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Lesson learnt on this race:- Always read the race information no matter how many times you have done the race!!

I have been competing in this race since 2010 and the race notes came through by email and it wasn’t until the Wednesday before the race that I thought I would take a cursory glance of the notes and so glad I did. The bike course was extended by 6 miles to make it the full 56miles!! Gary thought this had a positive effect on the entrants as the swim start had to be split into 2 waves as there were more competitors than usual.

A very early start Sunday morning up at 3.30am and off to Bucklers Hard to rack bikes and see what the weather was doing. The race was delayed by 10 minutes as the organisers were waiting for the sun to come up to raise the air temperature. The Beaulieu River was at high tide, the sun was rising, the mist was sitting on the calm water and the ground frost was freezing our bare feet!! It was a relief to get into the water as it was 16 degrees and felt lovely and warm.

Gary and I were both in the second wave, he told me to go to the front, the hooter went off and I had a fantastic start, open water in front of me and off I went, Gary worked his way through the field and recorded his best time at the middle distance!

Both out the water in good times and then transition – for me it was drying myself and putting on a warm cycling top – I am not good in the cold and worth every bit of the 5 minutes spent!! Gary sped off in just his tri suit!! The bike course is so scenic going through and around the New Forest and the extra 6 miles were no trouble.

Back into transition for the run – Gary long gone on his!! The run is 2 laps totalling 14 miles through small country lanes and the last part is through a wood, really pretty and easy underfoot until you return into Bucklers Hard with an uphill gravel path and surrounded by supporters – so lots of effort put in here and off to the second lap. It is an amazing race, well organised in a very beautiful setting.

We spoke to the race organiser and he said he will be trying out a new run course as 2 out and backs to make it 13.1 miles.

We will back for more next year – anyone else?

Gary Finch M45 Swim: 00:42:09.0 Bike: 02:48:25.00 Run: 01:55:01.40
Overall: 05:25:35.40
13th in Age Category

Angela Kay F55 Swim: 00:36:53.5 Bike: 03:13:03.50 Run: 02:38:23.25
Overall: 06:28:20.25
2nd in Age Category