‘After starting my triathlon career with Ironman Wales last year, my aim for 2013 was to fill in the blanks with a super sprint and sprint at Dorney then this weekend’s Olympic at Reading. The day was well organised, the lake lovely and I’m happy with the result (10th in AG) BUT this isn’t one for a PB.  The bike is long (44k I think) and on open roads.  I got stuck behind a car a few times, there’s a full stop right turn on both laps and a couple of hairy hairpins (there was a pretty bad crash today) The run is great for spectators as its 6 laps off road round a lake but it does make it tough to spot someone to keep pace with as by lap 3 or 4 everyone racing is out there. If anyone knows a closed road Olympic for next year I’d love to hear (8 laps of Dorney is a boring prospect!)

Joel’s biggest lesson from this race?’ I made a BIG race mistake!  Taped one energy gel to the bike for lap two and stuck one in my running shoe to grab in T2.  Forgot about that one, remembered half way into lap one but had a bloke breathing down my neck so couldn’t stop.  Nice blisters on my toes after 10k with a gel stuck in my shoe; not to be recommended!’

As raced and reported by Joel Stainton