Anglesey Sandman Triathlon 2015

Yep, nosotros were the geeky ones who racked
first. Far likewise excited.

Sandman, the entirely slate coaster missing from my java table. There was a argue it was the finally i of the Welsh Always Aim High triathlon serial I'd signed upwards for, 2 inward fact, it was a body of body of water swim too a apartment wheel course. Those 2 reasons however, were the magic words needed to instruct Lizzie to come upwards amongst me. It wasn't until she was all paid upwards too entered that I had to confess at that spot would also travel a 10km trail run on by too large sand (her error really, she hadn't fifty-fifty questioned the name).


We stood on Newborough beach enjoying a breakfast bap too surveying the territory on the morn of the race. The body of body of water was non flat. It wasn't completely horrendous either but I was already immensely looking forwards to it beingness over.

After the race briefing nosotros began the long walk downward the beach to the ominous audio of distant drums. It felt similar a state of war march, amongst the trounce getting louder too to a greater extent than dramatic equally nosotros approached the start. Besides the measure girly strop due to my footling feet non beingness able to walk across the stones ("why couldn't they cause got raked the beach?", "this is ridiculous, where is the matting?!"), nosotros were inward skillful spirits. The drums were providing an first-class pre-race dance/warm-up chance too nosotros didn't cause got a long hold back for the nerves to start kicking in.

We watched the outset men's moving ridge sprint daringly into the waves too hilariously when it was fourth dimension for the yellow-hatted women's wave, the bulk of the girls positioned themselves correct at the dorsum of the pen. It was all rattling polite too British. As presently equally the countdown ended, all reservations were thrown to the side, race mentality took over too I pegged it into the sea, high knees all the way. I hateful all the way, equally far equally I could maybe instruct without having to genuinely swim. Four strokes inward too I'd already swallowed far likewise much body of body of water water. Breast stroke was a ameliorate option. Looking around, everyone around me was thinking the same thing. Getting out to the outset buoy was disgusting, but in i lawsuit nosotros had cornered too started the master copy swim, it was much easier to instruct into a rhythm.

I amused myself for at to the lowest degree x minutes equally I swam correct adjacent the same daughter for ages too nosotros were breathing on i side, looking towards i some other amongst just the same rhythm. Little things. Then I realised I'd drifted off course of report too promised myself I would focus. It was difficult to come across the buoys but the rattling visible bluish flags filled me amongst endless joy equally I striking the finally section.

The back upwards up to transition was amazing, a large crowd had built upwards funneling us upwards over the sand. As if it isn't difficult plenty to residual when yous come upwards out of a body of body of water swim, AAH brand yous sew together a footling sand hill, those blighters.

Getting out on the wheel was a dream. The body of body of water breeze providing a rattling welcome tailwind all the agency upwards the hill. I was too hence excited close the combination of cycling/climbing/not swimming/the Sun at in i lawsuit beingness out that I forgot to drinkable anything too it wasn't until the route flattened out at the laissez passer on that I took a large swig to instruct rid of salty mouth. The mouthful I wholeheartedly took was substantially to a greater extent than voluminous than that of my mouth, too hence apologies to all those spectators at the peak of the climb who saw a quite horrendous combination of spitting, choking too dribbling.

The outset one-half of the wheel went past times inward a flash. It didn't experience particularly similar a tailwind but it was quick. What I was expecting to travel a genuinely apartment course of report had plenty plenty undulation to boot the bucket along a hill-lover satisfied too the roads were reasonably clear of traffic. What I ever dearest close all triathlons inward North Wales is how the local community are out inward force, cheering from their doorsteps. What I loved fifty-fifty to a greater extent than close Anglesey is that the views were spectacular; every plow gave a glimpse of the body of body of water or of far-flung mountains.

At 37 kilometres the course of report hung a left upwards over a dyad of roundabouts too the air current smacked us build clean inward the face. Up ahead I could come across people of a abrupt working much harder too that was the agency it remained for the ease of the bike. I was starting to tire too my mensuration was slowing. My 'I don't bespeak food' strategy had failed. The gears were dropping too dropping too I was beingness overtaken left, correct too centre. With 8km left to go, a rattling friendly lady pootled past times too exclaimed "well-ridden!" at me. Of course of report what I wanted to answer was, "This is non riding good yous fool! This is the outset fourth dimension I cause got ever striking the wall too I don't desire to listen your light-hearted happiness yous empty-headed woman!!!". I chose to become with, "Thanks, yous too".

You wouldn't cause got known it was a downhill goal to T2. Getting dorsum to the beach against the air current was difficult going too I - for the outset fourth dimension ever - was genuinely pleased to travel finishing the bike.

I had cipher left for the run. It was without uncertainty the worst triathlon run I cause got ever completed. The course of report was amazing; sandy wood trails, long too gentle climbs, it was perfect terrain for me on whatever other day. I stopped, I walked, I ate my whole bundle of Shot Bloks hoping the carbohydrate would instruct through. I tottered on too stopped for a dyad of minutes at the feed station to arrive at total upwards on water. I felt utterly horrendous. You know when the marshals contention their caput sympathetically too say yous you're going to travel okay that yous in all probability don't aspect at your best.

I plodded along the finally rails towards the beach. I'd establish a dainty human being to cause got a chat to too I was looking at the stunning stance of Snowdonia across the water. I didn't assist close my seat at that betoken or that I was having a duff run, I was completely blown away past times the beautiful scenery too this awesome house nosotros were able to race in.

The finally stretch along the sandy, pebbled beach was sapping the finally bits of liberate energy from the legs, only i to a greater extent than footling sandy ascension led to the goal too I cause got never been to a greater extent than pleased for a race to end. The Sandman was hugely tougher than I had imagined too I am very, rattling pleased to travel sitting amongst my feet upwards too a cuppa on that coaster.

Share this post