Standing in the Marshall's tent at Whitlingham Broad at 07:00 Sunday 1st July watching the driving rain slowly obscure and block our view of the Outdoor centre was not the first time I wondered whether attempting the Olympic distance was a sensible idea. Thanks to the wonderful summer we've been having I had been stressing a number of times about replacing the slick racing tyres on my bike for something a little more suited to the monsoon season! Incredibly, the gods smiled on us and by 07:30 the rain had let-up sufficiently to allow us to emerge from cover and rack our bikes through the marshland bog that had become the transition zone. By the time my 'phase' started it's race at 08:30 the sun was actually shining!
Now, if I was nervous about cycling through the 'dicey' road conditions that was nothing compare to the apprehension I had in starting the race with the best part of 100 blokes in wetsuits fighting for space enough to swim as people jostled for the best position. In the end it wasn't quite as bad as I'd expected and although I was glad of the high-visibility red swim caps the organisers had provided us with, I think next year I may be tempted to go for the crash helmet and elbow-pads option. After 300 metres I had relaxed sufficiently to actually enjoy the swim and focus on my race - so much so that I managed to get round in 30 minutes which was a PB in open water. I was feeling pretty dizzy in getting out of the lake and back on my feet again, thankfully there are marshall's on hand to help you out of the drink and catch you should you wobble over! I passed Jonathan Tyrell on my way through the first transition wondering how far I could get ahead of him before he caught me on the bike. So Jon was on my tail by Stoke Holy Cross and we criss-crossed a couple of times between there and Hempnall, which was good for me as he gave me something to aim for but by Woodton I'd lost him in the distance as we turned North onto the road to Poringland. The highlight of the cycle ride for me was the lovely straight section out of Framingham Earl - the marshalls even stopped cars to allow me to fly straight over the roundabout and I managed to clock over 30 mph a couple of times on the way to the Arminghall turn - great fun! Transitioning from bike to run is something that I can manage in about 30 seconds now but physiologically I think I have a lot of training ahead of me if I am ever to make the most of the run section because I didn't really get into my stride until about the five kilometre mark thanks to all the lactic acid in my thighs. But I didn't let that dampen my enjoyment of the popualr run route through Whittlingham woods, along the banks of the Yare and round the lake. Overtaking a few people that passed me on the bike also helped!
The sense of achievement on completing was up there with the marathon and like the marathon has left me walking like John Wayne for a couple of days, but time waits for no man - I have to get back in training for Cambridge next month - I've definitely caught the Tri-bug!