IRONMAN UK 2022

Ben Stones

Pre race - travelled to the flash with @will_turton1 what a laugh. If ever you need someone to put you at ease he’s the man. Arrived nice and early ready for action.

Swim - 1:10 - Started next to @jaybrittles , we’ve trained together a lot so it was good to have a friendly face on the start line and put the nerves at ease. It’s special when they play thunderstruck. Rain commenced. Was clinging on to some feet the first few 100m but it was a bit pacey for me so I eased off. From here I struggled to get in a pack but better to swim at my own pace rather than blow my load 200m into an Ironman. Swam on my own rest of first lap then spent the second lap navigating the first lap traffic as did everyone else. In the grand scheme of things a few minutes either way on the swim time is largely irrelevant. Overall a swim which is a fair time for my ability. Swim done let’s get to the good part.

Bike - 6:16 - going great until it wasn’t. Patience was the order of the day. Bolton is a tough course and it will remind you of that on lap 3 if you push too hard. Took the section into Bolton just less than target power, then lap 1 and 2 stuck to race power and felt fantastic. Coming into lap 3 I was finally catching a lot of people who went too hard early which was good and still felt great. Then around 18km from the finish a momentary lapse in concentration cost me. Managed to slip off the bars and high side over a kerb into a wall. Spend 5 mins getting myself together then finished the bike, lucky escape as no serious injuries just cuts and bruises but shaken up. Glad to get back into Bolton and off the bike. Like I said the other day it’s all part of it, other people will have had way worse luck with mechanicals or uncontrollable events so it’s part of the game.

Run - 3:56 - I will admit I gave up mentally after the crash, whimpered through the first lap feeling sorry for myself and wanting to DNF. Then Phoebe gave me a proper kick up the arse which spurred me into life and I was told in no uncertain times that I would not be a DNF. So I just focused on getting to the next aid station, walk through then go again. Lap 2 and 3 I perked up a bit and started to really enjoy it. The support on the run course is crazy, really drags you through. And all the personal support from family and friends phenomenal. For someone with Crohn’s I didn’t once think about my stomach which is a testament to the treatment I’m on. The last lap was euphoric, from Chorley New road through the park and town it was crazy. I could easily sit here and say the crash cost me XX minutes and I would of ran a quicker time without it but at the end of the day you play with the cards you’re dealt.

Finish line - wow, what an experience. Have heard about that red carpet feeling but there’s no words to describe it. Emotions got the better of me here. Crossing that finish line I felt like I could have ran another marathon, fought Tyson Fury… for about 10 seconds before the fatigue hit me.

All that can be said is thanks to everyone for their support on the journey.

Who’s keen for Ironman UK 2023?