THE END

Well tonight will be the last blog for a while, maybe ever. I have now been writing this blog for nearly a year and to be honest at times it has been so much harder than the training, racing and even the Ironman itself. I started writing this blog with one goal in mind and that was to raise £3,000 for Tiny lives, a charity that really does means so much to me. I can now tell you all that I have raised just over £4,000, so I am ecstatic I never thought I would reach the amount let alone exceed it. So just a massive thank you to everyone who has followed my journey and donated.

I have one last picture for you I found it isn't the best picture but it really does show how small they were. Here Jakes chest is the size of my forearm, 2 weeks on.

All donations are still very welcome.

Just Giving Page: http://www.justgiving.com/Joanna-Reed0

I really do need to thank some people because without the support I have received I really don't think the Blog and the actual Ironman would of happened. So to all of you who have trained with me, Lisa, Laura, Andrea, Becci, Kay and of course my Tri club 'Total racing International,' especially Phil and Drew. Then there are the people who have given me so much support whether it is with my kids or with me personally, (so all of the above names again) Anne Marie, Rach, Simon, Jimmy, Toby, Gilsey, Vicky, Gemma, Lynsey, the Netball girls. To be honest there is a vast list better to stop now and miss a few out rather than just one name.

Got a couple of special thanks to pay now.

Jambo Truong - the man with a massive heart. He has inspired me, looked after me (fixed me) and introduced me to a new way of life a more balanced one. For those of you who are lucky enough to live in the North East you need to check out a class.  http://www.jambotruong.com/

Matt Key (aka yaagTri for you twitter people) - Matt has been a great inspiration to me also, but I think he is better known with my facebook followers as the man responsible for posting all the links and info while I raced in Germany. Thanks to him my kids, mum and everyone else actually got to see me cross the finish line, which really meant the world to me.

My Coach Woody, what can I say the man really does know his stuff and during the time I was training for my first Ironman he had his first Ironman win with an athlete. So anyone who is thinking off racing and needs a coach I really can't recommended him enough. http://www.ironguides.net/coaches/alunwoodward.html

Finally my mum who has just been simply amazing, don't know what I would do with out her. Also my Dad and  his wife Michelle for all their support, it truly is appreciated, so thank you.

So what a year I've had its hard to sum up what I have done. Firstly I did my first Ironman WOO HOO and loved it, in an all right time to. Had some great races and seem to have won a few prizes. Had some a awesome bike rides which included my solo ride to the lakes and back (300 miles in one weekend mixed with some socialising).  An obsession with handstand ( thanks Jambo) and now with yoga. Slowly learning to love running, I am a firm believer you need to work at some things. I have met and now made some fantastic friends, been on the radio twice. I have had so many nice emails from people telling me I have inspired them and are going  to start exercising again. Personally I have had some very high moments in the year and some very low ones, especially losing loved ones. But at the end I have achieved what I set out to do and that was to raise money for a very worthwhile charity.

Finally before I sign off  I just need to mention the small matter that I raced today, it was the Newbiggen Bay sprint and it was a ETU qualifier. Which means you can get the chance to represent GB for your age group at Eilat, Israel 2012.

I think first I should mention the weather, it was blowing a gale. The waves were MASSIVE, you could say it was a little intimidating. Especially as it was Lisa's ( my cycling partners) first ever Triathlon. I had been telling her what a great race it was (it still is) how the bay is quite sheltered. Umm it was ridiculous, we watched the first wave go off and saw them all get pushed to the left quite servely and then a few being pulled back in on the front of canoes. Also I should mention I started this race injured, so apart from the tail end of a  horrendous chest infection, it has been looking more and more likely that I have a slight tear at the top of my achilles, so the advice was not to run or start and if any twinges stop. I have never started a race injured so it really was a very stressful decision on what to do.

Those waves really were massive

 The horn went and off we went, the breaker waves were enormous, I swallowed so much water, goggles filled up twice and properly got smacked around a few times, just nasty. Getting out to the first buoy was hard, high fast arms were needed. Eventually I saw the end of the swim, transition included a beach run to a car park where the bikes were racked. Freezing cold I got out of transition as fast as I could, once I found my helmet, Inhaler and race belt which had blown away. About 2 minutes into the ride I realised I had lost my race chip, which meant no time. The first marshal I passed I informed them hoping some-one could get some times for me. 3 very windy hard going out and very fast coming in laps later ( managed to set off the 30mph speed camera on every entry into Newbiggen). I dismounted the bike, informed the marshals again that I had no race chip, at this point I really was seeing it as an omen that I should not go on the run with my foot. However off I went, the run was two laps along the beach front. I took the first one nice and slowly trying to figure out what my foot was doing. Its was just full of pins and needles that was about it, as I turned around for the second lap, I got it confirmed that they would get my time, that was it off I went, I ran as hard as I could even managed a sprint finish. So as I had no race chip I have no splits. I came in with a time of 1hr 30, placing me 2nd in my age category and if I have got it right I have just got my place for Israel. The fastest female overall was 1hr 22, so considering my injury and chest I am happy with my time. I think it may be time for me now to recover fully before I start training intensively again.


So once again thank you to so many people especially to everyone who has donated, tweeted me, left messages on facebook, you have really inspired me. I am currently on a course to become a personal trainer, which I can't wait to qualify in. Then it seems I may have a place representing GB for my age group in Israel, I think I have some exciting times ahead of me.

Finally if you have been inspired by me please have a quick look at what a friend of mine overcame to get to the start line alongside me for his first ever Ironman as well, truly inspirational.

http://www.journallive.co.uk/lifestyle-news/great-north-fitness-revolution/great-north-fitness-revolution-news/2011/09/08/gosforth-dad-goes-from-couch-potato-to-ironman-triathlete-61634-29382133/3/