LBA: Fundraising: Claire Scrutton

Salut a tous,

Well I did it!! Thanks so much to you all for your support. It really got me round the last 15km of the run especially.

Few thoughts from the day:

+	The buzz of the IM in the days leading up to the race was so exciting and emotional plus I've never seen so many expensive bikes in Nice
+	I awoke on race day with a huge smile on my face and it never went away....it just got bigger and bigger.
+	I wasn't scared of the swim on race day. I just relaxed and enjoyed the sunrise and clear warm sea water, the sight of the swim finish was out of this world. I knew I'd definitely finish from that second.
+	Racing in Nice, my home town mean so much to me. I had no fear as I knew the course so well. I love it here!!
-	I should have changed into proper cycle shorts for the cycle. ouch. lol
+	Overtaking guys on expensive bikes
-	The 20km climb on the bike in hot hot sun took its toll on me. It was well over 30 and it was like an inferno!
+	Oreos at the top of col d'ecre
-	The last 20km of the bike into the wind, serioulsy regretted not having tri bars then.
+	Overall the run went really well for me, I ran it all and walked the aid stations. The last 15kms were HARD!!!
-	I had to stop to be sick after about 7 km on the run. I couldnt take the acidic caffeine gels anymore. I felt better afterwards but had only one normal gel as back up. So ran the marathon on coke, water, 1 gel and some salt tablets.
+	The support throughout the day and esp on the run was amazing, friends from my club Cavigal, Anton, the volunteers on the aid stations, everyone!!
+	yes I'll do another IM...not next yr though. When my bike racing has improved...
+	The finish line:-)
+	I think we raised nearly 700quid for Little Big Africa!!! thanks!!

Race stats:
2035 competitors
I was 1599 overall....18th in my category, out of 61:-)

My results:
swim 1:28:05 T1 00:10:12 Bike 7:19:58 T2 00:11:38 Run 4:06:07 Total 13:16:00
A few pics are here in the IM france album: http://www.flickr.com/photos/clairescrutton/

bisous

Claire/MC/Clarence/Clara/Scrots/Mademoiselle Scrutton/soixante onze/comme tu veux’

The first Ironman – a gruelling event that pushes its participants to the limits of endurance – was held on February 18, 1978, to see which athletes were the fittest: runners, cyclists or swimmers.

Claire's Ironman is in Nice, France, on June 27th, 2010, with 2,499 other participants

Why Little Big Africa?
Little BIG Africa (LBA) is run by Debs and Bikie, whom I first met whilst working in Uganda in 2003. We have been great friends ever since and have shared many experiences together, working and living in Uganda, especially around the Mbale area where LBA operates. They set up LBA to make a real difference to people's lives, without all the frilly bits. Your money goes directly to the projects so it will be 'well' used. Last year they asked me to be a trustee, a great honour, and I am also godmother to their beautiful daughter Amelia, ma puce.

Why Ironman?
First and foremost it's a great way to raise loads of money for LBA!!! It's a massive personal challenge and I want to see if I can physically and mentally withstand it! (I'm still not convinced I'll be able to complete the swim!) A lot of my friends have already successfully completed Ironman races and they have inspired me, especially my two great friends Fiona Strouts and Amelia Ashton-Jones, and my ex, Stephen Bell. Fi is an inspiration because she doesnt know her own strengths and can pull out a 10.17 in her first Ironman, whilst still going out and doing her PhD at the same time! Amelia, because she has completed Ironman UK twice now and never gives up when most people would have: she's fallen off her bike, needed power naps during her race and crossed the finsh line well into the night. Steve, because he managed to complete Ironman Lanzarote when he was quite ill on race day and I had to feed him dialoryte during his marathon...it just shows what mental strength he had to complete the race.

Why Nice?
I've been living in Nice since October 2009 and I've fallen in love with the city, people and the area - it's a cyclist's playground here :-) I'd always said that if I got to the stage where I was ready for an Ironman it would be in France or Lanzarote as the bike courses involve more climbing which I prefer...So when my friends in my local tri club, Cavigal, started talking about the Ironman last November, I decided it was now or never, so a group of us have decided to tackle it together. Gulp.

The Race Itself
Swim 3.8km
The start is on the Plage right in front of Nice old town. The swim entails 2 loops, one of 2400m followed by a second one of 1400m. For me this is going to be one of the most challenging parts of the day. I'm not a fan of swimming and it's definitely my weakest discipline. I'm hoping the jellyfish stay away on race day too. Gulp. I'm going to need a lot of sponsoring just to make sure I make the swim cut off time of 2 hours!

Bike 180km
The bike race is one long loop starting at the Promenade des Anglais. I will ride through some absolutley stunningly beautiful towns and villages of the picturesque hinterland of Nice and cheered for most of it apparently by the cycle-loving French. The circuit take me through St Laurent du Var, Gattieres, Gourdon, Carros, Le Broc, Bouyon, and Gréolières. It is notorious for its difficulty with a total climbing altitude of about 1800m, with a 21km climb up the Col d'Ecre at 1220m.

Run 42.2km
The run course consists of a 10.5km loop that has to be run four times; it's completely flat along the Nice coastline. During the run I'll have the tranquil blue sea to look at and the stunning backdrop of Nice, my home town, and the mountians behind her. As its a looped course there will be plently of opportunity to see my fellow Cavigal mates running too. Three aid stations will get me through the marathon, so I could stop to eat and drink 24 times if I want - lol! Last year it was 35 degrees and there is NO shade - it's going to be pretty brutal!

So, please sponsor my long day out...

What could you donate?
Anything would be great! Here’s some suggestions:

Total miles - 140.4 miles: 10p per mile is a donation of £14.04
15p per mile is a donation of £21.06

Total kms - 226 kms: 10p per km is a donation of £22.60
15p per km is a donation of £33.94

Total no. disciplines - 3: £2.50 per discipline is a donation of £7.50

Or just gimme a fiver!!!

How to Donate
To make an immediate credit or debit card donation please click on the donate button below then email Debs to advise the details of your donation - who you are, how much you have donated, which challenge I must meet, and your email address so that she can include your comments below and I can personally reply when I have suitably recovered!!

Many many thanks
Claire Scrutton

26 April 2010

A Big THANK YOU to all the following who have donated so far...

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Lucy Emmerson

Sarah Bell - Go Claire! Show that ironman who’s boss hehe! Will be sending loud cheers across the Channel for you! xxx

Daniel Crompton

Maia Ebson

Charles Scrutton

Tony & Clare Lee - Very best of luck

Corinne Novello - Bonne chance Claire, Je suis sûre que tu arriveras au bout !!!! Biz Corinne

The Robinsons - Good Luck

Evi Steegmans

Beate Vogt

Hillary Hughes

Maureen Scrutton - Good Luck

Hugh Gibbon - Sponsored for each part of the event. Good Luck...go Claire, go!!

Tim Bell - Claire did a fantastic job guiding my group of friends around the mountains of Nice earlier this year. Sponsoring you to finish the whole thing

Hannah Coveney - Challenge Claire must meet: I'd like her to do the whole thing twice please - just kidding! I'll pay her whether she finishes or not great cause. To Claire: Clogs! You are unstoppable! Good luck and enjoy it (if that's possible). Han xxx

Barry Pound

Tor Collins - Big donation to complete the swim (the scariest bit); more to complete the bike; and a bit more to finish the whole thing! xx

Brian Steele (Grasse, France) - I recently met Claire through cycling here in France. It sounds like a great project and hopefully Claire will zap around the Ironman course, no problem!

Christopher Sweet

Tim Willcocks

Steve Bell - Allez Mademoiselle Scrutton! Enjoy a day that you'll NEVER forget. I've no doubt that you will surpass all expectations, and as ever, finish with the biggest smile on your face! Will be there in spirit... Ste x P.S. don't get round it too quick, eh?!

Amelia Isharaza - Go Auntie Scrots, Go. I've given you the cost of a glass of water in Uganda at each of the running stations - I don't want you to go thirsty! I know you can do it because you're a superstar. Big sloppy kisses xx

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