Let's set the scene...... By Emma Ritchie

National Club Relay Championships August 2013

It's early Saturday morning when most 'normal' people are still sleeping or at least inside cosy and warm! Well not us, stood in the cold and rain waiting to go and beast ourselves in Nottingham! The rain didn't ease up all the way and in fact I would say it got worse. However someone was being good to us as soon as we saw the signs for Pierre Point the sun came out.

It was rather an unusual start to a typical race day sitting, relaxing and eating so much (probably too much) food. After a lot of dilly-dallying (yes thats a real word) and numerous  items being lost and then found, it was finally time to get ready. The barbecue tent was soon turned into a changing room and we started to look like we ready to go!

Eventually racing time finally arrived and bikes were beginning to be racked and people donned the wetsuits making it impossible to spot anyone from the club amidst the sea of people with various hat colours on.

As soon as the hooter went and the first swimmers were off, it was hard to keep track of where everyone was as until we got to the bike legs! The Nicetri camp was very loud which made everyone cycle faster (at least if only for 200m until they were out of sight). It was during the bike legs that Nicetri Dreamers started to lead the whole race and eventually took 7 minutes out of second place! Various highlights include Sarah Shepard trying to run the opposite way out of transition (gingers eh'). It's hard to summarise a triathlon in which so many people were competing, all I can say is that everyone swam, then everyone biked and then everyone ran! I'm sure everyone has their own trials and tribulations they went through throughout the day but all in all a good afternoon of racing.

Then we get to the most important part of the day...

Due to the late finish it wasn't until late evening when we reached the pub! This, I believe,  is what fuelled the intoxicated state that many members found themselves incredibly quickly. You can always tell when people have been drinking as subject of conversation finally turns away from all things triathlon (thank God) and move on to more trivial items such as darts and cocktails that I have never heard of (Duncan and his cake mixture). The sambuccas came out and well the rest involves games that would never pass the health and safety checks!

To have 40 people racing from the club that is still considered 'small' is amazing! Well done to all involved whether you were racing, supporting, cooking or organising. It made a great club day with some awesome times and results being posted. Lets do it all again next year (maybe minus the blind darts).