Ironman UK 2022 - Bolton

[@bodsnvimto]

I live in Tottington, the bike loop goes past the end of our street. I was out to see the very first riders zip through at 8am. I then went up to about 3/4s of the way up the long uphill from Walshaw to Affetside, where I spent most of the day. Finally I went to the right-hand turn towards Edgworth from Hawkshaw where I watched until the very last rider struggled past. By the end of the day I'd shouted myself hoarse and clapped my hands into a state of multiple bruises. Absolutely brilliant, the best day of the year. Everyone who entered this or any other IronMan is amazing, even the non-finishers who still have more about them than 99% of the rest of us. Can't wait for next year's, we're almost halfway back already. My next-door neighbour in 63yrs-old and recently entered his first IM in Barcelona. He was worried when the shutoff time was dropped from 16hrs to 15. Fear not, he smashed it in just under 13:20. I doth mine cap to him, to you, and to all of you.

[@bodsnvimto]

One thing I also meant to say but forgot to do so was that the last rider on the third lap went through at 4:10PM. Thanks Craig for the appreciation but are you doing next year? If so I'll look out for all those with your Christian name on their backs and hopefully give you a shout and a word or three of encouragement. During the last one prior to this, I spent 35 mins stood in a cloudburst of Biblical proportions whilst a poor rider - hi Luke if you're checking in - tried time after time to fix a puncture on a soaked inner-tube whilst getting ever more frozen (even those still in the saddle were suffering the cold and extremely wet). The good news is that he still finished in great time.

[@craigshannon6046]

Thanks for the messages. I had a puncture on the downhill Watling Street before turning back up towards Toddington on the 2nd lap. To be honest it absolutely killed me mentally. Was so frustrating and got really cold changing it. It’s such a brutal bike course and luckily managed to get up to Bolton a few times to ride that and the run course a few times. Thanks for the support as it certainly helps in the dark moments I think everyone goes through out on that course! Keep up the good work 🙌🏻

[@bodsnvimto]

@@craigshannon6046 Yes, I can understand the deflation of the mindset matching that of the inner-tube and, indeed, that was one thing I kept drumming into Luke in '21: STAY POSITIVE, HALF IS IN THE HEAD. I caught up with him twice more after that and again shouted encouragement. If you'd been doing the cycle track as practice in the upcoming weeks you might have seen me, I go for regular weekend walks up Turton Rd from Tottington, and, as they flashed by, was asking all the clearly non-leisurely cyclists as to if they were competing. Four stopped to chat, and thankfully all finished.

[@bodsnvimto]

@@craigshannon6046 May starts tomorrow, the IM is getting closer. Are you doing it again this year? I'll look out for you if so.

[@SwimBikeRunStu]

Firstly well done. Looks like you smashed it. Hoping to see that red carpet next year 👌

[@craigshannon6046]

Thank you Stu. It’s one hell of a brutal course. Definitely worth a reccy of the course prior to the event if you can. Best of luck next year 🙌🏻

[@thomasmccollin2603]

Well done great video. Hope you’re recovered now. Enjoy Xmas and go again 💪

[@craigshannon6046]

Cheers Thomas. Certainly was a tough one. Unfortunately I’m chasing a mileage target before the New Year is out so still chugging away 👍🏻

[@terrycurtis260]

Great video and memories, well done sir 👏 Hoping to achieve this aswell in 2023.

[@bodsnvimto]

As I said to the uploader, so too I'll look for and cheer you on along with everyone else. Good luck if you go for it.

[@craigshannon6046]

Nice one Terry. It’s an amazing event and the crowds were fantastic, pulling you round the course. My advice would be to be to practice hills, hills and more hills on long training rides. A few reccies of the route prior to the event helped me massively. It’s a brutal course! Best of luck 🙌🏻

[@terrycurtis260]

@@bodsnvimto I am in and the training has begun. If you are also doing it I will look out and cheer you along.

[@terrycurtis260]

@@craigshannon6046 Great advice Craig. All the reviews say the bike course is brutal. Unfortunately unable to reccie as I live over 4 hours drive away but will make sure to get lots of hilly rides in.

[@bodsnvimto]

@@terrycurtis260 Strictly an enthusiastic spectator me, mate, keen to encourage and will on all you fantastic athletes.