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2006
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SWIM 1500m > BIKE 40km > RUN 10km

London Triathlon
ExCel, Royal Victoria Dock - 7th August 2005

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I was quickly off on the bike course feeling slightly disorientated from having my head in pitch dark water and the comedy tumble. The first 20km lap of the bike course was easily the hardest part of the race. The course was very flat, fast and technical and I was was concerned about how hard I was finding it.
I couldn't get comfortable on the bike and couldn't find any rhythm. I had a crashing headache and I wasn't sure if it was dehydration or from the fall but
I kept sipping my drinks as I didn't want to be desperate for the toilet later on. I was particularly thinking of the run as running puts a lot of pressure on your bladder and I was not in the mood for doing a Paula Ratcliffe in front of several thousand spectators.

Keep up boys I haven't got all day!

I've never been a talented cyclist but it was probably my strongest of the three disciplines before I started training for this event. Unfortunately, due to my relative weakness in swimming and running the cycling took a bit of a back seat and now I was paying the price for it.

By the second lap I was feeling better and the headache had disappeared.
I felt OK but my legs were calling the shots now and I had to carry on at the pace they set as they had made it clear that going faster was not part of the plan. I passed several friends and family on the bike course but didn't have time to wave or stop and have a chat - sorry!

Sticking out your tongue on the corners is crucial for balance.

I arrived back at the transition area for the second time feeling much better than I had first time around especially as I managed to avoid falling over. The running shoes were slipped on and I was quickly into part three of this sporting trilogy. As part of my training I had done quite a few brick sessions which involves cycling and then running immediately afterwards. This prepares you body for the shock of changing discipline as when you start running your legs want to cycle and you can often look like you have a bad case of rickets. These sessions really paid off and I was quickly into my rhythm.

I desperately tried to get the legs to move faster on the run but they had other ideas.

I was running fairly comfortably but every time I tried to go faster my legs wouldn't respond. I'd love to tell you that I threw the kitchen sink in at this point and started to perform heroics but sadly, it had already sunk to the bottom of the Royal Victoria Dock.

I managed to keep it together on the run as I knew the finish wasn't too far away.

One of my fellow competitors was dressed as Batman and I later discovered that he had completed Ironman Lanzarote (2.4 mile sea swim, 112 mile bike and 26 mile run) in the same outfit! Clutching his charity collection tin, Batman showed me a clean pair of heels and even had time to stop and collect donations from spectators before I caught him up!

Just crossed the finish line.

Three hours and sixteen minutes (and several months of training) later,
I crossed the finish line. The finish line was actually indoors which made the whole experience more surreal. It was great to see so many familiar faces as
I showed off my medal.

My first feeling was of disappointment as I really wanted to try and get under three hours. I was already telling anyone who would listen that I planned to be back in 2006 in my best ever shape as I had "unfinished business". I wasn't to upset though as my main aim was just to complete the race and anything on top of that was a bonus.

The whole thing took a couple of days to sink in. In six months I had gone from being a non swimming, beer swilling sloth to completing a 1500m open water swim and an Olympic distance triathlon. I think I am quite right to feel proud of this achievement.

I'm planning to go for it again in 2006 - this time it's personal!

Looking pretty smug after I finished.

FINAL RESULTS

Final Position in wave: 313th of 335 (Male Olympic 25-29 Group 2)

Thanks:
Special thanks to Dawn and Tom for the logistical support.
Thanks to the cheer squad: Mum, Maria, Sean, David, Jen, Sharon, Diane, Laurence, Jess, Nasmin, Bruce, Barry, Ros, Tim and Charlie.

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