Triathlon...........Sore

Sore………………..sums it up

I turned up at Queens Valley the full 30 minutes early Andy Ruddy had told me I needed and then wondered why I was 25 minutes earlier than I needed to be. Andy on the other hand I soon realised needed the full 30 minutes to set his kit up, when I arrived he was moaning about NASSA using some of their satellites again and he was re calibrating his various computers to make the necessary adjustments, tweaking his transition metrics and checking the latest weather telemetry. Next he proceeded too check his carbon fibre bike and oil bits that need oiling and wonder how much faster he could go with aero dynamic water bottles on his tri bars rather then the round ones he currently had! I decided that since I had a full 29 minutes of preparation left I’d flick some mud off my mountain bike tyres and sulk off back to the car to keep warm.

At the start line andy suggested we stay near the back to avoid getting trampled, sensible idea, I thought, at the whistle the Andy was off, gazelle like, into the distance, I settled into a pack of one at the back (me) though I was briefly joined by some late comers who did not stick around for long. Next, about half way through the run a caught up with 2 chaps where my out of control down hill running actually had me pass them, I was no longer last! 2 miles of running was soon over.

The transition is my favourite bit for two reasons, primarily it take the least physical effort, secondly it’s the bit I’m best at, I over took at least two people though it could have been as many as four.

About ½ a mile into the bike one of the people I took on the transition went past me like a train and I never saw him again. At the end of the first full lap there is a long down hill stretch, I though I’d use my big front cog as I was approaching a rider! Bad idea the chain came off, so hurtling down hill not really looking where I was going I battled ferociously to get the chain on, at the bottom of the hill it clicked back, however the rider in front was long gone, or was he? I rounded the corner at the top of the next hill to see him and a lady and more over I was closing fast, I decided to throw caution to the wind and go for it, I took them both, I was euphoric, for the rest of that lap and the next one I did not see another rider.

Jumping off the bike, some 14 miles later as I walked into the transition I realised four things, one, I could not stand up so I ran bent forward, like I was still on my bike but somebody had stolen it, two, my nipples hurt, three, my legs would not move and they really hurt inside at the top and four, my nipples really were hurting. After about 400 yards I’d managed to free my back so I looked like I was running into a strong wind which is exactly what it felt like, though I was not, after about a mile things loosened up but my nipples really hurt and I was knackered and behind me I could see people gaining. I pushed hard and maintained my place in front of the back of the pack, 1 hour and 19 minutes after starting I’d crossed the line, breathless unable to open the bottle of orange somebody had given me, legs in pain, nipples in agony and delighted to have finished.

Footnote, right nipple looks like it’s been almost ripped off, I think the cycling shorts/vest rubbed it to within a millimetre of being removed.