Preparation begins

When triathlon first appealed to me, it resulted from a desire not to run all the time and to shed a few pounds along the way. I didn't even know what an Ironman race was, or even, comprehend that one day I would attempt to race in a small park in Ohio at a race known as The American Triple T. And so, 12 years after my good friend Mitch encouraged me to race a short triathlon in Estes Park, Colorado, I find myself preparing to make the long, unidentifiable ride down to a state park in Ohio to race 4 triathlons in 3 days.

There'll be minimal supporters, but the races themselves. 250 of us. There'll be plenty of humidity and hills. The camaraderie will be strong and plentiful. The legs will be sore in the end. Yet, we shall have all completed a very challenging race that pits your natural instincts to race, and race hard, against the necessity to conserve your energy stores.

After the 12 hour drive from Minneapolis, we shall immediately begin our weekend with a super sprint race, just to sweeten the legs a little. Saturday will follow with 2 Olympic distance races (ish) with the first being traditional and the second a little mixed up. Sunday will present us with the unenviable task of a half iron distance race, which will be the cherry on top of the ice cream (I really hope there'll be ice cream!).

The race director warns to bring your climbing gear. It's probably wise to bring your climbing legs too. So, now we begin the preparation. Food, glorious food! However, the key is which food. The group had a meeting and we decided that Vincent would do all the cooking. Fantastic. That's that sorted, now all we have to worry about is racing..... and a few thousand miles of driving!

The next 10 days are going to involve a lot of training and some seriously fun racing. I am really looking forward to this race format, with the brand new experience to add to the CV. To go with friends and fellow triathletes will make it that much more of an experience for us. I can't wait.

This past weekend I was able to fly back to the UK and enjoy some wonderful training scenery which always makes those long hours flow by like a meandering river. Helped that much more by wife riding beside me as support. When you train and see the same scenery every day, to have a new vista in your sights can make all the difference, even if it's an old familiar face of the Chiltern Hills. The ideal place for a training camp by the way!

Now it's time for a bit more swimming,  running and biking. 2.5hrs of running awaits, with a trip along the banks of The Charles River in Boston. one of the truly unique places to run, seeing some of tomorrows future running, walking and talking along those banks. Makes the time fly by.

A race report will follow in a few weeks. I wonder if I will be as enthusiastic then as I am now??

Good luck to us all!