To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. My triathlon result was not what I had hoped for, even though after two disciplines I was actually more than a minute ahead of last year’s time.
I dropped four places to 78th (out of a field of 110 racers) from 74th (102 participants) last year. My time was 1h21m02sec compared to 1h19m38sec – 84 seconds slower. The heat played a part, but the lack of proper training and lack of form were the real reasons.
Swimming was great with my time eight seconds quicker compared to last year, and the usual stress that has dodged every triathlon I competed in – and it’s more than 20 over the past seven years – was conspicuously absent.
The cycling didn’t feel great, but I still managed to complete the 20km in 1m13sec faster than last year. Counting in the two transitions (both exactly 2m06sec), I was around the 50-minute mark coming into the running.
My muscles reacted as the always do – badly. But it was no different from the past years. I calculated that I could make it as my time of 26 minutes last year was well within reach.
After the first kilometre, I realised that it wasn’t looking good. It took me more than seven minutes to complete. A quick calculation meant that at the same pace, I’d cross the line in well past the 1h19m mark I had set myself.
Try as I might, I was running on empty. I had nothing left in me. With two kilometres left, I was barely 10 minutes away from my self-imposed limit. I ran hard and dropped my time to under six minutes, but it was too little too late.
The last kilometre was my best, but around 400 metres from the end I was at 1h19m40sec. I still ran as hard as I could (and even passed another runner) to cross the line to wild cheering and riotous applause from the thousands who turned out to see me (That didn’t happen, he’s delusional – Ed).
The key take-away from the whole event was that I had fun, I really enjoyed it. And now, I feel incredibly motivated. I might even do the Zug Olympic triathlon with my mate Fergus, who clocked a fantastic time of 1h15m56sec on Saturday.
This time, more than any other time, I’ll get it right (with apologies to the undefeated England 1982 World Cup team).