Kirsty Long

I never intended to do a triathlon. Ever! I have been watching my boyfriend compete in some hard-core triathlons over the years and never have I ever thought “I wish I was doing that” …Until last year. Darrel completed the big lime with Dave a man with very limited eye sight, and witnessing the love and support he received from every single person of the club made me think wow, I want to do that.

So, about March time I started thinking about training for the big lime. I joined the YES YOU CAN running group and started to train. I must stress that until this point I had never ever been for a run. I hated running in fact. So, the fact I was preparing for a triathlon with a 5k run at the end was a challenge. I had also never swam outside or been on a road bike. Why not let my first time be in preparation for a triathlon?!?!

I started running and enjoying it. Then I started getting in the Marina to swim and enjoying that too (shock!)

So, the day came and I was so under prepared, I bet everyone says that but I really was!  Scott Llewelyn was racking his bike in front of me and was showing me how to organize my stuff for a smoother transition (helmet on top of the bike, shoes out ready etc.).

I get in my wetsuit, ask a marshal where the briefing is, to be told its already been done and I need to move to the start.

Panic sets in. I start to realise that I might not be able to do this. I might just be that bit too unfit to finish. I get in the water and tell myself just swim to one buoy at a time. Taking it in smaller chunks felt a lot easier to me. But then I’m tired by the first boy. The water is cold and it feels like my arms aren’t attached to me. I’m being swam over (like someone actually swam over the top of me). I was furious, so furious that I was shouting and swearing at everyone in my head, so much that soon I was near the finish and I hadn’t realised.

Get out and I have no idea where I’m supposed to go. I didn’t catch the brief and my coordination has gone. I finally get to my stuff and get changed. My arms are aching so much already. I have a drink put shoes on and away I go.

Get on the bike. I had been on the bike a few times in the build-up but nowhere near as much as I should have been. I’m underprepared again. Not expecting the cold and wind, I don’t know why I was surprised but I was. I pedal as fast as I can, after one loop I’m shattered. I forgot that I need to do it again 3 more times. I see everyone from the club, all shouting encouragement which was lovely. I struggle through my 4 laps and I’m done.

Get into transition again which was a bit of a mess. Bikes and people all over. People running out the wrong way. I rack my bike, change my shoes, drink and I’m off again.

Then I realise that I can’t feel my legs. They have turned to jelly. I think I’m moving but I’m not. I keep running but I’m not getting anywhere fast. I get to the marina sea front and I can see lots of people running in to finish. I’m so jealous. I see Vanessa and she smiles at me but all I can do is cry. I’m hurting and I felt like I had a mountain to climb still. I cry to her that I can’t do it, she tells me of course I can. “walk a bit then run for bit if you need to but don’t give up. Your so close to finishing now, just keep going”

So, I do. I keep on running. Painfully slow and I keep waling but I’m trying and determined to finish. I’m about half way through the run and I see this figure in the distance. A stag bounding towards me. Its Graham, I think he must be picking his car up or something but he stops and starts running back with me. He says, “We don’t leave anyone behind, just one foot in front of the other Kirsty”. And we start running, I want to stop but Graham keeps talking to me, helping me, giving me something to focus on other than how much I wanted to go home. Then another stag comes bounding towards us. Julie joins us, I can start to hear people now and get excited that the end is near. Julie is full of love and encouragement as always. Then my mam joins and there’s a group of us running now. Then I can see the finish. It’s so close, I start to speed up. Graham is telling me I’m getting faster and I can feel that I am. Then I’m at the finish line. I’m finished. I completed it. I can’t stop crying, I’m so happy it’s over and I’m aching.

I cannot put into words how much people helped me. The power of encouragement and support is a wonderful thing. I am so thankful for all the people who helped me. When I was desperate there was always a stag there waiting and for that I am lucky. The running group was a huge help to me personally as this time last year I hadn’t run since I was a child.

The next day I was so happy with myself, then started looking at others I can do next year. Triathlon is addictive!