Race Reports

Vanessa Cox

So news came out that Farrell wasn’t taking part, I knew the two previous club champs Chalton and Bayles were doing relay, great! Caley hasn’t been on her bike as far as I knew, Ferry just getting back into it and Edwards she knows I can whip her arse!! 

So I had my eyes on that even cleared a space on my cabinet. 

Then word on the block was that Farrells back in. Shiiit! 

Asked her if she wanted to reccy BL bike route, we could trying out the TT bikes , do some mounting and dismounting practice,

check her out!! I was quicker than her in practice, could I beat her on the bike?? 

Race day we swapped pleasantries, even took a pee together! 

Swim 

I was first out, heard Windram shout your ahead keep going.. nice! 

No wiff of her on T 1 

come on Coxy you got this!! 

Bike 

Still no sign l, great! maybe I can get one lap ahead, maybe a hit ambitious! 

Then like a stealth she came past me at the bridge

I called her a bitch then rode on smiling nicely as I met her at the turning points!

Bollocks it I ain’t never gonna catch her now! 

Run, 

She’s gone left me for dust , then my focus changed, knew Julie, Sarah and Faye all fairly close behind 

Jesus if one of them catches me on the run I’ll never live it down! 

Had to keep it going even though desperate to walk , hr up to 175, don’t stop Vanessa, keep it going! 

Matthew Davey shouts Faye’s just behind you about 20 yds from the finish , 

Then a full bottle of water thrown in my face from one of the stags, Jesus, salt in my eyes, couldn’t see staggering towards the finish line, blind sprinting, nearly died thinking of Faye behind me , turned round, no sign. 

Bastard! 

Said to Watson who chucked the contaminated water in my face and nearly blinds me? turns out same individual who defaced my degree photo!!

Anyway I never really wanted it anyhow, and I’m pleased for her! 

Honest !! 

She knows I love her really

Well done to everyone 

Great effort by all especially me!

Michael Blacknell

Well today was an eventful big lime. After going in the marina twice this summer I was fairly confident of the swim. Hannah Blacknell and I have been swimming a mile in the pool consistently to reach our target of a marathon in 3 months. We had also done a 21km bike ride in an hour in readiness. I'd recently beat my parkrun personal best at 26 minutes and 22 seconds. Probably the best shape of my life in terms of all three disciplines.

Arrive at the Mecca bingo. Register. Nice and easy. Walk the bike through the car park. Psssssst. Sh1t! Puncture. One kind soul offered me a replacement inner tube and tyre levers. Ste Hannah then changed the inner tube and pumped up the tyre. (Thank you!!) Got into transition. Racked my bike. Little shook up but I soon settled down. Wet suit on no bother.

Gave some words of encouragement to some first timers. The marina was lovely. Sub tropical - 18 degrees! Quick burst of front crawl followed by a little breaststroke to help sight. Rinse and repeat. Managed the swim in 21 minutes. Happy with that. I remembered to kick hard towards the end of the swim to help with jelly legs. Transition nice and steady. Not breaking any landspeed records here.

On the bike. Felt good. Huge cheers from the Hartlepool Triathletes!!! Got up to the promenade. Psssssst. Sh1t! Second puncture of the day. I could hear the tyre rubbing against the brakes. Didn't have a spare inner tube nor tyre levers, so I continued on. I knew I was going slow, but the puncture wasn't getting significantly worse. Fell off a couple of times at the turning points. Fortunately someone was on hand to reset the chain and get me back on my way. Thought about coming in after two or three laps, but I decided that I could probably get a fourth and final lap in before the cut off when the roads opened back up. So many words of encouragement throughout the ride, and when I came back in. 1 hour 20 minutes.

The run was gruelling. Started off at a good pace, but I just couldn't sustain it. Ended up run walking. Three lamp posts to one. Absolutely dejected when I heard there was no feed station like there was last year. A sea of blue brought me home. Thank you each and every one of you for staying and cheering us all on. You wonderful lot!!!