Team Nagi Newsletter - November 2025

Hi Guys,

Hope you’ve all had a great November.

I have to admit, October was a truly special month for me at Ironman Florida. There were two unforgettable reasons: first, I had the joy of watching one of my athletes, Andrew Reardon, achieve his dream of qualifying for Hawaii; and second, I crossed the Ironman finish line myself—something I hadn’t done since 2008. Never in a million years did I imagine that could happen again. During my 12-year battle with illness, when I couldn’t do any form of exercise, that dream felt completely out of reach. It then took another four years to rebuild my body to a point where racing was even a possibility. Progress was painstakingly slow, and it wasn’t until I completed a half marathon in November 2024 that I dared to believe I could finish a triathlon again. To sit here now, at the end of the year, having completed three half Ironmans, two 50-mile bike time trials, and a full Ironman, feels nothing short of extraordinary. And in all honesty, I still can’t quite believe it as I write it.

But let’s just say this race didn’t disappoint on the drama front—as there’s always a story to tell. For me, it was a true baptism of fire… and it all started with the weather. Race week coincided with what felt like the coldest week in Floridian history, with morning temperatures plummeting to 8°C and highs barely reaching 15–22°C (for comparison, the previous two months hadn’t seen anything below 30°C – I know because I was checking!). After two months of heat-prep work and being fully heat-adapted, I spent the entire week freezing my ass off.

The cold snap also followed a storm in Jamaica that had closed all the beaches due to 7–10 ft waves—only the day before race day were we finally allowed in the water. And what a surreal experience it was: air temperatures hovering around 8–10°C, while the water was a balmy 24°C. It felt incredible. To say I was excited about the swim would be a massive understatement. I was also quietly praying for a non-wetsuit swim.

Come to Florida, it will be hot & humid they said!

By race morning, the weather front had subsided and we were treated to the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen—thankfully with perfectly calm water. Things were looking good. The bad was that it was still freezing cold, so much so that I had to put my wetsuit on an hour early and wear a winter hat to walk to the start. This is where the drama really began because something happened to me in the swim that had never happened before, and it very nearly ended my race.

Being one of the faster swimmers, it was a two-loop self-seeded start where they set off three swimmers every few seconds. The course also had a 100m Aussie exit at halfway. I’ll be honest: I felt terrible in the swim and it never clicked—just one of those days where it wasn’t there. Even though my finishing position was quite high (4th), it felt like the worst swim I’d done this year as I just couldn’t connect with the water or get comfortable. What made it even worse was that when I finished the first loop and went to dive back in for the second, they were still setting swimmers off from the start nearly 30 minutes later! I was then faced with what can only be described as a wall of swimmers to make my way through on the second loop. It was so congested that I spent most of my time sighting because buoy visibility was so poor with so many swimmers and canoeists. This led to a lot of turbulence, and at one point, a wave smacked me in the face on the return section. The timing was perfect—because as it hit me, I swallowed a huge amount of seawater deep into my lungs and stomach. I then spent the next 100m quite literally coughing my guts up, trying desperately not to stop. Once I was over the worst of it, I lifted my head to sight again and got hit with another wave, swallowing yet more seawater… honestly, you couldn’t script it! More coughing and spluttering ensued, and to say I was delighted to get out of the water would be a huge understatement. Then the drama really began.

I knew I was in trouble a few miles into the bike as I felt incredibly nauseous from the seawater intake and my stomach had started rumbling. I also couldn’t take on any nutrition due to the nausea and knew drastic action might be needed. Images of Kristian Blummenfelt projectile vomiting on the bike at the T100 race filled my mind before the inevitable started. I began retching and vomiting repeatedly for the next 30 miles. I won’t go into detail, but everything came up, and it took every ounce of mental strength to keep pedalling. There were moments when I thought I’d have to pull out, but as the episodes shortened, I began to feel a little better. I felt terrible up until around mile 70 of the bike. At that point I started to feel like I was coming back to life but knew I was in a huge calorie deficit, having only managed to take in water up to that point. I backed off the pace and tried to take in as many calories as I could from aid stations. My whole race plan was built around gels, but even the thought of one made me want to be sick again, so they were out of the question.

Finishing the bike strongly, I came into T2 feeling decent. As I started running, the legs didn’t feel too bad, but I knew I had to be cautious as my body needed more calories to get through the marathon. I knew the aid stations were a mile apart, so I set the goal of running to each aid station, walking through while taking on flat Coke and water, then running to the next one. It worked perfectly, and my body held together. It wasn’t the fastest run, but after everything, I was simply delighted to reach the finish line.

With a few miles to go, the realisation that I was actually going to finish an Ironman really hit me. It was an emotional outpouring to say the least—I still feel it now. It took 17 years to finally do it again, and despite the huge challenge, I absolutely loved every minute of it. It’s a cliché to say an Ironman is all about the journey, but for me, it couldn’t be truer. The finish line is merely the tip of the iceberg; few realise the scale of what lies beneath. The journey has been extraordinary and it’s difficult to put it into words. This race helped me break down some huge mental and physical barriers that I hope will lead to much more.

Next stop – Ironman Wales 2026. Can’t wait.

As much as this race was a huge moment for me personally, I can honestly say that seeing Andrew race so well and finally qualify for Kona was one of my proudest coaching moments. I vividly remember our first swim video analysis session back in 2018, when he shared his goals. He clearly had athletic talent, but like many athletes who talk confidently about qualifying for Hawaii, I raised an eyebrow at how he planned to get there. I gave him what I call the “Kona Chat” and laid out what it would really take—the commitment, the time, the sacrifice. For me, that’s the first test: if the chat doesn’t put you off, then there’s a chance.

What I quickly learned was that Andrew is one of the most coachable athletes I’ve ever worked with. He’s also a very busy guy with three young children. Anyone who knows him understands he’s incredibly smart and has run some of the biggest businesses in the UK—but what stood out most was his emotional intelligence. It’s off the scale. Despite his deep science background and obsession with new kit and technology, I’ve rarely worked with an athlete who understands their body so well and can adapt their training so effectively.

He’s ridden the rollercoaster of ups and downs without ever losing sight of the goal—even when times were at their toughest. There have been big highs and big lows along the way, but every time he got knocked down, he got back up and moved forward. It’s been a constant cycle of testing, executing, learning, and rebuilding. Seeing all that work finally come together at the awards ceremony was incredibly emotional. Never has a qualification slot been more deserved.

Huge congratulations, Andrew—a very special race now awaits!

Ironman Florida

Andrew Reardon
Splits: swim 1:06:35 / bike 4:45:41 / run 3:37:13
Total Time: 9:38:02
5th / 151 in the 45-49 category

Coach
Splits: swim 1:02:32 / bike 5:48:17 / run 4:25:09
Total Time: 11:27:04
37th / 152 in the 50-54 category

T100 Dubai (2km swim/ 80km bike / 18km run)

Toby Dean
Splits: swim 35:57 / bike 2:03:13 / run 1:40:06
Total Time: 4:26:40
16th /98 in the 50-54 category

David Magyar
Splits: swim 48:11 / bike 2:28:48 / run 1:26:13
Total Time: 4:54:42
6th/ 22 in the 60-64 category

It was terrific seeing our boys David and Toby bringing the heat to the heat at the scorching T100 race in Dubai. Super pleased to see both of them not only complete the correct course, but also battle through to deliver two excellent performances in brutal conditions.

I’m absolutely delighted to share that David has qualified for the T100 World Championships in Qatar this December. His blistering, fastest run in the 60–64 category saw him charge through the field to grab that coveted slot. A race to be proud of — and yet another chance for ‘The Cuban Cigar’ to keep working on that ever-deepening tan! Loving your work as ever DM.

Noosa Triathlon (Australia – Olympic distance)

Kate Smyth
Splits: swim 28:13 / bike 1:20:59 / run 49:10
Total Time: 2:44:35
3rd / 170 in the S4S category

Harvey Smyth
Splits: swim 30:58 / bike 1:14:05 / run 55:18
Total Time: 2:48:05
67th / 226 in the S4S category

Always chasing the sunshine, these two. This time it was the legendary Noosa Triathlon in Australia that provided the challenge. As ever with this dynamic duo, they didn’t disappoint—delivering two superb performances on what was a blisteringly hot day down under. Huge congrats, guys. Always rising to the challenge with style.

Battersea Half Marathon

Matt Berrill
Total Time: 1:28:36
65th / 496 in the male senior category

Regents Park 10km run

Matt Berrill
Total Time: 39:19
12th / 61 in the male senior category

Victoria Park Half Marathon

Nick Betteridge
Total Time: 1:34:34
11th / 47 in the V40 category

Dorney Lake Half Marathon

David Hutchinson
Total Time: 1:42:45
9th / 49 the male senior category

Our boys have been in serious run action this month as they kick off their path to glory for the 2026 race season. I’m very pleased to say the signs are looking good, with PBs popping up left, right, and centre. Fantastic work, gents — I know there’s plenty more to come!

What I’ve been reading & watching this month…

A deeply personal and unflinching memoir, Dark Squares chronicles Danny Rensch’s journey from a childhood spent in the Church of Immortal Consciousness — a controlling and abusive cult — to becoming a top chess master and co-founder of Chess.com. Through trauma, loss, and self-discovery, chess becomes Danny’s lifeline: a means of escape, education, and ultimate healing. This is a raw, reflective story of resilience, identity, and how a board game quite literally saved his life.

In what I think is Guillermo del Toro’s best film since the incredible Pan’s Labyrinth, he brings his lifelong passion for Mary Shelley’s classic to the screen in Frankenstein, a richly emotional and gothic adaptation. Oscar Isaac stars as Victor Frankenstein, whose obsessive quest to conquer death unleashes a creature portrayed brilliantly by Jacob Elordi. So good I watched it twice on the same weekend!

Team out & about this month