We are delighted to celebrate the incredible achievement of Liz Haynes, Geography Teacher at Leweston School, who completed her first Ironman 70.3 in Weymouth this past weekend. Battling through a yellow weather warning, stormy conditions, and a cancelled swim, Liz finished as the 50th woman overall - an inspiring achievement that highlights determination, perseverance, consistency and support from others.
One year ago, Liz took on the challenge of competing in her first Ironman 70.3 at the encouragement of fellow staff member Mrs Dencher. Since then, she has trained consistently, gradually building up her endurance in the sea, on the bike, and running on the road. “I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to compete,” Liz said. “The year has been so rewarding thanks to the incredible group of people who trained alongside me and the encouragement I received from Mr Wilford and Mr Slater, who always listened patiently to my progress!”
Race Day
A yellow weather warning and stormy conditions on Sunday, the day of the event, meant that the organisers had to cancel the swimming portion of the race due to safety concerns. Despite the conditions and changes, Liz was resilient and succeeded in posting an impressive time of 4 hours and 50 minutes, finishing as the 50th woman overall. “I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to compete” she said, reflecting on the achievement.
The Ironman 70.3 Weymouth, which typically includes a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile cycle, and 13.1 mile run, was attended by over 2,700 athletes making it officially ‘the biggest ever IRONMAN 70.3 race in the UK’, according to Ironman England. The event also broke Ironman UK records for the largest amount of first-timers competing, making up 73% of the overall numbers, and the largest amount of female athletes making up nearly 24% of the field.
Racing for a Cause
Beyond personal triumph, Liz’s Ironman journey carried a deeper purpose. She has raised nearly £1,500 for the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, a charity close to her heart.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance provides life-saving, pre-hospital critical care to those in urgent need across the region. Operating 19 hours a day, every day of the year, their expert team of pilots, paramedics, nurses, and doctors deliver advanced medical interventions at the scene, wherever it may be, bringing the hospital to the patient when every second counts.
Since 2000, the charity has responded to thousands of emergencies, with each mission costing around £3,500 but they are entirely funded by charitable giving. Therefore, the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance rely on the generosity of the community to stay airborne and ready to save lives.
Liz’s fundraising helps to ensure that this vital service continues to be there for critically ill and injured people across Dorset and Somerset. Donations are still very welcome through her just giving page, found here: https://justgiving.com/page/lizdoesanironman
A Message of Inspiration
“This experience has shown me that with consistency, perseverance, and support from others, you can achieve far more than you think possible,” Liz reflected.
We congratulate Liz on this incredible accomplishment and her brilliant fundraising, and we thank her for inspiring our school community with her determination and commitment.
