5 am found me walking to the Rectory car park along with my fellow local 'Ironman wannabes' for the final bike check and bag check-in, which we would retrieve sometime in the next 17 hours along with, hopefully, a medal and finisher's T-shirt.

With a mix of excitement and terror, we made our way to the start at North Beach, with a couple of toilet stops (thanks Mal, Tracy and Jon!).

6.50 am the National Anthem began, I thought back to last year, as a supporter I'd shed a tear, now I was nearly crying with fright.

The countdown began and the horn sounded, a mass rush into the sea. I summoned the courage to get in amongst the melee of swinging arms and kicking feet - it was literally sink or swim.

My swimming went really well and running up the zig-zags and through town, the cheering crowds really gave me a boost and settled my racing heart. (Luckily I didn't put my heart monitor on as it would have been going haywire).

The transition tent was like a scrum, bodies and kit everywhere, again it was a case of 'calm down'.

My bike also went well. I only overtook one person, as they slowed for a cat crossing the road! Lots of being overtaken, my Tenby Ace teammates were encouraging as they sped past.

The support en route was brilliant, from soldiers clapping in Castlemartin to the Princes Gate family sat in the rain chanting and the elderly couple on the deckchairs with their flask; also friends banners and feed station helpers.

Eight hours later, back into transition, back out to pound the streets for another five hours. I loved passing the locals at the top of Narberth Road, The Glebe, near the Doctor's Surgery, lifeboatmen, Hope and Anchor and Crown pubs and, of course, the family dotted along the route.

The run along the Esplanade down to the finish line was fantastic, the noise was deafening, but I did hear 'Nicola Coates - you are an Ironman'! So, I did pick up the medal and T-shirt! A special thank you to Carlt for getting us to the line!

Nicola Coates