A week before the competition I had withdrawn from the triathlon because a knee injury had not healed and I was not really fit to run. However my triathlon mentor, Val Place, a Sevenoaks tri club organiser, persuaded me I could still do the swim and the cycle and walk the 5 mile run if I felt able to. It was just a case of persuading my bag man husband Richard that he had to get up very early after all. Easy peasy! Helen James also joined us as a highly vocal supporter. However this year’s strange weather had one more trick in store – severe cold and frost, we had to scrape ice of the windscreen as we left at 5.40 am. My swim was at 7.15.
So a 440m swim in Sevenoaks leisure centre pool, then a 15 mile cycle and into a 5 mile run in hilly Knole Park. Chris Young was also competing but her swim was at a more convenient time of 9.10. [I hope Chris will report on her experience] The swim completed it was out into the freezing air and into my usual very slow transition. The cycle was absolutely freezing. Don’t forget I am dressed in only a wet swim suit and a long sleeved, thin sweater. The sun was shining but as I cycled past, Knole Park was a white, frosty fairyland. Most of us had frozen feet and hands until well into the run! The cycle was over a tough course of steep downs and uphills through beautiful Kent country side. Although the many holes in the road, which Sevenoaks tri club had kindly marked with yellow chalk rings, made whizzing down the steep hills very scary!
Arriving back at transition I felt ok and decided to carry on into the run. Those that know Knole Park will remember Webbs Alley, the steep, rutted, slippery path that leads into the park. Very tricky; I took the easy way and walked clinging onto the guard rail! The 5 mile run is almost continual climbing with the blessed downhills on the way back plus the added excitement of struggling up Webbs alley at the finish. I walked up the hills and jogged the few flat bits and downhills. I am quite proud of myself that I completed the course without too much trauma and the icing on the cake was winning the 70+ mega vet women’s title [although whisper it – I was the only 70+ woman!]
Sevenoaks is a brilliant triathlon, well organised and supported and deserves it's place as one of the best in the UK. Thank you to Helen, Val, Janice Bailey and of course Richard for their support. Next year? Maybe.