28th September 2014
Eton Dorney Lake, Berkshire
Team members: Johno
And so for the seventh event, it was on to Eton Dorney Lake in Royal Berkshire for a sprint triathlon - 750m lake swim, 20km bike and 5km run.
Surrounded by serious looking chaps in rather snazzy aerodynamic headwear, your intrepid challenger cut a relaxed if slightly under-prepared figure as the clock ticked down to the start of the swim.
On the stoke of 11am, a hundred-odd bobbing heads surged off through the clear(ish) water, limbs flailing as everyone struggled for room. A strong showing in the swim, backed up by some actual training for once saw Johno in decent position to not be last after the first event - a quick nervous glance behind upon leaving the water noted reassuringly a number of fellow athletes still submerged.
To the bike then and Johno was able to draw on his vast experience of feeling knackered in a saddle thanks to the Coast 2 Coast ride earlier this year. On schedule, the tiredness kicked in nice and early and a blur of the aforementioned aerodynamic chaps rattled past. After four laps of the course, it was time to dismount and drop the bike off ready for the run.
The run course involved a long straight loop along the entire length of the lake - annoyingly passing the smug runners already on their inbound lap. Head down and into the sun, Johno was able to call upon that trusted combination of sugary sports drinks and willpower to drag him around the lap to the finish. The reward was a rather spiffing orange t-shirt.
After this, his fourth triathlon, Johno turned to his wife Samantha and said "does four make me a triathlete now?"
"Meh" she said...
So we say goodbye to our wetsuits after a number of tough but fun water-based events - next up is the Basingstoke Half Marathon in early October, followed by Tough Mudder.
Gulp.
Eton Dorney Lake, Berkshire
Team members: Johno
And so for the seventh event, it was on to Eton Dorney Lake in Royal Berkshire for a sprint triathlon - 750m lake swim, 20km bike and 5km run.
Surrounded by serious looking chaps in rather snazzy aerodynamic headwear, your intrepid challenger cut a relaxed if slightly under-prepared figure as the clock ticked down to the start of the swim.
On the stoke of 11am, a hundred-odd bobbing heads surged off through the clear(ish) water, limbs flailing as everyone struggled for room. A strong showing in the swim, backed up by some actual training for once saw Johno in decent position to not be last after the first event - a quick nervous glance behind upon leaving the water noted reassuringly a number of fellow athletes still submerged.
To the bike then and Johno was able to draw on his vast experience of feeling knackered in a saddle thanks to the Coast 2 Coast ride earlier this year. On schedule, the tiredness kicked in nice and early and a blur of the aforementioned aerodynamic chaps rattled past. After four laps of the course, it was time to dismount and drop the bike off ready for the run.
The run course involved a long straight loop along the entire length of the lake - annoyingly passing the smug runners already on their inbound lap. Head down and into the sun, Johno was able to call upon that trusted combination of sugary sports drinks and willpower to drag him around the lap to the finish. The reward was a rather spiffing orange t-shirt.
After this, his fourth triathlon, Johno turned to his wife Samantha and said "does four make me a triathlete now?"
"Meh" she said...
So we say goodbye to our wetsuits after a number of tough but fun water-based events - next up is the Basingstoke Half Marathon in early October, followed by Tough Mudder.
Gulp.