There is an old saying that triathlons are enjoyed by people who think one sport is not hard enough!
Two years ago, after completing the Hamburg Ironman with Kathy, I entered The Lakesman Triathlon. But due to the pandemic it was postponed a year.
Well, on Sunday, I finally completed the middle distance triathlon, The Lakesman, in Keswick. It was a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.2 mile run. I came 34th out of 55 in my age group and achieved a personal best. I’ve only ever done one other middle distance triathlon, so that wasn't too difficult!
It was an amazing experience. I entered Derwent Water at 6 am; it was crystal clear and 17 degrees. 39 minutes later I struggled out of the lake and ran down to my bike. 3 hours and 56 miles later, after enjoying beautiful rolling countryside, I dropped my bike off to start the half marathon. My first six miles were on pace but as I started my second of three laps, my left knee started screaming at me to stop! I struggled onwards at a much slower pace and completed the half marathon in two hours and 15 minutes.
As I reflect on two years of training, with pools and gyms being shut, events postponed and motivation within sometimes being lacklustre, I conclude that, like financial planning, triathlons are simple but not easy. Set your goals, create a plan, stick to your plan, and modify it as and when your environment changes.
Simple, but not easy.