Ironman Cymru

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-Ironman - the ultimate challenge.

-A day in which the strongest

-and fittest athletes are pushed...

-..to the limits of their

-physical and mental abilities.

-Welcome to Ironman Wales, Tenby.

-Tenby has been home

-to this iconic sport since 2012.

-The town and area is the ideal

-location for the sport.

-The natural beauty of South

-Pembrokeshire is a perfect stage...

-..for the race's three disciplines.

-They'll swim 2.4 miles

-at Tenby's North Beach...

-..circling Goscar Rock

-twice on the beach...

-..before cycling 112 miles...

-..through historical

-towns and villages...

-..on roads featuring challenging

-climbs and pulse-quickening slopes.

-Next, a 26-mile marathon, one of

-the most difficult on the circuit.

-Four laps of Tenby's narrow streets,

-finishing with a sea view.

-It's the morning of the race.

-A breathtaking dawn welcomes 1,700

-athletes to Ironman Wales 2016.

-Every one has a story...

-..and every one has a reason for

-embarking on the ultimate challenge.

-There's a real buzz here.

-It's like being in Cardiff

-on an international day...

-..only we're taking part, instead of

-watching the boys on the field.

-I did it last year

-without much training.

-It almost killed me at the end,

-but it was a great experience.

-I got bullied into it

-by Shane Williams in June.

-We did a charity bike ride for

-the Princes Gate Trust to Bordeaux.

-

-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-rugby-legends-follow-wales-11427612

-He nagged me and said,

-"You've got to do it".

-It was a drunken conversation

-about what challenge we could do...

-..that's completely

-out of our comfort zone.

-Ironman crept up and now I'm here.

-I'm very nervous.

-I did the Snowdon Marathon. After

-that I felt confident to do this.

-We're going to be quite emotional.

-We'll be glad to see him finish

-in one piece.

-The ritual of walking from the town

-to the beach quickens the pulse...

-..and potentially

-settles the nerves.

-It's also pure entertainment for the

-thousands who flock here in support.

-North Beach is a perfect

-amphitheatre for the first test.

-The elite men

-will be first into the water.

-Some of the world's best Ironmen

-are here.

-The Englishman who won his first

-race in 2009 aged 20, Philip Graves.

-Last few years, I tried to make

-the Olympic team as a domestique.

-I did alright but got injured

-in Australia and New Zealand...

-..at the start of last year and

-it's been a nightmare ever since.

-From the Seychelles, Nick Baldwin.

-It's one of the best races

-on the calendar.

-The crowd support

-is unlike other races.

-You can feel that as an athlete.

-The crowd spur you on throughout the

-day. It's a special place to race.

-From Germany, the strong man,

-Marc Duelsen.

-A friend told me

-it was a beautiful race...

-..and a tough bike course.

-I'm a tough biker. It's my choice

-to have a tough day here in Wales.

-Yeah, I'm here.

-Three to look out for.

-Wyn Gruffydd

-is in the commentary box.

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-It's 7.10am.

-It's a later start than usual,

-but that's because dawn is later.

-But the sea promises

-to be warm and welcoming.

-15,000 awaits the winner...

-..as well as valuable points

-for the elite athletes...

-..hoping to qualify for the Ironman

-World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.

-It's no surprise who is showing

-their head above the water early.

-Graves, Sweden's Danielsson,

-Austria's Niederreiter...

-..Baldwin from the Seychelles

-and Germany's Duelsen...

-..who admits swimming

-isn't his strongest skill.

-The race is developing early

-between Graces and Duelsen.

-This race isn't going to be won

-in the water...

-..but it's easy to lose time

-and the big prize as early as this.

-The second wave is the elite women,

-of which there are only seven.

-One of the favourites

-is Jeanne Collonge of France.

-I've heard it's a warrior race.

-You have to be very tough because of

-the climbs on the bike and the run.

-And maybe also in the water.

-Competing in her first Ironman,

-England's Nikki Bartlett.

-This is what sold me to the race.

-I heard it can be like the Tour

-de France and the support is epic.

-I'm really looking forward

-to embracing the crowds on race day.

-At 7.15am,

-the huge wave of everybody else.

-STARTING HOOTER

-The fastest swimmers dive in first

-and almost 1,700 follow...

-..embarking on the biggest

-physical challenge of their lives.

-Niederreiter, Graves

-and Sweden's Danielsson...

-..have kept up with each other.

-It's been like trying to thread

-a needle as they knit their way...

-..through less experienced athletes

-for over a mile.

-The first woman out of the water

-is Kate Comber.

-She's fairly new to the sport,

-having discovered it at university.

-They must be careful carrying

-the wet swimsuit inside their bags.

-They must hang them properly on

-the hooks or suffer a penalty.

-Kate Comber is about to embark

-on the 1km race...

-..from the water, through

-the crowds, to the transition area.

-American, Darbi Roberts,

-isn't far behind Kate Comber.

-Karl-Johan Danielsson from Sweden

-has found his bike.

-He's overtaken by

-Daniel Niederreiter...

-..from Austria.

-And here's Marc Duelsen,

-the German.

-He's a strong cyclist

-and loves this course.

-I wonder if he knows

-what's ahead of him.

-Not far behind the leading four

-is Nick Baldwin from the Seychelles.

-He's here for the third

-consecutive year.

-Danielsson has found the right gear

-at last.

-Here's the first of the women,

-Kate Comber.

-She's turned professional

-after just four Ironmans...

-..with three races this year.

-Her best result was sixth in Austria

-last month.

-This is the favourite,

-Jeanne Collonge, arriving.

-She's third

-into the transition area.

-Second is the American,

-Darbi Roberts.

-She's a strong competitor.

-In the choppy sea in a scrum of

-arms waving and legs kicking...

-..are some well-known faces from

-Welsh rugby's latest golden age.

-Shane, Ryan and Ian Gough...

-..were involved

-in the weekend's celebrations...

-..with Shane back here to take part

-in another Ironman Wales.

-After playing for Wales

-in the Millennium Stadium...

-..I wanted to experience something

-similar.

-The Ironman is held in Tenby,

-you have the anthem before the swim.

-Over 40,000 people come here

-to support the athletes.

-Everyone knows your name

-and they cheer you on.

-It's up there. It's helping me get

-over missing playing for Wales.

-Ready, guys? Did you enjoy that?

-It's a fantastic way to test

-yourself, mentally and physically...

-..which is what I'm craving - it's

-largely what I miss from playing.

-I'm not afraid of failing...

-..but I want see how much further I

-can push this old carcass of mine...

-..before it finally gives in.

-I bought the bike, all the gear,

-spent a fortune.

-If I stop I'm going to get a row

-off a few people.

-I did it in thirteen and a half

-hours last year...

-..so I want to knock an hour

-off that.

-Having said that, let's just hope I

-beat Dean, Ryan Jones and Ian Gough.

-They have to run from the beach

-to the transition area...

-..and start the cycling stage.

-Shane is the first of the rugby

-stars to emerge from the sea.

-His swim is a dramatic improvement

-on last year.

-Hot on his heels

-is the giant Ian Gough.

-Ryan is happy to reach dry land

-and get on his bike...

-..his favourite discipline

-of the three.

-Away they go to tackle 112 miles

-which are far from flat...

-..through the picturesque villages

-of South Pembrokeshire...

-..and spectacular crowds

-and support.

-Philip Graves from Yorkshire

-has moved into the lead.

-He's not showing any sign...

-..of the injuries that have plagued

-him in recent years.

-He's left Niederreiter

-trailing behind.

-He's very neat on the bike.

-This is one the hardest climbs...

-..up the hill past the excellent

-St Bride's Hotel...

-..in the seaside town of

-Saundersfoot.

-Look at the supporters

-on either side of the road...

-..cheering on Marc Duelsen.

-Fifth at the moment is Nick Baldwin,

-on his own.

-He has a lot of chasing to do.

-Philip Graves knows he needs to put

-distance...

-..between himself and the others

-during this cycling stage.

-He's going well.

-He crouches down again.

-He's keeping a steady rhythm...

-..and his lead of seconds

-has turned into minutes.

-Comber, the first of the women

-out on the bikes.

-She's relatively new to the sport.

-Only three Ironman races last year.

-Darbi Roberts - she claims swimming

-is her strongest discipline.

-She looks very comfortable

-on the bike.

-And the favourite is currently

-third, Jeanne Collonge.

-People think west Wales finishes in

-Swansea but here we are...

-..a hundred kilometres to the west

-on the Dale peninsula.

-Jeanne Collonge moves up to second,

-past Darbi Roberts from the USA.

-Nick Baldwin is moving slowly

-from fourth to third place...

-..overtaking Daniel Niederreiter

-from Austria...

-..who seems to be

-in a bit of trouble.

-Some are struggling on that climb

-in Saundersfoot the second time.

-Philip Graves makes it look easy.

-He's been training with Olympic

-champions, the Brownlee brothers...

-..Alistair and Jonny.

-We're back with Nick Baldwin.

-He's climbed another place

-past Marc Duelsen, surprisingly.

-He's in second place

-and in a fantastic position.

-Collonge comes up on Kate Comber's

-shoulder.

-Jeanne Collonge says she likes to

-push herself...

-..to dark places in triathlons.

-Here's Philip Graves, back in Tenby

-at the end of the cycling stage.

-His toughest challenge

-is still to come, and he knows it.

-Nick Baldwin.

-A fantastic bike stage for him.

-Graves looks at his watch, the first

-man out of the transition area.

-Third is Marc Duelsen.

-Disappointment for Baldwin last year

-when he failed to finish.

-Marc Duelsen - the cycling and

-running are his strongest stages.

-Jeanne Collonge is the first of the

-women into the transition area.

-She's gained a good lead

-during that cycling stage.

-She looks very strong.

-Out she comes for the running stage.

-But the experienced Diana Riesler

-shouldn't be underestimated.

-There's nothing in it as the

-professionals fight for the title...

-..and the other 1,700 on the course

-dig deep...

-..to complete the ultimate challenge

-and conquer Ironman Wales.

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-Welcome back to Ironman Wales.

-It's one of the toughest

-one-day events in the world.

-1,700 athletes will swim,

-cycle and run over 140 miles...

-..around South Pembrokeshire

-and through the streets of Tenby.

-Competing in his first Ironman...

-..is former Wales rugby captain,

-Ryan Jones.

-Ryan only started training

-for this challenge 14 weeks ago.

-He's been helped and advised...

-..by the former Royal Marine

-and cycling coach., Dylan Morris.

-Ryan's strengths

-are his top two inches.

-He's changing from using fast-twitch

-fibre in high-impact rugby...

-..to being on his feet

-for over ten hours in a day.

-We have to try to slow

-these guys down a bit.

-For 15 years, I was Ryan Jones,

-the international rugby player.

-It was almost removed overnight.

-For me, not having sport

-or the challenge left a huge void.

-I miss striving

-to achieve something.

-I miss the disappointment,

-excitement, jubilation, achievement.

-It made me realise that there is

-something out there after rugby...

-..that sort of satisfies

-that part of my personality.

-I've got a personal life

-and a professional life.

-Then I've got this other side

-of my character...

-..which at the moment, is fed

-by this desire to be an Ironman.

-Dylan Morris is also entering

-his first Ironman...

-..as well as former rugby star,

-Ian Gough.

-Shane is back to better last year's

-effort and is flying early on.

-The professional race reaches

-its climax on the streets of Tenby.

-Philip Graves a Jeanne Collonge...

-..have led the men and women's

-races for many hours.

-But with the finishing line getting

-nearer, they're both under pressure.

-Marc Duelsen, the German,

-knows that it's the run...

-..that will decide the winner

-of the 2016 Ironman Wales.

-He goes past Nick Baldwin

-and into second place.

-Philip Graves

-is running a good time.

-Jean Collonge is running strongly.

-This distance suits her well.

-Darbi Roberts lost a bit of ground

-over the 112-mile bike ride.

-She's determined

-to close the gap.

-This is Duelsen.

-These elite athletes burn between

-eight and ten thousand calories.

-They need to feed their bodies

-and minds.

-A gulp of fresh water

-can sometimes work miracles.

-Baldwin has lost some ground.

-But he's still eyeing

-the podium's bottom step.

-Graves sees Duelsen

-pass by his shoulder.

-The favourite is suffering.

-He's only run about 30k

-over the last two weeks.

-Are we looking at the winner

-of the 2016 Ironman Wales?

-Marc Duelsen is racing

-to the finish.

-Darbi Roberts is concentrating hard.

-Can she see Jeanne Collonge?

-I sense that her shoulders

-are beginning to roll.

-Duelsen reaches the shouting masses

-and into Tenby itself.

-Graves, to be fair,

-isn't too far behind.

-His mental strength and

-determination is carrying him.

-Here he is, Marc Duelsen,

-the German.

-He knows that his first Ironman

-victory is within reach.

-He can take his time

-to soak in all the atmosphere...

-..and to receive the applause

-of the crowd.

-Just a little over nine hours,

-an amazing time by the German.

-Where is Graves?

-Well, here he comes.

-Only one minute and 20 seconds

-adrift after nine hours.

-Even then, he's unable

-to hide his disappointment.

-It's amazing here.

-First time in South Wales,

-first Ironman win. Yes, incredible.

-So amazing.

-The crowd here is fantastic.

-Every round, I'm getting closer.

-On mile 20, I get him

-and it's really amazing.

-I've only been running eight weeks.

-I also had a week off with

-a strained quad in that time.

-With only one 30k run in my legs...

-..my legs fell off at 25k.

-Disappointed to lose by so little...

-..but there were some good points

-in coming second - it's a start.

-Onwards and upwards, hopefully.

-Six minutes behind and in third,

-Nick Baldwin from the Seychelles.

-Diana Riesler has been in second

-for a while, but where is Roberts?

-Here she is, up into second!

-Only Collonge is ahead of her now.

-Both are vying for their

-first Ironman title.

-Totally composed and her face

-is full of determination.

-We saw Collonge slowing a little.

-The Frenchwoman's legs look heavy as

-she enters Tenby for the final time.

-Roberts is getting ever closer

-with each stride.

-Just take a look at support.

-Roberts.

-She is on the shoulder

-of Collonge.

-One kilometre remains to the finish.

-You can see who is the stronger.

-Collonge looks left...

-..as Roberts passes by

-quite unemotionally on the right.

-Roberts runs towards

-the finish line.

-Here she is striking for home.

-She travelled from New York

-especially for this race.

-After ten hours

-and fifteen seconds...

-..Darbi Roberts win the women's

-race, one of the toughest around.

-I don't think any would doubt it.

-Certainly not Darbi Roberts.

-Jeanne Collonge trudges home...

-..some two and three-quarter minutes

-behind the American.

-I didn't know I was capable of that,

-to be honest.

-Halfway through the race my legs

-were pretty trashed from the bike.

-I don't know.

-It's maybe the weather,

-maybe the fans, maybe the scenery.

-By far the most gorgeous Ironman

-I've done.

-It was electric. No dead spots

-whatsoever, which really helps.

-Running through the middle

-of the town is phenomenal.

-There's nothing like it.

-It's really tough, I was leading

-until one kilometre before the end.

-It's really frustrating.

-Darbi was faster and stronger today.

-That's how it goes

-and next time will be better.

-I will learn how to run even faster

-and to maybe win. I would love it.

-Filling the podium places on her

-Ironman debut was Nikki Bartlett.

-For the amateurs

-it's a heroic effort.

-Rugby players, who usually tackle,

-ruck and sprint for 40 minutes...

-..are now racing for half a day

-or even longer.

-It's the climax of a year's

-training and dedication.

-For Jason Pritchard,

-a policeman from Llandybie...

-..it has been an adventure

-for the whole family.

-It has really been

-a family team effort.

-Quite a feat.

-He'd be out early in the morning

-to train...

-..late in the evening to swim...

-..and we'd lose him one day

-on the weekend on the bike.

-It wasn't too bad!

-From dawn to dusk and after almost

-11 and a half hours of sweating...

-..Shane is the first of the rugby

-players to finish.

-I'm knackered...

-..but I knocked almost 2.5 hours

-off last year's time.

-I miss playing rugby

-in the Millennium Stadium.

-I miss playing with the boys.

-This experience is up there

-with playing for Wales...

-..because of the atmosphere,

-the effort you put in...

-..and the feeling you get

-after finishing.

-Brilliant!

-I worked hard.

-The crowd were brilliant. They were

-excellent. They pull you through.

-You hit a wall and then you come

-past the pavilion...

-..down Picton Terrace

-and they raise your spirits.

-I'm proud of Daddy

-for doing the Ironman.

-Really good.

-Fab! Brilliant!

-He's done fantastically.

-I never thought it would be

-like this, I'm so proud of him.

-Here's Ryan Jones arriving

-at the finishing line at last.

-That is the toughest thing

-I've done physically and mentally.

-As achievements go, that's up there.

-It was emotional, it was tough,

-but it was fantastic.

-It's testament to the people

-who've helped me along the way.

-I've got a very supportive family.

-If I can inspire my kids to do it

-one day, and some of my friends...

-..it's a job well done.

-As personal achievements go,

-it was fantastic.

-I came, I conquered. It's time

-for a few pints and home now.

-Dylan Morris is also an Ironman.

-The swimming was difficult for me

-but the bike race was great.

-I did it in 5hr46.

-I finished the whole race in 13hr11.

-My legs are in pieces

-after the marathon.

-It's hard to explain

-how good the support is out there.

-A heroic effort from the giant,

-Ian Gough.

-It's probably one of the hardest

-things I've done mentally.

-We're talking 13, 14, 15 hours

-of pain...

-..asking yourself

-why you're doing it.

-"Can I just quit and walk off?

-What will people say?"

-I fought the demons

-a number of times.

-It's an absolute emotional

-rollercoaster, but amazing.

-It's my first time. Brilliant.

-The weather was fantastic.

-It was extremely hard.

-Twelve hours, twenty minutes

-of absolute fun.

-Challenging, tough, but awesome.

-There's a saying in sport...

-..the harder the challenge,

-the sweeter the victory.

-To the thousands here, this will be

-a day and a race to remember.

-I've done 16 Ironmans

-and this is hard, really hard.

-Superb. Would I do it again? No!

-Loads of support all the way around.

-It was really good.

-Not just family and friends, but

-everybody out there on the circuit.

-Tenby is absolutely amazing.

-The best thing I've ever done.

-The best day of my life.

-I've done it. I'm an Ironman.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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