‘It was nice to finally get a triathlon under my belt for the first time in 9 months. The swim was a total disaster (no change there). Training in the pool had been going really well with some excellent coaching, but as soon as the words ‘race’ and ‘swim’ are put together, I lose all ability at forward, efficient, fast (or even not too slow) momentum. Anyway, I got out of the pool without drowning or killing anyone else with my flailing arms. With a T1 of 42secs I was running out onto the road for my usual flying mount… Bump went my bum on the saddle and bump went my saddle, pointing straight towards the road! Ah well, nothing to do but get on with it. Still not as bad as Andy Holgate using a picnic blanket when his seat post snapped mid race – Can’t swim, Can’t bike Can’t run – (well worth a read).
21.5km and 37 painful minutes riding in a semi tuck semi standing position later and it was back via the deadzone and into T2 with a tight back and hamstring. 45 seconds switching footwear etc and it was out onto the run. I knew it wasn’t going to be fast with the pain in my back but I loosened up as the run progressed ending up with a 21.14, well short of the time I had hoped for and seen in training.
I finished in 1.09.22 and 8th in AG which is really pleasing all things considered. It was also great to catch up with fellow Viceroys Matt and Suzi Storr and Pam Winstanleyfisher and well done to Moira winning her AG!’
As raced and reported by Mick Tumilty
