An abnormally warm October’s morning, the setting for the Warwick Triathlon 2011, temperatures in the region of 27oC, which created some last minute tactical changes to my strategy. I usually strip the bike of all weight during a sprint triathlon, I could normally get away without having to take water, but this was now going to be inevitable.

We arrived early (9:00 am) to watch my younger and quicker brother start in the pool. I was a late entry, so I had to start later on at 10:33 am. Your predicted swim time usually determines your start time, so that (in theory) equal ability swimmers are together, so as not to create carnage in the pool. Being a late entry put me to the back of the allotted times, meaning that I had some work to do to get a decent swim time (not my strongest discipline either).

The nerves go to work on me as I register myself amongst the line of athletes, marker pen stating my race number 435 is imprinted on my left upper arm and my right calf, this is so I can be identified in the water. From registration I complete the final preparations for the race, check tyre pressures, check the initial gearing set up on the bike (a school boy error I fell for before), race number on my race belt front and rear. I rack my bike, complete with helmet, glasses, clip in shoes and trainers in a position that I can easily get to in transition, this is something which can be very confusing when you’re in “race mode”. So I familiarise myself with the exit from the pool, exit and entrance from the cycle and the start of the run. At that point my brother returns, having completed the course in 1:11 a PB for him and a 35th finishing position, and he’s short of breath and sweating profusely (glad at least to see that he is indeed human after all and not a machine).

Poolside the nervous energy is heightened not only by sibling rivalry, but by the other superior looking late entries beside me, one of them being a team GBR member, I’m partly relieved that I’m not the only one who made a late application. Swimmers start the 400m swim in 15 second intervals, based on race number, so in theory there are 434 men in front of me somewhere on the course, or already finished.

The swim went surprisingly well and consisted of 12 lengths of a 33m pool, four lengths in each of the three lanes. I complete the swim in 8:03 minutes, which is good for me. A few aquatic battles occurred between some breaststrokers and I, however I’m pleased and relieved to be out of the pool, and hurtling through the fire exit at the rear to get my weapon of speed (the bike), removing my swim cap and goggles en route.

Transitions are hailed in all the magazines as the fourth discipline in triathlons, and they’re not far wrong, get them wrong and or panic and it can cost you dearly. I quickly and collectively don my sunglasses, helmet, race belt and cycle shoes and race towards the exit for the cycle route, no easy task with the cleats on the cycle shoes.

I’m immediately slowed as the rush hour traffic is in place and I’m caught behind some slower cyclists, which gave my legs the chance to warmed up, and before long we were out on the open road and relatively free from traffic on the 15 mile cycle course around the B roads surrounding Stratford. Some beautiful areas are careered through. I’m up to full speed and in the aero position and overtaking quite a few people, I’m making good time, averaging at 20 mph, and reaching a top speed of 37 mph (overtaking some cars I might add). My legs begin to burn at 12-13 miles, coinciding with hitting the gradients of the course. However I am in good spirits and battle through, overtaking another seven riders on the 2 mile home straight. Getting into transition at 43:36 minutes I’m on course for a PB, providing I don’t mess up the run! I enter the final 100m to dismount the bike, by removing my feet from the shoes (leaving the shoes still attached to the bike), and literally hit the ground running. Stopping at the dismount line to get off the bike can cost valuable seconds. I overtake number 345 doing just that, as he drops his bike (see pic).

I rack my bike back in my allocated position, “little tip, I lay an old t’shirt face up on the floor to stand on and it’s easy to recognise”. Bike racked and Salomons donned I’m off onto the run circuit, which is a double loop of an off road 2.5km route around the park behind the Stratford Leisure Centre. There doesn’t seem to be anything to prepare you for the “jelly legs” as you run straight off the bike. By about 1km into the run I’m starting to get my running legs back, and start picking up the pace. Disappointingly (for me I must stress) I managed a 24 min 5km run, and therefore completed a total time of 1:15:37, which knocked a minute off my previous personal best. Overall a great result, and I achieved a half drowned look for the finish line as the temperature reached it’s peak for the day, and the perspiration cascaded from head to toe.