Ironman Wales 2025 – Race report
24 September 2025
Ironman Wales!
Race report bt Dave Benyon
Full distance number two of the season and this one I have been excited to do for a long time.
Race morning is finally here and I am feeling a bit more nervous than I normally do.
After an early wake up we headed down to chilly Tenby for a bus ride and a nice walk to transition to sort the rest of my kit out, check my bike and get into my wet suit before heading down to the swim.
The atmosphere was amazing and I have not experienced anything like this before on a IM event.
After a parachute display and the welsh national anthem we we’re ready to start.
The sea was a bit choppy and a little chilly (nothing that I haven’t swam in at bracklesham) .
I managed to get into a nice rhythm and completed the first lap in around 40 mins, so was quite please and headed in for the second lap, which also went well for the conditions even the jelly fish came and joined the race…
And completed the swim and headed up the zig zag through the crowds to T1.
Ready for the long hilly 112 mile ride I headed out on my bike with Angela and Oliver cheering me on as I went passed.
The first part of the bike went well and I seemed to going at a good pace, after the turn and heading back after the first lap the wind started picking up and that was there for the rest of the day, so the pace started slowing down a bit.
Unfortunately after the Wise man bridge climb I was decending down the hill hit a bit of water and I locked up on my back wheel, tried to recover but it was too late and hit the wall/hedge, I managed to get myself together and seemed to be ok nothing broken just a few cuts. After putting chain back on putting my tri bars and front wheel back in line I headed back out on the bike course a bit shaken up.
The next part of the bike course was challenging as I’d lost my Di2 gears on my bars as the were stuck in and the gears seemed to have a mind of there own. Lost water bottles and broken bottle cages, at that point I thought ” well this is going to be fun”. And pushing through the next lap of the bike leg took it out of me.
I’d finished the bike in just over 7 hours and headed to T2.
The run was going to be tough as I have been suffering with a foot injury so I started the run with a run walk which seemed to be working OK. Painful but ok. Heading towards the town my support crew (Angela and Ollie ) kept cheering me on which was an amazing boost for me.
The temperature was dropping towards my last lap and my body was feeling the pain but I was getting close to the finish line, as I turned the corner it was there, I had that last boost and ran up the red carpet to the words.
“You are an Ironman!”
I was suffering after this and was stuggling to walk but it was all worth it. I’d had an amazing day and the race was tough, but with the crowds and support throughout the day it keeps you going.
Another well Organised event from Ironman.
Also my wife has been amazing from start to finish putting up with the training, to supporting with Oliver throughout the day, and looking after me after the race which I can’t thank her enough.
Thank you to Shaun Dowling for coaching me for this season, and thank you for everyone who I have trained with throughout the season.
To find out more about joining Chi Tri click here!