IM Wales

It was impossible not to feel the buzz as I made my way down to the swim start, with tens of thousands of spectators lining the streets of Tenby. This town has truly embraced Ironman as part of its culture, and the atmosphere was electric.

The choppy waters made the swim exciting for me. Despite averaging only around 3km of swimming per week this year, I was fortunate to have a solid enough background to take a conservative approach without losing too much time. My focus was on sighting well and finding the best line around the buoys.

During the first 20km of the bike, I concentrated on rehydrating and refueling after the swim, as my legs felt a bit crampy. Thankfully, the cramps wore off, and I settled into a good rhythm. About ten strong cyclists passed me during the first lap, but I stuck to my own race plan, letting them go. I was realistic about my expectations on the bike, riding entirely by feel—no power meter, no heart rate monitor, just gauging my effort and ensuring I fueled properly.

Wales is a tough course with narrow, winding roads and 2500m of elevation gain. On the second lap, I still felt strong, maintaining a consistent pace as I mentally prepared for the run. The crowds and atmosphere were next level, and at times, I couldn’t help but smile as the support was overwhelming.

The run course consisted of four laps, with each including a 3.5km hill, followed by a descent and a twisting, undulating 3.5km through town. The course suited me, and I was excited to get off the bike. In my rush, I accidentally left my nutrition in my bag but didn’t realize it until a few kilometers into the run. Feeling strong, I decided to rely on the aid stations instead, thinking it wouldn’t be an issue—at least not initially.

At around the 16km mark, I started to feel my energy dip rapidly. My eyes felt heavy, and I knew a bonk was coming. From that point on, it was a matter of digging deep and pushing through as best I could.