I have been having a terrible time for the last two months and I have had the stuffing knocked out of me, then last week I finally decided to give up triathlon. I had booked Blenheim so decided it was a weekend away and I could see the house and grounds for free so I might as well go, make it my last event. I drove down to Oxford on Friday afternoon, nowhere to stay but thought I would find something when I got there. Filled my little car and off I went. The traffic on the M6 was horrendous, but, I did manage to keep moving, but I think I travelled most of the way at 10 mph! By 6:30 I finally arrived at Chipping Norton, time to find a B&B. Found a beautiful place called Swan Lodge at Emberstone, excellent accommodation and service, they even locked my bike in their shed overnight as otherwise I would have had to leave it on my car. (although they assured me it would be quite safe). The only downside, they don't accept cards its cash only, so off I went back to Chipping Norton to get the cash.
We talked about triathlon over breakfast and they were lovely, saying how amazing I was (am I) just for trying. Finally left and made my way to Blenheim which was about 5 mins down the road. Got there for 10 ish and parked up. I was pumping up my tyres and checking my last minute details making sure I had everything when the guy in the car next to me started talking to me. He was the swim trainer from Silverstone Tri Club, he was there with somebody else and his parents. They said they would cheer me on at the end, I said by the time I finish you will be long gone! The weather was nice and sunny and throughout the day it got hotter and hotter and the wind started to pick up. I couldn't rack my bike until 1:30 so I couldn't go round the house or gardens, so stayed and watched the other finishers. I saw the Brownlee twins finish and one stopped and waited for the other before crossing the line. I thought all the elite racers were on Sunday. Finally racked my bike and stood talking to other girls there, one girl only learnt to swim last year and was doing the 1500 mts swim for her next event, she was a lot younger than me, but I was surprised. The oldest lady I spoke to was 66 and that was after the event, she was giving me some really good tips for the swim which work for her. Our start time was 2:50 and I think we were running a bit late, but made it to the start got a nice green hat and a lecture. The guy was really nice and he said nobody would be penalised if they had to have assistance out of the water, they would rather assist so you can carry on then make yourself ill or drown! We had to jump off the jetty, there was not bottom and swim to the starting buoys. It was nice and warm 17 degrees (that's what they said, it was freezing!!) When its so cold my chest closes up and I struggle to breathe. Finally the count down and we were off, I started in good form, front crawl, well for about 6 strokes then bang couldn't breathe. One of the lads in a canoe stayed with me for the whole swim, which was painfully long, I am sure they were moving the turning buoy further away as I swam towards it. I completed the swim in a mixture of crawl, breast stroke and doggy paddle! After the turning buoy the side wind really buffed you and I kept taking in water. But, I did it and did not ask or get any assistance, until I reached the pontoon to get out and as there was no bottom they had to lift me out. St John's then took great interest in me as I was falling all over the place, I had to sit there for a bit with a drink. I wasn't the last swimmer out but after sitting there I was next to the last to go up to the transition area. It was a long uphill walk to transition, got my bike and walked to the mount line and off I went. I was desperate for the toilet and it was so hot, I was burning up. The wind was blowing me across the course as it was hitting me from the side, at first I thought I just could't ride, but that's ridiculous I thought. It was two circuits, on the second circuit I saw the portaloo in the woods and stopped, much better riding afterwards. It was hard, with a long uphill climb and some smaller steep climbs. Two years ago I would have sailed along, now I really struggled and I even walked part of it. Finally after racking my bike and setting off for the run, the first water station, two cups for me lol. Again, I did a mixture of slow running and walking, got a gel near the beginning of the run, which was very nice and it may have helped me a bit. The end was finally in site, I was burning in the heat and trying to run when I heard my name and true to form, they were all there cheering me on, a little lad shouted "go on sprint to the finish", I looked at him and said "sprint", there must have been such anguish in my voice that everybody laughed. Suddenly the music changed and they played Bethoven for me to cross the line, I laughed and ran across the line beaming. The commentator announced "here we have Mary from Warrington Triathlon Club with the biggest smile of the day". I was on cloud nine. I wasn't last, there were lots of people still coming in. Everybody I passed congratulated me, others I had spoken to earlier congratulated me, I felt like a super hero.
By the time I had walked back to transition, packed up my stuff and got my bike it was 5 pm. Walked to my lonely car in the car park, there was still over 100 cars there and set off on the long drive home. Got home about 9 pm. A bit of a headache from the heat, probably dehydrated and I realised apart from breakfast which I kept to a minimum I had only had a chewy bar and bag of fruit and nuts all day. I wasn't hungry at all,
How do I feel today?
Still a bit tired as didn't really sleep too well for the last couple of nights, but as for aches and pains - none. I feel great. I am so glad I went, to think I nearly gave up for good, I even started to price up my bike and stuff to sell. I hope to go back and do it again next year, my times this year will be rubbish but that doesn't matter, my time next year will be better. Now I just have to get back into my training routine, it worked for me before it will work again. Doing triathlon is the best medicine I know, it works. No medication could make me feel how I feel now. Thank you Warrington Triathlon Club and all those who supported me yesterday.
T1 10:49 Position 291
T2 04:37 Position 276
Swim 20:03 Position 295
Bike 53:30 Position 280
Run 28:46 Position 285
Total Time 01:57:45
Position in class 6
Overall Position 287
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