Race day...Sunday 22nd June 2008
Swim- Completed 3.8k in 1 hour 25 mins. Beautiful swim, no jelly-fish sightings, only minor zig-zagging and occasional problems with being swum over. I am really pleased with how the swim went as it's not usually my favourite discipline.
8 minute transition- not bad!
Bike- (Normally where I'm strongest..!) I decided to give it my best shot even though the tendonitis problem had not gone away.
Annoyingly the knee injury caused major problems from the outset. A gruelling 145k later (8.5 hours in saddle, mostly cycling with one leg and in constant pain) I had to call it a day.
I had missed the 118k cut-off by 7 mins and so was forced to hand over my start number. Having climbed so far (including the 20k non-stop uphill to the Col de L'Ecre) I wanted to experience the thrill of the downhill run back to Nice so carried on anyway. Despite not being able to cope with the pain of turning the pedals any more I managed to cover a further 27k, whizzing through the stunning villages perched above Nice. Unfortunately when the downhill ran out the pain was intolerable; my left knee had started to pack up too. Common sense prevailed and I was picked up and brought back to transition and to a wonderful welcome from Philippa and Michael, Claire, Jeremy and Anna. Thank you all for caring so much.
Although I was disappointed at the time, the risk of long-term damage if I continued was just too great.
A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout and who has reassured me that the it is the endeavour that matters, not necessarily the 100% completion of the venture. I have given my all to this fund-raising project over the last 9 months and was so determined to see it through. Foolishly perhaps, it didn't even occur to me that injury might spoil my chances!!
I hope that you, as my supporters and sponsors, will nevertheless feel that I did my best in the circumstances and that you will be happy for the cheques to be paid in to the bank and the donations made to the 3 great causes. Please be sure to let me know if this is not the case!
Finally, huge thanks to all my family , friends and sponsors. And to the team- Bea, Bill, Jane, Emma, Jason, Marcel, Rob, Jacko, Alison, Simon and Claire-what can I say? You are all super-stars and thanks for joining me to help raise so much sponsorship.
More photos on the last page...not necessarily in chronological order...sorry! (too complicated)
Please look at the Guestbook page for accounts of the trip and feel free to add your own comments...thank you!
Sponsorship so far £11,877.57 (plus another GBP1,500 earmarked for Erskine). THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE...
PS PAYPAL is now working again; they finally accepted that I wasn't in the money-laundering business and have re-opened my account..!!
19th June
LAZING ABOUT EATING ICE CREAM DAY:
Well that sort of speaks for itself, but our Lassie deserves it.
She is definitely going to cross the start line at 6 a.m. on Sunday, sees no reason why she can't swim the 3.8 k's of that leg, and then will launch hersel with ginger vigour (if you get my drift) into the next leg which is the cycling one. Pray for her knee, and the rest of her! I'ts only 180 k's, and then the relative relaxation of the full marathon. Phidippades didn't have the swiming and biking warm up. At least our Triathletes do.
GO FOR IT NICKY, THE VERY BEST OF LOVE AND LUCK, AND YOU CAN ONLY DO YOUR BEST. We are very proud of you
Day 10: The Morrissey twins did stalwart legwork today and cycled on switchback country for nearly 90 k's to the hotel in Vence. A mutual decision was made to do the last 12 k's to Nice and the cycle down the Promenade des Anglais tomorrow. More of the adoring public to wave them in. After all Sir Ranulph Twistleton-Wyckham-Fiennes waited a whole day in the mosquito infested Darien Gap just so that he could arrive at his objective on St George's Day.
Nicky is feeling perky (let's hope perky doesn't reciprocate. Ed), and is determined to attack the objective in style on the BIG DAY on Sunday and is fully intending to have a go at the entire Triathlon. After all her motto is "tri athlon? tri anything"
The Morrissey twins leave tomorrow for their den in the Alps and Nicky gives BIG HUGS to them for all their support and for carrying the flame through the dark days. Tomorrow also sees the arrival of Obergruppenwotsit Clare, her trainer, so bed by 8p.m. tomorrow Nicky and all bottles from under the bed to in the bin.Pip pip.
Day 9: Well....Tiger Woods has just won the U.S. open with a fashionably sore knee. It's catching.....
Nicky gave her knee a reward today by using it to operate the accelerator pedal of the back up van with gusto whilst the Morrissey twins flew the flag. Gusto seemed to enjoy it too.
Her leg is good in parts my Lord, but the splendid red wine at this evening's repast has given it succour. She will cycle down the Promenade des Anglais tomorrow willy nilly (no comment on that one), and is determined to go the whole hog in the Triathlon on Sunday where she will swim flat out in the first leg, and then go as far as she can on the cycling leg, well hopefully both her cycling legs. After that the full marathon will seem like un morceau de gateau. Here's hoping and praying.
Toodle pip.
Day 8: The show goes on: Nicky as back up to the Morrissey twins who take up the Triathlon flame and cycle it on its way to Nice.
She managed today to consult a French knee surgeon who prescribed 2 days complete rest for the knee ( the rest of her body therefore has to follow suit); THE GOOD NEWS:
1: She can drink gallons of wine with the pills
2: With a wing and a prayer she may be able to do the Ironman triathlon. She is not going to give up. She will definitely do the swim, and depending on Denise she will also go for the full monty, biking running and all. Cheers Nicky. Yer an inspiration to the French wine industry and the rest of us mere mortals
Day 7: This was written by Clare Murray, her coach:I have some very sad news that Nicky had to stop cycling today. She completed the complete route to the end of Day 5 (yes, that's 504 miles in 5 days!) but had been experiencing some severe knee pain. In true Nicky style she battled through 64km on Day 6 and cycled 25km one legged today but she has finally agreed to stop cycling before damaging her knee for good. The rest of the support team are continuing on the journey as planned with Nicky now in support and she will be seeking medical advice tomorrow for a diagnosis. I know it has been an incredibly difficult decision for Nicky to stop as she is one of the toughest people I have ever coached or trained with, which includes Olympic & Commonwealth medalists to put that comment into perspective! I have urged her to stop so that we can see Nicky tackle more crazy challenges in the future and see her support her amazing athletic kids on their sporting adventures. We will post news as soon as we hear from the Doctor. Chin up Nicky, we all know what a true hero you are.
Day 6: Persistent knee pain over the last 3 days became so acute after 40 miles today that Nicky was forced to accept a lift from backup man Bill Laurence. Still, she has two doctor pals cycling with her from tonight so hoping the best for the future.
Text messages would be greatly appreciated as is Nicky's help from Bill Laurence today ( and everyday!) The number is 07964 422 414
Day 5: Another 94 mile day (plus an unintentional extra 5 mile detour!) Many Thanks to Jason, Rob, Jacko, Marcel and Ken Donnelly for their huge support and encouragement over the last 3 days cycling.
Still no internet access but great photos to follow!
Day 4: 94 mile cycle today... the last 5k of which completed in a hailstorm with hailstones the size of golf balls!
Day 3: Another long day... British Biathlon team members struggling to keep up with Nicky on the hills!
Day 2: 110 miles covered... Thank you to Bea Bath for her support and encouragement from the backup vehicle!
Day 1: Left Greenwich at 08:50. Arrived at Inxent 20:23. BIG thank you to Jane Cast and Emma Cowan for accompanying Nicky down to Dover!
No internet access in the more rural area's of France but more details coming shortly!
Thank you to great friends Jane Cast, Alison and Simon Morrissey, Claire Murray (Nicky's triathlon coach) and Emma Cowan for cycling various stages with Nicky.
Thank you also to ROLAND WALKER for updating the webpage while Nicky is stuck in remote parts of France...
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