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First Triathlon

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First time Triathlete Jane ( right of picture) tells us how it went - Tenovus Women Triathlon Llanelli

As I stood in the seawater in Burry Port harbour at dawn at the start of the Tenovus Cancer Care Women's Novice triathlon, several questions came into my mind.... What was I thinking when I decided that entering this event was a good idea? Could I swim in a wetsuit? I knew I could run slowly but could I combine this with swimming slowly and cycling slowly? 
 
As the bell sounded, I started to swim, in my trusty breaststroke, and gradually realised that even though I couldn't see anything, yes I could swim, and wait a minute... I was actually quite enjoying it. 
 
The transition to cycling was ok, apart from my fingers being too cold to tie my laces, can see now why practised triathletes invest in quick release laces. And cycling in soaking wet shorts wasn't too bad either, another question I had had in my mind earlier. Cycling as fast as I could on my trusty hybrid bike was ok, yes, I was quite enjoying this too... 
 
 I found the toughest part to be running straight after cycling, I felt as if I'd already run a half marathon or two as I set off. Gradually this got a bit easier but I was very pleased to see the finish line.... Yes I had done it, my first triathlon completed! Did I enjoy it? Yes, most of it, and definitely the complimentary cup of coffee and welsh cake in the RNLI station. Would I do it again? Well, just maybe... 
 
The event I chose for my first triathlon was perfect. There were only 35 entries and there was fantastic support from the Tenovus charity team as well as from the much larger number of sprint triathletes starting their event shortly after us. 
 
P.S. Triathlons involve a lot of organising, stickers to apply to helmet and arms, kit to have in the right place at the right time.  All quite taxing when you've left home at 4.30 am. 
 
 
 

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