My day started at 3 am!!!

My day started at 3am; with a quick breakfast and back to bed for 30 mins power nap, hoping that the wind and rain that had woken me had disappeared. Up again to the sound of gale force winds and Mike munching on more food we got our gear together and made our way to transition, amid a crowd of equally stressy triathletes I wasn’t helping as I really didn’t want to be there as the weather was s..t!! but the fact Mike had told me to stop being so f…ing negative!!! I thought I better perk-up sorry mate. The start had been delayed 15 minutes because of two days of monsoon weather on Friday and Saturday. We then made our way to the swim start pausing for photos with family and friends. In the water we swam our way to the starting buoys and awaited the start!! After 20! Minutes of treading water and having cramp we were finally off and I did my usual ten rounds with Mike Tyson in a cement mixer

During the initial stages of the swim, I knew the swim wasn’t going too well when I noticed Mike going past me on the second lap I could see the red of his eyes, the thought of pulling down his zip crossed my mind for a second but guessed it may not go down too well!. I finally dragged myself out of the water 69 minutes after the start, never likely to be anywhere near the front runners after the swim, I was just thankful that it was all over and I would be on my trusted steed in some minutes.

After fighting with my tri tops for what seemed like hours I exited T1, I was out on the bike and climbing out of Sherborne. The weather was cold and miserable and I was beginning to think only wearing a tri suit and arm warmers was not a wise move but After the first hill I was ok, had a good ride down to Dorchester but like most hit a brick wall all the way back to Sherborne, we had not only the hills to contend with but the gale force winds, only two laps to go!!! On the third lap coming up to Sherborne, I could hear what I thought was a rave going on only to see Cathy and the guys with a megaphone blasting out some home support of which was a great help eventually I made it back into the Castle grounds with a bike time of 6 hrs.

Once I was out of T2 and running I knew the race was on. I ran into Paulo on my second lap so that was great running with him for a lap. I said my goodbyes and knew all I would have was the two laps up the A30 to get over  After about 15 miles my knee was giving me a little problem but having Simon and Tim on the A30 road was good (I stopped and had a chat with Simon for five mins until he reminded me I was in a race!!)

Eventually I crossed the line in 11:20, 1hr 38minutes faster than last year and 55 in age group and feeling much fresher, no need for the hospital tent this year!. Next stop was the food tent and to try and put back in the 10,000 cals I had burned!! Always the best part of the race.

My dearest wife Julie, mum, brother and many friends were there to greet me, all of them had been doing a fantastic job around the grounds and out on the course. I managed to get 20 mins in the whirlpool, change and get my gear before Mike finally finished in under 13 hrs great effort no need for the glow sticks!! I shook his hand and swiftly lead him to the hospital tent! Mike thinking it was the food tent approached the man dressed IN WHITE WITH A STETHOSCOPE HANGING FROM HIS NECK who politely asked him what he was in need of which Mike responded to clearly with pizza and beer THE DOCTOR looking puzzled, patiently pointed in the opposite direction to the food tent, as he turned and saw me in stitches laying on the floor he had realised the joke was on him for a change!! As he would say HAPPY DAYS!!