The end of the Ironman Journey? Don't be stupid!

Well I swore blind that South Africa would be my last Ironman but as the tiredness slowly eases off and the training starts to slowly build I have had time to think and now know I will do another one. I don't know which one, or when it will be but I will do one. I know I have a low 10 hour race in me possibly sub 10? but I havn't finished with Ironman just yet!

So its time to think ahead to this season, I have entered the Driffield sprint on the 17th May and the Vitruvian in September but what else to race? I think I will be doing the Cleeveland Steelman (1/2 Ironman distance) and possibly enter the hardest race in the world (Wensleydale Big Cheese) I have still to see if any of the RAF girls and boys are brave enough to join me at this one. Not sure what else really, possibly the Interservice olympic if I'm selected as I will not be doing the Dambuster selection event this year. I will have to start looking at what else I would like to do and also seeing what I am available to do.

So its just 10 days until the London Marathon now, not really sure how that's going to go? I'm not expecting a good time and I'm not putting any pressure on myself either, what will be will be, I've not really got any interest in it if I'm honest, its just a training session for me this year. Last year I was fired up and in great form but was let down with health issues. This year, no interest and not feeling in great form so just a nice day out and enjoy it. Check out the picture of all the tablets I'm on at the moment, I rattle when I walk!! I'm slowly coming off some of them after the problems I had before the Ironman and I've started some new ones which I will be on for the next couple of years possibly longer subject to the 3 month trial I'm on now. I have to have weekly blood tests to see how I'm reacting to them. I might be able to stop taking some of the others that I've been on for a year as they don't seem to be helping, I will find out in a couple of weeks. Eventually if everything goes well, I could be on just one tablet 3 times a day, I will have to see how things go over the next few months.

So apart from Ironman what was good in South Africa? I found the place was fantastic in the short time I was there. I would definitely recommend it to anyone as a holiday destination and would like to go back with Anthea and Beth someday. After the layout of flight costs its actually a very cheap place to be, car hire, hotels, eating out and activities are all good value. Check out me and my friend in the picture, what a great experience, in with the lion cubs one day, then in with the cheetahs the next day. Highly recommended!