With Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire coming at the end of a four week period which has already seen me race PB’s at CHOLMONDELEY CASTLE TRIATHLON and IRONMAN UK I think it is fair to say, my hopes for this race are less optimistic.

I completed Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire 2018 which was my first ever 70.3 and first Ironman branded event. I loved the race and the whole experience, I have gone on to race Ironman UK twice and Ironman 70.3 Mallorca.

I initially signed up for this race when it was scheduled in June to use as a tune-up race ahead of Ironman UK. Since then, the race was postponed and moved into July so it now falls two weeks after Ironman UK. Using the full distance as a warm-up event for the half wasn’t part of the plan, but it is what we have been given.

I would like to try and beat my half distance PB and try to push under 5 hours but I don’t believe this will be the race to achieve that, on this occasion.

I have to factor in the fatigue from Ironman UK 14 days prior to the race and I also had my second COVID vaccination 10 days prior to Staffs 70.3, more fatigue.

My Race Plan:

My plan for race day is to just go out there and enjoy the day, after two good races recently, this is going to be treated as a victory lap. Fatigue levels feel quite high going into the race so I will not be pushing too hard.

That being said, I do still feel that I can set some course PB’s here. In 2018 my splits were as follows:

• Swim – 0:41.43
• Bike – 02:53.28
• Run – 01:45.45
• Overall – 05:37.45

I have improved a lot over the past 3 years and my PB 4 weeks ago was a lot faster than this, this gives me hope that I can at least beat my swim and run times from 2018 despite the fatigue from Ironman UK and the COVID jab affecting me. I did the Staffs bike route a month ago when feeling a little more fresh, on open roads, giving way for traffic etc, I was less than 1 minute slower than in 2018 so I think on fresh legs, I could have beaten that 2:53 as well.

For now, I am happy enough just to be racing again after going so long without any triathlons. I will be pleased to be on the start line/pontoon, happy to be racing and happy to be running down that red carpet with 70.3 miles behind me.

If I was to set myself some goals or hopes & dreams for this weekend I would go with:

• A Goal – Swim & Run course PB’s
• B Goal – Swim course PB
• C Goal – Finish the race

So I always set myself the basic first goal of finishing the event, to achieve anything, first, you have to finish and finishing a race over 70.3 miles is never anything to be taken for granted.

My B goal of beating that 41.43 swim course PB feels very achievable. Let’s face it, I clocked 34.51 and 36.05 for each of the 1.9km splits during the Ironman UK swim two weeks ago, well inside the 41 minutes so 41 minutes should be very comfortable. Could I beat the 34.06 set 4 weeks ago at Cholmondeley? maybe, we will see, for now, the goal is just a course PB.

The A goal of beating my course PB’s for the swim and run is a little more of a stretch. I mentioned the swim PB above which should be achievable so that just leaves the run course PB of 1:45.45. Ordinarily, I would be well inside 1:45. Four weeks ago I clocked 1:27.06 at Cholmondeley, but I think it will be much more challenging this time around. With the tiredness and fatigue in the body, I could probably get through the swim and bike but it will really start to be felt on the run leg. Pacing will be key and fuelling the body to get around and hold a good pace.

The big unknown is just how will the body react 2 weeks after a full distance triathlon.

If we knew all the answers and knew just how we would do on race, where would the fun be? I like to push myself and test my limits, this Sunday will be another one of those races where I push my limit to see just what I am capable of. Not my true 70.3 potential this week but the best I can give on the day.

Will I beat my 5:01.43 half distance PB? Will I go sub 5? Will I qualify for the 70.3 Worlds? all three are goals but probably not ones for this week. Maybe in Weymouth in three months time?