Wildern masters complete Ironman UK in Bolton

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Last summer two Wildern masters took part in the Ironman UK event in Bolton witn one of the team qualifuying for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii!

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Entering the event is always an epic challenge. This year it was great to have two Wildern masters taking part and providing support to each other.

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An Ironman triathlon is a long-distance triathlon race widely considered to be one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world. The event consisted of a 2.4-mile (3.9 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.2 km) bicycle ride and a 26.2-mile (42.2 km) marathon run.

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Penny completed the swim in choppy conditions just before Chris, before entering a slightly chaotic first transition area.

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Penny said that “in the last year my Ironman swim has improved by 12 minutes and this truly would not have happened without the coaching of Head Coach Glenn Fenwick and the support of the club”.

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Next up was the bike ride, which included over 3600 metres of climbing for 112 miles, cheered on by ooopa lumpas and wrestlers as well as supporters of the town!

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Chris passed Penny heading into Bolton with energy and smiles. The wind was picking up throughout the course making the bike very tricky and much harder than last year.

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Chris began the 4 lap marathon run well, but the energy used during the bike leg caught up on the inclines on laps 3 and 4. Chris ended up in run-walk mode, but after befriending another competitor in a similar situation, they were able to support each other until the end.

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Penny headed into the run with a sandwich in hand, being cheered on by the fantastic crowds lining the course. To top it off, Penny received confirmation that she had qualified for the Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, later this year!

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If you would like to find out more about the master’s squad, please contact us.