Lance Kesson completed the London Triathlon and recounts his race:
‘The alarm went off 5:30, racked my bike. I had forgotten that I had set myself a personal challenge by signing up for the sub 2hrs30 wave. Was not so confident now on the morning of the event.
In the water at 8.55, claxon rings, off we go. Swim was good, no panic attack.
On to the bike, I was on the Westminster route. We headed up to Big Ben, fighting the head wind, exchanging some chat with a couple of other riders, while playing cat and mouse lead change with them.
Arriving back at the Excel centre, trainers on. Now the run, this is the part the I have traditionally found tough. I am trying to reframe what the run means to me. Part of this is listening to my body and not looking at my watch. Coupled with the negative chatter in my head and the temptation of looking at the thing on my wrist, I push on, enjoying the chill of head wind when I turn into it.
Finally the last lap I turn into finishing lane, where I pass Rachel who has been her amazing self all day supporting myself and any other competitors that look like they need their spirits lifted.
I cross the line, happy to get to the line feeling good, no idea what time I had done.
Rachel asks me do I want to know?
2:26:40
I had managed to complete the challenge I set myself, and grabbed my PB by 20 minutes.
Saw a couple other Viceroys, I hope they had equally good days – a wonderfully crazy big event.’
As raced and reported by Lance Kesson