Like A Virgin?

Not any more, as Andy Goundry goes on to explain!

St Agnes Triathlon,  Sunday 4th Sept 2011

Andy going for it!

I am no longer a virgin, having completed my first triathlon in lovely conditions at Trevaunance Cove this morning. Well organised, the registration was simple and the bike and run transitions were in the same place, with the finish beside transition in front of the Driftwood Spars. Just right for a pint and a big plate of the chilli laid on for competitors.

A big thank you to all the people who turned out to support this really friendly event.

The field was about 90 I guess, with clearly some serious and seasoned competitors present, Anne Maskell, Darrin Porter, and Rob Pope among them.

With a high spring tide and no sand the start was in the water and the swell not too bad for what was about an 800-900m swim, (or in my case at least a kilometre as my direction sensors were a little off!).

First ever mass start for me. Boy, no prisoners here, with lots of kicking and pushing as people vie for position. A sensible slow start at the back for me then, followed by a slow but consistent, if sometimes, wayward front crawl allowing me to appear from the sea in about 4th position (from last!!)

Up what proved to be quite a slope to the transition area and following some advice to cut the bottom 2 inches off my suit, a quicker transition than anticipated. On the bike and off for what I understand was a ride of about 14 miles or so.

My cycling is a bit better, even if my equipment had a few strange looks with hybrid trail tyres. Claire Longman had similar equipment just to make me feel better! I managed to reel in about 15 competitors on the bike section and be passed by none so now feeling a bit better.

A fast ride through the village and back to the car park, dump the bike (quite literally) and then off for the run.

Who chose a vertical route up the near vertical Rocky Lane to the Beacon I don’t know, but at least the second half was all downhill. The run was 3 miles or so I believe. I managed to catch another 10 or so competitors to finish in around 1 hour 51 minutes. Under my 2 hour goal for a first attempt, but well behind the amphibious likes of Darrin, Anne and Rob.

Great fun all the same. Good T shirt. Lovely chilli. Must do it again next year with a lot more swimming under my belt!!

Andy

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