Caitlin completes gruelling Ironman challenge

A determined Caerphilly housing association worker has completed a gruelling Ironman Triathlon, battling thunderstorms and crosscurrents.

Caitlin Raymond, Development Project Manager at United Welsh, took part in Ironman Italy which involved a 2.4-mile sea swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a marathon (26.2-miles) along the Emilia-Romagna region.

The challenge was Caitlin’s first marathon as well as her first competitive open-water swim, but despite the challenges she battled to an impressive finish in just over 12 hours.

“It was definitely the hardest event I’ve done, but equally it was the most enjoyable as well,” said Caitlin, who is from Caerphilly.

“I started training for it in January, so I had nine months. “The last four weeks before the two-week taper was a mental battle, each session really took its toll.

“I found those four weeks more mentally challenging than the race itself.

“People say the race is just the victory lap and it very much felt like that in this instance.”

Despite that, the event was not without challenges.

Caitlin completed the swim in one hour and 13 minutes despite crosscurrents hitting hard.

Thunderstorms hit on the second lap of the cycle ride, with water on the roads and a headwind making conditions challenging.

And stomach cramps and fuelling issues made the marathon the hardest part of the triathlon.

“Coming round the final loop, knowing I could follow it to the finish was a huge relief,” Caitlin said.

Caitlin, 26, only started running around four years ago after joining a lunch-time run club at United Welsh.

She said flexible-working at the housing association helped her to fit in her training over a longer period, while she was also joined by colleagues on her training runs.

“I wanted a goal which would take months and months to complete rather than a six-week challenge,” Caitlin added.

“It was also about proving to myself that I can do hard things and things I put my mind to.

“Having colleagues join me on runs and having that company on what can be very lonely training sessions made a huge difference.”