Grafham Olympic distance - 1500/40k/10k.

So yesterday probably wasn't my best  race ever.
Ask any sports person, they will always say that there is sometimes that one race that just doesn't feel right from the very beginning.  Whether it is something mechanically or mentally that doesn't go right, like you lose some equipment or miss the start, or you just don't feel right physically, it is horrible to go through the whole race knowing that it is not really your day.

​Lets start with the swim: I have swam at Grafham Water a few times for open water swim races but never for a triathlon.  So when they announced that each wave would be set off 5 minutes apart, I knew that this could only end badly.  Nevertheless, I continued concentrating on my race and going as hard as I could.  I had a good start and got myself in a good position Once we had started (and after being battered by 100 other swimmers) we were off and going at a good pace.  But only about 600m in, we had caught up with the back of the pack of slower male  swimmers from  the previous heat, so now there was about 200 people swimming in the same area and some of these doing breast stroke.  I couldn't get around people to overtake as they were well spread out and I was constantly getting pushed down, so the swim didn't go too well and my time already down.

​Once I was out of the lake, I told myself to forget about the swim and concentrate on the rest of the race.
The bike ride was a lovely course, mostly open straight country lanes with hardly any cars on them as it was very early still.  There weren't many hills or turns, so it should have been a fast section, but like I said, sometimes it just isn't your day.  My legs did not want to cooperate with me!  However, my times seemed to differ from how I felt as I finished the bike section in about the same time I always do - it must be the new wheels from Richardsons Cycles!! Thanks guys, heaven knows what my time would have been with my old wheels but even better imagine what my time will be when my legs are working properly with the new wheels from Richardsons!!

​The final section, the run, wasn't too bad.  By this time, I had excepted that it wasn't going to be a PB race, but I don't like to give up, so I ran as hard as I could.  It was a bit of a multi terrain route with a few hills, so not my favourite type of run course, but seeing my fellow Whittys Tri Team  member, Jenny, helped spur me on to the finish. 

​Overall it was a really nice race and would love to do it again, but hopefully on a better day. Still I suppose at least I can expect a great PB next time!  Just goes to show that everyone has their bad days and sometimes there is no rhyme or reason for it your body just doesn't want to play ball.

​Just want to say a huge thank you to :
Sovereign Play Equipment , for your continued support and the Dry Robe you got me helped hugely before and after the race, as  I was freezing at 6am!!!

​​Chalkwell Redcaps, the HUUB wetsuit made that horrible swim slightly easier!

​Pedal Potential, as always, I wouldn't be able to do what I do without your support!

​and Rippleside Metal Works, thank you for believing in me and helping me continue on this journey!