Just as the 2010 Triathlon season got underway, I found myself signing up for a 2011 event – The London Triathlon. Being the most popular Tri in the world, this was a necessity, but as a result, by the time it finally came around I had forgot about it and found myself franticly searching for a hotel the day before.
Hotel secured, I headed down the road, accompanied by friend and coach Mr Mark Hudson. We arrived at the Holiday Inn just in time for a few cheeky refreshments (always good for settling the nerves) before getting our heads down.
With an unusual 2.30pm wave time, and no small child to disturb me, I had the luxury of rolling out of bed at 9.00am. We made tracks down to the local McDonalds, for the breakfast of a champion – pancakes, sausages, syrup and porridge. From there we headed onto the Excel centre by London Docklands for registration and set up, and it was still only 10.30!
As I was finishing off my leisurely set up in transition I noticed some rather fit looking ladies sprinting into T2 – on closer inspection it was Jodie Stimpson and Liz Blatchford – two of the pro triathletes taking part in the Elite ladies race. So Mark and I did the decent thing and went to watch the lycra-clad ladies bounce around the run course. Shortly after, the Elite men arrived on the course. As we watched Stimpson run away with victory in the ladies race, and Nicholls break free from Stuart Hayes, Richard Stannard and the bunch to win the men’s race, it really brought home the joy of triathlon. Age groupers running side by side with professionals, and within touching distance of us as we watched from the sidelines. Fantastic!
After a quick look around the Exhibition (lots to spend your money on…) followed by some pasta I was ready for my race. With 400 in my wave, I knew it was going to be a bun fight at the start of the swim. And it proved to be so: arms, elbows and fists flying everywhere - in fact at one point I found myself on top of someone’s back, with my arm wrapped around their neck! Eventually it settled down, and I started to take in the docks and the slightly salty Thames water which was nowhere near as dirty as I expected. Sighting was made easy with buoys dotted approx every 20m up the course, which was a simple rectangular course – albeit, this made it a little dull with rather long straights. Eventually the final turn came along and then a dash for the exit point, and I was coming into T1 in 30 mins.
When I finally got through the massive transition area I was onto the bike, ready for the closed road section of the race. The only negative point to my afternoon start time came to light as it became apparent that instead of an iconic ride around Westminster, we had a run up and down the A13. That aside, it was a rather fast track, and after 8km of daydreaming I got my head down and quickly got a good pace going, and before I knew it I was coming into T2 after exactly 1hr.
As I exited T2, I had to do a double take as a large yellow bird caught my eye – yes, for the first time I came across someone having the courage/cheek to be completing a triathlon in FANCY DRESS! The positive part of this was I now had no excuses for not trailing my butt around this 4 lap course. In addition, the vociferous crowds cheered us along the way as well as my solo supporter Mark, keeping our legs turning over (albeit rather slowly!). I came across big bird again on my third lap, and as I passed by one bird, another one came into view – the sight of a British Airways 737 landing at the City Airport providing some distraction and respite from the mental pain of the run.
Finally, I was pushing up the ramp back into the Excel centre for the final time, and instead of having to turn back out for another lap, I pushed on through to the home straight and through the finishing line after 48 mins with a total time of 2hrs 24 mins, lungs burning but face smiling.
So, entry has opened already for 2012 (22nd/23rd September), and I would strongly recommend entering – despite the steep £87 fee it was well worth the money in the end. See you there next year!
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