Race Report View

Yet another sentimental journey back to my teenage years [see Olympic triathlon July 2010]. Travelling down to Harwich the horizon was alternately thick and black with cloud and sunny with bright blue skies. Rain threatened and so it came to pass.  This was my second triathlon trip to the Essexseaside but this time I was competing in the shorter and much easier sprint competition. The 300m swim was in the pool; the bike was 24k and the run 5k.

I was greeted like a long lost friend by the organisers which was very comforting except for one woman who asked me –“were  you the one who came in last [45 minutes behind!]  in the Olympic last year? Unfortunately yes - that was me - so this year  I forewarned the organisers and very cheekily requested an early swim start. The triathlon  started  at 4.15pm with each competitor going at 30 second intervals. Swimmers went up and down the lanes, slipping under the lane ropes and completing 12 lengths. I went off at number 2 and had a wonderful free, unimpeded swim.

It was warm and sunny as I cycled away on the 24k route along country lanes although enormous black clouds hovered in the distance. The ride was relatively easy, only a few hills. One hill caught me unawares; as I pressed on the pedals I tried to change down, accidently knocked the gear lever, the gears clicked into a higher wheel and I was struggling to stay upright! Because I have cleat pedals and could not wrestle my foot out the pedal,  I fell off! I fell off! Fortunately no one was around to see it happen and I climbed back on with a bruised and bloody knee.

Darkness fell [made even darker because I was wearing wrap around glasses with black lens] and the rain and wind swept across the fields. Cycling downhill with a river flowing under your wheels was very scary although exciting as well. Transition was a sea of mud and I was absolutely soaked. However my running shoes were dry and I was off on the 5 k run. The rain had stopped by now.

The run encircled a large playing field and then out and back along the promenade. Two women in front of me were running and walking and as I passed they were trying to keep up with me. No way was that going to happen! As my legs adjusted to the transition from bike to run I increased my pace significantly and therefore ended up running style="mso-spacerun:yes">  a very good time [for me] – 33.26 – about average for Park run times recently. I finished second from last and have apparently won an age group prize which wasn’t difficult as I was the oldest by about 8 years in the entire field of 250+! My request for an early start time – earlier than my swim time indicated -  was vindicated because as usual my bwas vindicated because as usual my bike time was relatively slow.

At the finish it was lovely to meet up with my old school friend who was there with her daughter. Diane and I used to swim in the sea and the pool the entire summer holidays.  My daughter Jane and family had also braved the rain and to round off the day we all enjoyed a buffet in the local rugby club organised by the triathlon club. Altogether a successful and very happy day despite the gusting wind and rain.