TOSHIBA TRIATHLON WINDSOR 16TH JUNE 2013 (my 1st Olympic)
The 1st thing that concerned me about the triathlon wasnt actually the distances but the start time of 6.20am!!! I am a stickler for my nutrition before an event and the thought of not having my porridge was panicing me (ended up not being an issue i got one of them pots you add hot water to and ate it in the car on way in - the stuff was OK it did the trick!!
The 1st thing that concerned me about the triathlon wasnt actually the distances but the start time of 6.20am!!! I am a stickler for my nutrition before an event and the thought of not having my porridge was panicing me (ended up not being an issue i got one of them pots you add hot water to and ate it in the car on way in - the stuff was OK it did the trick!!
Saturday 15th- arrived at Windsor and took bike down to the transition area and picked up my numbers etc- once bike racked and I had a good look at the River Thames and realised it was NOTHING like the Thames I am familiar with (that dirty brown thing that runs under London Bridge ....) it was a beautiful setting for a triathlon - we had a little wander into Windsor and got coffee and cake (of course!!) then headed to our Premier inn in Slough (bit of a difference to Windsor!) for more carb loading and an early night
Sunday 16th- So as not to drag Iain and the boys out of bed at silly o clock (breakfast didnt even open till 7am) I left them all snoring and headed to the start with Lee Radley (friend and fellow nicetri member) arranged it so Iain and kids would see me getting off the bike
- as I am turning 40 at Christmas I was put in the FV40 + category which was basically every woman over the age of 40 so it was quite a big group
- as I am turning 40 at Christmas I was put in the FV40 + category which was basically every woman over the age of 40 so it was quite a big group
SWIM 1500meters (43.02) 6.20am entered the water and was struck by how much deeper it was than the Ouse(found out as I entered and went right under!!) we had to swim across the river and swim up the other side into the current under a bridge or 2 and then head back across the river to the side we got in and back with the current behind us (my favourite part!) 1500meter total- the distance was never an issue with me- the worry was always the other faster swimmers- with the next waves starting every 4 minutes it was quite clear (as i am not the fastest) that this was going to be an issue- within the 1st couple of minute i recieved a wave of water in the face and i swallowed a huge gobfull of the Thames- in that moment I had negative thoughts "i dont think I can do this" "i am not ready for this" etc (after all 5 weeks previous I had never swam in anything but a nice indoor pool with a lane pretty much to myself).... anyway I got stuck in- alternating between front crawl with a tiny bit of breast stroke every minute or so - once I could see the turn buoy I felt alot more relaxed - I could see that I wasnt the last of the red caps but also a fair few of the younger group had bombed passed me causing no concern at all.
I found the turn at the buoy very difficult and scarey swimming back across the river the current was strong but once i got around it and I was heading back I felt so much more relaxed and them last 500meters flew by. I could see as i was approaching the "getting out point" another red cap behind me and I Was determined to get out 1st just to make sure i wasnt the last in my wave haha! was helped out the water and I was so happy i am sure I had some happy tears- I saw Lees wife and baby son and she gave me a cheer which was lovely :) ....wobbled to the transition area (think i shed a happy tear) managed to unzip my suit and get it down to the waist- cap and goggles off all on the way as the run between river and bikes was HUGE!!!
T1 (3.57)MUCH quicker than the other week at my sprint tri- I didnt need to sit down to get my suit off!! yay!! this time though i was wearing clips so the run with the bike wearing my SPDS was tricky as ground was muddy in parts and i didnt want to get all shit in the cleats that i wouldnt be able to clip in!
BIKE 40km (1.28.52) woohoo the best part !!! i just LOVE the bike - what can i say?? there was flat bit, hilly bits, beautiful countryside- i flew passed alot of women (and not all were on mountain bikes lol) I realised after about 10 miles that i hadnt pressed start on my bloody garmin at the start of bike section so I had to ask somebody how many miles in we were! oh well
With about a mile or so to go just after I had gone up the biggest hill on the course (and i passed a couple of people on the way up) I heard my name and it was Lee - he had started 20minutes after me at 6.40am so I knew he would be catching me on the bike at some point - then a second later we saw a sign "smile for the camera" so of course I did- which is why in all my bike photos I have a big grin on my face !!!!
When I got to the off the bike point Iain and the boys were there- i was by this point running with my bike and I was having a mad moment laughing my head off- i just found the whole thing so exhilerating "Its not that funny is it?!" said some old boy MArshall - "yes it really is!" I said
T2 (2.19) bit longer than my sprint as this time i was changing my shoes for my racing flats
RUN 10KM (59.11) ooh numb toes numb feet!!! but feeling returned pretty quick this time- the 10k course is 3 laps and there is a HILL in Windsor- ive seen it on the tele loads of times (as its is televised every year on C4)
and the commentators always bang on about the hill you have to run up 3 times - it wasnt that bad tbh but its certainly a hill- my legs felt like they werent going fast at all- I really didnt have a clue what my time was either as with the Garmin set on Multisport it doesnt reset with each sport and doesnt tell you what minute miling you are doing- I was kind of hoping I would get in under the hour though - I saw Lee lots as he was a bit ahead of me and the course has little out and back bits so we could high 5 and I could see Iain and the kids lots too with it being 3 laps - the final lap I think was my favourite - I really couldnt wipe the silly grin off of my face!
and the commentators always bang on about the hill you have to run up 3 times - it wasnt that bad tbh but its certainly a hill- my legs felt like they werent going fast at all- I really didnt have a clue what my time was either as with the Garmin set on Multisport it doesnt reset with each sport and doesnt tell you what minute miling you are doing- I was kind of hoping I would get in under the hour though - I saw Lee lots as he was a bit ahead of me and the course has little out and back bits so we could high 5 and I could see Iain and the kids lots too with it being 3 laps - the final lap I think was my favourite - I really couldnt wipe the silly grin off of my face!
Aeroplaned over the finish line - wooping like a nutter !! :) :) :) I survived !
I am a proper triathlete *swim* *bike* *run*