Ironman Wales 2023

Aaron Kemp

Incase any of you didn’t realise but I am an IRONMAN.

Anyway back to Friday the 1st 5am buzz yes a 5 am alarm as I wanted to be on the road for 6 am to avoid Friday traffic. 6.30 came ad we were all packed up my bike in the car (borrowed courtesy of Chris Sayer ) along with my gear and some of Mallys oh and mallys bike on the roof. And hit the road. 

As time was passing by and we got deeper into wales more and more cars with bikes on the back/roof appeared and traffic was building. A good sign that we were getting closer even when there were 2 hours to go. Our check in Time was between 2-3 pm so our arrival at the caravan park at 14.30 was all due to traffic and not excellent planning. 

Once we were all checked in Sarah and I wandered into Tenby to check in on foot as it was a 10 min walk from our van. The path led directly to the finish line. Which was where I first saw it. The Ironman finish line. 

Have I mentioned about nerves yet. Well honestly I wasn’t nervous one bit and I don’t know why. 

So we found the registration tent through the wrong door and got in the queue ( still no nerves) anyway my turn and just like that I was registered. Like what the hell why didn’t have palpitations spew or something was there something wrong with me. To be fair I couldn’t believe it I was now walking around like everyone else in the tent with a black IM bag and IM wrist band and DID get a little giddy at this point 

Merch time I didn’t spend too long looking at the IM merch as I don’t like clothes shopping but did walk out with a named hoodie and t-shirt bottle and visor I need to leave this is getting out of hand haha. 

After the little bit of excitement we wondered off around Tenby get a few bits for the caravan and we bumped into Claire had a bit of a natter realising I had forgotten sun cream so we purchased. 

Wondering down to the swim start and wow pictures got put to scale just wow!! All the videos I had watched just didn’t do it justice. 

Back to the caravan to chill and Julie Niall Faye and Mally finally arrived we had tea then hit the sack. 

Once we had breakfast and Mally was all checked in and we had checked out bikes over. We wandered down to transition to rack and hang the bags this bit was quite daunting as there were thousands of bikes and bags there. Mine amusingly placed in row k about a quarter of the way down nice. So this was my Q to go back and chill. 

Anyway I’m starting to waffle on like Vanessa. 

On my way down to the beach hanging my pink bag up that I forgot when I left the caravan but Sarah saved the day. Saw everyone on the last ramp to the beach a hand shake from Humey with a good luck in return and BOOM!!! Fire works go off and this is it I’m game as hell I quickly got to where I wanted to start (1.20) this is it Thunderstruck YESSSAAA!!! 

On my way out to the first buoy which seemed to take forever but I settled in. I no clashes at all through this and the end of a nice lap come to an end. The Australian exit was a bit weird mind 

2nd lap wow what’s going on hear the water just seemed thicker but by the end of it I didn’t realise I was a bit slower. So I’m out on to the zig zag to get my pick pink bag. 

Christ this run to transition is hard I felt like I had done a full race already but I was soon in transition. 

Holy shit this is busy anyway I found my bike bag grabbed my towel shoved a cookie in my gob along with a gel donned my highly powdered socks almost fell over putting my shoes on filled my pockets and headed out to my bike 

Oh and my helmet 

Coming out of transition onto the bike is something else crowds had already gathered (go on Hartlepool ) people clapping shouting random shit haha.

The first 40 mile were just breathtaking I was trying to chill out but not too much and get my nutrition right which I seemed to be doing every 20 mins. Mally had overtaken me in the first part but then I past him due to unforeseen circumstances (puncture) 

I was quite comfortable on my until I got to the sharp incline before saundersfoot. I stood out of my seat to climb and my left foot unclipped and I nearly hit the deck resulting in me walking. Saundersfoot I hear you and I can see the Humey’s at the bottom. On passing Humey he told me I was looking strong and asked if I was ok and told me I was gunna love it at the top. He wasn’t wrong a narrow tunnel and at the top the white stags Aaron Aaron Aaron wow what a up lift. So into my second people are getting a little more drunk as you go round. I couldn’t hold any longer had to stop for a number 1 and swap my gator ade for salts as I forgot to take them. Back underway Clare had overtaken me. So the 100 mile club was drawing near but taking forever saundersfoot came again but not as busy this time but still the white stags Aaron Aaron Aaron but out of nowhere at the to major cramp in my left quad causing me to get off my bike. I was cutting it fine into transition I think I had around 20 mins to spare. 

I was in and out in 8 mins and of onto the run if ain’t seeing Humey and the first come on big lad you got this coming toward the end of the first lap and cramp set in bad, I was taking my salts as recommended but didn’t seem to be doing the trick I was taking fluids on and food where I could. Second lap I saw Humey again asking how I was, my calf’s had gone he recommended running a few lamp posts then walking a few which I did try but cramp is cramp I had to wait for it to relax before trying again this was putting me in low spirits. Paul comes by keep moving you’ve got this ste comes well done keep going then Andrea wow she looked so happy then Mally then Clare. I was starting to get really low as I could only now run on the down hill and some of the flat. Lap 3. Even seeing all my teammates supporting and doing it with me cheering on all the Welsh chanting sing and stuff my mental state was going down over. Heading around the corner at the end of lap 3 seing the amount of people crossing that finish line was soul destroying. I got on to the last lap thinking what the fk am I doing i want to stop but no I had Humey’s voice in the back of my head saying what ever you do don’t stop keep moving forward. I never stopped once apart from a number 1. 

Rather lonely this last lap I couldn’t see anyone in front of me or behind for a good half hour then all of a sudden there were 4/5 near by. I honestly thought I wasn’t gunna make it as I had a midnight cut off in my head.

The big tall dude that finished behind me on the return stretch with a guy supporting him telling him he was gunna make it if he kept the pace that same guy told me it was my gun time not midnight I had until. So the gloom up lifted a bit in said to my self stick with this dude he’s on time honest to god the last couple of miles I don’t know what happened I picked my run up even with the amount of pain I was in. I got into town which looked beautiful at night. I knew I didn’t have far and Faye appeared my saviour come one Aaron pick it up it’s not far and I did (thank you) wow I hit the red carpet running I was over the moon. I headed straight for the first timer bell but someone had broke it (Paul) and way I just slapped it haha. 

Crowds of people lined the red carped but even over the announcer I could hear the stags over anyone come on Aaron come on !!! 

Aaron you are a Ironman!! I couldn’t believe it so I smashed my bottle off the floor but realised straight away and grabbed it back as I didn’t want to be disqualified like Vanessa. 

Bugger me it’s over I got my medal and turned to the stags and found some strength to lift my arms in victory. 

Thank you. 

This was the most incredible experience of my life. The biggest sporting achievement of my life the biggest achievement of my life apart from my family. And it’s all because of the support of my family and my second family the Stags. I love you all 

Thank you to Humey for coaching me too 

Times got very hard and low. 

But like Green Day “Don’t give in” 

Peace out xx

P.S did I tell you I for got to put sunscreen on 

Ironman Wales Cymru – A Spectators Tale

Jim Windram

Having been a spectator or more importantly a supporter at many events, I thought I’d give the group a little tase of what it’s like to spend a day supporting our white stags at Ironman Wales, this year was my third visit as a supporter/spectator at this event so I knew what to expect, I knew I was in for a long day as well as a long drive there and back.

Andrea and I had booked the same campsite (Cairn Springs) that we stayed at last year, which is just outside Tenby, it is walkable but given that Andrea would be competing this year we knew we would need to taxi in and out this year.

Tenby is a great place to visit, a harbour town with town walls and stunning stretches of sandy shoreline overlooked by vibrantly painted Victorian houses and there's always a warm and friendly atmosphere when Ironman comes to town.

As we made our way into Tenby you could see that the place was already buzzing, alive with activity, it appeared as though everyone was there to take part in an Ironman event, although I'm sure they weren't. We headed straight toward the Ironman village (Expo) which is set up for participants to register and purchase ironman merchandise. The first thing we noticed was the huge ironman logo board with all the names of every competitor, Andrea was keen to find her name on the board. Into the huge Marquee for registration, pick up a little Merch (well stocked but rather expensive) and off to find a pub for a little livener (for me, not Andrea).

Saturday arrives and it’s another trip to Tenby, this time in our campervan as we had to get Andrea’s bike to transition, we managed to find a huge car park nearby with all-day parking for £7, although we only needed to pay £5 for up to 5 hours. Walking up to transition we chatted briefly with a young Spanish guy who was excited to be entering his second Ironman event but first time in Wales he explained he had heard how tough it was (nice guy) It brought home just how many different people were there and how far people are prepared to travel to complete this epic adventure, he wished Andrea good luck, and we parted ways.

After a brief shop for some necessities (bakery and coffee mainly for me) we headed back for the van and back to the campsite for some R & R.

An early night planned, I know that Andrea didn’t sleep to well which was to be expected, I didn’t however expect that I would fall short of the old sleep though, but I was clearly anxious for what Andrea was about to undertake, an early alarm call and we were up in what seemed the middle of the night on the campsite trying to remain calm and organized. Our pre-booked taxi was bang on time picking us up at the campsite gates at 5:00am.

Walking up to transition with Andrea was different this year, a lot quieter and more subdued, I knew she was getting ‘in the zone’ getting her head round what was impending, the Hugh task she was about to undertake, and I knew I just needed to be there with her, looking around It appeared that everyone was in the same headspace.

One thing you do notice as a spectator/supporter at these large events is just how well organized they are, so many helpful volunteer's giving up their day to be part of what is for others such a precious day, without these volunteer's events like this couldn’t happen.

Andrea came out of transition, and we headed toward the start, still dusk but a lot more people around now and the town is beginning to fill with, we met up with Clare and Vanessa on route and made our way to the start, saying our good lucks and words of encouragement, Vanessa and I found a good elevated spot in which to view the race start, the crowds are growing now and Tenby front is filled with the noise of competitors and spectators waiting eagerly for the race to commence.

Looking around for other stags we found out that Julie, Faye, Sarah and Niall where down on the beach, we decided to watch the start of the race from our current position, the noise and anticipation growing ever louder, then the Welch National Anthem kicks in, it’s enough to send shivers down the back of your spine, that is until Vanessa pipes up with her version, plumes of fire erupt to the sound of ACDC’s Thunderstruck and the countdown begins the elite women (green swim caps) are first in the water, quickly followed by waves of pink capped competitors rushing to begin their swim. Vanessa and I make our way down to the beach and quickly spot Jude and Humey, a quick catch up and we locate the others and eagerly await the swimmers to come around for their second loop. Spotting our stags go in for their second loop and with duly given vocal support we make our way up to transition to see them run in and cycle out, once all out on the bikes we know we have plenty of time to get over to Saundersfoot where we can encourage them all up and over. Saundersfoot is however a couple of bus rides away, but as there’s no real hurry, someone suggests a quick toilet stop at Clare & Venessa’s gaff (as it’s close by) before heading out for some well-deserved breakfast. Vanessa fills her back-pac with enough boose to arm a small distillery and we're off again.

Coffee and brekie sarnies duly scoffed we make our way to the bus terminal and the first of our two bus rides to Saundersfoot, this first bus is a free ride which takes us to Carew Airfield, you then purchase a shuttle bus ticket for £5 which runs to Saundersfoot and back all day (Hop-on Hop-off) with your red wrist band. Lots of fun on the bus, someone on the top deck sets the singing away and the stags duly obliged with a few songs of our own.

We reach our desired location at the top of ‘Saunders’ just outside the Rugby Club as we know we will need to visit for some liquid sustenance (It was a very warm day, and it’s important to stay ‘inebriated’ I mean ‘hydrated’) The atmosphere at the top of Saunders is electric, so many people there to cheer and support, it’s an obvious highlight for the competitors, but also for the supporters who line the road as if they were witnessing the ‘tour de france’ it’s made all the better when the weather is as nice as it was this year, last year Andrea and I were like a couple of drown rats soaked through and shivering. After seeing our Stags through their two loops and taking on-board enough liquid refreshment to see us through we make our way back toward Tenby and the promise of a good old ‘fish & chip supper.

Making our way around the fenced lined streets of Tenby we pick off our stags as they pass with loud roars of encouragement and are greeted by smiles and waves despite the fact we know how tired and exhausted they all are, we know we are giving them a lift, a much-needed boost to see them through.

It’s getting late now, the sun has gone in, and darkness is setting in, we are all flagging a little, but we need to get toward the finish to see our stags home, we round a corner and bump into Jude & Humey again who we haven't seen since the beach that morning. We wait patiently behind the rails until our first stag (Paul Oysten) appears, roars of encouragement and congratulations, then (Steve Oysten) the same, then (Clare Farrell) closely followed by (Mally Kelly) then (Andrea Windram) who stops to give me a quick kiss and hug, Aaron appears but tells us he has another lap, his time is running out but we know he will make it, he’s come too far not too, finally Aaron arrives at the red carpet and is announced as all the competitors who finished were ‘ You are an Ironman

Supporting at Ironman Wales is a long day but so worthwhile (especially if your other half is competing)