My latest challenge, and I mean challenge

So, I have announced to anyone in the world who will listen that I have entered a triathlon in the summer, to raise money for St Peter's Hospice.  But not any old triathlon, oh no: more like one that comes under the category of 'stupid'.  The Brecon Titan seems to give off strong hints about its toughness in its name - 1.2 mile lake swim, 60 hilly miles plus a half marathon distance run to close things. I have spoken to a  number of experienced triathletes about it and the most common response is a raising of the eyebrows and questions about my previous triathlon experience.  None.

So why have I potentially wasted the £100 entry fee, planned to spend loads of money on kit that likely won't be used ever again, and ruined my spring by being compelled to train all waking hours?  Well, for starters, my friend Heidi suggested it and I felt that after she had entered, my refusing to enter would be a massive slur on my sporting capabilities.  And of course, I could raise money by encouraging people to give me money as an act of sympathy.

One month after entering, here is where I am;

Good things;

1.  I can actually swim front crawl without drowning (even if a bystander might think I look as if I am)
2.  There is still a lot of time before the big day.  In addition, the organisers have planned a 'dry run' (ie. no swimming), complete with camping, so I can familiarise myself with the cycling route
3.  I have entered some other events in the build-up, thus providing some structure to my Spring.
4.  It is good to have a decent challenge rather than something I could already do (see Bristol Half)
5.  For the first time in my life I have a bit of time as I am currently working three days per week - plenty of time to actually train
6.  I have been going to the triathlon club swimming sessions (twice so far, that must surely qualify me as a regular).  They do view me as a charity case, but surely it is good to do something that is outside my comfort zone for once.  I am meeting new people, although I have discovered that swimming desn't lend itself to casual chatting - water pours in your mouth.  The changing room afterward seems to be full of people in their own little world and everyone changes in silence; presumably something to do with the sensory-deprivation nature of being in the pool with covers over your eyes and a hat sealing up your ears.  Oh well, one or two were chatty before we got in
7.  There is a cool machine for drying your costume.  Drop the offending article in the machine and it spins it so dry that you can put it in your work bag without any deleterious effect on random papers, or more importantly your lunch.  Which in the case of triathletes seems to be seeds and strange protein shakes
8.  Cycling, unsurprisingly, is going well with a few sportive rides under my belt already, not to mention an exhilerating couple of hours at the local velodrome

Bad things;

1.  I have irritated my achilles tendon.  The physio is talking about months to heal - no running at all
2.  As above; it is such a big setback it deserves two points
3.  Swimming is torture - I can't do it, I am the slowest in the training sessions I go to and there is nothing to look at.  Forget all that getting inside your head and it being meditative nonsense - it is just boring.  The only thing that enlivens it is the constant fear of being overtaken.  I just need to apply the cyclists' rule number five (google it)
4.  Every time I cycle anywhere it is either icy or pissing with rain, or both, and always dark.  My life teeters in the balance with only a rack of expensive rear lights between me and being splatted on the main road to Weston-super-Mare
5.  I have some weight to lose - I know because I looked at the other swimmers this morning, then caught myself in the mirror.  Yes yes, seals aren't exactly stick-thin, but they only compete in the first discipline.  All the other swimmers seem to be so broad-shouldered and lean that they look like an upside-down Toblerone for Weightwatchers.  I on the other hand, look like a pregnant twig

To sum up, I am planning more than I am carrying out, mainly due to my injury.  This could place the whole project in danger, although I suppose I could just do the first two disciplines and drop out before the one I am fastest at - not much of an option.  Only time will tell.  In the meantime I am carrying out heel raises, glute strengtheners, twisty things, and using the foam roller on my back twice a day - even at work.
Swimming needs work - I need to attend the training sessions, and I also need a coach who won't chortle and splutter when they see me - let's call it inclusive practice.

I'll try to update as I go along.  And I'll try to remember why I am doing this.  As Jenny and I both thought during the Bristol Half, running is a lot easier than finding out you are dying of cancer.

Please consider a donation to Karin's tribute page as payment for the entertainment you have received in reading this;  I need to raise at least £18,000 to pay the hospice back for the treatment Karin received.

http://www.stpetershospice.org.uk/support-us/tribute-pages/tribute-for-karin-dixon-wilkins-81/