Chapter 15 Virgin to Novice, COG HOG and DCOG

IN THE BEGINNING...

Blenheim - I DID IT ! 

The story so far, by Chapter 14 I had completed my first ever Triathlon Sprint (1hour 42m) and in a moment of endorphin rush had gone on to book another 3 for the end of the year and a 100 mile bike ride. So I had indeed become part of that statistic which said that 70% of triathletes go on to do another triathlon. PAH wise words! I admit I was now hooked and having survived - I mean completed - my first triathlon I now wanted to improve upon my times....... 

So for this chapter I was going to go into an in-depth analysis of each of my next 3 triathlons, which I did type out and have just deleted because I realised it was really really boring. People were beginning to glaze over at dinner parties when the dreaded "T" word was mentioned. So for those that are interested my times are below and for those who are really interested I'll show you my spreadsheet one day! ....And now my biggest challenge is to continue to make this blog entertaining......

THE NEXT CHAPTER IN MY LIFE - What Cathy did next.

Many things happened to me over the summer which some of you are aware of and boy some of my findings would make a fascinating blog - maybe another time, and under another name. Some of those women are parents at school.  Soooo....... 


CYCLING 

Helmet since changed - See COG below

I managed to pack some cycling in over the summer, had some great rides. Chain continued to fall off. Great if you can persuade someone else to put it back on. I have noticed a reticence amongst other race participants to stop and help with this during a race so have had to get my hands dirty on occasion. Turns out it was the hanger rail as suspected - now straightened so all now good. See I even know some technical equipment terms,  before all this I thought a hanger rail was something you hung your latest collection on! 

CHECK ME OUT - COGS, DCOG, HOGS and..

Mamil in all the right gear

I've realised there is a certain code of conduct rather like the Mason's handshake amongst cyclists. This first became apparent from postings on Facebook where certain cycling individuals critiqued my bike and accessories. It was like Bike Nip they couldn't help themselves. Comments on reflectors, saddle dimensions, saddle bag size, drinks carrier, tyres, handlebar tape etc. And whilst out cycling other cyclists do the C.O.G the Cycling Aptitude Onceover Glance.(I know, I know I missed the A out). This is rather like the D.C.O.G Diamond Count Onceover Glance, which has happened to me at certain dinner parties with certain materialist individuals and people from Alderley Edge. You can see their eyes moving over you as they mentally scan the number, clarity and size of the diamonds you are wearing. Ears check, Necklace check, Engagement ring size check. Yuk.

Wine Bag - the perfect handbag ?

Also similar to H.O.G - Handbag Onceover Glance which used to happen a lot at the marketing agency I used to work at. Walk into meeting - handbag on the table - bosh - Mulberry - oh yes check me out (not me I hasten to add). Oh Blow! - out trumped by a Chanel! We'll do the minutes then. I think men probably play this with watches. And that's where I think I should leave my acronyms! So.....

Check Me Out! I know I have a nice bike and I think this has lulled some people to falsely believe I know what I'm doing. On this basis I have been allowed on bike rides that quite frankly were way out of my league. Which becomes blatantly obvious quite quickly when they leave me for dust, cycling through treacle humming "Things Can Only Get Better" and sucking on a cherry drop.

TRICLUB INITIATION SUNDAY RIDE

And it rained and it rained and it rained

This weekend I went for my first Sunday Club Ride with the Tri Club I had joined - about a year ago! The C.a.O.G was done at the beginning of the ride:- drop handlebars, no reflectors, no visor on my helmet, cleats, a Ridley bike, even some cycling lycra with the little lobster logo on. Check me out! so far, so good,  I had passed the first test, maybe my glasses had let me down? I had also learned some hand signals at Tricamp so I kinda knew what I was doing, I could speak their coded-language too. My first initiation ride with the Tri Club was to be to the Surrey Hills in what can only be described as biblical rain. Rivers for roads, wasn't sure what the hand signal for otters swimming in the road because it's flooded was. 

I could hear myself chattering away nervously dropping into conversation various cycling tit-bits to back up my cycling credentials, Sa Calobra bla bla, 100mile bike ride bla bla, triathlons bla bla, Mallorca bla bla.  But this couldn't disguise the fact that they were just a hellava lot faster than me and I was holding them up. I have to confess though this did work to my advantage when I skidded and fell off. They were so far ahead of me no-one saw as my back wheel skidded underneath me while going down hill braking furiously to try and avoid ending up in the boot of a Ford Focus. I yelped like a girl (I am a girl) all the way, attached to my bike by my cleats, I landed wet and soggy in the road. Fuck! Quick! get up Catherine no-one saw - I giggled to myself! Got away with it. And at least I wasn't the guy who had 3 punctures! Still didn't get to the fabled Box Hill, so this is still on the bucket list, maybe on a sunny day?.


THE RIPPLE EFFECT

My Age Group Category - that's quite a ripple

It seems that it has occurred to a few people that bloody hell if that Catherine Jevans can do a Triathlon - it can't be that difficult. I've had lots of my lovely friends saying the blog has inspired them to do more exercise and set themselves a challenge.   So buoyed by this positive ripple effect I spied my next victim. I'd heard that a lady from school was interested in doing Triathlon's so I collared her and told her I had been a virgin Triathlete last year too. " Read my blog" I said "it's all about a numpty starting out."  I saw her a couple of weeks later -  ME: "Have you entered Blenheim yet?"  HER: "I read your blog and I'm having second thoughts, it scared me" she avoids my gaze these days. Looks like my recruitment technique needs some fine tuning. Although Chris my boss who I lured into Triathlons is the other extreme. Not content with piddly little Sprints  after 1 Triathlon - he's aiming for Olympic distances next year and has his full training and race schedule fully mapped out. On a spreadsheet no doubt! He may even have persuaded me to do 1 Olympic distance next year - Oh Shit! (1.5k swim, 40k bike and 10k run) That's going to hurt. 

Other friends told me how they had been at a Spa and read an article about middle aged women doing Triathlons because of a mid-life crisis. "Oh how we laughed" she said "We thought of you!".She had actually hit the nail on the head. Mid-life crises aren't funny. But at least sport and excessive amounts of exercise are a positive outlet for it - and you can eat as many snacks as you like.

In fact I love my age-group category. Apart from when I'm standing on the side of a lake and they are squashed into their wet-suits beside me. Have you seen the size of some of their limbs? - you could have my front teeth out with that!

AM I SADIST?
In October I did the 100 mile Tour of the Forest in Loughborough with fellow cyclists Gareth, Gary and Nick, my new Strava friends. It was a cold morning, according to the Lycra cycling kit! The ride was a long old northern slog, but we all did it, some fuelled purely by Jaffa cakes.This was despite a few more hills than were forecast. But we all completed. And like the biblical bike ride in the rain I did really enjoy it. I got a kick out of the challenge.  And boys I have to say until you've done Sa Calobra nothing feels like a hill in comparison. You need to get yourselves out to Mallorca!.

100mile gang - Me, Gary, Nick and Gareth (Bethan on wall)

MY TOP TIPS for TRIATHLON
1. Always have a tune to sing in your head when things are going wrong mine is "Things can only get better"
2. My in depth research of 4 Tri-athlons has concluded that Cherry Drops are my boiled sweet of choice.
3. Always remember where EXACTLY you've racked your bike - saves valuable time in transition.
4. Don't take other peoples cycling helmets home with you after an event - that's stealing.
5. Don't forget you've put your wet cycling shoes on the radiator at home and not actually left them at the event, thus wasting those poor people in the lost property department's time. Thank you Oliver at Hever Castle.
6. I could go into a whole lot of detail about periods, Trisuits and Triathlons but here is not the place. Actually some of the women in my age-group category don't have to worry about this anymore.
7. Don't eat gels they make you gag. Bloc sweets are good though.
8. Make sure your bike is in the right gear to suit the first part of the bike leg. And don't laugh at the people on mountain bikes as they struggle up the hill looking beetroot red. And definitely resist the temptation to say "you should get a road bike".
9. Try not to stare at the men peeling off their wetsuits as they come out of the lake dripping wet into transition. That might be another reason for middle aged women taking up Triathlons? Sod Robbie Williams, these boys have pecs.
10. Try not to think what might actually be lurking at the bottom of that muddy lake beside the old castle as you swim across it.

THE TRIATHLON THE TIMES - I did in deed knock time off my first ever Triathlon! Yeeessssssssa!

Still Smiling ! 

Triathlon 2 - Thames Turbo August 25th - Pissing rain.
TIME: 1:27.12. 7th in Age Group category.

Triathlon 3 - Woburn Abbey 7th September - Sunny
TIME: 1:27.31. 8th in Age Group category.45th overall - OMG that must be wrong!

Triathlon 4 - Hever Castle 27th September - Warm Very Very Hilly (did I mention it was hilly?)
TIME: 1:28.20. 22nd/200 in my age group. Oh yes I think I can actually do this tri thing.


Next Chapter.....Goals
Swim:-Better and don't retch 
Bike:- Faster Longer Harder (oerrrr sounds a bit rude!)
Run:-  Without injury and maybe with some new shoes and over 10k. 

Chapter 14 - The Next Chapter, cake and the CIA.

A NEW CHAPTER

Chocolate & Banana cake for the CIA

I was going to start a new blog as I am no longer a Tri-virgin, but superstition wouldn't let me end on Chapter 13 as it seemed unlucky.  I'm not really one for horoscopes ....oh wait a minute yes I am. So one more chapter under this title I reckon and then I'll start afresh.

Blenheim Triathlon was 6 weeks ago now - and my next triathlon is in 6 weeks time. A lot has happened in those 6 weeks - but that is a whole different blog! Sometimes life hits you hard and saps your energy, and having had my chakra's realigned recently I realised I needed to listen to my body and give myself a break. You can tell my mum is now reading this blog! - actually it will be a miracle if she has managed to open up the link.  She is paranoid about technology and is convinced that the CIA or Scotland Yard are bugging her calls. I've told her they're probably not really interested in any conversations we may have had about Chocolate and Banana cake recipes. We're not really a threat to national security so I doubt Chocolate and Banana cake is even showing on their terrorist radar. But they are always welcome to come around and sample my Chocolate and Banana cake, anytime they're in the area. Just in case they're reading this!

Mum has also taken to emailing me, well she forwards me an email with a title, a list of people copied into the email and a message saying "this email has no content". But we all have to start somewhere. So mum if you like the CIA are also reading this - I'm sorry about the swearing! 

Week after Blenheim.

Fleece worn strictly after sporting activity only

I was definitely on a high after completing Blenheim, I ordered the photo's, the tag to go on the back of the medal, watched the videos, liked the facebook page. Hashed and re-hashed the results table, and horror of horror nearly wore the event hoodie to do the school pick up - I refrained. Lycra is one thing at the school gates but the hoodie seemed a step too far. Anything made from sweatshirt fabric should only be worn around the house or after some sporting activity to keep out hyperthermia in my opinion. Camping may also be an exception to the rule. But only because it gets dark very quickly and no-one can see you. Anyway......

The Triathlon Effect

After Blenheim my son had told me how proud he was of me, which meant the world.   Sports day was looming, he hates sports day with a passion. My daughter on the other hand relishes every minute and is athletic. The night before Sports Day my son comes downstairs with a tummy ache. "I hate sports day it's the worst day of my life".....Me "Oh you never know it might get rained off. You can do it just do your best. I never won either and I did my best but there was always someone faster so don't worry about it".  The day arrived, I was dreading it too now.  First event toss the bean bag (not an Olympic event granted) he came 1st.  2nd event long jump ...1st.  Running 2nd.  At the end of Sports Day Max had got 3 firsts, 1 second and 2 thirds. He went from strength to strength. I was bursting with pride, and he was King of the Heap.  Me:- "Well done Max, I was so proud of you today, you were great".  Max "I did it because you said I could do it Mummy".  Sob sob. 

What Next?

Fan-Dabby-Dozy wee Jimmy the main Man Krankie

In an attempt to keep the momentum going I've booked another 3 Triathlon Sprints. Need something to keep me distracted. Yes, not an Ironman or a half marathon or anything else that people may have tried to persuade me would be "right up my street". I now have some times to work on, as has been made clear to me by:-
A) TriCamp Nick Dunn - who suggested my sprint finish in the 5k run indicates a lack of effort in the rest of the run! and 
B) The woman I met whilst swimming at Hampton Open Air Pool. I overheard 2 fellow swimmers (quite a feat with a swimming cap on) discussing the Hampton Triathlon which I've entered. I happened to mention I'd just completed Blenheim Triathlon and she asked me my finish time. Me "1hr 42mins" looks chuffed with self - "Oooo" she said "Olympic distance?"...Me slightly less chuffed  "Er No Sprint...anyway I'm working on my laps goto go". Some people are so catty. Actually talking of catty. The other person in the conversation was Eric.  Eric made me realise the swimming pool is a great place for short men to pull. You've no idea how tall someone is whilst bobbing around in the shallow end. It's only when they get out you realise you've just been talking to wee Jimmy Krankie. Think he's a safe 70s entertainer to mention? Well I say he.  Anyway.....

Like Minded people?

I'm still not sure about the mentality of some of these triathletes - some of them seem to be sadists I've decided, who are just out to intimidate others. An illustration.

Ducks home to roost ?

I went for a beginners open water swim lesson at Shepperton Lake one Sunday morning. A great way to start the day.  Five of us bobbed in our wetsuits around the instructor in the canoe, all slightly nervous at what we may be expected to do. What is it about open water swimming ? I used to love swimming before all of this. Maybe the wetsuit really is too tight and is cutting off some circulation to my brain. So the instructor explains we're going to work on our stroke around a 750m course. Woman behind shoots her hand up "Oh I thought this was an endurance lesson?" ....I cut in maybe rather too quickly "No it's not!". No the instructor reiterates this is about technique.  Woman disappointed "Oh I thought we were working on our stamina". At this point nervous pupil number 5 hastily swims back to the bank. I wanted to tell her to "Fuck Off then we will NOT be working on stamina or endurance today, you're in the wrong class".  At each bouy the instructor stops and talks through each of our strokes and tells us what we need to work on.  Any question I have for the instructor, the woman, lets call her Helga, feels the need to interpret for me. Helga to me  "Did you understand that ? what he's saying is...." what I want to say is "Helga if you just shut up, I will understand exactly what he's saying because I will be able to hear what he is saying to me." 

My "little" brother and I.

Have I got "fuckwit" written on my swimming cap or something? Actually maybe those stars on my cap are like that Magic Eye thing from the 90s and if you squint hard enough they do indeed spell "Fuckwit". More than likely, because my brother was the one who bought my swimming cap for me.  He did once tell me that the police sell off any unclaimed stolen bikes. Off I naively trotted to Worthing police station to get a bargain mountain bike.  The officers seemed rather perplexed when I asked if they had any stolen bikes for sale.  I was nearly arrested for wasting police time. Oh yes my little brother is really funny.

So my new aims are:-

G) Hair Off. Seconds Off.

A) Be happy.
B) Improve confidence in my swimming, do more open water practice.
C) Learn about the little cog and big cog whilst cycling so I don't have to keep putting my chain back on. Very messy.
D) At some point I need to ensure I can mend a puncture.
E) Run harder. Turn that darn coaching woman off on Mapmyride. 
F) Keep banana and chocolate cake ingredients in the cupboard in case I get a visit from the CIA.
G) Get haircut to improve aerodynamics.
H) Don't chat up men in swimming pools - something I suspected in Chapter 1 to be fair.
I)Oh and aim to beat my last triathlon time by 10 minutes.  So 1hour 42mins to beat. Too ambitious maybe?...OK 7 minutes. OK 7-10minutes. It's been a long month.

Next event:-  Monday 25th August 2014. Watch this space.

Chapter 13 Losing my tri-virginity

T time !

So the day I was to lose my tri-virginity had finally arrived - Saturday 7th June 2014. I wasn't wearing a Laura Ashley ball gown this time either! I hadn't really slept that much as I just wanted to get on and do it. It hadn't helped that the last facebook message I had read before going to bed was this on my Triclub timeline...."Apparently the weather tomorrow is going to be epically bad. Flood warnings and thunder. I assume if there is lightening they close the lake? " Marvelous that was reassuring. Yep and sure enough when I awoke it was absolutely tipping down with rain - lovely weather for ducks as they say. On the upside I wouldn't be getting too dehydrated I guess. 

Bag packed ready to go - banana skin in case of emergency

We packed the car....eventually - various to-ing and fro-ing with children's spare clothing wasn't helping my frayed nerves. Bet the Brownlee brothers don't have that fiasco before a race. Seeing beautiful Bailey the bike strapped to the back of the car in the pouring rain felt wrong too. I'd have had the seats down and it wrapped in a blanket, but that would mean leaving the kids at home alone with a packet of Oreos and some Monster Munch and I think that's illegal.  

Squidgy Stickers

LESSONS LEARNT
There are things you learn as you go along. And some things I fear I will never learn!. Don't stick your race number to your bike before the race. Especially if its not wrapped in a blanket in the back of the car but exposed cruelly to the elements on a rack. And especially if it's pouring with rain. Because by the time you get to the event your race number is peeling off, if it hasn't already slid off onto the motorway 5 miles back.  By the time we got to Blenheim it was torrential rain so we were soaked before we had even started. My support crew Matt, Georgia and Max looked dead chuffed to be spectating in the rain. My daughter Georgia  suggested they would be cheering me on from the inside of a cafe.  One of her many helpful comments that morning.

My brother was already doing his Sprint in the pouring rain. Poor sod it really wasn't very nice. My nerves were really starting to kick in, I just wanted to get to the transition area and sort my kit out and rack my bike. (oh yeah baby I've got the terminology now).

READY....

I made it to the transition area 2 hours before the swim!! But in my defence while this may seem premature, it did give me plenty of time to accustom myself with the swim, bike and run exits and ins - here, here and here. And also the views were quite spectacular and the surrounding countryside was nice too!
I put my wetsuit on - I was identified as a virgin immediately as a kind gentleman suggested I pulled the back of my wetsuit to enable zippage. Thank you very much. I also for the first time in my life had to ask a strange man if I could borrow his baby oil. In fact for the record I've never asked ANY man strange or familiar to borrow his baby oil.  Anyway....I'd chickened out of buying lube at the local pharmacy before school pick up so had brought along a tin of vaseline.  With nerves and pissing down rain I couldn't get the blasted lid off to lubricate my neck, ankles and wrists. So I swallowed my pride and made the odd request. I tried not to over indulge lest I slip my way along the transition matting like an oily fish. Awkward. I was now swim ready. FYI for those who are triathlon virgins (unlike myself) I wore my trisuit under my wetsuit - and no, no knickers, but a sports bra.  Always good to share - see not afraid to answer those awkward questions. Anyway.... 

The Swim - 750m open lake - time taken 16.20mins

Brother and I with crew - before swim - gulp!

Ahhh look at the mummy duck with her 6 little fluffy chicks swimming in the lake. Actually don't! because if you look along the bank you will notice there are no Donald or Jemima toilet blocks in existence. Because the lake is not only their playground it's their toilet too. Naayce. I stood by the lake with my race category.  That sounds super fast doesn't it? yes well I was with 170 other middle aged women in wetsuits. Some of those wetsuit zips were positively industrial. And yes the thought was occurring to me about some of them that if they swim over the top of me I WILL drown. We gathered into our pen with our very fetching green swim caps to be briefed. Some women started crying which is not just about the hormone levels within this age group category- they were just bloody scared! I was telling myself - it's just a lovely swim across a lake on a summers day. And I had a tune to sing in my head when the going got tough "Things can only get better" by D'ream. 

I'm the one in the green swimming cap.

We all got in - nervous giggling, and gasps of how cold it was, it was 18 degrees for the record, and then we were off. Nothing actually prepares for you for the thrashing sound of 170 women splashing frantically around you.  I could feel myself panicking. I did the cardinal sin I resorted to breast stroke for a couple of strokes just to keep my head above water. Then I tried front crawl with my head above water, but I started to get dizzy.  I was getting nowhere fast and it felt terrible.  I looked over at one of the canoeists - I'm just going to swim over to him and ask him to get me out, I can't do this, it was fright or flight and fright was definitely winning. And then I thought about all the people who had wished me good luck on facebook and all the people who had been reading this blog. How could I tell them I didn't even do it - I failed within the first 5 minutes? All this nonsense only to fail at the first hurdle. I hadn't even kept any of the Sigma Sport till receipts to take all the stuff back. I looked at the big inflatable at the end of the lake and I figured the easiest and quickest way to get this over and done with was..... to swim properly - I could do this. Starts singing in head "Walk my path, you can wear my shoes, learn to tawk lake me and be an angel too, things can only get better, only get, can only get, only get better, can only get only get, can only get better - saxophone bit - I sometimes lose myself in me, I lose track of time and I can't see the wood from the trees." and then before I knew it I was crawling on all fours up the bank, I mean walking out of the lake like Ursula Andress. No I WAS on all fours gasping. But bloody hell the worst bit was over. Not since I went up Sa Calobra on my bike had I felt such a sense of achievement. Now all I had to do was get on the lovely bike for 20k.

If that giant duck doesn't give you nightmares I don't know what will

Transition 1 - Out of Wetsuit, into socks, cycling shoes, onto bike.  And time for some fuel. 

I'm Alive ! High Five ! 

They taught transition techniques at TriCamp to get a really speedy time.  I wasn't about winning I was about finishing.  So I took my time in T1.  All 7 minutes 29 seconds. Chatting away, folding my wetsuit, gagging on gels. Yes gagging on gels. OMG I'd never had a gel before, probably a mistake not to try something you are going to eat during a race.  I took one mouthful and started gagging quite loudly in the transition area. "Oh my god" I shouted to anyone who was listening. (No-one they were all looking at their PBs) "these are absolutely disgusting". Shit - I'm relying on these to fuel me around the next bit. I tried another mouthful, something about the texture the taste - bleurgh heave yuk.  Right - better get on the bike, I had some energy drink on my bike.

The Bike Ride - 20k - time taken 45mins 19 seconds.

The next bit was fab, on the lovely bike off I went. A chance to take the weight off, sit back, relax, drink and eat my boiled sweet. The boiled sweet like the ones you get in hotel receptions in my mind made everything seem normal like a sunday afternoon bike ride in the park. Actually it also took away the taste of pond life from my mouth! No sweat. Everything was going well until I was going up a hill and the chain came off! "Bugger" I got off the bike. "My chain came off!" I said to the passing cyclists.  Ahh yes - there was not a catch chance that any of these triathletes were going to stop and help me today - they all seemed to be on a mission. I was going to have to get my hands dirty and put it back on myself - or it's game over. Luckily I'm not a complete fuckwit so I did it and it worked - off I went again. Bit faster this time cos that woman in the pink cycling shorts had now overtaken me. And it was lovely seeing Matt, Georgia, Max my brother Mat and nephew Luke cheering me on at the corner. I was actually doing this, and it felt quite fast.

Yes I know my helmet looks like a bonnet!

After 3 laps around the lake I approached transition. I wasn't going to be so slovenly this time at transition. I began to take my helmet off - "NO! STOP! DON"T TAKE YOUR HELMET OFF OR YOU"RE DISQUALIFIED" a woman shouted at me. Another lesson learned - don't take your helmet off until you get into transition or you're disqualified. Phew that was close. That's 3 lives I've nearly used!

Transition 2 - Bike to Run. 

Helmet off, bike racked. Cycling shoes off, running shoes on. Slurp of water off we go.

The Run - 5.6k - time taken 30mins 37 seconds.

On the home straight

Off down the matting I ran. A lot of this triathlon lark in fact any sporting challenge is about state of mind. I decided to tell myself it was just a normal 5.6k run around a park, forget that you've just done the other 2 activities.  By now the sun had come out and it was feeling quite hot. The run was definitely sorting the men from the boys, people were now really tiring. Which actually was good for me pyschologically as every person I passed felt like a major victory and spurred me on. When I reached my support crew my daughter ever encouraging me on shouted loudly "you need to brush your hair mummy it's a mess" yep that's what they shout to Paula Radcliffe I'm sure. I also overheard a rather overweight specatator turn to his wife and say disappointedly "I thought they'd be much faster" - I turned and glared at him, I wanted to shout "You bloody come and do this then !!".  But everyone cheering you on really does wonders for the spirit, it was such a great atmosphere.  I did find the need to interact with everyone I met - perhaps less chatter, high fiving and jokes next time and I might improve on my times! The finish line was in sight - I found energy from somewhere and went for a sprint finish. Which I have to say I was pretty impressed with. When I told TriCamp Nick Dunn current World Champion my performance - he suggested that if I'd managed to do a sprint finish it meant I hadn't run hard enough for the rest of the run. That put me in my transition box!! 

Results:- Total time taken to lose virginity 1hour 42secs
Well I haven't really been logging my times I wasn't really bothered. But when the results came out, that was a whole different matter. Suddenly it's a numbers game and I'm cutting it anyway I can to get a good result. I got some string, some new non dried out felt tips and a piece of paper. So times as follows:- 

750m Swim:- 16mins 20 seconds. 
Transition1:-   7mins 29 seconds.
20k Bike:- 45mins 19 seconds
Transition2:- 2mins 30 seconds
5.6k Run:- 30mins 37 seconds.

I came 48th overall out of 170 in my age group category. 52nd/170 for the swim, 46th/170 on the bike and 37th/170 on the run.  For my first transition I was definitely left way behind I was 141st/170. That wetsuit really is a bugger to get off !! Yep yep oh what did my brother do it in ? Oh that.....1hour 34mins.  And I have to say the conditions for him were horrible. So big respect.  But there is room for me to improve !! Watch Out little brother ! 

What's next...

Well I've got the bug. I heard somewhere, I can't remember where, that only 7% of people who do their first triathlon DON'T go on to do another one. Well I'm hooked I've booked another 4 for the rest of the year.  I need to improve on my PBs. Oh No - I've become that woman in the changing room from Chapter 4.  

Thank you so much to everyone who has encouraged me on my endeavours this year, and allowed me to become a Tri-bore and especially to those who got me into this fine mess in the first place! 

Finally what really made my day was when my 9 year old son Max turned to me in the car on the way home and said "Mummy, do you know what ? I was so proud of you today". 

Max, Me and Georgia - it's over !

All content strictly copyright Catherine Jevans 2014.

Chapter 12 - The final countdown to losing tri-virginity

1 week to go.......

Les Miserables Number 2133 not 666 as my brother told me !

So all roads lead to Blenheim ! It's been a long journey, but a very productive one and I've thoroughly enjoyed the process.  And all the lovely people I've encountered along the way. My final hurdle was to overcome the open water swimming in a wet suit. My last attempt had rather spectacularly failed in Mallorca - as witnessed by most of my family and good friends. Luckily not my brother who would have taken great delight in mocking me. Always laugh with, not at.

FIRST UK SEA SWIM MAY 26th 2014

Yes that is me.

So when a visit to Seaford for the last week in May for a sea swim was suggested it sounded very jolly. I imagined picnic rugs on the beach and sunscreen...... But No! my first UK sea swim was on a very miserable grey wet day. I bullied my brother's friend Andrew into coming along too. Well I figured with the 3 of us 1 of us at least would be able to call the coastguard. We asked the kids if they wanted to come and watch - they didn't even look up from their Ipods.  And my sister-in-law turned the kettle back on and retired to the sofa with a magazine. Just the 3 of us then. And quite literally we were the only 3 on the beach. Apart from 1 dog walker.

But it was fab - Andrew and my brother were great - very patronising - I mean reassuring and encouraging.  I actually really enjoyed it. Brown murk in front of your eyes - no lines to guide you. Slight issue with guiding - I kept ending up on the beach. Like Sammy the seal from Cromer beach we saw one New Year. But it was definitely doable. I've come a long way.

Sammy the battered seal rather like me after the open water swim 

TRANSITION

What I didn't enjoy was the getting out of the wetsuit and changing on the beach.  I had to borrow my 15 year old niece's swim suit as I had accidently packed my running shorts by mistake. No selfies available of that one not pretty. Topless swimming very continental but not in Seaford and not with siblings.  So getting my wetsuit and then my teeny teenage swimsuit off in the cold was tricky. And I'd been a stranger to the Immac so was feeling quite shy! It's a very stoney beach at Seaford, so I was hopping around like a lepracorn trying to maintain my dignity. The boys very politely turned away. And then when I was finally fully clothed my brother very simply said "You may need to work on your transition!" Very funny.This is the man who said to me that at his first Tri at Blenheim he took 15 minutes in transition, but as he said "I may have taken 15 minutes but I looked sharp". I'm definitely applying lipstick in transition 
then.

HAPPY SEA SWIM NO.2 31ST MAY 2014

DIVE DIVE DIVE

My second swim of May half term was on lovely Mothercombe beach near the village where I grew up in Devon.  The conditions were ideal - the sun was shining, the beach is sandy and soft.  Perfect conditions but alas I forgot my goggles and hat this time (probably too busy putting on lipstick). So I could swim but didn't have the courage to swim with my eyes open. So I swam blind but not for very long, and my mother was shouting at me from the shoreline to come back in! She thinks all this exercise lark is dangerous. She once asked me if I should be running whilst I had my period! Had she not seen the Bodyform adverts you can rollerskate and everything with a period these days! She has also pointed out very usefully that there is a full moon when I do my Triathlon. I haven't asked.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FINAL WEEK ?

Nutrition very important in the final week.

After several sleepless nights, I really wasn't sure what I should be doing the week leading upto the Triathlon so I asked Nick at TriCamp and he gave me a daily routine. Thanks for that Nick you're a star. My main concern now was how I was going to get from one activity to the next. Then my lovely encouraging brother rang and goes through it with me. Thanks Mat. Not sure if he's really helping me or this is just some really big piss take on his behalf. Anyway.....


Brother:- What about Nutrition ? You know there is no cake stop on the bike ride ? Or Latte ?  
Me:- I'm thinking "gels, carb loading and an energy drink" - No idea what any of that means, except I have rather embraced the carb loading bit in the run up. Going to look like Tweedledum in my Trisuit. I now can't decide whether on night's out I should wear my wetsuit or my Trisuit. Anyway.... 

We've decided that I should wear a fin on my back for the open water swim. And Steve the Ironman Knitter from TriCamp  and I decide false nails were not a good idea.Chris Scott my boss gave me the top tip of "don't chew a toffee when you're swimming Catherine, you can't breathe" how does he know? He tried it at the local swimming pool! - he's very good at wine tasting though.

Then after much debate there is universal agreement that it's definitely worth wearing socks for run and bike, rather than risk blisters. Rather defeated when I go out on Wednesday night with my girlfriends in new shoes and get blisters.....Ho Hum. Never mind. They were the only thing that matched my wetsuit! 

Bikini line done to save any transition embarassment.  Hairdresser booked for the photographer from Outdoor Fitness that's being sent to follow me. Those photo's are not going to be good are they? Lets hope he's good at retouching as well!

So I'm ready, only a few more sleeps.....Wish me luck and I'll be sure to report back.

Ducks nearly all in a row.

PS No ducks or seals were harmed in the writing of this blog.


All content strictly copyright Catherine Jevans 2014.