The 800 metre swim was in the open water of the lake and because of the heat wave wet suits were banned – the first time this had happened at Dorney lake in 18 years. All those early morning practise swims in Tooting Bec lido with a wet suit were not needed in the end. However the weather was not quite as hot and worries about dehydration and sunstroke in this long event did not materialize. Women only Triathlon races of various distances were scheduled all day from early morning till late afternoon and our Challenge event [the longest event] started at 12.45. The 800 metre swim, 30 k bike [flat and fast around the huge perimeter of the lake] and 7.5k [3 times up and down one side of the lake]. Brilliant for spectators, unrelenting for competitors.
Three Bromley Veterans competed: Janice Bailey, Helen James and myself. We were definitely the oldest competitors although we were placed in the 40+ section! There was a mass start of about 50 women for the swim and the water felt very comfortable. The swim was exciting and very enjoyable, twice round a 400 metre course. A jog to the bike and away on 6 laps of the lake. Because there were several different races of differing lengths, the bike course was like Hyde Park corner in the rush hour!
Although I was first [of us three] out of the swim, Janice soon caught me on the bike and in fact lapped me again! Janice is an expert cyclist. My abiding memory of the bike ride was seeing competitors [with big fat bottoms and sit up and beg bikes] from shorter races passing me at speed! Then into the run, all three of us were fairly tired by this time and Janice was suffering from breathlessness because of asthma as well. Despite a cloudy sky most of the time Helen managed to get sun burnt and also had to suffer a photographer poking his camera in her face during the crucial transition period. Helen was apparently featured on Meridian news [where is that?] later that day. Such is the price of celebrity.
Altogether a successful triathlon day. In fact Monday’s [July 6th] Daily Telegraph featured two celebrities – Gaby Logan was one - who had competed in the novice race and a photo of a mass swim start which happened to be our race – and there I am in my white goggles with black lens amongst all the other anonymous swimmers in hats and goggles. Only Janice and Helen would know it was me!
Janice Bailey 2.26.23 = swim 21.29, cycle 1.03.43, run 56.16
Maureen Farish 2.39.07 = swim 20.04, cycle 1.22.40, run 50.41
Helen James 2.52.15 = swim 22.30, cycle 1.25.34, run 58.58
214 competitors ages u30/30-39/40+ competed: Janice – 187, Maureen 201, Helen 209. Not bad for three pensioners.