Leeds Castle Triathlon – Sprint distance - Saturday 23rdJune (from the perspective of a newbie to triathlon)
After a very early start (4:30am alarm call for me – though being midsummer it was already light) Helen, Katie, Chris, Angela and Cathy arrived at Leeds Castle to register for this event. We collected a vast assortment of race numbers and bike labels – but despite all these we each also had to have our race number written on one leg and one hand in black pen.
Chris, Angela and myself had entered as a relay team, while Helen and Katie were doing the full triathlon. Once the bikes were in the transition area, and swimmers zipped up in their wet suits, it was time for the briefing. As a newbie, the briefing seemed to be full of rules that if broken would lead to DQ (disqualification), and explaining a very complicated route. (After listening I realised that I was going to have to rely on following the people in front.)
It was soon time for the wave in which Chris would start her swim. We watched as each wave of the swimmers entered the castle moat. There was a drone above – taking the pictures/videos of them.
Angela didn’t have long to wait in the chip handover area for Chris to appear – then she was off on the cycle leg of the event. This was the longest section of the event, the route being mostly outside the grounds of the castle. Angela arrived back within the time she’d estimated, and passed on the chip to me for the run. The run route was somewhat hilly. However, there was one advantage of the height gained - a lovely long downhill, with a perfect view of the moated castle. The finish line was soon in sight, at which point Angela and Chris could join me so that we could all collect our medals well-stocked goodie bags and fluorescent green t-shirts together.
As newbies, Chris Angela and myself enjoyed this triathlon, and now want to do another.
Congratulations to Helen and Katie who did all three disciplines, Katie coming first in her age group.
Congratulations also to Frances Burnham, David Palmer, Dan and Ali who raced in the Standard distance triathlon on the next day – Sunday 24 June.
After a very early start (4:30am alarm call for me – though being midsummer it was already light) Helen, Katie, Chris, Angela and Cathy arrived at Leeds Castle to register for this event. We collected a vast assortment of race numbers and bike labels – but despite all these we each also had to have our race number written on one leg and one hand in black pen.
Chris, Angela and myself had entered as a relay team, while Helen and Katie were doing the full triathlon. Once the bikes were in the transition area, and swimmers zipped up in their wet suits, it was time for the briefing. As a newbie, the briefing seemed to be full of rules that if broken would lead to DQ (disqualification), and explaining a very complicated route. (After listening I realised that I was going to have to rely on following the people in front.)
It was soon time for the wave in which Chris would start her swim. We watched as each wave of the swimmers entered the castle moat. There was a drone above – taking the pictures/videos of them.
Angela didn’t have long to wait in the chip handover area for Chris to appear – then she was off on the cycle leg of the event. This was the longest section of the event, the route being mostly outside the grounds of the castle. Angela arrived back within the time she’d estimated, and passed on the chip to me for the run. The run route was somewhat hilly. However, there was one advantage of the height gained - a lovely long downhill, with a perfect view of the moated castle. The finish line was soon in sight, at which point Angela and Chris could join me so that we could all collect our medals well-stocked goodie bags and fluorescent green t-shirts together.
As newbies, Chris Angela and myself enjoyed this triathlon, and now want to do another.
Congratulations to Helen and Katie who did all three disciplines, Katie coming first in her age group.
Congratulations also to Frances Burnham, David Palmer, Dan and Ali who raced in the Standard distance triathlon on the next day – Sunday 24 June.
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