Ironed out to Ironman

Ironed out to Ironman

If people had never read my AS blog I probably would not have written another one but with 5000 hits,  my rheumatologist having the link on his website and a few people asking for me to send it to them for inspiration for loved ones who have been diagnosed with related conditions and AS here I go again! 

My first blog for those who have not read it is below:

[first blog link]

After finishing the Vitruvian (half ironman) in August 2013 I knew there was still fuel in the tank and the desire was still burning to become an Ironman. My spine was fine due to being suppressed by the clinical trial drug but my wrists have been my main concern.  I have been on steroids off and on and methotreyate but they still cause me considerable pain especially after long bike rides due to my gripping the handle bars.  I decided that there must be a way to counteract some of this pain and fitted aero bars which has helped considerably.  These are used by triathletes and help take the stress off my wrists.  

I entered Ironman Zurich in December 2013.  The training I estimated after taking into consideration looking after 3 kids, working nights, coaching my twin boys under 8s football team (which I absolutely love) 10-15 hours a week should just get me to the finish line. It was hard and very tiring but I loved it.  I train most days anyway and my weekly 10km run increased to 16km and bike rides ranged from 30-50km (even treated myself to bike shoes!).  I had, believe it or not, completed an half ironman in running trainers!  Lots of online research and motivation from YouTube ??? [link] I must have watched 100 times.  I was going to join a triathlon club but football training and matches to organise for the U8s team at weekends this was very difficult.  I had come this far training alone could I go the whole way on my own?

My wife and I travelled to Zurich 3 days before I was due to compete in the Ironman and the hotel which we were staying in was full of people racing on the Sunday.  I became friends with Greg & Simon both had done the long distance but not the Ironman brand.  Great fellas and we spent the three days back and forth to the event village.  I could tell that they were as nervous as me and this Ironman business meant a great deal to them and everyone taking part.  Years of preparation, training to build up an endurance level to complete the 140.6 miles in total.

Race Day

It was an early 4am start for breakfast.  You could see fear and excitement of the unknown in everyone’s eyes as they queued for breakfast.  2,600 people had entered and for the first time it was a 3 wave swim start with the elite starting first.  I had already planned to be at the back of the 2^nd wave.  Why? Here is why:

Blog

That experience had prepared me for what was to come.  There wasn’t any room to swing a cat out there on the lake and it was very choppy.  I found a good rhythm but space in the water was minimal.  I was feeling very relaxed.  The swim took me 1hour 31 mins, which was 6 minutes better than my last 2 times of 3.8km.  The cut off time for the swim section was 2hours 20 mins.  I knew I was always going to make that cut off.

Bike

This is my Achilles heal.  I can’t seem to generate power and my average is around 14mph.  A quick calculation meant that the 10 hour swim/bike cut-off was going to be tight.  I passed a woman on a slight incline and I felt for her as her bike [        ].  It looked like all the years of training was over for the lady.  That’s the small margin we work towards a mechanical breakdown and there goes your race.

Just after I passed her I felt my front type pop.  With my slow bike time this looked it could be curtains for me too.  A marshal called the “bike doctor” but I had already started replacing the tube.  It was the first time ever in 2 years of riding my Scott speedster that this had ever happened.  30 minutes later I was up and running and back on the bike.  The 10 hour cut-off time was going to be really tight.  The Beast (a hill with a 4km climb) was everything they said it was going to be and Heartbreak (1km climb) wasn’t much better!  I was approached by a marshal informing me that they didn’t think I would make the cut-off time and to stop and accept a lift back.  I told him that I hadn’t travelled all this way to sit in the back of the van.  I think he got the message !  I am glad that I did as I completed the bike section with 15 mins to spare.

Marathon

I had 6 hours in which to complete the marathon something that I had never done.  The longest distant I had ran in training was 18 miles and have taken part in three half marathons but I felt strong as an ox.  This meant a lot to me to finish an ironman. With my condition it is not an everyday occurrence plus I had bought my three children Ironman t-shirts and there was no way I would let them wear them if I hadn’t finished the race so off I ran.  I actually overtook people which is a first.  Fuelled by the desire, passion, emotion I felt sick. This was due to the vast amount of sick consumed in the energy drinks and gels which you consume to replenish fuel.

I knew I was on course for a finish and the final turn meant 3km to go.  I started to run/walk as I had been for the last 13ish miles.  I wasn’t bothered on the finished time I just wanted to finish.  The cut-off to finish was under 16 hours and I crossed the line completing the Ironman in 15 hours 55 mins and 45 seconds.  I had become an Ironman! My wife was in floods of tears only she knows my struggle with my AS, the mornings when I cannot even open the milk, my moods when I can’t train due to the fatigue associated with this condition.  She has stood by my side throughout and went back to work full time so I could go part-time as a London Cab Driver and look after the kids.  I do not know where my condition will take me but I will always be an IRONMAN!  Pictures below of the clinical trials team, Tommy my sports masseur and Ian Cowell my physio.

The boss, Professor Hassan Tahir, who has been the man responsible for my being able to physically complete my “nutty” races as he called it. 

What next?..... Marble Arch to Arch de Triumph cycle is a must, a quadrathalon (swim-kayak-bike-run), join RE Active race team if they will have me! A definite for next year condition allowing.

Of course there is always another Ironman - I would never rule it out (I DON’T THINK SO ITS TOO STRESSFUL said my wife!)

Here my end quotes:

I do it because I can

I can because I want to

I want to because you said I couldn’t !

Previous races:

Roding Valley Half Marathon

Wiggle Kilo to go 100 mile cycle

3.8km RG Active swim

3.8k Dartford Tunnel Triathlon 

2km    3 lakes swim 

Ironed out to Ironman

If people had never read my AS blog I probably would not have written another one but with 5000 hits,  my rheumatologist having the link to my blog  on his website and a few people asking for me to send it to them for inspiration for loved ones who have been diagnosed with related conditions and AS so  here we go again! 

My first blog for those who have not read it is below:




http://7blake.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/ankylosing-spondylitis-my-story.html After finishing the Vitruvian (half ironman) in August 2013 I knew there was still fuel in the tank and the desire was still burning to become an Ironman. Triathlon is really four disciplines the swim / bike / run i am  not particularly that great at but the fourth Mental strength is where i excel add to that belief  & desire and the cocktail is potent !    My spine was fine due to being suppressed by the clinical trial drug, i am now two and a half years into my five year stretch ! My wrists have been my main concern.  I have been on steroids off and on and methotrexate but they still cause me considerable pain especially after long bike rides due to my gripping the handle bars.  I decided that there must be a way to counteract some of this pain and fitted aero bars ( used by time trialists ) which has helped considerably to  take the stress off my wrists.  

I entered Ironman Zurich in December 2013.  The training I estimated after taking into consideration looking after 3 kids, working nights, coaching my twin boys under 8s football team Buckhurst Hill Black  (which I absolutely love) 10-15 hours a week should just get me to the finish line. It was hard and very tiring but I loved it.  I train most days anyway and my weekly 10km run increased to 16km and bike rides ranged from 30-70 miles  (even treated myself to bike shoes!).  I had, believe it or not, completed an half ironman in running trainers!  Lots of online research and motivation from YouTube 

http://youtu.be/dF7k1Dw2A7w 

I must have watched this  100 times.  I was going to join a triathlon club but football training and matches to organize for the U8s team at weekends  was very difficult.  I had also  come this far training alone could I go the whole way on my own?

My wife and I traveled to Zurich 3 days before I was due to compete in the Ironman and the hotel which we were staying in was full of people racing on the Sunday.  I became friends with Greg & Simon both had done the long distance triathlon  but not the Ironman brand.  Great fellas and we spent the three days back and forth to the event village.  I could tell that they were as nervous as me , this Ironman business meant a great deal to them and everyone taking part.  Years of preparation, training to build up an endurance level to complete the 140.6 miles in total.

Race Day  2.5 mile swim 

It was an early 4am start for breakfast.  You could see fear and excitement of the unknown in everyone’s eyes as they queued for breakfast.  2,600 people had entered and for the first time it was a 3 wave swim start with the elite starting first, if you thought you could complete the swim in under 1 hour 10 mins join the 2nd wave and over 1 hour 10 mins the 3rd wave   I had already planned to be at the back of the 3 rd  wave.  Why? Refer to open water swim blog
:



That experience had prepared me for what was to come.  There wasn't any room to swing a cat out there on the lake and it was very choppy.  I found a good rhythm but space in the water was minimal.  I was feeling very relaxed.  The swim took me 1 hour 31 mins, which was 6 minutes longer  than my last 2   3.8km swims   The cut off time for the swim section was 2 hours 20 mins ( at which time you are pulled from the race )  I knew I was always going to make that cut off with ease 

Bike 112 mile

This is my Achilles heal.  I can’t seem to generate power and my average speed  is around 14mph.  A quick calculation meant that the 10 hour swim/bike cut-off was going to be tight.  I passed a woman on a slight incline and I felt for her as her bike was upside down on its saddle and the poor girl was in floods of tears  It looked like all the years of training was over for the lady.  That’s the small margin we work towards a mechanical breakdown and bang goes your race.

Just after I passed her I felt my front type pop.  With my slow bike time this looked it could be curtains for me too.  A marshal called the “bike doctor” but I had already started replacing the tube.  It was the first time ever in 2 years of riding my Scott speedster that this had ever happened.  30 minutes later I was up and running and back on the bike.  The 10 hour cut-off time was going to be really tight.  The Beast (a hill with a 4km climb) was everything they said it was going to be and Heartbreak  hill  (1km climb) wasn't much better!  I was approached by a marshal informing me that he  didn't think I would make the cut-off time and to stop and accept a lift back.  I told him that I hadn't  traveled all this way to sit in the back of his  van (or words to that  effect!!!!!)   I think he got the message !  I am glad that I did as I completed the bike section with 15 mins to spare.

Marathon 26.2 mile

I had 6 hours in which to complete the marathon something that I had never done.  The longest distance  I had ran in training was 18 miles and have taken part in three half marathons but I felt strong as an ox.  This meant a lot to me to finish an Ironman. With my condition it is not an everyday occurrence plus I had bought my three children Ironman t-shirts and there was no way I would let them wear them if I hadn't finished the race so off I ran.  I actually overtook people which is a first.  Fueled  with  desire, passion, emotion but  felt slightly sick due to the vast amount of sugar you have to  consume from  energy drinks and gels  to replenish fuel.

I knew I was on course for a finish and the final turn meant 3km to go.  I started to run/walk as I had been for the last 13ish miles.  I wasn't bothered about my  finished time I just wanted to finish.  The cut-off to finish was under 16 hours and I crossed the line completing  Ironman  Zurich  in 15 hours 55 mins and 45 seconds.  I had become an Ironman! My wife was in floods of tears only she knows the  struggle i have  with my AS, the mornings when I cannot even open the milk, my moods when I can’t train due to the fatigue associated with this condition.  She has stood by my side throughout and went back to work full time so I could work  part-time as a London Cab Driver and look after the kids.  I do not know where my condition will take me but I will always be an IRONMAN!  

Triathletes come in all shapes and sizes and most people seem to picture us as 6 foot plus eleven and a half  stoners with a 6 pack , ive had numerous people look me up and down and you can tell there thinking  you an Ironman yeh right. they're looking in the wrong place look into my eyes !!!! that i believe is where races are won (or in my case finished!)   i am just under 5 11 and out of season about 14 stone although for this race i got down to 13 "2"
Pictures below are  of the clinical trials team, Tommy my sports masseur and Ian Cowell my physio who have all helped me get to the finish line.

The boss!! , Professor Hassan Tahir, who has been the man responsible for my being able to physically complete my “nutty” challenges  as he calls  it. 

What next?..... Marble Arch to Arch de Triumph cycle is a must i am  50 next year and i was training for this when i had a major flare up in 2011 so ive got unfinished business with this , a  quadrathalon (swim-kayak-bike-run) is also on my list and the dart 10 km swim i missed out this year the race sold out in under an hour 

Of course there is always another Ironman - I would never rule it out (I DON’T THINK SO ITS TOO STRESSFUL said my wife!)

I do love a quote think this one fits 

I do it because I can

i can because i want to 

i want to because you said i couldn't 

Training races leading up to Ironman Zurich  
Roding Valley Half Marathon
Wiggle Kilo to go 100 mile cycle
3.8km RG Active swim
3.8k  big south east swim 
2km RG ACTIVE  3 lakes swim




SWIM START IRONMAN ZURICH 2014

http://youtu.be/kxN_THf3CLY


BIT AT THE END!!

As i said the marshals tried to convince me i hadn't made the cut off time for the bike they would of probably wanted to take my timing chip of me but i had already planned to finish the race whatever there was never going to be a cut off time for me .I may of not got the t shirt or the medal but i was always going to finish what i had gone to Zurich to start.

Open water swim ..............heeeeeeeeeeelp!

After swimming for many years not competitively in the early years but did on the 23rd march 2003 complete the swimathon a 5000 metre pool swim in 1hr 57 min and 11 seconds , this was at the time of my enforced 7 year sabbatical of many sports due to my Ankylosing  spondylitis condition (if interested read  my first blog). In 2008 after discovering I could run again without much pain I entered the Bournemouth intl sprint  triathlon , well sort of  the swim was cancelled due to bad weather so it became a duathlon which I now know is normal practice in adverse weather.
This opened up a whole new world to me, introduction to endurance sports, once you're in it grabs you by the b####x good and proper, the list of distances/events/disciplines becomes endless and if you're like me " COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE" you really have entered a whole new world. After a couple of pool swim triathlons Bath and Arundel it was my time to join the BIGGER BOYS & GIRLS open water swimming!, as usual for me out come the books/ blogs/ internet research on open water swimming, wow this sounds proper!.
Speedo triathlon wetsuit gets purchased £345 ish, I was a bit green I might be wrong but think I may of had my pants taken down!!.
Looking at holidays for the summer  http://www.conceptsport.co.uk/swanage-classic-triathlon.html
I liked the look of this, great part of the world , it was an open water swim, the bike leg wasn't up and down 10 times, and the run was very scenic, still things I look for when I enter triathlons today. Pointed this out to the "first lady" booked were on holiday.
Worked hard on my fitness over the next 3 or 4 months, read lots of books on open water swimming, my only problem is I had read them but not practiced what the books had preached, had not put on the wetsuit had not experienced the change in temperature of the sea had not joined the back or side of the pack, (I was never in contention to win it so why be up the front)!
As usual I had to be the last to visit the toilet pre race (nerves) we was 5 mins before the sound of the horn , for my age group race I found myself scampering across Swanage bay in full wetsuit nothing on my feet, nervous, excited, and extremely out of breath.
I remember looking across the bay and thinking to myself the bay is flat not a ripple in the water, no waves, why am I thinking im not going to make this, I do double at least in training every swim session I do,  I was entering the sprint it was 750 metres.
Out of breathe I was straight up the front of the pack brave as a lion!!! or was I?.
The horn sounded we were off, I never experienced anything like it, out of breath already from my run across the bay, there I was trying to get into my rhythm with every two strokes I was about to take in air, either a wailing arm or a wave caused by someone else's wash ,Ive heard it been described as like being in a washing machine, I think that's about right !  I had stopped for a  bit of breath stroke to take in air and settle myself down, this went on for a few minutes but my mind had gone, the confidence had drained from me, the self belief had disappeared  , I was a mess, I looked to the right there was canoe spotter and further to the right of my eye line was the RNLI, I had to do it I could no longer be in this situation, I wanted out, it still hurts me to admit it today but with a little wave the RNLI sped over and piped me aboard!!!!!!.
I've got to say I don't think I've ever felt that disappointed in myself, I've got no one else to blame I had read all about the difference in pool swimming and open water but totally ignored it , the mind set alone is totally different. tired in the pool or out of breathe you can hang onto the side, no such luxury
in the middle of the sea. Unless you  think you can win the triathlon stay away from the front, go to the back or the side, the front of the pack is for the "big boys! and they will stop at nothing if you get in there way, and why shouldn't they, if I was that good id be the same.
I  constantly read  books/ blogs/ twitter on everything triathlon endurance biography's etc .
Its quite comforting to know Jenson button a keen triathlete and 4 time ironman champion Chrissie Wellington have also suffered the dreaded open water swim fate.
There's plenty of open water swim sessions about    http://www.rgactive.com/ have swim workshops and in the summer months I have been heading down to    http://capitaltri.com/training during the summer in the heart of believe it or not Stoke Newington 1
I really believe the Sunday mornings I trained with them last year  helped me through my Vitruvian finish last year .
Happy swimming

Stuart Blake

Ankylosing Spondylitis my story

They're all at it (blogging that is!!!! so I'm going to have a go !)
Ill liken it to being  stabbed although I stress the word  liken!
That was the last football match Ive ever played. I couldn't run because of the pain which lasted 7 years, id had numerous MRI scans over the years but this one showed I had a slipped disc which I had subsequently had  operated on in 2000.
Before that Id had nerve tests, physio,  been to see chiropractors osteopaths, had pain injections, epidurals ,blood tests I also had taken myself off to new direction Pilate's in Buckhurst Hill after reading lots of text about the benefits for people suffering from spinal complaints or injuries as well as well as strengthening core muscles which can help in a multitude of sports something I still do to this day.
I've had some interesting comments and theory's over the years from health professionals and doctors.
one told me I should be drinking 3 litres of water a day ( bet he doesn't drive a cab for a living).
Another asked what I thought I had?
Another told me I should try swimming something Ive been doing regularly for the last 20 years, and also he couldn't give me a new neck .
The pain had reached 9/10 on my pain chart it was unreal  , I couldn't look to my right at junctions whilst driving it was that stiff.
In 2010 the pain had reached my chest I had gone to a&e around midnight on a Friday night complaining of chest pains, I was connected to an ECG MONITOR WITHIN THE HALF HOUR, although the pain was now 10/10 it showed no heart problems and I was
"released without charge"!!
The neck pain wasn't getting any better especially first thing in the morning, it all came to a head in August 2011 I had ridden 75 miles on the Sunday by the Thursday I couldn't get out of bed I stayed there pretty much till the Monday, my right  knee was almost double  the size of the  left one . I managed to get an appointment to see my doctor early on the Monday morning and was keen for me too see a rheumatologist , as long as you don't send me to see the one you sent me to  see last time I said, she scrolled through computer and she found a letter dating back to 2009, on reading the letter it was discovered he had diagnosed me with suspected Ankylosing Spondylitis, "what's that I replied" why wasn't I told of this?
I asked to see another RHUEMATOLOGIST one on the list had PROF before his name!!!!!
He sounds like the man for me I thought , I'm rambling on a bit but after talking to Prof Hassan Tahir he almost confirmed there and then I had AS albeit further blood test and a gene test for hla b27, which im told 96% OF AS sufferers have this gene. At this point he asked if id like to go on a clinical trial which im still doing to this day.
6 months later after a course of steroids lots of rest lots of good direction from the PROF!! THE PAIN HAD SUBSIDED, I started doing some light spinning on my bike, then a light mountain bike ride 5 months later I returned to triathlon.
Since that day I've competed in numerous swim/run/bike events and on 31/08/13 at 13.15 pm I crossed the line at Rutland water Leicestershire after 6 hrs 45 min 14 seconds at the Vitruvian triathlon a half ironman or middle distance triathlon involving a
1900m swim
85km bike
21 km run
its definitely been a  marathon not a sprint after diagnosis but with a lot of training some fantastic care and advise from Prof Hussan Tahir and Noel thatcher my trusted physio /adviser and all round good guy with a few medals!!!!!!!!!not forgetting the clinical trials unit at whipps cross hospital and the  bucket load of self belief I have,
I never gave up on my dream, a lot of AS sufferers because of the severity of there condition would be unable to do what I do, its a silent crippling condition with no visible signs.
I speak to Hassan Tahir regularly about my condition and the sports and challenges I take on its always taken with a puff of the cheeks a raised eye brow and normally met with "NUTTER"
did my goals end there in Rutland water " NO CHANCE" the thought of a full ironman never leaves my head, ive entered Ironman Zurich 2014 its a  3.8km swim 180 km bike & 42 km run   I have to balance my condition with my goals ill run it by the PROF! later this month at the clinical trials unit.
My condition will get no better so the clocks ticking and the severity of it is obviously un known .
Ill leave you with one of my favourite sports quotes


 "our greatest glory is not in falling but rising
every time we fall"

STUART BLAKE my AS story