{"id":5995,"date":"2014-09-26T14:40:35","date_gmt":"2014-09-26T14:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fitproblog.mysites.io\/ironman\/"},"modified":"2014-09-26T14:40:35","modified_gmt":"2014-09-26T14:40:35","slug":"ironman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fitpro.com\/blog\/ironman\/","title":{"rendered":"I am an Ironman!"},"content":{"rendered":"

For personal trainer, triathlon coach and mother of two\u00a0Harriet Chettleburgh<\/strong>, anything is possible.\u00a0Here, she reveals to FitPro the reality of competing in the Ironman, Austria.<\/p>\n

Trust your body<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cThe final moments before the mass start of an Ironman open water swim are \u2018intense\u2019 to say the least,\u201d recalls Harriet Chettleburgh. Standing on the beach at Lake Worthersee in Austria, the competitor looked around at the focused expressions of the other 2,500 athletes waiting for the start cannons to blast. With no previous Ironman experience, Chettleburgh was certainly venturing into the unknown with the mantra \u201ctrust your training, trust your body\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cEveryone was waiting. In those final moments I witnessed something that amazed me. A blind athlete was led past me by her guide; they were attached to one another with a leash around their wrists. Everyone here had their own challenges to overcome in the hours that lay ahead.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The swim was 2.4 miles in the crystal blue waters of Lake Worthersee, the water temperature a balmy 22\u00b0C. Chettleburgh tells me that much of the swim was \u201ca frenzy of limbs\u201d and she took a few \u201ckicks and punches to the head\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI could taste gunpowder in the water from the huge fireworks that had accompanied the start cannons. The water was beautiful and clear, which made it relatively easy to relax and get on with the job. For the last half mile we funnelled into a narrow canal, where it really did become every man for himself and resembled swimming in a washing machine!\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As Chettleburgh swam, the crowds lined the banks and cheered her to the finish. She completed the race in 1hr 13mins. Running for the changing tents, she peeled off her wetsuit in triumph.<\/span><\/p>\n

Turn the page to find out what happened when Chettleburgh tackled the 112-mile bike course around Lake Worthersee \u2026<\/strong>
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On your bike<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cThe atmosphere was electric: screaming crowds and banging music. My heart rate was higher than it should have been; I tried to chill out and settle into a rhythm as soon as I could.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Following the swim came a 112-mile bike course around Lake Worthersee, which proved incredibly scenic and beautiful. \u201cI found the first 56-mile loop straightforwards,\u201d<\/em> Chettleburgh remembers. \u201c<\/em>I ate salty rice cakes and bananas just like I\u2019d planned and focused on being efficient and consistent with my energy expenditure. Then, suddenly during the second loop, I thought disaster had struck and my heart sank. My back wheel was making a whistling noise and I knew I had mechanical problems. I couldn\u2019t work out what was wrong and luckily I seemed to be maintaining speed, but after a while my gears stopped working properly and I was unable to change from the small chainring (which I use to climb hills) to the big one (which I use for flat and downhill).\u201d<\/p>\n

Conquering Rupertiberg<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00a0\u201cThe bike course was a true test of my nerves and I was pretty scared. I didn\u2019t want to think about the possibility of not finishing the race I\u2019d spent almost a year training for.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For much of the second loop, Chettleburgh forfeited some speed by staying in her small chainring and occasionally dismounted to move the chain back into the big ring by hand. She recalls, \u201cAs I reached the top of the final climb (a monster called Rupertiberg) I dismounted for a final time and manually moved the chain back onto the big ring, in order to make the most of the 20-mile descent back into Klagenfurt. I finished the bike ride in 5hr 55mins and felt a huge energy surge and sense of relief from overcoming difficulties that I had feared could have ended my Ironman race. Phew!\u201d<\/p>\n

An Ironman finish<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00a0\u201cI felt I could trust my body far more than my bike.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Chettleburgh exclaimed that she felt \u201cgreat\u201d when she embarked on the final leg of the journey \u2013 the 26.2-mile run. However, the athlete was convinced that this spelled danger and didn\u2019t wish to shoot out of the blocks too quickly. The feeling of celebration encapsulated Chettleburgh, who felt as if she had already claimed victory. With the heat rising, the athlete grabbed water and sponges to control her intensifying body heat.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cI felt strong for the first 16 miles, but miles 17 to 22 became really tough. My pace slowed and I found myself needing to eat more (orange segments and watermelon) and drink more (coke and water). I no longer wanted to eat the sickly sweet carbohydrate caffeine gels I had in my pocket. I thought about my family, friends and clients at home, tracking my timing splits on the Ironman website. How disappointed would they be if my run dropped off a cliff now? Come on, stay strong!\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Continue reading to discover which key moments of the Ironman Chettleburgh will never forget \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\t\t