Dragon Slaying In Wales Where Even The Swim Has An Elevation At Times I’m Sure by Mhairi Wear

It's 5 Years since I managed to get to an Ironman start line due to injury and that small episode called COVID lockdown.  Now I could have have gone somewhere there is a picturesque, tranquil lake to swim in, cycle through flat lush landscapes with the sun beaming down and a gentle breeze in the air, a nice flat 2 loop run route taking in the scenic views of the calm lake, I hope I’m setting a lovely scene in your mind and its calming, feel relaxed myself just writing this.  Well I can assure you of one thing it was anything but because I chose Wales as my comeback race.  Having been there 3 times before I knew what it was like but nothing prepared me for this.

Packed the van up Wednesday night and headed to Tenby on Thursday morning with my trusted chauffeur and biggest supporter, sponsor, councillor, medic oh and long suffering husband Mayson for our 6.5hr journey from Cumbria.  Now anyone that knows me, knows I’m straight talking and do a lot of it so the man needed a medal just getting through the marathon journey with his sanity.  Arriving in Tenby the weather was glorious - sun was shinning there was a gentle breeze the sea look beautiful and the town was still relatively quiet and calm.  This would be a good day for racing.  Friday saw registration open and the town got busy!!!  Got all registered spent a few obligatory pounds on merchandise, another water bottle and another sun visor (I was being optimistic with that one).  Bike ride done checking it was ok and off for more food, which was getting a little hard work as I’m not a massive fan of eating lots at one time with short periods between meals although did find the best place for gluten free carrot cake, it was almost as good as mine but not quite.  I did refrain from telling the owner of the cafe this as I wanted to go back for more.

Saturday saw the weather change with the wind picking up and forecast of rain so did short run and headed to transition with bike and bags.  Bike racked, bags hung up and timing chip obtained - that was the last I saw of that particular timing chip.  Sleep that night was not my friend I was more nervous for this one that I had been for any other.  The week had been a week full of mixed emotions and phantom pains where my injuries had been.  Just wanted to get on with it.

Race morning started with usual hotel room breakfast and then the realization that my timing chip was nowhere to be seen then my classically spoken words of  “ fu@k where’s my chip” while blaming Mayson for loosing it, off to transition for another thinking this is not a great start.  The weather was looking awful for the day with winds of 18MPH during the swim my nerves where getting worse, usual cry on Maysons shoulder which now seems to be a tradition and off I head to the swim start on the north beach.

The atmosphere was amazing as usual, it was so busy, lining up in the start pens I decided to put myself in the 1hr 15 mins pen 🤣  that was wishful thinking looking at the sea which was getting worse and worse as we were standing there.  The Welsh nation anthem played loud and proud, its unreal at that point the hairs on the back of your neck go up then thunderstruck is played and we are off. I seemed to reach the front rather fast, over the timing mat and into the sea or should I say Hell because that’s what it felt like for the duration.  I have never swam in conditions that bad, had a little panic about 200m in but managed to calm myself a few choice words said, got to the turn buoy headed to the next one which seemed miles away, the next turn buoy well that was like a boxing match.  And in heading towards the beach finally the current in our favour and finishing the first loop.  That’s where the enjoyment of the swim ended and the hardest swim lap of my life started.  The wind pick up and the sea worsened and my Ironman Wales 2024 very nearly finished with me being pulled from the water. I nearly quit after having to hold onto the paddle board and stop hyperventilating but sorted myself out a few fu@k’s and soldiered on getting to the end and reaching the beach in an awful time but just happy to be out.  “That was fu@king awful” 🤯 were about the only words being spoken from my mouth in my best Scottish accent as I came out for the water looking like a deformed character from a marvel film.  Wetsuit off trainers on and off to transition that lovely 1km run through the town.

Biking gear on and off out on the bike - my happy place.  All I kept thinking was well that’s my Hawaii slot gone.  3 miles into the bike Mayson was standing at his chosen spot, to say he looked annoyed would be an understatement as I passed looking very pissed off  with myself and no smile in sight which got worse with him telling me I was 15th and to get a fu@king move on.  15th WTF I wasn’t coming all this way for 15th so settled in and pushed on. 8th after the first lap things are getting better the rain came with around 40 miles to go I could cope with that.  Making sure I was taking on enough fuel as I’m bad for forgetting to eat on the bike and drinking enough fluid, no time for toilet stops today it was a case of needs must and f@ck it its raining anyway.  Eventually finishing the bike in 8th place.

Bike racked and trainers on out of transition onto the run.  Mayson informing me I was 8th he was smiling at this point big change from the start of the bike. Legs felt good so pushed on having done this run I knew what to expect, make up time on the down hills.  Ive trained on the hills it made a massive difference managing to run most of the up hills.  On every lap I was gaining on the girls in front of me Mayson telling me that they were just in front.  Now just to be clear Mayson's just in front of can be anything from 100m to 1/2 mile.  I kept remembering to take on fuel even grabbing a bag of the crisps off one of the volunteers at the aid station asking if there were gluten free 🤣 which they weren’t.  As darkness fell and the rain kept coming reached the 4th lap now in 6th still feeling good running through the streets of Tenby with drunk Welshmen in speedos and pints in their hands willing you to the finish, reached the red carpet running like Usain Bolt to the finish and hear those magic words “Mhairi Wear you are an Ironman”.  As the tears came I found out that I was 5th and my run split was the 2nd fastest in my age group I couldn’t believe it considering a year ago I was struggling with a stress fracture in my femur and unsure if I was ever going to do another.  When I got back to the hotel, peeled my trisuit of and stepped in the shower realising that I had chafed in areas never before reached as the words “ouch you fu@ker rang out” and the back of my neck looked like I had been eaten by vampires in the swim but It was so worth it.

Didn't sleep much that night then up Monday morning van packed promptly as I was going to slot allocation on the chance that I may have qualified.  Then I found out that I had Qualified automatically for Kona 2025. The tears came once again and the smiles were enormous, after a number of years trying to I had qualified Mayson now thinking bugger I have to pay for it and what’s worse is him having to fly to the other side of the world.  IM Wales is an amazing race and one that everyone should do once providing you can get through the swim.  2024 is a wrap and its been a bloody fantastic year here’s to more like this just got to try and not descend into my usual off season antics of Prosecco, Gin and basically anything alcoholic, bad dancing and awful TikTok videos with Big Shell.  Thanks everyone xxx. 😀