Never Mind A Triathlon, I’m Going To Do An Ironman!

“Never Mind A Triathlon, I’m Going To Do An Ironman!”

Carl’s race report from an incredible Ironman Barcelona. Sit back and enjoy all of the amazing moments he experiences along the way!

My journey began back in Christmas 2022, on a drunken night with friends in Centre Parcs. Me and my friends were all laughing and joking about the thought of me being able to complete a triathlon. I joked and said “Never mind a triathlon, I’m going to do an Ironman!” – which we all then laughed and joked about.

It was in the back of my mind and the next day I said to Jen “you know what, I’m going to do an Ironman, I don’t know when it will be but I will do it”.

And to be fair to Jen, she always believed in me and has always been by my side through anything I’ve ever done and this was no different. Without hers and Harry’s support I couldn’t have done this, so I’m forever grateful for this.

Fast forward 18 months and here I am … an IRONMAN!!!

Pre-Race

We arrived in Calella on the Thursday night and our bikes arrived on the Friday morning. After picking up our bikes and checking … and checking … and checking my transition bags, it was time to register and rack the bike, do the bag drops and attend the race briefing. All of this was an amazing experience on its own. Seeing the swim start, and the finish line with the grandstand, was an amazing feeling. I couldn’t believe I was about to start a Ironman the next day.

Race Morning

On the morning of the race everything was brilliant. The atmosphere was something I will never, ever forget – it gets you so motivated – it was a fantastic experience again.

Swim

As you know Bryan, I’m not the most confident or strongest swimmer when it comes to open water but I’ve been getting a lot better lately. I was aiming to get the swim completed in around 1:35, so I put myself in the 1:30 pen hoping to get on somebody’s toes and just get a little help.

Before I knew it, it was my time to go. I started off trying to keep it as relaxed as possible and it was going well up until about 1km – and then I just started feeling really dizzy. All of a sudden I vomited my breakfast up and within moments I had no energy at all. I thought to myself “How the hell am I going to make it through this?!”

I always knew I had serious grit and determination and I had to use it for the next 2.8km as every time I put my head in the water it felt like I was in a washing machine – and to top it off the sea was getting rougher by the minute.

I eventually made it through the swim and just sat down in transition.

Sitting there laughing to myself knowing that from that moment there was nothing that would stop me becoming an Ironman.

Bike

I set off on the bike and made a steady start out of the town. I took on some food and water and after about 20-25 mins of easy spinning I started to catch people up. Time to start to try and make some time back.

I kept on eating regularly and drinking regularly just as I have trained on my long rides.

Again, the atmosphere was brilliant. I was just taking the views in – and watching the pros fly past me on their 2nd lap was another amazing experience as I (unintentionally) got to draft with the pack for about 45 seconds. This was all I could keep up for but I did get up to 48km/h on the flat – which was mad – and as they left me I went back down to my 31/32 km/h. Speeding along on the bike like that was amazing.

I kept reminding myself that I had a marathon to run after riding 180km on the bike so I was forever holding myself back – as I was scared of blowing up on the run.
Finally I had 3 or 4km left on the bike so swapped to the small ring and spun my legs to freshen them up, stretching my calves on the bike.

Run

After a quick change of socks and a good drink in transition I was feeling good and ready to go onto the marathon.

I remembered at Outlaw Half I went out hard and had a terrible second half of the run. I was determined to keep a lid on it and try and hold my pace for as long as possible as I knew at some point I would drop off.

I felt really good running to every aid station and walking through (just as I had trained for) taking on a salt tablet, 2 cups of water, an orange and cup of coke – and every other aid station I would also have a gel. This was working great for me … and then I hit the wall around 15 miles.

I had a few walks for the next mile or two and then seemed to get my second wind.
After an obviously slower second half of the marathon, I knew with about 8km to go that I was definitely going to complete it and become a Ironman. That was an amazing feeling and it boosted my pace back up.

Before I knew it I was running towards the lights and could hear the noise at the finish line. Running down the red carpet and hearing that “I was an IRONMAN” was one of the best things I’ve ever experienced … and I can’t wait do it all again.

Roll on 2025!

Epilogue

Since starting triathlon after that drunken night in Centre Parcs, I’ve completed five sprint distance triathlons, five Olympic distance triathlons, one Ironman 70.3 and one Ironman! I read that someone called this the full house!

If anyone ever reads this, myself, like many, many other people juggle a full time job with long hours and also have an active outdoor family lifestyle, always on the go. I still managed to get the training done and not sacrifice any family time. If you are thinking you won’t have the time, you have to want to make the time (4am bike rides!) and put the effort in because I promise you it will be the best thing you ever do!

Never Mind A Triathlon, I’m Going To Do An Ironman!

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