Absolutely nuts
At 22 miles, it dawned on Chettleburgh that, even if she jogged the last four miles slowly, she would still become an Ironman in a fairly respectable time.
Paranoid about missing the turn to the finish (a combination of exhaustion, the confusing route and her desire to reach the finish line as soon as possible) Chettleburgh started shouting “where’s the finish?” to the marshals! On hearing the PA system, she knew from the distance markers that it wasn’t far. “Sprinting the last 400m felt truly amazing,” she notes.
For the finale, Chettleburgh ran past the cheerleaders and onto the carpet of the finish chute. The crowds are said to go “absolutely nuts” when you enter the finish chute of an Ironman and, jumping up and down with the cheerleaders, Chettleburgh celebrated and basked in her own glory.
“I didn’t even need to hear the commentator shouting my name with those magic words: ‘You are an Ironman!’”
Smiling from ear to ear
Bringing the event to a speedy halt, Chettleburgh was content that she’d achieved what she had set out to do a whole year ago, bursting over the finish line in true sporting style, the victory medal hugging her neck.
“I crashed out on a bench with a coke, while a girl hosed me down with cold water. I knew I’d run a 3hr 48min marathon and finished in 11hr 6mins, but I didn’t find out until I switched my phone on an hour later that I’d come ninth in my age group. I was over the moon! I spent the next few hours chatting, eating, rehydrating and smiling from ear to ear!”
‘Anything Is Possible’ sings the Ironman motto, embroidered across the rucksack given to competitors at race registration. For Chettleburgh, it seems, this is so true.
“I’ll never forget the blind lady and her guide I saw at the start, who swam leashed together and rode the 112 miles on their tandem before running the marathon. Or the double amputee on his handcycle and blades. Nor will I forget the athlete wearing the big furry cow suit through the bike and marathon to raise money for a cancer charity. Ironman is a true display of human spirit. People do amazing things. I could never have become an Ironman without the wonderful and generous support and belief of my family, friends, coaches, therapists, clubmates and clients.”
Chettleburgh’s parting words show just how thankful she is: “A huge thank you to everybody who helped me do this. You all played an important part in helping me reach the finish line of Ironman Austria on a day that I’ll remember forever!”
Bio: Harriet Chettleburgh
Harriet Chettleburgh is a personal trainer, triathlon coach, wife and mum of two. In 2012, she founded The Right Fit (therightfit.co.uk) to help people across West Berkshire improve their health and fitness. She was also a finalist in the Fitness Professional Awards 2014.
