Thank you all so much for your amazing support!

There's good news and bad news. The bad news is that I didn't make the cut-off time on the bike section of the course, so I'm afraid I didn't finish the Ironman this time. The good news is that your support has raised £330 for the Isobel Kelly fund, which will go towards life-saving research.  Thanks again for your generosity!

My first Ironman was an amazing experience. The swim was extraordinary - imagine 1600 people bobbing about in the reservoir waves in the early morning light. Everyone a bit nervous and excited, joking and splashing around, feet and hands getting numb in the chilly water. Then the horn goes off and suddenly the adrenalin shoots in and 100 square foot of water becomes a frothing mass of driving arms and kicking feet. It was, hands down, one of the most exciting experiences of my life! It's a very powerful feeling, swimming with other people in the open water, like a school of clumsy dolphins.

Even more amazing - two of the people racing with us on the day were in their 70's. I was swimming alongside one of them for the last part of the course. He hauled himself out at the end, turned around, winked at me and said 'that was a bit nippy, wasn't it!', before trotting off up the hill.

So, with that inspirational gentleman in mind, there's no question of giving up now!  I'm signing up for next year's UK Ironman and joining a local triathlon club for one more year of strength training for a faster swim and bike time. Thank you all again for your support. Let's do it again soon 8)

Lots of love,

Laura xxxxxxx