I can honestly say that this morning was the coldest races that I have EVER done.

The Pitsford Sprint Triathlon was situated outside Northampton in a stunning park. However, that was where the beauty stopped. After scraping the frost of my car, I knew it was going to tough day. The transition was packed with GB athletes looking to get ready for the next few races (British Championships & Worlds qualifiers).

The water temperature was taken… did they really say 10 degrees! OMG that’s cold! So the swim was cut to around 400m. With that in mind, I suited up in my new Huub Amphibian 2 for its first outing. I hopped in the water to go with 30second before the start and swam straight to the front just as the horn went off. It was impossible to get any rhythm or feel for the water. Every part of me was screaming because of the cold.  All I could of think of was that it will be over soon. I exited in first place & stumbled out (zero feeling to my feet).

As I ran out of T1 I knew that I’d seen the last of my feet. The bike course was a tough hilly / rolling affair and it was too obvious that I was struggling with the cold, teeth chattering, blue arms and numb hands – if I could feel the toys to pick them up them I would chucked them out of the pram. I was caught at 8k so I decided to settle in – to be honest I should have pushed through my negative mindset. Around 15km we got caught, but I was ready for his push, so went with him and then with 2km to go I hammered it to get warm for the run. As I came into T2 in first place I knew the run was going to be ‘interesting’

Unsure if all my toes had made it into my Asics I hobbled out. Blocks of ice – blocks of ice – the strangest feeling ever. I couldn’t get any speed going. I was caught at 1km but held on in the vain hope that my feet would make an appearance at sometime. On the turn point, I could see 3rd & 4th. With 2km I found some speed and was hoping to hold my position but with 500m to go I was overtaken, but the fight was on and we pushed hard but I didn’t have enough and finished 3rd overall and a good 19mins 5km which considering the first 3km was horrific, I will take that.

Timing chip off, kit packed up and into the car to defrost and drink my chocolate recovery drink – the small things right.

Time to knuckle down before the two biggest races of the season, British Championships & World Championship Qualifier.

As raced and reported by Mark Yeoman.