Dave's story from his Ironman experience last month in Bolton.
I have just returned from Ironman UK in Bolton where my dreams were shattered. I got medically pulled off the course at mile 80 on the bike. I gave it everything I had and there was literally nothing left in the tank. I was a blithering wreck, lying on the floor wrapped like the Christmas turkey in tin foil blankets crying my eyes out like a baby girl, awaiting an ambulance. 8 months of hard work and many sacrifices just taken away from me in a heartbeat. The mental state of a DNF is still today tearing me apart. Physically my body feels great but my head is in another dimension. The only way I can think of rectifying this is to get back in the saddle as quick as possible.
What better way than doing the Challenging Events Swashbuckler Triathlon. By far the best Middle Distance on the South Coast. The course, the people, the marshals and the organisation is second to none. I have done this course in the past and the experience was quite overwhelming. So what better way to get my head back in the game than to take on this iconic triathlon. I signed up the minute I returned from Bolton (after seeking Mrs approval), this will be make or break me for my future in the world of triathlon, but I couldn't think of anywhere else I would like such an important part of my journey to be judged.
The guys at Challenging Events have been with me since I started my journey, through dark days of getting lost and needing rescuing through to breaking into schools to get feed station equipment to allow events to happen, it's been epic to say the least and I'm hoping the Swashbuckler will put me in a position to allow it to continue for a few more years yet.
Dave went on to finish the Swashbuckler Triathlon in 06:29:12 and a respectful top 10 finish in his age group. Dave will be back competing with us for the Bournemouth International Triathlon on 11th September and has signed up for Mallorca 140.6 for September 2023.