Saturday 27th June 2021 – Bowood House Open Water Triathlon
“I am so proud to have been given the opportunity to be welcomed into this amazing group as a mum who thought she ought to experience what these children put themselves through if only to understand what works to motivate them up that hill round that corner and over the finish line.
Wow what a wonderful event! The course at Bowood House is truly stunning but a tough course to complete. The children all did different distances, depending on their age, but the majority of the course was the same. I took part in my first ever triathlon and was tackling the Super Sprint. We met by the side of the lake for our race briefing and were all given great advice and a few tips on how to enjoy the day, and take it at our own pace. And then we were off in 10 seconds intervals … a little jog down the slope and a plunge into the lake to swim 400m round the correct buoys and then a scramble up the slope trying to pull off hats goggles undoing wetsuits and a very nasty 500 metre (ish) uphill run to get to transition to jump on the bike for a 12km (4 laps and I had to count them myself!) bike ride around the stunning grounds passing by the golf course, meadows, sheep fields and lots of supporters until almost crossing the dismount line still on the bike (oops).
This was followed by a 2.5km run back down towards the lake through the arboretum, round the waterfall and the temple and then back uphill to the finish line.
I have to say it was one of the most fun things I’ve done, (although I’m not sure that was foremost in my mind running up that hill after the swim) but the support I was given by every single member of the Beachborough Triathlon club was out of this world. Every child and every adult cheers everyone else on whoever they are and however long it takes to complete their own race.
If you think you’d like to be part of such a team, come on, give it a go. The coaches are amazing, the committee works tirelessly to give the children every opportunity possible to experience participating in triathlons. Three weeks ago I was welcomed into an open water swimming session as my daughter was a bit wobbly about going in and then she challenged me to enter a race too. You never know it could just be the start of a new obsession! Go on give it a TRI!”
Jo completed the Super Sprint race which consists of a 400m swim, 12 Km bike, 2.5 km run and finished 3rd female in her age group – what an amazing achievement – well done and thank you so much for sharing your experience Jo!
