29/05/2026
Next up for our Fine Nine is local athlete Richard Rankin, who together with wife Victoria Rankin are very well known at Lakesman.
We asked Richard why he kept coming back and he told us..
"As for my experiences over the years!! I'll never forget that first one! My first ever Iron distance event and a giant leap into the unknown. The whole experience from start to finish was all encompassing! From the buzz around registration, the support throughout the weekend and the welcoming food tent once you'd crossed the line. I recall the swim going reasonably well and on to the bike I went. I shivered for the first 10-20 miles but then the sun came out and I started to warm up. Hitting the coast was a welcome milestone, then we turned around and headed up it, all the way to Silloth, after a quick emergency toilet stop at Allonby!
For the remainder of the ride I made sure I didn't go all out, saving myself for the run. The last 20 miles hurt like hell (definitely not enough training) and I watched every single mile tick by excruciatingly slowly..
Coming into transition I was just so relieved to be off the bike that I flew out on the run far too fast...miraculously I managed to maintain a good pace up until the last 4-5 miles. Around about then the wheels started coming off but I remember not caring as I knew I was going to finish. I did cross that line (in a respectable time of 11hrs 11mins) and pretty much fell into Phil's arms, I thought I was fine and then realised I was in fact not fine at all! But within 5 minutes all was good and I remember shoving some kind of stew/hotpot in my face like a man possessed and feeling supremely smug with myself.
From that point on I was hooked.
Being a local event but with such a national appeal, seeing the competitors arrive from all over the country, hearing the banter about how good the whole weekend is, feeling that Lakesman Love at the end and swapping stories over a beer with whoever happens to be near you is addictive. Whilst I've never managed to get a trophy, yet, I have managed to make it into the top 5 in my age group a few times but I will forever yearn for one of those giant slabs of slate!! Maybe this is the year...
Richard's fave pic is the first time he broke the 5 hour barrier for the half distance and it earned qualification for the GB Age-Group in Belgium the following year - which was an amazing experience.
Looking forward to seeing you both in Keswick in 3 weeks...
