The best inspiration is not to outdo others, but to outdo ourselves

This was another new race for me, but one that I was expecting to enjoy as it is run by a group whose races I have enjoyed in the past. This race is another one organised by Freebird Events. I went just hoping to enjoy the race, clearly after what I was saying about last weekend, I hadn't done enough training (seems like the story of my life at the moment), so I just wanted to get out there and enjoy racing.

I was really looking forward to taking part in this race. My training had been going pretty well, I'd been doing quite a lot of running with a view to the Half Marathon in a few weeks time and I actually felt relatively well prepared. Mind you, I was still feeling nervous, especially as it's a race that I hadn't done before. My day prior to the race probably wasn't ideal pre-race stuff, I was out all day long shopping with my Mum and my sister - but hey! It was fun.

Transition

In Transition

Ready to Swim

My Mum had been telling me for a couple of years now that this race existed, right on their doorstep, and I'd been thinking I'd like to give it a go.  It turns out that I did so just in time as this year saw the last running of the Balerno Ladies Triathlon.  I have to say it's a shame too, the race was great - small but perfectly formed as they say.  The race was set up for a maximum of 64 ladies to take part, 62 doing so on the day.  I really enjoyed the race, was very impressed with the organisation that would put some bigger events to shame and would have been keen to

This was probably my last trip to Stratford for this race in the forseeable future.  Not because of the race itself, which I really enjoy doing, but because of it's distance from home.  We're trying to find races rather nearer here for next year, trying to cut down on the fuel and accommodation bills that go with racing.  It can become a very expensive business, especially with prices rising as they are doing at the moment.  And what a trip it was!  We made a bit of a thing of it this time and stayed down near Stratford, after all, we've generally just blasted in an

This year saw my seventh running of the Derby Triathlon, a run that I'd like to keep up.  I enjoy this race and certainly wouldn't want to miss it.  I can't quite believe that I've been doing triathlon long enough to have done anything seven times, but it would seem that I have.  This is always a good race, a beginner friendly one which is probably why it was the first race that I ever really enjoyed.  The first time I raced there was my make or break for triathlon, was I going to keep doing it or was I going to decide that it really wasn't for me after all.  All th

Nearly There

The Bike

Run to Transition

I didn't do this race last year because it clashed with Salford, but there's no Salford this year, so back I went to Trentham.  It's a lovely backdrop for a race and a good family destination for a weekend away.  That's what we did, got ourselves organised nice and early, booked ourselves into the Premier Travel Inn that's actually on the site and made a family break out of it.  This is another fun2tri race and as such I expected, and got, a well organised race.  I did have mixed feelings going into the race though as I've had a rather chequered history when it comes to

Running in the Sun

Leaving the Water

The Run

I wasn't looking forward to this race very much in the few days beforehand, for quite a few different reasons.  I was nervous because it was a race that I hadn't done before and so I didn't know what to expect, I was also nervous because I haven't managed to fit in much open water training this year, I've been for a proper swim at Pugneys only twice - I've been in with April and down there on spotting duty, but neither of those will have helped my swimming.  The other problem was that I'd rather lost the plot in the week, I wasn't too happy at work and I'd been struggling to get o

Mount the Bike

1st Transition

The Run

This was my fourth running of this race and it proved to me again why it it that I keep going back.  I know I must sound like a fun2tri advert at times, but they really do know what they are doing and it makes all the difference.  This race has the potential to be quite confusing with split transition areas and the need to collect your stuff in it's numbered bag at the end (which I did without any trouble at all), also with the swimming through the pool.  The reality is that it all goes very smoothly because they know exactly what they're doing.  Having said all that, we

The Finish

The Finish

Outdoor Pool

I'm not really sure where to start with this one.  What a brilliant race!  It was great in lots of ways.  I like this race anyway because I've done it a few times before, I know what to expect and it's always really well organised and enjoyable to complete.  I do like to go back to a race and to try and better my previous times.  I was also happy this time because my full cheering committee were with me and it gave me such a boost towards the end of the race tosee the three of them there and hear them shouting encouraging things to me.  The weather was beautifu

Fun2Tri organise two excellent races each year starting from the Stratford upon Avon Leisure Centre. Both the Stratford 220 Trathlon and the Warwickshire Triathlon start in the pool there and follow the same course through the Warwickshire Countryside and along the River Avon.  The Straford 220 is the largest pool swim triathlon in Britain and is accompanied by a Triathlon Show where you can see and buy all manner of triathlon related kit.