Triathlon Sunday

Alarm set for 6.30 and Dexter, barely awake, dropped off by Jodie at 7.20 am so he had breakfast with us at the hotel before we trekked up to Schwarzsee. By this time James had completed the swim and was on the bike. The weather was hot and sunny, not good for triathletes but lovely for spectators. Able to catch a glimpse of James as he left transition after the bike at the start of the run and he completed with a sprint against an Austrian who left him for dead! He was not expecting to do well due to only about 10% of usual training completed because of the job and house moves in the last 6 months but he completed the course, wore the GB kit and received the finishers' medal so was well pleased with himself! We were proud to have been there and been part of it. This is a tough sport and its demands should never be underestimated. Ted and I got talking to a lady whose 39 year old son had come off his bike, badly grazed his back, elbows and wrists and who had gone to hospital as there was so much grit in his wounds. We caught up with the whole family in the car park opposite the hotel where, on return from the hospital, his legs buckled and he collapsed. Ted and his father tried to get him up but he went down again and had to be partially carried over by another 2 blokes to the hotel. We saw them all later in town as we were having lunch and James knew him. The bloke in question still looked wish-washy but was so annoyed with himself for his non-finisher status-berating himself even! The atmosphere up at the lake was great and heartening to see so many nationalities and age-groups coming together and participating in the sport of their choice. Great also to meet other GB participants and their supporters. We were at breakfast with a Geordie couple whose son was competing in the same age group as James and whose daughter actually worked at Fishermans' Friend in Fleetwood! Small world.Read more