible”.
Still in rehab from having the operation in December, Mike and my physio, Kevin Hall, devised a programme to make it fourth time lucky.
With just 8 months to go – truncated by an early bout of Covid, niggled by a back strain and paranoia about running on my still healing knee – we got going.
In fairness the IM dream had always been far fetched. From the moment inspiration struck – seeing an IM tattoo on a fellow party goers thigh – I had the ridiculous expectation anyone can do a full distance tri in just a few months.
Luckily the 36 intervening months forged my fitness to a passable level – even though due to my torn meniscus it was not that great as I hadn’t run properly for nearly two years.
A move from London to Brighton also provided a perfect mix: sea swims, super hilly cycles and sea front runs. And moreover in Mike a coach who bases his training on feel rather than stats.
When race week finally came – at Emilia Romagna Italy – freak flash floods made it look certain the race would be cancelled.
Amazingly the storm passed and with the local authorities working throughout the night clearing downed trees and debris the full distance was staged with the half the following day.
Standing on the sea front with thousands of wet-suited athletes with the sun rising and AC/DC’s Thunderstruck blaring out was emotional. Even better than crossing the finish line!
The bit in between, swim, cycle, run, was strangely enjoyable rather than gruelling and my heart rate – 121 average for all 3 disciplines – testified the training had paid off.
For now am taking a break with shorter distances but for my 60th birthday plan to celebrate by doing IM Wales in 2025.
Though the event was over in a day the lessons learned will stay forever: if you put your mind to it anything really is possible and enjoy the journey as the goal is fleeting. In fact deflating!
The only thing that didn’t go as planned was inking the IM tattoo – my tri buddies told me it was the worst way of fulfilling the maxim – you never have to ask if someone is an Iron Man, they’ll tell you!
Instead its etched in my memory forever. It can never be erased and still inspires. Enough to make me want to do it all over again!
Dorian Silver