Really pleased with how the swim went. Started off in the middle of the pack, which made the start a little insane. Worked hard at the beginning then gradually slowed to a comfortable pace and let everyone pass me. Got hit in the face just after the first buoy and lost my goggles (I wouldn't mind, but it was Huw from our club who hit me!), but managed to stop and sort them out quickly. Otherwise it went well. Got a nice comfortable stroke, and apart from a couple of breaks to sight I just kept with it.

Nothing. Felt it went as well as it could have.

Got the wetsuit off fine (the baby oil really works). Everything else went to plan.

Nothing.

This is where it all went horribly wrong. I haven't had enough time to get used to my new saddle, and my sit bones were painful from about 9 miles. By 29 miles I was in agony, and still had another lap to go. Couldn't pedal properly because it hurt too much, so was just surviving. Was really aggressive on any downhill sections to try to make up some time, and was working in a higher gear than I wanted to because it took some of the pressure off the seat. All in all an unpleasant experience.

Check my bike in transition! I realised at 22 miles that the quick release on my front wheel was released. Immediately stopped and fixed it, but that could have been a disaster. Also had an issue with the angle of my handlebars, but made do with that.

Couldn't run when I first got off the bike because of the pain from my seat, but once I got moving it improved, and I managed a jog through transition. Remembered everything I had to do because I'd been running through it in my head for the last couple of miles on the bike.

Nothing. It wasn't great, but I was restricted by what I could make my body do rather than anything else.

First lap of the run felt good. Just went at whatever pace my body would let me. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to run off the bike, but I think it just felt great to not be in pain any more. Realised I'd done my first mile in 9min 16sec, which was much faster than planned. I also passed quite a lot of people on the run who were either walking or jogging. I continued to just keep doing whatever I felt I could, and it slowed and slowed. The 2nd lap was a lot less fun, but I just stuck with it. Started off running through the water stations, but got to the point where I really needed to hydrate properly, so the last couple I stopped and properly drank 2 cups of water each time before continuing. Still had a headache by the end.
At the very end I heard someone coming up behind me and decided I wasn't going to lose what little position I had. Pushed really hard for the last quarter of a mile or so. Got over the line feeling sick, but I know I absolutely gave it my all.

Leave a bottle of sports drink to pick up. Could have really used the energy as well as the hydration.

Sat on the ground for a couple of minutes to recover. Waited for Kevin to finish, then went and sat in the lake. Should have done it sooner as I was feeling quite cold by the time we got in, but I still think it helped.


Fitness/endurance, but I think I'd done as much as I could at this stage in my training.
Bike seat, but I was in a no-win situation. I could either use the old one, which was actually causing me damage, or the new one, which caused pain, but nothing permanent.


Loads of volunteers and they were all really supportive, even when I was coming through at the end and there was hardly anyone left on the course.
Much better organised than the short course in the same place 3 weeks ago.
Only negative was that they changed the swim route after the briefing (I think someone got confused, but that meant they confused us and the kayakers, and we landed up swimming further than we should have!).