MOVE OVER REFRIGERATORS, HERE’S WHAT’S COOL

MEET ALEX

Alex Ryland, 41, from Lancashire, now lives and works in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with her husband, Matt. She started her triathlon journey while living in Bangkok, moving on from Olympic-distance triathlons to Ironman 70.3 events across Asia. New Zealand 2020 was her first full Ironman.

The moment has come, the moment I’ve been waiting for since signing up 10 months ago.

I’m going to finish. Elation doesn’t come close. I’m only 200m from the Ironman New Zealand finish line. I pass the turning point for the last time, three wrist bands – check! That’s it, there’s now nothing between me and legendary finish-line announcer Mike Reilly’s famous words that every Ironman virgin yearns to hear.

I don’t need to be directed left as I know where the finish line is (I’ve looked at it enough times over the past few days!). I can’t keep the smile off my face, I high-five my way down the penultimate section. I have a bounce in my step despite the 12 hours of effort, aches and pains.

My feet hit the red