After a stressful 24hrs, it was nice to finally get to the airport and get checked in for the flight to Palma.

Let’s flashback to Tuesday evening. I received a text from Ryanair advising that my flight to Mallorca had been canceled due to strikes by French air traffic control. After two hours of searching online and via the online chat I managed to get new flights for the same dates and roughly the same times. I had to fly out of East Midlands airport, no seats to Mallorca left on any flights from Manchester until Sunday. I had feared that this trip would be over before it started. Wednesday was then spent canceling the airport car parking at Manchester and rebooking (at my own expense!!) at East Midlands.

I had to rearrange my airport transfer in Mallorca too, after a phone call I was told to email the amendment request. This doesn’t fill me with confidence that the airport pick up time will be amended in time for Thursday morning.

The alarm went off at 3:15am, far too early and a lot earlier than I would have woken had I been flying from Manchester.

The drive to the airport was clear, bag check-in went smoothly, even with the bike box. I just hope the bike gets to Mallorca and gets there in one piece.

We boarded the flight on time, then soon as the doors were closed we were told that we would not be taking off for another 90 minutes due to flight restrictions placed on flights going over France. Not the ideal start to the trip and just about sums up the whole flight experience this week with Ryanair.

In the end, we arrived an hour late so not too bad. Once I turned my phone on the confirmation of my new transfer came through. One less thing to worry about now. Just the bike, did it make it?

Yep, the bike got here and the box looks ok, no knocks, dents or cracks. There was a lady waiting at arrivals for me and I was on my way to Alcudia in no time. Really smooth, stress-free arrival.

For this trip, I used Mallorca Cycle Shuttle to transfer my bike, suitcase and myself from the airport to the hotel. They specialise in bike transfers and were great today. They also offer transfers from your hotel to all of the world famous cycling routes and climbs on the island. Something I won’t be using this time but definitely a service I will use on future visits.

As soon as I got to my room I set about building the bike. This is the first time I have taken my bike abroad and the first time I have taken any of the components off so I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time to get it built. In the end, it was just a 30-minute job.

I am staying at the JS Sol De Alcudia, I picked this hotel as I knew that Nivarna Travel use this hotel and having spoken to their sales guys before booking the hotel myself, I knew that this hotel has a locked bike garage. I did get some serious bike envy when I racked my road bike in amongst the very expensive TT bikes.

Once unpacked and the bike locked away, I went down to the beach to get some lunch, I didn’t have any breakfast this morning with waking at 3:15am and leaving the house at 3:30am, so I was starving twelve hours on. I had a burger whilst looking out over the white sandy beach. Very relaxing.

After a late lunch, I went to the Ironman Athlete Village to get registered and pick up my race bib and swim cap. I had a quick look around the merch tent, but after having to pay an extra £56 for parking I won’t be spending any more money than I need to out here. Whilst there is always a need for another race tee I am doing my best to resist.

Next up was the pre-race briefing, whilst I have done a few Ironman events now, I still find the briefings really useful and always make time to attend.

After the briefing, I headed back to the room to get changed into my run gear. The plan was to go and run one 8km loop of the run course, I did run 8km but I went off course in a couple of places but got the general idea of what the course is like. It’s flat! very flat and it was hot, 23’c today, Saturday is looking like there may be some cloud around noon, which all being well, should be when I am starting the run. A little cloud would really help.

Then it was back to the hotel for a shower before heading out for some dinner. I spotted a Pizza Hut on the way back and very nearly went in there for the tried and tested pre-race pizza hut pizza but I opted for an Italian as it was over the road from the hotel. It has been a long day so I felt like being lazy. I still had a pizza as well lol.

That was me done for the day, I had a quick foam roll to sort out the legs after the flight and short run this afternoon finished up this blog and will now be heading to bed. I feel shattered, it has been 18-hours since my alarm went off this morning.