Firstly, a reminder as to why I am doing this. In September 2011, when I found out my Mum had Breast Cancer, my world crumbled. Seeing her battle through Chemotherapy, lose her hair and generally just be forced to endure months of discomfort, I knew I wanted to do something to raise awareness about Breast Cancer. Mum has been lucky to have the support of The Pink Place and that has been my chosen charity for all these events. Even though the Chemotherapy has finished, Mum still continues with more treatments to ensure that all precautions are taken. She is fighting on strong and if I ever needed a "motivator" for the Half Ironman, I decided to take this picture of us with our matching "hair do's" and showing our support to Basingstoke Tri Squad and The Pink Place.
Now, the final week preparations were not ideal - 8 days before my big event, I woke up not being able to lift my head off the pillow, due to some weird muscle spasm in my back, that started off the night before, when I got out of the shower and then put my suit on for the School Prom (I'm a School Teacher by the way!!!).....I thought nothing of it initially, but agony is an understatement the next day!! Emergency Chiropractor appointment on the Saturday, one more Monday and the Friday before the event, with a "tester" bike/run session on the Thursday and I was as ready as I could be for it......
I awoke on race day at 4.30am, shoved some porridge/banana etc down me and set off about 5.30am to head to the venue. In true "British Summer" style, it rained ALL through the night, making the car parks like a festival car park and raised queries over whether the swim would be going ahead. Windsor Triathlon had the swim cancelled the week before and Henley Swim was cancelled the day before our event, but SOMEHOW they managed to get the all-clear to swim, under the provision that it was reduced from 1.9km to 1.5km, to ensure we were visible at all times, along that particular part of the bank.
After a final sort in transition and changing into wetsuits (where numerous people seemed to split theirs), we headed down to the water for swim briefing. We were advised about the current, which looked like it was going to make going upstream quite interesting and made our way into the water. The fact that we all floated about 5m downstream fairly quickly after we got in, told us that this was going to be a battle for the first 750m. The signal went and we thrashed around, trying to hug as close to the bank as possible, taking what seemed to be an age to get to the turnaround buoy. Once there, you had to make your way to centre of river and get round the actual buoy, ready for a lovely cruise home with the current.
Swim time: 23 mins 34s
Transition was pretty straightforward, but due to the weather and the fact that I was facing 50+ miles on my bike in the rain, I opted to chuck some bib-shorts and jersey over my tri-suit as there is limited padding and I did have a half-marathon to endure after, so I went for comfort over cool transition times.
T1: 4 mins 06s
The bike was a course I had ridden in full and I knew that the main hills were fairly spread out, but you were greeted with a little climb, right at the beginning of the ride to get you going. It was 2.5 laps with a fairly fast and flat course in between any inclines, taking in Hambledon, onto Henley and then the gruelling 2.5 miles up to Nettlebed that is just one loooooooong drag, with a particularly horrible climb on a dual-carriageway section. The bonus is, that it is a crazy descent back down, once round the turn-point at the roundabout. I was averaging about 18mph until the hilly section and it was slow going, but I could make up some time on my descent back towards the first lap turn-point. I'd come out just in front of my mate and kept him at bay until about 14 miles in on the bike, but from then on, it was a great game of "cat-and-mouse". I was actually overtaking people on the climb back to the first lap turn-point and went through the feed station to replenish my drinks, ready for more of the same, after another nice descent back onto the course again. The second climb up to Nettlebed was arduous, but on the way back down, Matt and I were charging and I got past him pushing out 41.5MPH (see pic below)!!! We had another return to turn-point and then one half-lap to go. I must have counted about 20 people who had punctures and I was greatful for my (slightly heavier) but puncture protected tyres!! I was hoping for sub 3hrs on the bike, but was happy with my efforts and felt good as I got off the bike and about to embark on the run....
Bike: 3hrs 03mins 06s
T2: 3 mins 06s
The run course was 4 x 5km loops and I had managed to walk the route previously (in my injured state) and I took on some water at the first water station about 500m into the start of each lap.
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There was QUITE the surprise awaiting us, once we started the laps and as you may tell from the pics above, my legs were a little dirty. This is because of THIS:
The first lap was interesting, as I just tried to plough through, but it was just relentless and I very nearly hit the deck on a few occasions. I was feeling fresh still and running good once out of the "bog" section. I was keeping to a 9-min-mile pace roughly, though on the 3rd and 4th time through the above, I was walking sections of it, as it had got so slippy. On the 4th lap I was buzzing and a little suprised about how good I felt. I had paced the day well, eaten all my nutrition as planned on bike/run and was WELL ahead of my target for the race!
As I turned into the park on my last stretch, I opened it up a bit to head home to the finish line. My name was called across the tannoy as I approached and I crossed the line, achieving yet another thing I thought I would never be able to do. I even felt quite good at the end. I went over to my parents and Bryony and I was a little lost for words and felt quite emotional, but I was just relieved. I was home safe and I can honestly say, it felt bloody amazing!!!
Run: 1hr 57mins 41s
Total: 5hrs 32mins 06s
I must also add, that for a post-race "spread", this has to go down as one of the greatest:
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It was an amazing event and I cannot thank my folks, Bryony, Matt and everyone else who pushed me on through this and those that have already donated and supported my crazy adventures over the last year. If you have managed to stick through reading all that and think my efforts deserve a few quid, I would be VERY appreciative.
Donations can be made here: http://www.thepinkplace.org.uk/donate.html
(put "John Houston Half Ironman" in description)
I leave you with two lasting memories:
1) The t-shirt misprint (can you spot it?);
2) The Mud Man - this is how some people ended up (I told you it was muddy)!!