Ill Concieved Plans Poorly executed

Surrey Summer Aquathon - Race 1

This time last year I was standing by a pool ready to start the first of the Surrey Summer Aquathons, Now a year later I was doing the same thing; which only goes to show that I'm either highly predicable or that I enjoyed so much last year that I decided to do it again this year. The event is held on the last Friday of the month in the 50 meter pool just across from my office which makes it nice and convenient for me to get to and a nice way to round of the week. It's a 500 meter swim followed by a 5km run round the adjacent park.

This year I'd written down a realistic swim time on the entry form rather that the highly over optimistic time I'd gone for last year; this should, in theory, mean I'd not be embarrassed about the number of swimmers flying past me, like I was last year. Still I wasn't too hopeful about equalling last years times as my swim training this year could be referred to as disorganised bordering on the delusionary and my recent running experiences have been a little painful to say the least. Still I was here at the side of the pool, the sun was shining and I was ready to go. The swim went well, and by that I mean that no one passed me, in fact I passed someone, and as they were breast-stroking at the time they manager to kick me in the "soft organs". It was just a glancing blow but it did put me off my stroke a bit. I left the pool in a remarkably good time and waddled into transition. It's about now I have the tri-suit debate; If I owned one it would make my transitions faster; but I'm not really comfortable with the thought of wearing a one piece; it sort of reminds me of a jump suit and all the hideous fashion crimes that they have inspired. However wearing one would stop me being tangled up in a running vest and running out of transition in a state of semi undress.

The run starts with a small rise or after a swim the side of a mountain. My usual tactic is to use the slope as an excuse to run slowly. This time though a colleague from work was running and I was determined to catch him so I attempted to inject a small amount of pace. My idea of pace was a lot different to the two of three racing whippets that rushed past me within the first mile, leaving nothing but dust in their wake. Much to my delight I caught Simon at the halfway point to ensure that my reputation as the office triathlete was not tarred. Now it was just a case of getting to the finish. There was a rather thin but well formed woman about 100 yards ahead. I'll try and catch her I thought. Even though she stopped three times to catch her breath I still didn't manage it but I did pass the finish line in my best time for this event.