Event: Dorney Evening Triathlon
Date: 7th August 2024
“Gary & I have entered the Dorney Evening Tri on 7th August… would be nice to have some more Pinkies join us” posted Clint on the VTC Team App. Why not, I thought, and so signed up for my first (Sprint) triathlon.
About a dozen other Pinks answered Clint’s rallying call, so there were plenty of friendly and familiar faces at the starting line come the day of the race. The 18:30 start provided a good excuse to knock-off work early and, even better, the late start time and reasonable weather meant there was some massively appreciated vocal support from the sides cheering the Pinks on. So, having negotiated the first challenge (squeezing into the unforgiving tri suit), it was time for the race…
The Swim – There’s plenty of advice about pacing yourself from the start on the swim, but it’s easier said than done when the adrenaline is pumping and everybody else goes off at a fair pace. Having got to the first buoy and been disillusioned to realise that it was the first turning point on the 400m course rather than the 750m course we were on, I focused on steadying my breathing and heart rate, and it felt as though I got into a more sustainable rhythm. With only a few bumps at the turns, the leg that most triathletes enjoy the least was soon over. It was much more fun than I expected.
The Cycle – The closed roads around the lake make Eton Dorney an ideal location, especially for novices like myself. I was soon clipped in and rolling, and Alan gave me some friendly words of encouragement as he cruised past me on lap 1. Making sure that I didn’t forget to count my laps, I’d soon completed the cycle leg, and was through T2 and onto the run.
The Run – Up and down a single track on the side of the lake makes for a slightly congested run, but has the benefit of providing plenty of opportunity see how you’re getting on and share encouragement with fellow Pinks.
Results – All the Pinks participating put in impressive performances. But some special shout outs must go to Hayley who took the win in her first ever triathlon race in the Super Sprint, Jesper who almost got taken out right at the end but still ran to second place in the Super Sprint, and Lucy is definitely back from injury with a fantastic 2nd place in the Sprint. And a big thank you again to all the Pinks supporters who definitely lifted our performances.
To conclude, I enjoyed it so much that I’ve signed up for another in September. Hope to see you in Reading on the 8th.
