Another Lucky Ballot attempt

A renowned event known for its massive scale, Challenge Roth attracts 3,500 athletes and 600 relay teams. It’s also home to reigning Ironman world champions and a race-day atmosphere that includes cannons firing at the start line and hot air balloons overhead. I'd been planning my retirement, and on a quiet day at work with surprisingly effective NHS Wi-Fi, I tried to enter and got in!!  The 6th of July 2025 was in the diary—a perfect target for my second iron-distance event, just three months after my planned retirement.

Training for a Unique Challenge

Given a number of recent injuries, including an increasingly temperamental knee, a standard training plan wasn't going to work for me. My preparation was further complicated by a three-week holiday with no access to a bike or a pool, a back injury I sustained while away, and two other races (a half marathon and a half-ironman) scheduled five and three weeks before Roth.

As a coach who sells "NOT off-the-peg" plans, I adapted both initially and as I went along. My goal was to address my weaknesses—specifically, my confidence in open-water swimming and my comfort on my new time trial bike. I also needed to build a significant training volume while minimizing activities that aggravated my injuries, which primarily meant reducing my running volume. Luckily, my retirement gave me the time I needed to focus on this.

A typical training week included two strength and conditioning sessions to replace some of my running volume. On the bike, I aimed for one long ride, one medium ride, and one effort session. For swimming, I kept the volume up with no session shorter than 2K and spent as much time as possible in the QE2 lake in Ashington. 

Heat Preparation

Many past participants had warned me about the high temperatures in Germany during July. My research into heat training led me to a plan that would be beneficial even if the weather wasn't scorching. I started with saunas and hot baths, then moved on to effort sessions in high temperatures during the final few weeks of training. To create the right environment, a £30 plastic greenhouse from the internet did the trick.

Race Day at "The Home of Triathlon"

The event was massive. I love the Lakesman and the Outlaw events, but Roth made them seem tiny by comparison. The expo was enormous, the whole town was decorated, the temporary campsite was two massive fields, and the transition area was the biggest I'd ever seen.

I woke up to the entirely predicted, but still dreaded, news of a non-wetsuit swim confirmed at 5:30 a.m. My start time was 8:10 a.m., so I had a relatively leisurely morning. As I enjoyed my coffee, I could hear the cannons for the early waves and see hot air balloons floating by. I got to the starting area just as the pros were exiting the water.

The swim, for a weak swimmer like me without a wetsuit, was tough. I pushed too hard and got cramp, and it felt like it went on forever until I saw I was only at 2,500m. But I finished and crawled out of the water to a cheering crowd.

The bike course didn't disappoint, with smooth tarmac, a fantastic route, and spectators in every village. The hills were tougher than expected, but the climbs at Gredling and Solarer were lined with people, just as I had hoped. The hills took their toll, and I had to ease up on the second lap to save energy for the marathon.

T2 was a blur of German efficiency, with a volunteer practically putting my shoes on and sending me out of the tent. I was a bit shocked when a second enthusiastic volunteer asked where I wanted the Vaseline, but I handled that myself to avoid any doubt!

I've never met anyone who said an ironman marathon was easy, and Roth was no exception. The canal path seemed endless, but it was a great surface to run on, and the aid stations were full of enthusiastic volunteers. The hill with about 10K to go was a low point and I had to walk. However, the finish was everything I had heard it would be: an amazing stadium that seemed full of people, incredible lights, and the biggest medal I’ve ever won.

Reflections and Lessons Learned

Roth was amazing, unforgettable, and tough. I went with the intention of enjoying myself, and I did—even though no one truly enjoys miles 22-24 of a marathon. I had hoped to finish in under 13 hours, but my time of 13:05 was incredibly close and I'm proud of the effort.

I'm so grateful to everyone who helped me get there: my wife and family, my running and triathlon friends (principally the "Tuesday Gang" at Ponteland Runners) who encouraged and trained with me, David and Sarah at DS coaching for their help with my swimming, and the guys at VO2 Max for their sessions. I also can't forget the people of Roth for putting on such an incredible event. I am incredibly grateful and fortunate to be able to do this kind of thing, and I don't take that for granted.

As a self-coached athlete for this event, I learned some valuable lessons:

• You can complete this kind of event despite being a bit older and having a few injuries.

• A training plan that doesn't adapt to circumstances isn't worth having.

• You should train to your weaknesses, not your strengths.

• Nutrition is something that must be rehearsed.

If you're looking for a new challenge—whether a 5K, an iron-distance triathlon or somewhere in betwen—and think a coach could help, don't hesitate to get in touch!