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Looking back to nine years ago, on a West Wales beach, I tackled my first sprint distance race. What an awakening that turned out to be. After the sea swim, I found myself projectile vomiting all over myself and my bike from swallowing too much water. And this was supposed to be my strongest discipline! What a start.
I was completely clueless. The sickness persisted throughout the bike ride and into the run. It felt endless. Yet somehow, this experience led me to enter Ironman Wales. Yes, Wales – because apparently, I had a knack for punishing myself. The reality of its difficulty completely blindsided me, though I suppose the name should have been a clue.
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This journey began just a year after ending my semi-professional rugby career due to a devastating injury: a broken femur, damaged patellar with no ACL, a broken PCL, and an MCL barely hanging onto bone. After five months in a cage, I started the arduous process of rebuilding – first walking, then gradually adding weight. I needed a new challenge, and triathlon answered that call. I fell in love with it immediately, as I still am today.
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I remember being surprisingly calm on that Welsh beach. "It's just a swim, bike, run, right?" The choppy sea played to my strengths, as did the bike course. The run? Not so much. What an experience – and I swore "never again."
That "never again" promptly led me to sign up for Ironman Lanzarote the following year. Picture Wales, but add scorching temperatures. I absolutely loved it. From there, I ventured into the 70.3 circuit: Dubai, Mallorca, Stafford, Swansea, Challenge Wales, Ocean Lava, and back to Lanzarote. After six or seven races, I returned to long course racing with renewed passion.
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The journey took me through Portugal, Italy, Barcelona, Malaysia Lankawi, Mallorca, Nice, Vichy, Cork, Bolton, and Hamburg, among others. I threw in some bucket-list races like Escape from Alcatraz, Challenge Roth, and the ITU World Championships in Leeds. The heat seemed to be my element, and in Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico, everything aligned perfectly for what I consider my ideal race – earning that coveted golden ticket to Kona.
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After Nice (this time a World Championship), I planned my final long-course races: Ironman Wales as a farewell to UK long-course racing, followed by KONA. However, fate had other plans. A positive COVID test the Friday before Wales ended that dream, with my heart rate soaring and breathing laboured. With Kona just a fortnight away, I couldn't risk it.
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Despite still feeling the effects in Hawaii, we embraced everything the island offered – participating in the Kona 5km run, practice swim races, and immersing ourselves in the local culture. The race itself wasn't perfect, but competing in triathlon's most prestigious event left me overwhelmed with emotion. Racing in the footsteps of the greats, I became part of that legacy. Would I change anything? Could I have done things differently? Absolutely not.
Looking ahead to 2025, new challenges await. I tested the waters with T100 racing in London last year and loved its relatively quick pace compared to full long-course racing. I'm considering shorter distances in Wales, aiming to push hard and fast for different results. After podiuming twice in shorter events last year, I'm excited to sink my teeth into that challenge.
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Post-Kona, I tackled the New York Marathon, and though tough, it was incredible. Next up is the Tokyo Marathon in March and my first gravel bike race – mixing things up completely. With the continued support of the amazing team at @hucksonTrigear, 2025 promises to be an exciting new chapter.
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Thank you all (At Huckson) for being such a crucial part of my 2024 journey. I couldn't have done it without you. The adventure continues, and I'm eternally grateful to be representing Huckson from head to toe.
Let's make 2025 another remarkable year!
Andrew Jones
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Thanks Andrew! Can't wait to see what you get up to in 2025! Let's go buddy.
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