Triathlon Troubles

I've gone and done it again. I know I should know better after falling victim to it once before, but no - I stupidly signed myself up to do a triathlon.

The first time I did this was two years ago. Prompted by a moment of madness and an over zealous brother I signed up to the Dublin Try-a-tri. Fortunately I survived it, but once I had ticked if off my bucket list there it, and all training, remained.

Until this summer rolled around. Now not only have I signed up to do another one, but this one is (a) longer and (b) in my home town. My over-zealous brother said it would be really handy as I wouldn't have to travel and that I'd be mad not to do it.

And once again I was stupid enough to get swept up in the excitement.

Ten days off the event date and my thinking on this has changed drastically. Believe me when I tell you that being able to walk to the event does not in any way, shape or form balance out the fact that I am going to have to strip off a wetsuit and hop on a bike in front of a crowd made up of 'people I went to school with' combined with 'people I meet every day in Tescos'. This is not good.

Training up to now has been sporadic to say the least. I really should have factored in the school holidays and the fact that three children under 10 can't actually be left on their own before I made such an ill advised decision.

So now not only is there the whole changing-room-in-a-crowd aspect - there's the fear of not making it around the course at all, or (and it may even be worse) finishing last.

In a desperate bid not to let either of those options become a reality I've splashed out on a new bike. I'm putting all my faith in the fact that this will not only help me climb the far too numerous steep hills on the cycling course, but will also help me swim longer and run faster. Not too much to ask is it?

Sexy Bike

Of course now that I've bought it I'm going to have to justify the cost of it by continuing to do more of these fecking things aren't I?

And so it continues. Would someone ever just stop me from making decisions that I am clearly not qualified to make on my own?

Please??

Dublin City Triathlon - A race day recap

So remember that fateful decision I made a few weeks ago to do a triathlon...? Well I thought I'd do a race day rundown for anyone interested. You never know - it could be you next year :)

On Sunday morning at 6.30 I tiptoed out of the house on my way to my first triathlon.

Too tired to be properly panicked (yet) my brother and I drove in silence to Dublin, my head full of race day checklists, his full of hangover. Only on arrival did I get to appreciate the beautiful sunshine that surrounded us - a huge bonus.

The triathlon started in waves with the Olympic distance first (complete with an actual Olympian taking part) and then the Sprint distance (although anyone who calls a 600m swim, 16k cycle and 4k run a 'sprint' must be deluded). 

This meant that we were hanging around for a few hours - giving us plenty of time to get into full on panic mode. 

By this time I had a personal drip of Rescue Remedy hooked up.

The swim (600m in the infamously grubby River Liffey) was tough but after a mild anxiety attack and a few breaststrokes I finally got into my rhythm. The pre-race information of 'beware of Weils disease' and 'stay out of the reeds 'cause that where the rodents go' probably didn't help...

My poor brother either got tried of hanging around and went for a coffee or (as he says) was too busy cheering so didn't get any pictures of the bike ride. You'll have to take my word for it that it existed and I actually did it. The course ran through the Phoenix Park and was perfect.

Next up was the run and after jelly-legs at the start I actually enjoyed it. Coming into the finish and seeing my kids with their homemade flags was the perfect reward.

Image: Pixels Promotions

Dublin City Triathlon is brilliantly run by Piranha Triathlon Club.  Oh, and if anyone from there is reading this - I lost my hat and goggles and can't possibly do another one of these unless I get them back...

The Gallery: Sport. (Otherwise entitled: 'I may have made a foolish decision')

One week ago, some time in between having a drunken conversation with a (very fit) friend and a morning coffee with my (very fit) brother, I somehow made the decision to do a triathlon.

I know. My own jaw is hitting the floor as I write this and I may have broken out in a cold sweat that has nothing to do with exercise.

And just to add a little extra excitement to the fateful decision - the triathlon that I have signed up to is in 17 days 21 hours and 54 minutes.

The realisation of what I need to do has now dawned on me. Not only do I have to swim 750m in the open water, cycle 16k on a borrowed bike and then run 4k on very wobbly legs - I need to figure out how to get a wetsuit off whilst running to my bike, work out what exactly I'm supposed to wear under it before I strip off, and try not to get lost when I'm bringing up the rear of the competition with no one in sight to follow.

(Excuse me a moment whilst I hyperventilate.)

And now I've made another foolish decision by telling the world. Then again if anyone out there has any experience of triathlons and would like to offer some words of wisdom I'm all ears.

Because to be honest they're the only thing that aren't aching right now.

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