I’ve always wanted to do a triathlon – I can swim, cycle and run but am not particularly brilliant at any one.

It was a gorgeous morning the sun was shining and I picked up my friend Helen Reader at 5.30am.  We ate chocolate on the journey and discussed how we were just doing it for fun, its not a race and we were just there to complete it (I’ve always wanted a medal!).

We arrived at Boxend sorted out our paperwork, numbers etc and positioned our bike and kit in an appropriate transition spot.  Remember we were always doing it for fun!

The swim commenced at 7.00am we all convened at the edge of the lake and the claxon sounded and we were off. For a while we swam together and all of a sudden Helen was slightly in front of me.  I felt totally safe as there were a number of lifeguards on paddle boards to check you were going the correct way around the buoys and for your safety of course.  Well, I lost Helen and swam my own race – so much for sticking together I thought.

On transition one her bike had gone - I quickly ditched my wetsuit and got on my bike to start my 20km stint.  For a good 20 mins I didn’t see her I peddled for my life and eventually saw her – the race was on!  I eventually overtook her and we both exchanged a bright red smile.  I loved the route marshalled excellently through some pretty villages and I eventually ended up back at the transition spot and was ready for my 5km run.

I felt quietly confident that I had a good 10 minutes on her and ran with ease for a while to get my jelly legs back to normal.  It was a very scenic route around the gorgeous lake, but very hilly in parts.  All of a sudden, I heard her shout my name – I began to run faster laughing that she had caught me up!  It was fantastic, we ran the last 10 minutes together and finished together, which is in fact what we had intended to do.

I was presented my medal which is what I had wanted all along.

Later that day I enjoyed steak and chips and a pint of Moretti – my endorphins were sky high!  I look forward to the next.