Written by Kath Smith

BOLTON IRONMAN
 

Race report from a spectators view……

Chris, Nicola and I set off at 5.30am last Sunday to support our trio of intrepid triathletes taking part in Ironman UK at Bolton. We’d decided to forfeit the joys of rising even earlier to see them swim … sorry lads, some of us need our beauty sleep (and even that doesn’t work)! We headed off to beat the road closures and get a good spot on the bike course, ending up in Adlington on the only corner with a public loo, we know the best spots to stand!!!

Great vantage point as we saw them 3 times, first coming up from the direction of the swim and then another twice as the corner is right at the start of the bike loop. We rang our cowbells like crazy, shouted encouragement to any one who went passed, whether they were in the race or not, and if they were from Carlisle Tri Club we went absolutely nuts.

First into view was Simon Dickson (smiling as ever) then came Gary Miller looking relaxed and in control. Karl (and am not even going to try and spell your surname) if you came passed us on the bike I’m sorry mate we never saw you (but I can assure you we were thinking and looking for you). Quick hop over the other side of the road and quick banner change to see them coming back. It was a long wait, cause it was a long loop, but first into view came Gary (still looking relaxed and in control) then came Simon (still smiling). Not sure by that time if we’d got the camping chairs out and had the very healthy, beautifully prepared salad made by Chris, but whatever, it was delicious. And apart from getting a little irate at people coming and blocking our view (come on we’d been there since 7.30am and them rockin up at noon did not go down well!!) We sat/stood it out until the lads came round again and we could give them the last final cheer to see them through to T2. At this point we’d decided that Karl must have not started.
We made a hasty dash to the car to get to the run route. So after a quick loo stop at the nearest Morrisons and to stock up on provisions, we headed back to the motorway to try and beat the traffic. Chris and his amazing lane jumping skills got us into Bolton City Centre in record time. Another quick stop to fuel Chris and Nicola with caffine (druggies) and we headed to the run. Walked through the Beirut bit of the course where all the feed stations are and headed to the corner at the top of the mountainous hill and the start of the long slow drag they had to endure. And yes we were still ringing our bells, shouting encouragement to anyone and everyone (some of it was gratefully received some not so) Some of those ungrateful athletes were from local clubs to Carlisle and that is as much as I am going to say, but if you ask me personally I’ll fill you in! Chris got the hots for someone called Carla but then he is very fickle and once she was passed turned his attention to another very hot chick. Us girls we just cheered anyone and everyone, there was no-one really looking stunning by this stage … oh apart from our lads of course!!! So, once the boys had collected their yellow and blue band and passed us again heading up for that holy grail red band we hot footed it down to the finish line.
A Mr Wippy later we had met up with Ali and James (Simon’s family), saw Harry (one of Gary’s brood) before we settled in to cheer them up the red carpet to become IRONMEN. And they came looking amazingly happy wilth themselves and reducing me to tears as usual. Very well done lads you are AMAZING!!
Karl, unfortunately we heard later didn’t get the opportunity to finish, but hey mate well done for doing all that training to get to the start line and we’re gutted for you …. But next time you will get there and hopefully we’ll be there to see it.
So we endured rain, disgusting loos, ignorant spectators and athletes, sunshine, blisters and hoarse voices to see our lads and was it worth it …. ABSOLUTELY!!! Spectating is the way forward …

Kath Smith