17/06/2026
Our amazing coach Mark Boardman, and his son in law Colin, took part in Ironman Tours last Sunday, and we’re so in awe!
Colin had an incredibly fast swim but then sadly had an issue on the bike leg which forced him to pull out. There’s no question he’ll be back to settle that score 🤩
Meanwhile Mark absolutely dominated the course! Here’s his race report in full.
“The Course. The race is set in the beautiful Loir Valley, with lots of small villages and châteaux lining the bike course. The race centre, transitions and finish are all within a large exhibition hall, which gives the event a very different atmosphere from others - not least because the DJ is incredibly loud.
The swim takes place in a river with only a slight current, which is barely noticeable. The bike route consists of two different loops with a crossover point, which is great for spectators as they get to see you twice. The run, however, is three laps along the river bank and is less inspiring. The race organisation was excellent, with separate bags for transition, bike and run personal-needs, as well as post-race kit. It also felt like a truly international event, with over 50% of competitors coming from outside France.
My Race. I was a little nervous at the start but soon settled into the swim and came out with a time that was about what I expected. At points the swim was enjoyable, although it got very hectic around the turn buoys.
Into T1 I felt okay and focused on a steady ride ahead. However, as I tracked my 5km splits, I soon realised that the smooth, closed roads and very few hills were helping me produce great times. Knowing that my heart rate was staying low, I was not concerned about overdoing it. The many feed stations also gave me the chance to take on more calories than expected, which paid dividends later on.
As in training, my left knee started aching at about 120km, a legacy of a serious knee operation about 15 years ago. By around 130km it was really sore, but thankfully over the last 50km it came and went without causing too much trouble - until I got off the bike at T2. Then it became very painful, and I had to walk through the large transition area thinking that the run could be a real struggle, or worse, that I might have to stop.
Still hopeful, I put on my trainers and aimed to complete at least the first kilometre, which took me through the large hall and past a lot of great support. I thought that a slightly amended running style, with a lower knee lift, might help, and thankfully it did; it was only really painful on the slopes around the course.
The run was very hot (31°C), but by using the “walk the feed stations” technique, I managed to keep going all the way to the finish, which brought an amazing feeling of achievement. On reflection, I was lucky that the ride went so well and that the run was manageable despite my knee problem. I would highly recommend this event to anyone considering their first full Ironman. It was an amazing experience, and I am very grateful to Colin, my family and the club for all their support.”
It’s worth adding that mark did the run in 3:56 (Strava time - 4:07 chip time) - an *incredible* time for an Ironman run, let alone carrying an injury! 🙇♀️
Massive congrats to Mark, and Colin, bad luck - but there’ll be a pay back event in your near future we’re sure!
