Triathlon people where are you?

My little - how exciting! I'm travelling up tomorrow. Tell us more! I'm really nervous....

Nate and life are you in Stafford yet? I arrived this afternoon. So exciting. I've also got a fresh pair of socks in my run bag (although it doesn't look like rain at the moment), and a buff although I might go for one of the sun visors at the expo instead.

Life I haven't got much in my Run bag: trainers, lube, sunglasses, gels, bottle of Tailwind to carry, run watch. Am I missing anything?

Hope you can get your kit sorted life, does doing a mental run through visualising it in your head what your doing at each stage, write down what your wearing help at all? That’s what I did, then my DD & I literally did a run through in the house we had giggle doing it but it highlighted a couple things we had forgotten. DD did the kids Tri.

Still in bed, the cold was followed by a D&V bug yesterday so I’m utterly fed up now, but after zero food for 36hrs the positive is maybe I’ve kick started my diet ...gutted I’m going to miss ParkRun two weeks in a row as I really enjoy doing it and having a chat with some folk I wouldn’t normally see.

Meant to say, hope you’re feeling better TriSkiRun

Argh! My spare bedroom floor is covered in all my kit and I’m just staring at it and feeling confused!! Can’t figure out what to pack, what’s needed for the red and blue bags, what’s going on the bike etc. Maybe I’ll just throw it all in the car and figure it out when I get there.

Well done on Blenheim looks like a fab event.
Good luck for your events this weekend hope the weather is kind for you, and the nerves settle.

I’ve had a crap week zero exercise due to virus/cold wiped me out and my eldest off school with it too, but starting to feel bit more human today.

Goes off to watch you tube videos....

Nate - glad you got the swim in. Yeah it's crazy how off course you can go when you don't have the black lines to follow. I hope the swim course is clearly marked with big buoys as I'm pretty rubbish at sighting.

My worry about the swim is the start - I watched some videos on youtube of last year's race and you just jump straight in off the pontoon, so no acclimatisation. I usually get in, let the water flush through my suit, splash my face a bit etc. But there will be none of that, so I'm worried I'll panic from the cold. Someone on facebook said the water temp was 16.5 deg last weekend. Not sure where to seed myself either, as you say, maybe further back is better but then will people get in the way?

What have you decided about clothing? I'm thinking I'll put a bike top on as it looks quite cool early on.

I did a lake swim on Sunday, easy 5k Monday and was meant to go out on my bike for 45 mins yesterday but it had been so wet here that I went on the turbo instead. I think I'm resting today, maybe a 5k run tomorrow and then rest Fri and Sat. But would kind of like to do an outside ride before the day,, so maybe Fri evening. How about you?

I'm going to start packing tomorrow but I'm getting so stressed about what should be in each bag, I keep adding to my lists! My bags are going to be bulging full!

Really- well done at Blenheim. Half Ironman next year?

Life Just got back from my one and only lake swim. I'm glad I did it as I wasn't totally comfortable. Had to sight every 6 strokes which is a pain- didn't realise how off course you go without sighting. Water temp was 18 which was really nice. Not sure of Stafford lake temp?
Have no idea where to seed myself in the rolling swim start. Not sure if to hang back a bit to maybe get more space to swim, but then I may need to overtake???
I'm so so nervous. Bike is st the mechanics having a new cassette fitted.
What have you got planned for the next few days?

Well done for completing Blenheim really - it was hot at the weekend!

Are you feeling ready for Leeds bee? Some of my friends from tri club are going up to do it, it sounds great.

Nate have you done your lake swim now?

I'm feeling really nervous too! I just want to get on with it now - this week of not doing much training and stressing about kit and packing etc is really dragging. I panic-bought some salt tablets on amazon last night - never used them before but decided I should have them just in case!

I'm trying to just focus on getting to that finish line! At least the weather looks favourable - for me anyway. My biggest fear was it being 30 deg like it has the last couple of years. My phone is saying sunny intervals and 17 degrees.

Blenheim was beautiful but sooooo hot! My swim was awful; just couldn’t do more than about 20 strokes of crawl consecutively without switching to breaststroke. The bike was ok - all around the palace grounds so no cars but very busy in places with a couple of nasty crashes ( not me thankfully). My best bit was the run although it was hard to keep plodding on in 27 degree heat.
Would definitely do it again - hopefully with more bike training under my belt and more conviction in my swimming ability. I got better as the swim went on - just need that to kick in earlier!
My legs are so sore. I could hardly walk yesterday.
Royal Windsor sprint tri in less than 2 weeks; apparently Johnny Wilkinson will be there. I’d put more effort in to catch up with him!
What’s happening this weekend Nate?

Really nervous! Practiced changing inner tubes yesterday- what a faff that is.

Need to swim in a lake this week...

I've already got other 40th birthday holiday plans otherwise that would be a great idea

I have decided ( in my wisdom) that it’s really hard to think about a triathlon Pb because the courses vary so much - different elevation, different distances, varied routes to transition, size of transition, number of people in the way etc etc.
I haven’t done this triathlon before, so as long as I finish, it will be a Pb. Hurrah

Make it a 40th holiday excuse tiz are there some nice barmy ones abroad next year in Spring?

sleep your be fine, I felt exactly the same a couple of weeks ago so set myself 3 goals, 1st to finish (ideally not last), 2nd was a time goal I knew I could do and 3rd was a “best” time for me. I nearly hit my “best time” I only missed it by 90secs and lost those getting held up in roadworks on the bike (traffic lights arrhhh!) and a shit swim. Adrenaline got me round. Good luck

I have trained enough to get round but I think I’m going to struggle, especially with the swim - it’s been so cold this year!
Tizwozliz, try Woburn Abbey or Hever Castle in September

I'm in the midlands but don't mind travelling