Nigel Gaskin

This time last year I raced my first ever 70.3 Ironman event. It just happened to be the first time Staffordshire had held a 70.3 Ironman event. It consists of a 1.2-mile swim in Chasewater reservoir and a 56-mile bike course through the stunning countryside outside Lichfield, Burton-upon-Trent, and across Cannock Chase. Then a 13.1-mile run that starts and finishes at the historic Shugborough country estate.

So why did I choose to take on this challenge?

In July 2014 whilst out training on my road bike I was unfortunate to have been involved in an accident. I hit a pot hole whilst travelling along the road. I was thrown from my bike and landed on my left shoulder. Unknown to me at the time, I had broken my left clavicle in numerous places.

I spent seven months off work trying to recover from the surgery. The surgeon had to rebuild my left clavicle with lots of nuts, bolts and metal plates. But to make matters worse he said to me, “You’ll have to be prepared that you will never compete at the level you were once use to.” Really? Ha! You are so wrong doctor. You may know a bit about my body, but you don’t know how my mind works. Don’t challenge me!

I had heard about the Ironman events; they were very appealing. I knew this was going to be my next challenge. I was prepared to prove the doctors wrong. There’d been lots of advertisements about a new 70.3 Ironman event being held in Staffordshire. This is where my Ironman journey began.

I was lucky enough to obtain a place and competed in the event in June 2015. I had the second fastest swim in my age group and went on to finish in 16th position. I also qualified to race at the 70.3 World Ironman Championships, Zell Am See-Kaprun, Austria, 30th August 2015. What a bonus!

Racing in the World Championships was such an amazing experience. I met so many people and now have some great new friends. I hoped this wasn’t going to be my last World Championship event. I immediately researched the 2016 World Championships and discovered that it was to be held in the Sunshine Coast, Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia.

Could I qualify again?

After returning home, full of enthusiasm I spoke with my wife and explained to her how I’d love to continue competing at this level. I knew it was going to be a difficult discussion especially as the 2016 event was going to be held in Australia. It was agreed that I could race, however I was told you WILL qualify as this will be our summer holiday. Her determination to lie on a beach in Oz was almost as strong as my determination to race!

So how would I do this?

I looked at the race schedule for 2016. There weren’t many events that I could enter to obtain a qualifying slot. With my own race schedule being fully loaded, this didn’t leave me with many options. I knew it would be down to one race only; I threw all my eggs into one basket and once again entered the 2016 Staffordshire 70.3 Ironman event.

What was my training routine?

Having being a competitive swimmer for three decades I have a vast amount of knowledge when it comes to training. So I started off by setting myself a training plan which I would follow throughout the winter and into 2016. It’s not been easy. I work full-time doing shift work. I work 12 hour shifts, 4 days on, 4 days off. I also have a wife, teenage son and a very energetic dog. So you may be thinking that’s easy with all those days off but believe me, it’s like spinning plates! My training plan can’t be consistent with a Monday – Sunday routine. I have to set my training around what hours I have left in each day, always wondering if I can squeeze in a swim, bike or run without being in the dog-house. I also try to avoid any training at the weekends. As I feel it’s important to have time at home with the family. Something that doesn’t happen too often due to working shifts.

As a part of my training plan I wanted to enter some pre-season races where I could test my fitness and get some race experience. I found an Aquathlon Race Series in Tewkesbury. This consisted of four races spreading through January to April. I also raced in a Sprint Triathlon and had entered an ETU qualifying event at Ellesmere, Shropshire.

My training had been going to plan; I was the fittest I had ever been. I was winning every race that I had entered. I was feeling so confident; I knew I’d qualify for the World 70.3 Ironman Championships.

Then just four weeks to go until the big day I woke up one morning and found that I was in immense pain. I couldn’t walk on my heals. I’m sure there are a many out there that have suffered the same pain. Being dedicated to my training I continued to follow my plan. However, the pain was becoming excruciating. I took the decision to stop running all together.

On the 29th May 2016 I had a race to compete in. I had entered the Shropshire Standard Distance Triathlon at Ellesmere. This was an ETU qualifying race for 2017. I hadn’t run for two weeks. Still suffering with my heals, I turned up and raced. I amazed myself by finishing 1st in the 35-39 age group and 5th overall. I also qualified to race for GB Team next year in Austria.

70.3 Staffs Race Day

Having not done any run training for nearly four weeks, my confidence in qualifying had fallen significantly. All I could think about on race morning was how disappointed my wife would be if I failed to qualify. She had suffered longer than me, I’d done eight months of solid training and she hadn’t moaned once, honestly!

The Swim

I arrived at Chase Water bright and early. The weather was looking good and the water temperature was estimated to be around 20 degrees. Perfect conditions! I had put my bike in the racks the day before, so just a final check on my bike/kit and I was ready for racing.

I met up with a good friend, Ian Dempsey. Ian had just moved into my age group (35-39). I knew Ian was on top form and would be very tough to beat him. We both come from a swimming background; we knew we would be amongst the first swimmers to exit the swim leg.  I was feeling very confident with my swimming. Especially after swimming an 18 minute 1500 metre at Ellesmere two weeks earlier.

Ian and I entered the pontoon and managed to line up in the first row of swimmers. This year’s race had been changed so that the swim leg was a rolling start rather than a mass water start.

We were given the countdown, we moved to the edge of the pontoon. The starter sounded the horn. I was third to enter the water and quickly settled into my usual catch up style swimming. I moved into first place and held that throughout the swim. I was aware that Ian was swimming on my right hand side and two other swimmers had dropped in behind us.

I was a little disappointed with the layout of the swim this year. The 1st to 2nd marker buoy was far too difficult to sight meaning we had swum offline a little. With approximately 200m to go I was aware that one of the other athletes that had been on my toes had moved alongside me. I was determined to exit the water first. I kept saying to myself, ‘I’m the swimmer, I must be out first’. It was a great battle, but the other athlete made it to the timing mat before me.

Transition one seemed to last forever. Although the organisers had added a bit more carpet compared to 2015 there was still enough loose gravel to impede your progress on the long run to the changing tent. Myself, Ian and the two other athletes all entered the tent together, dashing for our kit bags and then fighting to remove our wetsuits.

We all left the changing tent at about the same time. I’m now recalling the route to my bike, in my head. I left the tent and just saw thousands of bikes still hanging on the stands; I was confident I had memorised the route to my bike. However, although I was in the correct row of bikes I still managed to run past my bike. I did a quick U-turn and I found my bike. Keeping calm I grabbed my bike and continue through T1 until I could see the mount line.

The road out of Chasewater was unforgiving; it could easily destroy your bike ride. There are speed humps, freshly filled pot holes and loose gravel to contend with. The organisers had instructed athletes at the briefing that this was a no tri bar zone and would result in disqualification if you were seen to be down in the aero position.

Last year I rode the course on my old Cube road bike, however this year I was lucky enough to be racing on my Argon 18 TT bike which was supplied by Bridgtown Cycles, Cannock.

I was amazed that I could no longer see Ian or the other two athletes that were in T1 with me. I powered on in the hope that I’d see them in the distance. However, the first part of the course is very twisty with undulating hills to master. Several miles had passed by and still no sign of the other athletes. I was now thinking I’m out here on my own.

Around miles 34-36 I could hear that distinctive noise a solid wheel makes on a TT bike. I had a quick look under my right arm and could see another athlete closing me down, and very quickly at that. This athlete just passed me as if I was standing still. I tried to stay with him but just found myself dropping further back. I was again just left out there on my own and to make matters worse the weather changed from sun to torrential rain and hail.

The last 10 miles were so difficult, with fast flowing downhill sections, twisty roads and puddles to negotiate. I kept thinking how dangerous this ride had become. The potential for an accident was ever increasing.

With T2 now in sight I felt instant relief. That was one of the hardest bike rides I had ever experienced. I was so glad to know I’d be getting off the bike in less than a few minutes.

T2 was quick, totally the opposite to T1, this time there were only a few bikes. So finding my number could have been somewhat difficult. However, because I had spent several minutes walking the route the day before I confidently ran to the correct location. A quick shoe change in the transition tent and I was ready for my run.

I exited the transition tent and started my 13.1 mile run. The rain was still heavy, making the ground underfoot really difficult. The run itself was of mixed terrain, loose gravel, stone, cobbles, tarmac and mud. My first lap of three was fast, I could see by looking at my Garmin Fenix 3 that my average pace was around 5 minutes 40 seconds / mile.

Having gone into the race without running for four weeks I actually felt better than expected. I pushed through lap two in a similar time. By the time I had started lap three more runners were on the course. I noticed this had slowed my pace. It had become very congested on the narrow paths, manoeuvring through the other athletes was no easy task.

The mud section had now become a quagmire. I battled through this mud and continued my run towards the lap marshals. I grabbed my third and final wrist band, somehow this gave me the motivation to push hard towards the finish line. I turned the last corner, my name was called out, I could see a large crowd had gathered around the finishing line. The support from the spectators was inspiring. I sprinted along the red carpet and crossed the finish line.

Throwing my arms in the air with joy and happiness. I couldn’t believe it. I had finished this exceptionally difficult race and had done it in a very reasonable time of 4 hours 44 minutes.

I was greeted at the finish line by my wife, son and the dog! The adrenaline had worn off and the pain had set in. My eyes filled with tears as I was comforted by my family. I knew I had to leave them and head for the finisher tent where I could replace all the calories and fluids I had just burnt off.

As I entered the tent I could see that there were only a few other athletes in there, one of those being Ian. Having filled my face with pork baps, fruit, cakes and more cakes. It was now that I had realised I was the fourth fasted athlete in our 35-39 age group.

Instantly grinning to myself I knew I was going to qualify for the 70.3 World Ironman Championships.

Prize Ceremony

Having waited around in torrential rain for several hours, the ceremony began. In the Ironman events even if you finish 1st you can only guarantee your place at the World Championships if you are present at the ceremony and have the funds to pay for your entry at this time.

I had done it! I had done enough to qualify for my second 70.3 World Ironman event.

Many thanks to Ashmei and Bridgtown Cycles for their continued support this season.