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Andrew Woodroffe

@andrewwoodroffe

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Triathlon coach. Long distance triathlete. Occasional writer. For coaching @woodroffecoaching. Usually outdoors. Calling 🇫🇷 home.

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Yesterday it was my birthday, mostly another year passes and not much changes. Life settles down into routines, rhythms and comfort. Not in a bad way but in a way of familiarity and feeling in your place. You celebrate reflect look back and quickly move on to what was what. This year for me is no such year. I suppose for a long time I’ve needed change, a fresh start, a new chapter. One that is for me. Not in a selfish way but in the way of finding yourself, what makes you happy, makes you feel alive and the person you truly want to be.

I’ve had a deep craving for a long time of a place I really want to call home. I’ve moved from Scotland to Zurich, Switzerland to Spain but I’ve never quite felt settled. Months living out of suitcases, packing the van again and again searching for something that I cannot find. An exhausting journey with no real ending.

So I suppose the news is I have slowly over time this summer found my place. Found exactly where I want be. A place that my whole life has meant so much to me that has drawn me back time and time again. A place where good people welcome me, scenery inspires me and I’m content cycling for 7+ hours or simply sitting reading a book.

Next week I will once again pack my belongings into a van, decide what is worth holding onto and not and hit the road. For Nice, France. For a new chapter. For something I’m so god damn excited about. For me and what comes next.

Girona has been complicated at times but I will miss some good people there and what it brought for a chapter of my life. Thank you to those who were part of that.

It takes a bit of courage and bravery to move. To pursue what you want and ultimately happiness. For that I am proud. 🇫🇷🔜

P.s my deep gratitude to @mullee for helping me find a home so fast. True kindness. taken in Nice, Côte d'Azur, France by @andrewwoodroffe

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10 days ago

This summer I spent six weeks in Alpe Dhuez, in a way it was preparing for the 70.3 World champs but as the days and weeks went on it was about so much more. About finding joy, freedom and my feet again. It was about being surrounded by nature, but not to feel small and insignificant yet to feel strong, capable and that my small part in this World matters. I’m always drawn back there be it to find answers or the next steps forward and it’s quite special to have a place like that that can make you feel at peace. Here are some of the moments, the memories and images I look back on again and again to remember how I felt. To remember that there is so god damn much more to come. ✌️ taken in Alpe d'Huez by @andrewwoodroffe

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16 days ago

More from the @ironmantri 70.3 World Champs 💪🌍 I’ve really taken time this week for it to sink in reflect and enjoy time in Nice! In past years I’ve always moved on too fast perhaps forgotten quickly what I achieved and what I worked so bloody hard for.

It was truly one of the most enjoyable races I’ve done, it was a RACE from start to finish along side some seriously strong guys who push you to the limit. I walked away knowing I did my best on the day and that’s all you can do. To be top 15 in the World is quite something especially as this sport grows and grows.

It’s funny I never really knew during the race what position I was or where. I have a strange habit of telling myself I must be out the race everyone is ahead. But I knew on the run no one was matching my pace and I must be moving up the field. I wonder if I could have ran faster but that’s a challenge for another day!

It was also a real privilege to race alongside athletes @afernandes1995 and @arjen.martens I’m really proud of what I’m building at @woodroffecoaching and each year it gets bigger and better. A real good group of people chasing their dreams around the World. What a privilege.

Splits from the day:
Swim. 30:56
Bike. 2:38
Run. 1:14:03
Finish. 4:30:47

Let’s keep bloody going! 📈💪👀 taken in Nice Côte d'Azur by @andrewwoodroffe

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a month ago

14th in the World!! 🤯🥵💪 Honestly yesterday I think was one of my most complete swim bike run performances at the @ironmantri 70.3 World Champs!

All week I felt so excited and ready to race and as soon as the gun went off I went for it! It was such a crazy fast race and no real pacing just as hard as I could go across the day! After a good swim I pushed the bike trying to break the groups on Col du Vence as best I could! 6 weeks in the Alps I could climb like never before and push solid power. I lost a lot on the descents as expected but finished the bike in a very solid time!

Onto the run and I just went for it. I knew I could run sub 1:15 and had so much belief in myself. It wasn’t easy but I kept telling myself how hard I’ve worked for this race, how much I give for this sport and to keep fucking pushing. Even with a slightly stupid mistake on the run I had one of the fastest half’s in a 1:14 low bringing me up some 20+ races on the run!

This was my fourth @ironmantri Worlds and they just get better and better. The level of AG is INSANE but to be 35th overall amateur and top 15 AG in the World hasn’t yet sunk in.

I love this sport, I love this course and it was amazing to see and meet so many people over the weekend. Huge shoutout to my parents for always being there and athlete @roosromanesco for the support on the day!

More to say and come and I still feel I’m just getting started! #703worldchamps #ironman #swimbikerun taken in Nice Côte d'Azur by @andrewwoodroffe

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a month ago

Tomorrow it’s time for @ironmantri 70.3 World Championships! My fourth Ironman Worlds and my third here in Nice!

It’s no secret how hard I’ve worked for this race, over summer I spent 6 weeks training in @alpedhuez working to be just as fit as last year and I certainly feel I’m there! All week I’ve felt so excited to race to get out there and see what I can do. It’s an amazing feeling to be truly ready and want to push like never before.

Nice has always been very special to me and after getting through last years full @ironmantri Worlds with two broken bones this year has felt a shit load easier. It’s such a privilege to race the best in the World on such a hard fun course.

My goal? To do my best race and be proud of that. The age group level is now INSANE and it’s amazing to see the top of the sport is truly “professional” so I’ll try be in the mix and get stuck in.

Start at 8am and live on the tracker and YouTube. Thanks for all the support and the people in my very small team! Also good luck to the @woodroffecoaching athletes let’s show what we can do 💪🤝

#ironman #worldchamps #triathlon taken in Nice Côte d'Azur by @andrewwoodroffe

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a month ago

What a day at Ironman Switzerland! My 4th time and 8th Ironman 😮‍💨. 8:51, 6th overall, 4th in AG and a 2:50 marathon to finish! World champs qualified also! (Again!)

I’m super proud of this race and what I delivered on the day Thun is always a hard course and with the heat and a stacked field it never gets easier! I set a course PB a bike PB and beat the winning time from last year so there isn’t much more you can do! I did make quite a few amateur mistakes though!(3rd was 1 min away 🫣)

I wasn’t sure I would be doing a full this year so to be back on the line and near the front of the race is a bloody privilege. If I’m honest it’s felt a long time since I did an Ironman and I would say I was performing at 80%. My mindset wasn’t quite strong enough to go all in but that happens. A few times I missed that want to REALLY push on and keep digging and not slow down. So to still race so well and finish so strong I’m bloody proud of that and the strength I found!

I love this race and course and it’s amazing to see it get bigger and better each year. Sometimes I worry it’s boring or repetitive to do similar races but no two days are ever the same and the calmness I feel with the familiarity helps a lot. Maybe one day if I break the tape I’ll move on!

I’ll post more soon about the race in detail when you’ve been out there for that long there is a lot to say!

Earlier this year I thought maybe my time was done with the sport, I’ve been in it a LONG time. Even during the Ironman I had some thoughts about how fucking insane this all is. But I now find myself wondering where I could go faster and what my limit truly is.. I suppose we never stop?! 💪😮‍💨#ironman

Swim: 59:48
Bike: 4:53
Run: 2:50
Time: 8:51:52
4th in AG. 6th overall! @ironmantri @ironmanswitzerland taken in Thun, Switzerland by @andrewwoodroffe

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3 months ago

70.3 Rapperswil! 2nd in AG, 5th overall, 4:06 finish (huge PB), fastest run (1:14) of the day and a World Championship ticket!

This one means a hell of a lot to me, I won’t go into the chaos and issues of the last weeks and months but the truth is I’ve lost a lot of confidence. In myself, in what I want and what I’m doing. Even last month I wondered if I was done with triathlon if after so long I still felt that hunger and desire. I didn’t quite feel a pull in any one direction but kept ticking the boxes and figured I’d find a way to line up on the start.

But yesterday as the race went on I felt that burning desire. To push myself, to prove myself. To race and be up there. To ultimately see what I can do and have the courage to lay down what you have on the day. My prep wasn’t perfect, my kit wasnt perfect my race wasn’t perfect but that’s the beauty of it all. You figure the shit out along the way and see how you come out the other side.

To be in the mix of such a close competitive race was a hell of a feeling. Racing in Switzerland for me always feels like home with so many people I know cheering, supporting or just saying hello. To come down that finish line with such huge crowds and as one of the first athletes yeah a lot of confidence came back from that! I think there is also something poignant after last year of going back to Nice having another shot at a World Champs (my 3rd in Nice!) and this gave me a shit load of motivation on the run to keep pushing.

I’ll post more soon about the race itself and the details but just some honesty for your feed that we all get a bit lost sometimes. Nice to remind myself I’m actually bloody good at this. Should probably train for Thun now 🤪 ✌️

Swim 1900- 29:03
Bike 90km - 2:17
Run 21km - 1:14
Finish: 4:06

@ironmanswitzerland taken in Rapperswil, Switzerland by @andrewwoodroffe

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4 months ago

London marathon 2:30:14, 212th overall! My third stand alone marathon and a race I’m incredibly proud of. After months of injury since September last year I really didn’t think I would start this one. I hadn’t had the usual marathon build or huge weeks training and wasn’t quite sure I could run 42.2kms or if it would set me back even further.

At first the goal was just to enjoy the crowds maybe run under 2:45 and soak up the experience. But a week out | had a strong 3x8kms session and figured I might shoot for a 2:30 and see how long I held on!

In London you have to run your own race, control the pace with the chaos, crowds and excitement it’s so easy to run too fast and ruin your legs. I found myself feeling super relaxed, calm and focused. When I ran past where I exploded last year feeling “good” I knew it was going a lot better!

From 30kms the groups exploded and it became bloody hard not to die a death in Canary Warf. But I just kept believing I could do it, kept telling myself it was incredible to be here and use that energy. The pace dropped as ever but once I hit embankment I was overtaking so many and wanted to finish the damn thing!

Crossing the finish line I couldn’t quite believe I ran a 2:30 and was so close to my PB. That I held on so consistently and ran a time I really didn’t think possible weeks ago. It was incredibly refreshing to run without pressure, expectations and stress and just to realise what a privilege it is to do this and run such an iconic race.

Sometimes that’s where the magic happens.
Never give up. If you roll the dice you never know what can happen! Will post a bit more soon!

@londonmarathon
#londonmarathon #marathon taken in London, United Kingdom by @andrewwoodroffe

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6 months ago

Well it’s been a while! It’s been quite a hard few months of injury, setbacks and life stress but these opportunities don’t come around often. So tomorrow I’ll line up for @londonmarathon and see what happens!

Weeks ago I’d written the race off, things weren’t going well, no big marathon build or key sessions so in some ways I didn’t see the point. But after a couple longer runs a quiet excitement built. A chance to just run with zero pressure, no expectations and be part of one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Racing isn’t always about the perfect prep, build up or numbers and I’ve been in sport long enough to know sometimes it’s worth just giving it a go.

I learnt a lot last year at London, about pacing, how to run a marathon and pressure. That marathon progression isn’t always linear and in some ways I lost myself in the build up and the disappointment after. So it feels refreshing to be relaxed, have no clue what will happen and just see what I can do.

This year is quite unclear for me but I’ve realised sometimes in the uncertainty you have to put yourself out there and roll the dice and keep showing up.

Good luck to everyone running don’t forget to enjoy it. Ultimately that’s why we do this. #londonmarathon taken in London, United Kingdom by @andrewwoodroffe

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6 months ago

Proof of life from being back in Switzerland and back on the skis to start the year. Something incredibly special about being out in the mountains all day and the vast playground that they offer. Kinda puts things into perspective ✌️ taken in Verbier, Switzerland by @andrewwoodroffe

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9 months ago

Since the clocks have changed I figured it was time I posted some summer memories. This year has been challenging and continues to test me but it’s beautiful to look back at those summer months. The memories, moments, people and places. Exactly how it should be and exactly where I wanted to be. The good times always fly so fast, embrace them, enjoy them ✌️ taken in Europe by @andrewwoodroffe

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a year ago

Some impressions and thoughts from Sundays Ironman World Championships. A race I truly never thought I would get to start.

Standing on the start line I had accepted that I might not finish but if I’m honest I was shit scared. An Ironman is hard enough and with two broken bones I started to question my decision.

The swim I was most nervous for, I could swim a little but 3.8kms non wetsuit is a long way to go. The first 500m or so with the adrenalin and excitement I felt nothing and tried to push on, but quickly enough each stroke came with some pain and discomfort. I also swam wide and tried to stay away from people to not get hit or punched. It was a case of just try and stay calm focused and keep bloody swimming.

On the bike I wanted to push pretty hard, I knew I’d be down the field and wanted to show the work I had done especially climbing. I think after the first climb I went from some 120th+ to the top 50, it’s a good feeling when all I was doing was overtaking on the hills! The downhills were another story, I had some pain in my wrist and honestly after my crash I was just a bit scared. I just tried to focus on my own race let the guys fly past me and push wherever I felt comfortable. Whenever the bike got hard I just kept thinking back to sitting on the turbo with my cast sweating like hell and dreaming of actually racing, thinking of the dark as fuck moments that were much harder than pushing watts when I got tired

On the run I wanted to really go for it, I was just so proud to be there that I wanted to show all the fitness and work I had. I set out fast and did my best to hold on and not let the pace drop too much. Honestly I wanted to run faster and break 2:40 but the wind got pretty brutal and a few hard moments crept in. However my third sub 2:45 Ironman marathon.

When I hit the finish carpet that feeling I’ll never be able to explain. The emotion was so deep, of pride, relief, happiness. That not only did I start and finish I actually put down a strong performance. One second behind 15th, top 20 in the World, faster than 2023 and my 7th solid consistent Ironman.

On Sunday I found something deep in me I will never forget. Never give up. taken in Nice Côte d'Azur by @andrewwoodroffe

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a year ago