Its not over till the fat boy slims, swims, cycles and runs !!

I am embarrassed and disappointed to admit that after weighing my self yesterday evening I now weigh In at 20 stone, this means I have shamefully put on 2 stone since ironman wales in september. I have been struggling to train with acute Achilles tendentious, but that is really no excuse. I have clearly been eating too much.

I relise I can not be trusted to live sensibly and eat in moderation and need to learn to stay off the cake, so whilst I stand in the corner and think about what I have done I have entered a brand new race which is looking to be one of the toughest races in the uk for 2013, Its a full iron Distance tri on June 1st: 2.4mile sea swim in the firth of forth in Edinburgh, 112mile (9400ft) road cycle across scotland to Glencoe and a 26.2mile run summiting, ben Nevis (8500ft). All in one day of course. That will teach me to be greedy fatty. Training time for me,

I would like to thank Truro Running club for sending me on a “leader ship in running” course in Torpoint today, so I am now able to help at the running club and take group runs, crazy to think twelve months ago I had never really ran.

Have a look for your self: www.ratracecitytosummit.com

Post ironman has been a interesting time, a bit of a article in a local and national paper and a lot of great messages from friends and family as well as others who have felt inspired by my journey. I think I am currently responsable for inspiring 10 others to enter Iron distance events for 2013.

Massive highs and then the realisation, that a chapter in my journey was over, coupled with acute achilles tendonitis denying me from training and stopping me from confidently being able to enter races for 2013, has left me feeling low, hollow and empty.

Now; I seem to of proven that any thing is possible if you put your mind to it, I have there for given myself a problem.

What do I want from life. If anything is possible, I am seeking to achieve something, the problem is that I do not know what I want.

So time to spend a bit of time deciding what is next?

Fat man to Ironman completed, 14 months ago I was unhappy, I weighed 26 stone, I had a waist measuring over 50″ life was not horrific, I was married we were ok but it was not enough for me, I allowed myself to be easily distracted away from focusing on my ambition in life and was bogged down, I walked away from a very lovely well meaning girl, please don’t think this is a public attack, but I was like a caged bird I needed to fly, and she was scared I would injure myself if I trained.

I needed time to think, so decided to walk the coast path, I plodded, just me and my rucksack pitching my tent when It got dark, going home at weekends to work, it was very tough but it showed me how much I had let myself go, and also how much I wanted to be fit.

Had also watched a few of these TV shows with people going for surgery to lose weight, had heard somebody being warned that the operation was life threatening, but I still considered a visit to the doctors, at this point for the first time in my life I realised I really wanted to lose weight, it was time for a change.

I did not realise how bad thing were at the time but looking back I was out of breath climbing the stairs, unable to ride 3 miles without having a rest. I could not buy clothes from a normal shop, xxxxxxl t shirts don’t sell on the high street, I was unable to buy any outdoor kit, so it was tough to do the walk in a leaky coat, trust me there was also a lot of chaffing, but the weight very slowly started to come off, then suddenly I had lost 3 stone by the end of that summer and when back at work people noticed and commented it felt good, but I wanted more.

Had a gym at work so worked hard up until Christmas going to the gym and riding my mountain bike, lost a few more stone, I ordered a brand new full carbon road bike from the cycle to work scheme.

It arrived in January and I used it a lot, it was tough but slowly started building the miles 3 miles was tough at the beginning but soon could do 20 (which felt like a lot), wanted to do an Ironman so entered, there was a lot of negative feed back from family and friends who thought it was impossible.

Went and spoke to Matt Pullen from Trizone in Truro who I knew well, I expected to be laughed out of the shop, but he was blown away by the idea and could not have been more positive, he treated me as a athlete from the beginning, straight away he told me everything I needed to do and what I didn’t. It was time to change my mindset, athlete, not a fat man.

Many many many pool lengths, and miles on the bike under my belt, it was time to start running. It was April time when I turned up at Truro Rugby Club on a wednesday evening not for rugby, which I was the build for, but Truro Running Club, could not have had a more friendly welcome and I was immediately invited also to swim on a Friday morning, I initially declined as I thought it was just a polite offer but after the second week of them asking I went down, they where all so supportive and encouraging, I was convinced to take part in a 5 mile off road run race and  have not looked back since.

Had a couple of races booked as a lead up to the big race but got addicted, this turned into pretty much an event a week, Triathlons, runs, swims it was great fun the people doing these races have a positive ‘can do’ attitude and it’s catching.

The months soon disappeared and I found myself packing the car and making the drive to Tenby, signed in on the Friday morning and was still pretty calm. That evening we had the briefing and sitting in a aircraft hanger with 1600 other athletes things really started to hit home, I felt sick listening to the briefing. The medical director discussing intravenous drips did not help much to be fair.

For the first time, this whirlwind of a year had suddenly come to a abrupt halt, I had joined those doubters, how the hell is a guy like me gonna do an Ironman and one which they are describing as the toughest in the world. I just wished I had never even started this stupid challenge, why do I think I can achieve the impossible.

After the briefing was a pasta party I was in the queue, and a guy I had never met came up and shook my hand, he said he had been reading my blog, an amazing moment.

There was a lot of support coming through my phone, it made me feel better, had to go and rack my bike on the Saturday morning, was one of the first to do this and it was great to get it out of the way, Tom and Katie had arrived to support me and I banned them from talking about “the race” as it just made me feel sick, we went and watched the “Ironkids” event it was amazing.

Woke up at 4 am on race day, big breakfast, then on with the big head phones down to the transition area for five, check tyre pressures and clip on shoes to bike. Was feeling pretty emotional and it was strange to walk through the streets with 1600 people at dawn all in rubber!

A five minute splash around and we were called to the start, turned around to see that there where thousands and thousands of people watching, Welsh National Anthem then the 30 second countdown started, managed to break my goggle strap at 15 seconds to go, somehow managed to re-thread it with my shaking hands then the gun went it was time, all that training was for this moment, diving into a mass of legs arms and white water, it was brutal, the first mark was like being in a mutated school of mackerel it was hard to get into a rhythm, and ended up swim the course out wide without drafting just to be able to keep a nice rhythm, half way through the swim there was a short run out of the water and on to the second lap around the same course again.

Then it was time for the 1km run to transition, people covered every inch of the town, it was amazing. Got into the transition tent and it was a mass of bodies, found a free spot on the floor to change and it was time for a 112 mile ride.

The course was one lap then two smaller laps, it was stunning the scenery was amazing it was so hard to take it easy, with supporters on every corner, they where very loud, lots of music and partying.

Started to cramp a lot around 70 miles and that was a bit annoying, but the support was so good, the steepest hill which you do on two laps was like being in the Tour DE France, inspirational.

With around 2 hours more riding the rain started, which slowed cornering a bit after watching a few crashes, people start breaking bikes and going was tough. Just kept the miles ticking away and managed to average 15 mph which I was pleased with, but could not wait to start running and detach myself from my bike.

When I got to transition my feet hurt a lot and I struggled to walk, went into the tent to change and there was a guy covered in bandages and blood getting ready to run! He had crashed his bike but that was not gonna stop him.

Just the 26 mile marathon to do now with 8 hours left on the clock, the day was going as good as I could have hoped, the run consisted of a four lap course the first part a long 2 mile hill out of town then back and a course winding its way through the streets of cheering supporters. First lap it felt great to not be cycling any more. Lap two was tougher and the cramp started again could only run 100 yards before having to walk for 20 yards, which made going tough, managed to feel better on lap 3, then on to the final lap with over 3 hours to run a 10 km took it fairly easy with the fear of going too hard and not finishing at all and that was not a option.

Got to the end of the final lap and was allowed onto the finish straight, down a dark almost deserted road turning a corner a marshal said ’200 yards, they’re waiting for you’, could see the bright lights, picked up the pace and the cheering started, on to the red carpet the noise was deafening like being in a rugby stadium, music and thousands of people all cheering, picked up the pace to a sprint and jumped through the line “Gregory Hunt you are a Ironman” as I flew through the air was doubting weather I had the strength to land, but I did and managed to narrowly miss taking out the camera man. It was amazing, on top of the world I had done it, don’t now how, but I had. Tom, Katy and my dad were there and had been supporting and cheering for the whole day. Thank you, could not have done it without you.

14:52:59, two hours before the cut off.

To completing arguably the toughest Ironman on the planet! What a day,

“Gregory Hunt you are an Ironman“

Thank you to all that have been there for me over the last year, for all your support, could not have done it alone. xxx

Dare to dream, put your neck on the line, don’t be scared to fail, you might just change your life too!

To those who doubted me, think about what you could be doing if you did not have so many excuses as to why you can’t? Get out there and do it, live it.

14 months from left to right.

So its been a 14 months to remember, to think this picture on the left was only taken in July last year. Now with the car packed for Ironman wales this weekend, thought it was time to have a look back over the past year.

It all started with the very stressful events of a divorce, ending a long term relationship last june. With two month holiday from my main job and just having to work weekends. I could of sat round feeling sorry for my self but i figured I would walk the coast path, off I plodded just me and my rucksack pitching my tent when It got dark, going home at weekends to work, it was very tough but it should me how much I had let myself go, and also how much I wanted to be fit.

Had also watch a few of these TV shows with people going for surgery to loose weight, had heard somebody being warned that the operaration was life threatening, but I still considered a visit to the doctors, at this point for the first time in my life I released I really wanted to loose weight, it was time for a change.

Decided that I would like to complete my local sprint tri in Mylor in 2012, then maybe try a ironman in 2013! so it was time to get fit for 2012, managed to loose the first 3 stone during that summer of walking, than had free gym membership at work so started to arrive at work an hour early and spending time in the gym this soon turned to two hours then three, combined with my cycling to work on my mountain bike.

Had lost around 5 stone by christmas and it was time to get a road bike, thanks to the cycle to work scheme, ordered a beautiful full carbon orange and black felt z6. Whilst I was waiting for it to arrive I managed to snap the frame on my mountain bike, this is the point when I would like to say it had nothing to do with my weight but it clearly did, but due to a very generous lifetime frame warranty a brand new replacement was supplied, two new bikes in one month time to become a athlete, a few rides on my new bike and training was going well decided one evening that I would enter the ironman wales, done.

……

Had noticed this race earlier in the season, but after emailing the organisers to find out the course they had promised to send me information once it was available, this did not happen, but was on the internet on friday two days before the event, they had released a course and there were still places available, so i entered, it is the same distance as a half ironman the race consisted of a 1.2 mile swim in Roadford lake, then 3 three laps around the quiet lanes and roads with a out and back to make up the 55 mile bike, then onto a 13.2 mile off road run.

It was a very early start as I had to be there in time for a 6:30 sign in so a 4:30 wake up for a big breakfast and time to drive there, managed to be the first to arrive to a empty car park, people soon started turning up, racked the bike in the pouring rain and wrapped it in plastic bags. Had a chat to a few folks who had rode the bike course and claimed it to be hideously hilly and the run to have a epic amount of mud so a quick switch to trail shoes was in order.

Around 50 people where entered, a brief description of the course then off down to the water for I must say a very confusing description of the swim, which aided to work up the weaker swimmers, jump in and was surprised how warm the water was, we where soon off and settled in to my stroke tried to draft behind some body but he was not swimming in a very straight line so soon overtook him and swam the course with two others we where between the leading pack and the main group behind us, easy flat uneventful swim but remembered that I had left my bike in a high gear and it was a uphill start oops, was soon out of the water in about 14th place, up a steep climb to the bike.

My fears where released to find the bike in big cog what a stupid school boy error, had to run to the top of the hill and struggled to get the bike going, it was in the highest gear possible, soon settled into the course, having to be cautious as I did not know what awaited me around each corner, about a third of the way round I hit the main steep hill changed down into bottom gear and could hear the rear mech touching the spoke, flicked the gear back one and bang the chain snapped, a bit of obscenities followed and my heart sank for my race to be over so soon, just as I was ……..

The sticker 5 mile which is part of the Cornish GP series, the problem is when you are training for a ironman a 5 mile race is just not enough, decided that it was a good day to step up the training a bit, so cycled from Mylor to the club run in truro, ran the 6 mile club run, then cylced on to st stevens on the way to st austall for lunch with friends, then rode to sticker for the 5 mile race.

It was a very damp evening and every body huddled into the football clubhouse, found the  usual suspects from TRC huddled into the corner, Isabel looking so very very nervous. but she spent some time further convincing me to enter the RAT (Roseland august trail 32 mile coast path run).

We jogged down to the start line and people where struggling to get signal for there GPS watches which was a funny site to watch all with arms in the air, the same watches on the same screen.

Time for the off, luckily the weather stayed dry for the whole race and It was a nice course a few hills which were tough at times but really enjoyed it felt good in the last mile and had a really strong finish taken around a dozen places in the last half mile catching Cath in a really sneaking finishing straight sprint finish overtake, a strong race finishing in 42:50 that is 8:33 minute miles wow a five mile PB!!

Very happy with that, 7 seconds quicker than the flat race a cubert. Just the twenty mile ride home to contend with, It was a hard ride back on soggy legs, but all in all, a great day out.

Almost forgot to mention the free pasty and towel and the impressive results by Pete Sowerby who not only finished in the top 10 then went and caught some horses who where running free on the course what a hero!

There has been a £20 bet on this race for the last 3 years over who could finish first between me and liam, he did not enter giving out a very lame excuse, so this was very disappointing.

After 3 hours sleep and it being a drizzly day was not really feeling like racing, but with a finish bringing a guarantying win over liam it had to be done, was lead down to the beach and was set off, the water felt even colder than usual and for the first time in a race really really did not want to be there, considered stopping at the end of the swim but as I got out realised that there where still a lot of bikes and far too many people watching to stop, fell over getting out of my wetsuit in front of the crowd so gave them something to laugh at.

Off on the bike wobbly start then of course up the hill out of the harbour, Its a steep one, the bike course is well summed up by organiser martin “How can you cycle up more hils than down them and still return to the same transition point”

The surface was slippery and had one near death experience sliding sideways out of a junction around one corner onto the main road which made things interesting.

It was great to know the course, and what is around the next corner.

After the hills hills and more hills was back to the harbour, managed a superb flying dismount only to have a guy clip my back wheel with his front and wipe him self out (honest) and fall over I apologised and carried on, feeling pretty guilty, as a triathlete impostor. At this point I really just wanted to go back to bed , trainers on and just a run around the point, trudged on and the guy eventually caught me and I apologised again, he did not punch me so I guess there are advantages of being a fat triathlete.

Had a pretty slow run there was some walking involved but of course a sprint finish had to be done as always.

A chance to swim across the Carrick roads, this is something that you could not do normally due to commercial shipping movements, so was excited by the opportunity and coupled with the optional extra 10 k run off the back would be a good test.

As well as being my first chance to race against my friend Tom, made it extra special. With the support from family and friends, including kate, katie see I have now mentioned you so kate who is toms girlfriend. Thats kate. She is very good supporter.

Got down early to register, and then came back later 2:45 to put our bags in the truck to be taken over to St Mawes to be waiting for us when we arrived.

Me and Tom made our way down to the briefing area with our wetsuits on and then the wait begin, nice quick briefing and we were slowly called down to the beach, tom number 30 odd went off first and i was called 15 minutes later or so down on to the beach to link back up with Tom still 25 minutes to wait, so went for a gentle swim and a warm up.

A few words from Lawrence Reed from radio cornwall and the gun was fired.

Massive scramble in the water got swam over by a couple of people in the first ten seconds then in the first 200 hundred yards it felt like all 300 hundred people swam past me, “must be coming last now, oh well better get over there as quick as I can so I am not last by two far”

The water build up in my googles got too much and had to stop to clear it and when I kicked off to go again I goy a massive shooting pain in my leg, the cramp was not gonna stop me so tried to block out the pain and carried on, had to swim with my toe curled to try and calm it down.

My googles filled up again and soon could not see again and had to empty them, again this time pushed them on as hard as I could the cramp hit again tried to relax but had to swim again with my toes curled up to stop the pain, soon the left eye of my google filled up again completely, but no time to empty it again I was just crossing the really deep water and the strongest current.

Had not seen many other competitors so figured I must be pretty much dead last, but to be fair I could only see out of one eye and only just at that, saw some bright yellow blobs which I hoped to be the marshalls so pushed on blindly for the finish, about 100 yards to go and the cramp hit again, told my self not too stop, pushed hard and shut out the pain could see the bottom kept swimming until knee deep and struggled painfully to my feet and limped over the finish line. Was asked to take off my timing chip but I think after I almost wiped two off them off there feet they figured it was better to do it there selves.

Pushed past a few people but was stopped by tom who explained the 10 km run was a separate race and not the transition that we where expecting and that we could start it in our own time. So looked back to see some people where not yet half way across, seems I was not last.

We got our stuff together and ran the 10 km run like a couple of old women chatting most of the way, loverly course, but really disappointed that it was two separate events.

Seems I managed to come about 33rd out over over 300 competitors in a time of 30:56 not a bad day out on the water. Bought some new googles now.

Picked up a post on the running club Facebook page, about the Cubert 5 mile road race there was a empty spot for the event being run the following evening, so thought it would be a run out, better than training alone.

But of course you can’t go to a race and not try to compete, always a chance for a win, although unlikely, it was a very pleasant evening, but the heat was intense very little wind, was impressive seeing over 650 people on the start line in a tiny Cornish village, had a sore calf still from the tri two days before, but managed to get a good start and was fairly close to the front, and just settled into my own pace got passed by a lot of people, I mean a lot.

Nice flat course and we were soon around and onto the second lap luckily there was a water station at around 3 miles, because my body was unsure if it wanted to vomit and or collapse, but a few sips of warm water and the rest over the head made things feel better gave myself 45 seconds of power walking after the aid station then pushed on, around the second lap, soon was on the way back to the field and time to turn on the sprint finish, the best part of my race however sick and hot I feel, overtook around ten plus people and could hear the crowd cheering on. Luckily I had been down before the start to find the finish line so timed it just right, pretty much ready for my lungs to collapse, over the line, gave it my all.

The race is described as flat, but definitely a very Cornish flat, should really be described as “flat for Cornwall”, managed 398th place out of 649 finishers, in a time of 42:57 that is 8:35 miles. Would have liked to get under 40 minutes, but on tired legs, with weather not ideally suited to the larger gentlemen, I am very happy with this time.

Well done to the rest of Truro runners and everybody for giving me another great evening, got a nice rucksack, and a goody bag, all for a tenner if you have not tried a running race, just do it, you might just love it.

Great to see some familier faces from Imerys and Boconnoc, so it was nice to catch up with them.

Please don’t forget to sponsor me link on top right of the page.