Aberfeldy Tri –

When I started triathlons I thought here were three disciplines. After starting with E#3 I soon learn transition made a fourth. During the Aberfeldy Middle Distance tri I learnt that puncture repair/bike maintenance makes an important fifth….

A late night, lots of pre-race faffing and an early start… We were off! I enjoyed the swim, buoyed by Kev arriving back just in time for the start (see Kev’s story!) and seeing the boys arrive on the shore line with our friends to support us. It was hampered only by the low sun on the water on the return leg rendering ‘sighting’ a mixture of ‘squinting’ and ‘follow my leader’ (not a recommended strategy as the ‘leaders’ couldn’t see a thing either).

I felt great on the bike (thanks to Roy lending me his super-light and comfy one after ours were nicked) and was loving the feeling of whizzing along the north shores of Loch Rannoch after feeling strong on the first hill. Suddenly, however, with a bit of a heart-stop, I felt a slight ‘bump’ and the unmistakeable feeling of a puncture. This had been my worse fear before the day, but I had practised puncture repair a few night previously so, trying to feel confident, I took off the back wheel and went through the procedure, talking myself through it as I went. Release brakes, wheel gently off, lay bike down safely, get a good position over the wheel, tyre lever in, prise the tyre out the rim…. try again ….prise the tyre out the rim…. Ok no problem, try again …..prise the tyre out the rim….. Am I allowed to swear? No -better not repeat what I said on the day! I just did not seem to be able to get the tyre off, wherever on the wheel I tried or whatever I did. Somewhat embarrassingly I started stamping and grunting and shouting in desperation between attempts, and wasn’t far off sitting down on the grass verge and (yes I know it’s crap and feeble and girly) waiting for Mark to come and help me. However I would never let myself do that so I kept on at it and, after what seemed like an age, and with aching, cut fingers, I finally got two levers in and got the tyre out so that I could get the tube out and change it. Emma kindly stopped to offer assistance/tools and moral support which was greatly appreciated although by then I was thankfully on top of it again. Although I still enjoyed the rest of the fabulous cycle, I spent the rest of the bike playing catch up, and in mortal fear of another puncture.

It was with great relief that I cycled into the campus at Aberfeldy and headed out on the run. I had frustration on my side and set off on the run with an aim of taking back as many lost places as I could. I felt strong and thoroughly enjoyed the course, although the undulations did feel more like hills, particularly on the return leg.

There was a great atmosphere running back through the finish area, and I so appreciated the support of our boys, the other E#3 competitors who had already finished, aswell as all the other lovely supporters and marshals. I was delighted to get home in under 6 hours, loved the whole experience (nearly) and came out with a firm aim of more training in the fifth triathlon discipline.

[…..Sally is too modest to say so but from the time she was stopped we believe without a puncture she would have been age group British Champion this year.  She would definately have made the podium as she was only 4mins from 3rd place]