Mighty Hamptons Triathlon

17 Sep 07 @ 09:44 PM  category » sports

So, we did it. Alex arrived on Thursday evening and on Friday afternoon we drove up to the Barn. Alex got her ocean swim in before it got dark, although it wasn't as warm as I'd expected and it was a bit windy. We had an early night, what with her jetlag and all and lots to do on Saturday.

Problem was, it rained like a motherf***r on Friday night. Hard, driving and fast - and the sound of rain on the canvas of a yurt is really quite loud. I didn't sleep much...

We were a bit miserable on Saturday as it looked like it was going to rain all day. But luckily it cleared up by mid-afternoon. We did all our errands, and went to register and get Alex her suit and bike. Well, that proved complicated. Alex is so tiny they had to keep giving her a smaller wetsuit to try. Then they gave her one so small so got claustrophobia in the changing room. Difficult stuff.

So, the race itself: well, getting up at 4.30am for a race is uncivilised to say the least, and it is probably the reason I will never be a regular triathlete. Perhaps when I am much older I will take it more seriously - old people don't sleep as much. Aside: I've always thought that rather contrary. Old people usually have less to do with their day than younger people, so they should sleep more, and young people should sleep less. Who said "Youth is wasted on the young"? Francis Bacon, I think.

Anyway, grump aside, we got there and got set up. Not with much time to spare, and so, suddenly, we were off. I'll spare you the blow by blow details, god, how dull, but suffice to say the swim seemed much further than it needed to be, the bike was stunningly beautiful, and the run was, well, exhausting, but considering I hadn't thought I'd be able to run at all, I was just glad to be doing it.

And I finished just 3 or 4 minutes slower than my last tri, so - without much training, and with a dodgy toe - I think I acquitted myself adequately. Alex loved it, completely, and so I think we have a new convert. She'll have to come out and do one with me every year, and I'll do one in London with her too. I hear Windsor is lovely...

It is a great way to spend a Sunday, once you are awake.