Winnings!

A couple of weeks ago I signed up on the day for a novice 'try a Tri' event at one of the local sports centres. It was a 400m swim, 10 mile cycle (on a static bike) and a 3 mile run. Much to my surprise, I came first. I was extremely happy and was presented with a voucher for the Run4it shop. This is what I bought with it. Feels quite special to know that it was purchased by performance.

If I had blipped me crossing the finish line last Sunday the first thing you would have said (as at least 20 other people did) was "why are you wearing so many clothes?" Well the simple answer is that everything I had read beforehand said to run in the same clothes in which you train. I trained from October onwards, all through the Scottish winter, at 5am, so you can imagine what I was wearing. It didn't even cross my mind that running a race starting at 10:30 on a roasting hot spring day would require a modification to my wardrobe. Worst thing was that I was wearing really heavy socks that gave me an ENORMOUS blister. Ach, you live and learn and you only learn by doing and making mistakes.

I am starting to believe that I am a 'real' runner not just somebody who moves one foot on front of the other slightly faster than a walk. . During the week I have purchased light weight running socks, running specific shorts and this handy bottle carrier. Apparently I am not going to die of thirst in between the 3 mile apart water stations and don't need to carry a camelbak with 2lt in a bladder plus 2 x 750ml lucozade bottles. Lightweight for me from now on, you live and learn :)