Here we go challenge 2 out of 4 in 5 weeks!
Oh my word... I am so broken from the South Downs 100km Challenge! Only a week between the 2 events and every trip to see my strength coach has been about trying to get my sore, tight, bruised body moving enough to complete a sprint triathlon this weekend! 750m lake swim, 20km bike and 5km run. That's triffic but I can't even do a bodyweight squat at the moment I am so sore. This was SUCH a brilliant idea right? Anyway, let's swim bike run this thing at the Blenheim Palace Triathlon!
My First Real Triathlon
I did my own version virtually but this was way different...
Soooooo many people! Soooo many! I mean if you are going to do your first triathlon Blenheim Palace Triathlon is a pretty blooming beautiful spot to do it but crikey there were bikes and runners and wetsuits and spectators EVERYWHERE. I am so not good in crowds.
This one was done with friends. Declan is a cracking runner and cyclist but not so strong in the water and Ali a super swimmer on a borrowed bike. Add that to me and my broken body from last week and we were there just to enjoy the day and cross the finish line. No records would be set.
SWIM
The swim was AWFUL! As I tentatively moved down the gantry and launched into my stroke I thought I was going to drown as my hands got caught in lake weeds and the water tasted rotten. My heart rate rocketed and I just could not calm myself enough to bubble bubble breathe front crawl like I'd trained. I gave in and basically doggy paddled my way through the 750m. Utterly joyous at feeling my bare feet on dry ground to run up the hill trying to get out of my wetsuit as I ran to find my bike and get going.
BIKE
Once on the bike I calmed down and the circuit of the grounds was just my cup of tea rolling up and down and wiggling bends.
RUN
My body seemed to be fully recovered from last week. Until I racked my bike and started to run. Holy hell. My legs felt like ten tonne loads. Possibly one of my slowest 5km runs EVER I totally didn't care as I crossed the finish line to see my husband and daughter cheering us all on.
The ice cream afterwards was the best thing I have ever tasted especially after that blooming lake water. It just goes to show how amazing the human body is though. I could hardly walk at the start of this week and here I was with a triathlon medal round my neck! Job done!
WE CAN DO HARD THINGS!
Pink power love to you for reading this, Leonie x x
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