During winter Pete Bell set his main target for 2014: go under 5hrs in a half-iron distance triathlon;  Sunday was his first of two attempts this year to achieve that goal.

‘Imagine my despair when I find out the bike course has been changed and now includes 3 loops with tough/nasty little climbs and not the original far easier rolling route. And then, morning of the race, they change the swim – 2 laps of a very narrow swim in the Thames with a mere 500 blokes all going off at the same time – my chances of achieving my target are surely all but gone…forget it. Race and soak up the experience for the next 70.3 race later in the year.

 Very early Sunday morning and setting up my racking spot – there’s Lloyd Cosgrove getting ready. Lloyd’s a better swimmer and cyclist than me. I knew I was going to have the chase my team-mate down on the run if I could.

 Into the water – good luck handshakes with Lloyd. I warm up in the Thames then sneak up to the nearside bank out of any (minimal) current as far forward as I dare. Why are we waiting so long? I look round and there are still hundreds piling into the water…Ignore them just focus on getting away. Go! Start Swimming; Stop – There’s no space; Swim; Stop – there’s no water only bodies clad in neoprene; Swim; Stop – all the way to the first buoy about 200-300m up river. What a nightmare – get round the turning buoy. Finally! Some clear water and a pair of feet to draft off – now, let’s get going. There’s the exit – I climb out trying to avoid damaging the toe I hurt a few weeks ago (not entirely successfully). Glance at my watch – 35 mins – about 2-3 mins slower than I wanted but given the start, fair enough…uneventful transition and on to the bike.

Off on the road – ah forgot to set Garmin properly – try and adjust it on road and get an earful from the pointy head coming past me. T*sser! Then as we climb up out of the transition area, I hit one of the all too common potholes and my aero bottle holder loosens and the bottle slips down and starts rubbing on the front wheel. Brilliant – what a start – what do I do? Ditch the bottle? No, 90km with only one bottle is going to bring on dehydration. Grab a gel and, on the fly, force it under the holder to lock it into place. Will it hold? Who knows – forget about it and let’s get going. There’s pointy-head T*sser up ahead – I’m going to have him…STOP – what are you doing…don’t blow up cos you’ve gone out too hard. Stick to the required pace and keep the heart rate in a manageable zone…breathe/spin/breath/calm down…long way to go. Better – the road is rolling and I’m spinning an easy 35 km/hr well within my limits. This is more like it. Here’s the turn onto the new part of the course – what’s the fuss all about? The road seems reasonably flat – but hang on, my speed is dropping significantly and here’s the hill – NO – my average speed is dropping below what I need. Finally, the climb is over and the road starts to descend – this is better. On the aero bars, spinning nicely; average speed above 45 km/hr – lovely…I’m Bradley Wiggins now…except I’m back up out of the aero position when the speed goes above 60 km/hr and the road surface doesn’t fill me with confidence that I’ll survive another hole. There’s the turn – back onto the new course loop – speed drops and it’s hurting more this lap. Ignore the Garmin; just keep the pedals turning. Finally back on the descent – tuck, spin and enjoy the speed. Okay here’s the turn for the last time – ouch, I’m hurting…my back is seizing – what’s the time? Over 2 hours – that gives me 45 mins to get back to stay on target. Can I do it? I can’t event do the mental arithmetic any more – forget the aero bars just sit up and keep spinning and hopefully the back will ease off. Pain, sweat, sore legs. Finally, the last turn onto the descent – get that last gel down your neck. My stomach is complaining – I don’t like this sugary liquid. Ignore it! Shut up stomach – tuck down, spin and head back the last 15km to Marlow. Beautiful, it’s all flat or downhill! Speed up above 40km/hr – nice, I can do this. Oh no – there’s a nasty climb – all that speed lost and my legs screaming….can’t make it now. Keep going. Shut up body…there’s the transition – glance down 2hrs 43 mins – I’m just about on target. There’s a Viceroys suit on the run – it’s Rory Spicer – he’s already ran 5km as I finish the bike….forget about it. Just get going. A glacial T2 – who knows why it took me so long to put on some running shoes, sunglasses and a visor.

OK, start running – ouch my back is sore. Feed station – grab a gel – stomach says no, brain says force it down. Eurghh…horrible. Keep going – towpath is in a shocking state – holes, overgrown grass. Difficult to get a steady rhythm going – pass 10 or so folks. You’re looking strong man shouts a fellow competitor. I bank that one and give him a thumbs up. Ooooh – there’s a steady climb on this run. I hadn’t spotted that. Legs and lungs don’t like it. Still, I’m going past a steady stream of folks. On to lap 2 – more water…just keep going. Lap times are slowing I’m slipping to 4 mins 30 secs per km. I look at my Garmin – can I break the 5 hours? It’s going to be tight – ignore it – just keep going…lap3 – there’s Rory Spicer heading for the finish line. Would anyone notice if I sneaked in behind him one lap early? I pass by the turn for the finish and head onto the final lap – there’s the water station…never done this before but I STOPPED to get on board two cupfuls. Will my legs start again? Luckily yes – now, look at the Garmin – I’ve got about 23 mins to finish the last 5km lap if I want to go under 5 hours. What pace is that per km? I can’t work it out – my brain is fried – just run AS HARD AS YOU CAN. I can’t let Mark Yeoman down – all that winter training and psychological boosts from his positive comments….oh man, just push it…this hill is more steep than the first 3 laps – wait. What’s that? That looks like a pink tri-suit several hundred metres up ahead. No, I’m imagining things –round the corner, it is! It’s Lloyd – keep going – maybe you can catch him…oh man, this hurts. Watch beeps – 1km to go – there’s Lloyd. Suddenly I’m tapping him on the shoulder and running past – well done man, good racing. Push hard – I can’t let Lloyd go past me – where’s the damn finish line? I’m sure it’s round this corner. It’s not – oh no – I don’t know if I can keep this up. Hang on – is that it? Yes, there’s the finish park…keep running – there’s the turn…look at my watch 4 hrs 58 mins – can I get to the line inside 2 mins? Oh man – this is like track running – my lungs are bursting – there’s the line…stop running; stop the damn Garmin – I’ve done it! I don’t believe it – 4 hrs 59 mins 13 secs – 6^th in Age Group; 72^nd overall – OFFICIAL! A beer – don’t mind if I do – I deserved it J – ecstatic – I’m delighted. There’s Lloyd – well done mate – great racing….then, there’s the floor. Sit down – drink beer, smile and bathe in my internal elation. I DID IT.

Ok what’s next – I’ve got to take 15 mins more off that time’