IMCH

[Doug]

Well done to all the IMCH competitors the RAF and Navy had a good outing there. As for the fastest IM time, I think Andy Fisher is still a member? He posted a 9:47 at Australia last year despite suffering with the heat on the run. He has entered IMUK this year where he hopes to qualify for the World Champs.

[Steve P]

That'll answer that debate then

[Judith]

Forgot about Fish!

Sorry!

[Doug]

Fish has finished 9th overall in IMUK in a time of 9:36, 2nd in age group also beating one of the pro's. I think that will get him to Hawaii !

[GavH]

Two of the pros, as far as I can tell - he beat Eneko Elosequi and Craig Twigg (who looks to have had some kind of problem, running 4h05 for the marathon.)

[Tony]

wow thats amazing!! well done fish

http://ironmanlive.com/tracking.php?race=uk&year=2010

fish was bib 909, I'm 210.

it was a good chance to place highly as the field was weak at IMUK on every level for a number of reasons:

1. a lot of folks not too happy about last yr
2. a lot of folks choosing the new kid in town Outlaw instead regardless
3. pro field was very thin anyhow

with the result that there were only lots and lots of UK first timers attracted to the Mdot, but who were thus unlikely to do well, especially as its quite a tough bike course. The main competition of decent athletes came from the smallish number of overseas competitors, however even then there were very few Germans, only 7, and 1 Austrian, probably all doing the inaugural IM Regensberg instead.

As to point 1, things were much improved. Most people were pretty happy with the organisation. I'd recommend it! and enjoyed the whole thing, altho I was driven round the split transitions and later collected etc by Paul (thanks) so logistics were easyish for me.
Helped a lot that Sat and Sun was pretty decent weather mainly, and the new swim venue at Leigh Sports Village was very posh, and no mud! The water was murky but warm. If we had still been planning to swim at Rivi, then it was exceptionally low due to driest ever weather in the NW this yr.

I had an odd race as I unluckily got a knee injury back 2 weeks ago. My swim waggle even upsets it, and it duly did a bit. 1h22, poss a little short actually as top pros did 43 mins I recall.

As I didnt expect to complete the run I went even more banzai than normal on the bike and thoroughly enjoyed myself, and the Denim shorts got plenty of giggles. Didnt blow up. The ole Softride posted 43rd best time!! 5h47. It was a bit of a long course, could be 115 miles. Good!

The bike had upset my knee a bit more and I was totally hobbling from the first step in T2. DNF!! So I leisurely changed, checked out the bikes that beat me, and walked the first 3 mile offroad loop of the run course. Jogging still hurt my knee, walking improved tho. I stopped for 3 ish mins and cheekily borrowed a marshalls phone and rang Paul to see whether to walk the whole thing for the atmos, or go home now. The stop somehow helped as I could then jog a bit OK, so I decided to do try 1 lap instead and head into Bolton, where you had to get your kitbag anyway. I bumped along, stopping if necessary when pain flared eg when going downhill?? I steadily improved and ended running the whole of the last lap quite well. I had a proper sprint finish with another injured and over competitive Italian who had a slight limp. Great fun. Might make the Telly
4h21 split but actually it was a short course, likely only 25 miles.

Special Finishers Caps are given to the Top 250 finishers. As explained, it was a weak field of mostly UK newbies, but I was still amazed to finish 233rd and get a cap, having wasted so much time after the bike. Well chuffed

I'm going to do the sensible thing and not do the Triple IM at Lichfield on Saturday tho ..........I'll drop down and give the Double IM a start instead

[kyle campbell]

Like I said, total nutter and good report again.

Might try the double for my 40th in 2 years but dont tell anyone I have another bonkers idea in the pipe line that year as well so it is one or the other wont be able to do both?

Kylie C

[Steve P]

Well Done to Both Andy and Tony - awesome results - even more so given your knee injury Tony and someone told me they saw Andy limping at O?W swimming the other week with a foot injury - obviously got that sorted quickly

Top results both of you

[Tony]

ok, this has become the IMCH & IMUK thread, but just noticed I never actually put my time in my report: It was 11h45. Remembering this is a tough course, not that bad actually for me, given the knee issue costing time. Fully fit, I'd have needed to be 100% at my potential on this course to have achieved my top aim of sub 11.