Windsor Triathlon
Windsor Triathlon proved to be the wettest for 11 years, and we had entered! Transition was open to the elements and on grass, so you can imagine the route in and out of T1 and T2.
The race was exceptionally well organised, and attracted 2,500 entrants. The swim course was upstream in the Thames until turn-round, when the slight current helped you back. The swim out was hidden by an island, so great care was needed not to miss it!
The bike was a single circuit of 42 km, anticlockwise, so mostly left hand turns. The roads were not closed, but at busy intersections there were marshals with stop signs holding back the traffic to let you through – a great asset, making the bike leg much smoother and safer.
The run was a circuit of 3 laps, up to the castle, and also along Eton High Street, so you could do some touristy things at the same time. The crowds were very supportive and encouraging.
In all, the Windsor Triathlon is a great event, well deserving of its BTA “Event of the Year” status. We would thoroughly recommend it to everyone – age groupers and beginners alike. Do wish for fine weather though. Even Tim Don suffered from the cold, and although leading out of T2, he fell back through the field on the run, even gaining a jacket and gloves somewhere on the course.
The event was won by Matt Molloy, a 40-44 age grouper, in 1:58:44. We had much more humble times, with Sandra clocking 3:25:58 and me 2:47:16. Still, it was enough to be winners of the 65-69 Age Group. And to make it better, this time there were six other males in the category, with the second finisher almost 20 minutes behind me. A good day for all. David Abrams.