Make Way Grandad

750m Swim/20k Cycle/ 5k Run.

OBJECTIVE to raise more for Help4Heroes(achieved)and building up for a Half Ironman 2011 when I will be 75yrs.

Last July I completed my 100^th marathon and whilst running this Jacquie Maycock said I should have a new focus... take up Triathlon?? Blimey, I thought, I can’t swim more than 150metres. However I went out and bought all the kit and booked swimming lessons with Kerry Wilson at Stantonbury Pool. ( I then had a nasty fall and injured a finger and shoulder on a Tuesday night run a week before my first lesson!)

THE FEAR FACTOR, in 1990 whilst in Australia nearly drowned in a rip tide.

The week before the race I attended  a Team MK swim/ coaching  session in Haversham Lake, an invaluable pre-race “teach-in”. Never swam 750m before.

RACE DAY, 6am Bike racked registerd number 713, everyone very friendly, 150 in my sprint. Laid out gear, everything has to be in correct place for transition, called to pre/race briefing in wet suit by Big Boss Mark (Booth), HERON LAKE looked enormous, told to keep over to the right out off way mass start, Off, I never saw them go, by the time I looked up for a sighting could not see anyone, My canoe man next to me thank GOD. Tried to remember not to panic, relax, the things that go through your mind, my key thought, you got to complete this for those people at H4H,(wimp), middle of Lake had to do breast stroke but getting nowhere so off again with my pensioners crawl. By the time I got near the shore my goggles had steamed up. Had to ask canoe man which way, I had all the canoes round me, like a Red Indian Chief, got to the ramp and was pulled out by the marshals and staggered to T1, crowd cheered and surprised  me-  I had made it,

Mark giving me gee up, now that bloody wet suit, I ended up on the floor getting it off, much to the amusement of the crowd. A good mount on the bike and it’s a tough hilly course. On the big hill coming  back was passed by FRIDGE MAN also racing for H4H with the fridge on his back he shouted encouragement to me-  what a man. Into T2, no problems, felt OK, into the run, a little wobbly getting blood into legs. Completed first lap and nearly came in –  fortunately Julie Dalzell was there to shout at me and sent me round again otherwise I would have been disqualified. Bless her, she has been at many events when I was “losing it”

Where does the “MAKE WAY GRANDAD” come in? On this second and final lap a party of old walkers were walking as a group round the lake- I shouted “track”- but some old git in a big hat would not shift so I gave him the call (get out of the way) Grandad, I heard him tell his old folks party, these kids think they own it here,(Some74 year Kid, he was right)

Time, finish 2:09.47

Swim 34.54 T1 03,36:  Cycle 56.55 T2 02.52: Run 31-30

Acknowledgements, wwwironmate.co.uk Mark Kleanthous, my Tri/coach, Jacquie Maycock who started me on this challenge. Julie Dazzle who always comes to help and support me, Team MK who have made me so welcome, all my friends at MMKAC, who sponsored me, and last but not least Captain Brian who has put up with me for18years, my editor.