It’s a Family Affair I'm feeling pretty buzzy at the moment having completed my first Novice Triathlon yesterday. I loved every minute of it, from the swim that settled me right in to crossing the finish line feeling strong.
Swimming is not my strength…..Well actually nothing in a triathlon is anything I’m really good! Swimming is fine, I can keep going, but I’m just not cut out for speed. Having entered a slow time I was set off in the second batch of swimmers and soon discovered that the water was salt not chlorine, the first of many joyous moments. Somehow 200m took me 5.30mins, 30secs longer than it should have but never mind. Carla, my daughter, was set off at the same time in the lane beside me so it was our own personal race right from the start. I was aware that she was moving much faster than I was and predictably, she got out a full 1m 30secs before I did. I quick stepped into transition, removing my swimming hat and goggles. My nephew had advised me as regards setting out my gear and I was pleased it lay ready for me. Pulled on my race top, number belt, helmet lying open and sunnies whilst paddling my feet on talc coated towel. Pulled on my trainers and pushed my bike out of transition with my trainers slipping on the wet grass.
8.29am and I set off on the 12k-cycle ride with the wind in my face and the early sun doing its best to try to dry me off. My sunnies steamed up immediately but thankfully demisted almost as quickly. My wet trainers slipped on the pedals. Within minutes other faster cyclists started to come past me. I have a new bike with 21 gears but it's heavy and has big thick road hugging tyres. The slick racers just sped by.
A sharp left turn took me slightly by surprise and thankfully nothing was coming the other way else I might have been a squashed triathlete! After about 3k I saw a cyclist who I seemed to be catching up on and slowly but surely I did. Yes, it was Carla. Her stallion was older and heavier and with fewer gears than mine. We chatted briefly and I sped past, we knew it would happen like this.
Nearing the end of the ride I stood in the saddle several times to stretch my legs and spun my gears a bit as I had been told to do in order to let my legs recover a bit. I was so pleased to see the Leisure Centre I nearly turned onto the wrong entrance but luckily people were there to say 'No, over there'
Well I got ‘over there’ and stopped to dismount only to be told off that I should have stopped in front of the line so, straddling, I wobbled into the marked 'box’ getting bumped up the bum by the next racer behind. Apologising, I ran with my bike into transition and racked my bike (technical term for hanging the seat on a numbered scaffold bar) but someone else was in my place. In my scurry to try to make room, 2 bikes went flying. I was relieved when the marshals told me not to worry about them and I left them lying on the ground. I threw off my top and helmet and set off at a slow jog. Almost immediately I started having breathing problems and had to concentrate really hard to try to slow it down and regain control of the strangulated noises that were being emitted from my throat. I got in control and jogged on. I was soon passed by faster runners and quite quickly by Carla who had caught up with me again. Down the road, across the park and out onto the river wall.
The Blackwater River was out and the mud lay gleaming in the sun. It was an incredibly beautiful moment. Along this stretch I met others who had reached the end of the river wall and were running back, just time for passing the time of day and receiving yells of encouragement from those I knew.
I reached the end of the river wall and turned, coming face to face with a friend from Norwich. Shortly behind him was my sister, Cate. Now I knew she was a fast swimmer but had started some time after me and I couldn’t believe how much time she must have made up on her slick-racing bike. I yelled and whooped encouragement and pleasure to her (Carla tells me I could be heard some distance away.) I heard a long slow loping stride behind me and a man passed me going twice my speed but taking 2 steps to my every 3 'that’s a stride and a half', I burbled, but he ignored me, probably thinking I was just gasping for breath. Across the park and back out onto the road to the finishing stretch. I heard my nephew calling shouts of encouragement and put on a sprint finish. I felt strong and came in all smiles but sounded like a dog on a choke chain and was greeted by many who had started after but finished before me. I didn’t care, I was deliriously happy. I went off for a gentle jog to cool down before returning to cheer the others in. I loved it. Out of 26 novices I came 24th and Carla 23rd. My time was 58mins 50 secs, the fastest 42.07 and the slowest 1.01.46. I've been wearing my T-shirt all day and when I went to running club tonight people were going ‘Wow, I couldn’t do that.’ Which is rubbish really, most of them are just scared of the swim. The tri season is over so I have to wait now till next May I think but I will definitely do another….. I do need to upgrade my bike though and am looking on ‘ebay’ for a slick racer so I can pass a cumbersome mountain bike like mine next time!