Not quite a triathlete yet!

Having spoken for so long about my triathlon, the day quickly came and passed. But I am yet to be officially named a triathlete....

Late on Friday evening the organisers cancelled the swim section of triathlon due to health and safety issues regarding the water quality. As a result we undertook a duathlon - 1.5km run. 20km cycle. 5km run. This is not unheard of, this year’s triathlon world championships suffered a similar fate. But having concentrated so much of my training on the swim, this came as quite a disappointment.

The race started in the sun. It rained during the cycle. A strong wind blew swiftly up the Liffey. While not quite four seasons, we certainly got our fair share of them!

Was it fun? I wouldn't quite say that. Was it easy? Absolutely not. Was it mind-bending? No, but when you see the overall winner finishing the race as you only step off your bike, you do ask yourself questions!

But finishing in the top half of the competitors was acceptable. Just. 135th out of 272 competitors, in a time of 1hr 21mins33secs. Only 21 mins44secs behind the overall winner!

So I'm not a triathlete. Yet. But a bench-mark time has been set. And they're only set to be broken. As Humphrey Bogart said "Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but some day...."

So one duathlon down. At least one triathlon still to go!