Ironman Glory!
“Garry Johnson, you are an Ironman!”
13 hours and 26 minutes.
But that doesn’t begin to tell the story.
Here are a few things to put this achievement into context.
The Background & The Journey
I received an email in late 2020 from Garry.
“At the age of 32 this month, I have set myself a challenge of taking part in an Ironman by the time I turn 35.”
Garry had not done any swim / bike / run since leaving University 10 years earlier. Garry was starting from the beginning. We’ve worked together – triathlon coaching, Swim Squad, Open Water swimming – for the past two and half years.
In that time, Garry has done …
His first Sprint Distance triathlon
His first Olympic Distance triathlon
His first Ironman 70.3 / Middle Distance triathlon
His first Marathon
And now … his first Ironman!
A couple more things about this performance.
Three weeks ago, it nearly didn’t happen.
The Accident
Picture the scene …
👉 A last big training ride
👉 Hand off the handlebar to grab a bottle and take a drink
👉 A big pothole
👉 A dramatic crash
👉 Blood everywhere
👉 Concerned onlookers
👉 A trip to A&E
👉 Stitches, dislocated finger, bumps and bruises
No infection, a healing wound, a finger the size of a big toe, very little swimming and some limited training since then meant Garry got to the start line in (almost) one piece!
Finally, the last piece of context to this performance.
Training Time
Garry’s life has been busy. He has an 18 month old son. He has a very demanding job, with (seemingly) random shift patterns. He has recently taken on more work responsibility (and more hours!).
Training time, sometimes, isn’t ideal and can become frustrating. If I said to you that Garry had just completed his first ever Ironman, on a particularly brutal Ironman UK course, with some howling winds and testing conditions, in 13 hours and 26 minutes … on an average training diet of six hours and two minutes per week during 2023 you wouldn’t believe me would you?
Garry has earned this medal.
“Garry Johnson, you are an Ironman!”
