Arriving on an already packed weekend for multisport, including Geordieman and Borders & Bridges Sprint Tri, I was worried this event wouldn’t fire. I’d been badgering One Life Racing about it since April, so it would have been rude of me NOT to sign up, which made a start list of three. Thankfully two others added their name, including our own Peter French, and that was seemingly enough.
I got to Wentworth Leisure Centre probably too early and spotted Peter was already there. This gave plenty of time to register and check out the pool set up, and have my inevitable race nerves kick in. I’m a pool swimmer, a lane pool swimmer. The set up here was ‘open water style’, with a float in each corner of the pool, a ‘mass start’ and eight times round. Doable…yet I still felt…anxious.
During the race briefing it was announced you should be poolside at least fifteen minutes before your start time. This is predominantly a juniors event, with a taped off section of the car park providing a makeshift bike course for them. Our race was the first event at half nine, so exchanging surprised glances (it was already quarter past), we shuffled off to get ready.

The five minute delay didn’t do much for my nerves, but away we went, and it wasn’t long before I fell into last place. For the first few laps I managed to stay on someone’s heels…then got left totally behind. Then lapped. Although I kept count, it was pretty obvious when my last lap came up…everyone else was already out of the pool. Despite being POSITIVE that I’d started my watch, it didn’t seem to have recorded anything…ah well…at least I’d not see how woeful my swim had been.

I couldn’t have been THAT far behind everyone else as Peter was still in transition, and another competitor had just left. I don’t think I spent TOO long in getting my trainers on, and even carrying a slight injury, I’m not a bad runner. Although, as you can see from the photo, I was still a bit unsure which way to go.

Former club member Sarah Davies said it was wonderful to watch me steadily pick off the other athletes. I can’t remember having run on a track before, but I certainly enjoyed it. The photographer was equally entertained, he and the other marshals providing welcome encouragement.

While I wasn’t ever going to catch first place (one of the second wave juniors got past me), the sense of accomplishment at finishing second waylaid any negativity I felt over my swim. After that it was a matter of watching Peters utter determination to finish, that lad just doesn’t give up!

In retrospect it would have been a good idea to volunteer to marshal, or maybe even grab some lunch, as it was a long wait for the presentations. Lesson learned for next time. Sadly, the official photographer was also the First Aider, and attending to some skinned knees when the adult awards were given out.

Thankfully Peter and Phil managed to capture the moment. I was delighted to podium, mostly for the club, but as you can see from my face, it meant a bit too me too.

This is a great little event, the swim format offers something different from other leisure centre aquathlons, and running on a track is lovely. I’ve long stopped being fussed over t-shirts and medals at the end of a race, especially if it keeps the entry price down, a branded tote bag with sweets in is a nice alternative. Despite the low number of entrants, I hope this stays on the calendar for next year, and attracts a few more entrants. And that I remember to record it.