Medal 1 – Running
First up this year was a brisk Half Marathon (21km) in Nice with our daughter running the 10km version. This was my 6th time on this course and, as expected, my slowest (as, at 67, I am now the oldest I have ever been). Although having said this I was only 5 minutes slower than my last time 3 years ago. I did however fail to beat 2 hours (by just 3 minutes) which is a first.
Medal 2 – Triathlon
Next we headed off to the island of Mallorca for a couple of weeks including my 2nd time at the Ironman 70.3 triathlon (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21km run) in Alcudia. All went well. Everything was a little slower than my last time here, in 2018, but I came in within the time limit so very happy. Made a couple of videos during the race weekend.
Next up was the full distance Ironman Triathlon in Nice (3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42km run). It didn’t go well. This is the hardest race I ever do. Not because of the course but because of the time limits. Since my first in 2009 I have entered it 11 times. One year, 2018, I couldn’t start due to a medical problem. Apart from that I have completed the swim every time. I have run out of time on the bike twice (2013 and this year 2024). I have run out of time on the run 3 times (2011, 2017 and 2021). So that leaves 5 times when I have actually finished within the allotted time. Five medals.
See my blog article for more about this race: Tales from my Nice Ironmans
Medal 3 – Trail
Then came a totally random 5km uphill trail race from Monaco to La Turbie. I was waiting at the bus stop to head into town to see the dentist when I saw a race start being assembled in the park next door. I researched it on my phone and it turned out to be the start of the massive 125km multi day Ultra Trail up into the mountains. – The Ultra Trail Mercantor. Amazingly it included a 5km trail race along one of my usual training routes. After the (not serious) dentist I signed up – it was lunch time. The race started at 7pm and went well.
Medals 4 and 5: Running
Finally this year was marathon November. On the 3rd I completed my 16th Nice-Cannes marathon and one week later I was in Greece and completed my second Athens marathon – from Marathon to Athens – the original route. I made a video during each race detailing the full dramatic story of the day.
2024 in numbers
My total time spent training and racing in 2024 was 220 hours which is just 1 hour less than in 2023.
I swam a total of 23 hours, about 46km (up from 4 hours in 2023).
I biked a total of 114 hours, about 2,280km (up from 37 hours in 2023).
I ran a total of 83 hours, about 830km (down from 180 hours in 2023).
In 2023 I did no triathlons so the swim and bike were much less than this year where I tried to do two. Also 2023 was a massive running year due to the 250km Marathon des Sables desert foot race so lots of run training plus the race itself.