Viceroy Tim Ferguson headed to the small North Eastern seaside town of Redcar which was hosting its second triathlon, a great looking event: sea swim, closed road cycle ride, on freshly surfaced roads, and a coastal run.

Tim reports: ‘Despite raining all the previous night the event started in warmer and drier conditions than expected. The swim was a beach start, very exciting, very professional. I had a reasonable start but swimming against the waves I held back intending to up the tempo at the first turn and I passed several swimmers in the next section, but alternate breathing was a bad idea and I swallowed large amounts of the North Sea. The last section was back to shore with the waves behind us and this felt fast and I passed a few more. My time incredibly was 10 minutes.

I started the bike leg well picking off one rider after another. The course was 6 laps up and down the esplanade, a roundabout at one end and a bollard at the other, by the time I’d reached the bollard I was in a strong position and feeling fast. However, I hadn’t noticed the rather wicked chicane and in an effort to catch the rider ahead took it at full pelt, boom. Not exactly sure what happened but I gave the crowd a spectacle, I quickly remounted, and continued on my way, very aware that I was bleeding profusely but not really in pain, importantly the bike was fine. I let common sense reign and slowed down heavily at the corners, although the straights were fun and fast. I had a great dismount and was quickly out on the run. Continue reading →