Events Blog

July 23rd 2017 3800 m open water swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run Back to where it all began! I had wrongs to set right, including 9 hours of torrential rain and a 56-mile mechanical issue involving brakes being stuck "on"..... Previous experience of the course fared me well for the swim - I seeded myself at the back/left of the fastest pen, allowing me space to swim rather than 2015's absolute battering. Some shallow areas moved me slightly inwards, but I managed to keep a steady effort level throughout the swim, pleased to end up with a PB over this distance at a lower effort level than last time. As I exited I was disappointed to be only "unzipped" and not "stripped", but I unglamoroursly finished the job outside a portaloo, where I then had to wait out the longest loo trip ever! You'd think I'd swallowed half the lake the amount of time I was in there... T1 was a steady affair as my current favourite bike shorts are very f...

July 3rd 2016 1900 m swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run Having been reasonably impressed with the organisation and friendliness of Outlaw Triathlon in 2015, this year I decided I would take a punt on the inaugural Outlaw Half Holkham Hall as my "B" race. I was a little nervous about this as the last inaugural event I entered (Ironman Staffordshire 70.3) had been a logistical and organisational nightmare, but I thought that in any case, this race would give me the opportunity for a nice weekend away, and some scenic surroundings. Indeed I spent a lovely Saturday walking the marshes, discovering beaches and eating at a fantastic pub. I also attended a race briefing, registered and racked. The briefing as usual stretched beyond an hour. I've no idea why these need to be so long as 90% of what is said is in the race pack. The other 10% of fairly key information could be condensed and more succinctly delivered. Saying that, the presenters were charismatic and entertainin...

May 29th 2016 1900 m swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run This was it. The one I'd been waiting for - my big race of the year! Did I feel prepared? Yes, I suppose so. Tapering week for me is always an unpleasant experience of feeling fidgety and imagining niggles, so I was glad it was race day! It made a nice change to be in a familiar setting (as I had raced the iron-distance Outlaw Triathlon) last year, albeit they had made a few changes. Due to blue green algae at the normal entry point to the lake, the swim start was now under the commentating tower - and I knew my transition point would be along this wall too. Getting to the race was a bit of a nightmare. Having got me their perfectly the day before, my Satnav had kindly decided that today was the day to direct me to the wrong side of the lake. Rookie error, but this meant I joined the car park queue 10 minutes later than planned. The queue was also quite a bit longer than anticipated based on last year, so I ended up ge...