Story
<p>This year I am aiming to compete in 3 Standard (Olympic) Distance Triathlons - Wetherby (river swim) on 31/05/2010, Llandudno (sea swim) on 11/07/2010 and Tatton Park (lake swim) on 19/09/2010. Through these events I would like to raise awareness of and funds for the National Association for Colitis and Crohn's Disease (NACC) which through 2009/10 is celebrating 30 years of achievements (<a href="http://www.nacc.org.uk/content/home.asp">http://www.nacc.org.uk/content/home.asp</a>). I have decided to support the NACC as Crohn's Disease has affected a close member of my family for many years. With no current cure for these long term and often debilitating diseases there is great need for ongoing research, along with support for sufferers and their carers. I hope that you are able to help by making a donation.</p>
<p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - raising more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><span style="color: #000000;">Many thanks for taking time to visit my JustGiving page and read my message, Trish.</span> </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;">Update - Wetherby Tri</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;">Thank-you to everyone for your donations to the NACC through this page or by alternative means. I really appreciate your support and words of encouragement. The Wetherby triathlon was a great success and although the day started chilly with a very cold swim in the river Wharfe, by the end of the race the sun was shining and I had just about thawed out. To anyone still thinking of donating, please give generously - it makes the pain of icy cold water all the more bearable!</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;">Tri Tri Tri Again 2010 - one completed, two to look forward to, but I hope the water has warmed up a couple of degrees by then, </span><span style="color: #0000ff;">Trish</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #006400;">Update - Llandudno Tri</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #006400;">Firstly, many thanks to everyone for your donations since my last update. To anyone still thinking about it - perhaps I can ask you to make a contribution for my efforts last weekend at the Llandudno Sea Triathlon. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #006400;">Take a look at the photos of the day - a fantastic event which I thoroughly enjoyed. The weather was good and the sea not too choppy or cold, thankfully! Cycling around the Great Orme was great fun - the steady climb along Marine Drive was followed by a long, fast descent back into town - all to be repeated again, again and again (4 laps)! After this, the out and back run along the promenade and over Little Orme was hard work in the mid-day sun. However, thanks to tremendous support from spectators on every stage of the race, competitors received words of encouragement right through to the finish. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #006400;">I hope you enjoy the photos - thanks to Paul for the super shots. Perhaps we can get some video at Tatton Park Triathlon in September. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #006400;">Tri Tri Tri Again 2010 - two ticked, can't wait for the third. Until then, please give generously - it is all in aid of a good cause, Trish</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #a52a2a;">Update - Tatton Park Tri</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #a52a2a;">This race takes in much of Tatton Park and the surrounding Cheshire countryside and, being a multiple lap course (for the bike and run sections), proved to be another great spectator event at a lovely venue.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #a52a2a;">Wet, breezy and cool conditions prevailed on the day of my final Tri Tri Tri Again 2010 challenge, creating muddy and slippery conditions for both competitors and spectators alike. This did not seem to deter people from turning out and I am grateful to my Mum, Dad, Sister and Brother-in-law for coming to support me and take photos of the day.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #a52a2a;">The temperature of the lake water was good and once I was wet from the swim, any persistent drizzle didn't seem to matter. The wet conditions demanded more care cycling on the roads but, thankfully, </span><span style="color: #a52a2a;">I encountered no problems. And a bit of mud underfoot on the run course was no bother since I am</span><span style="color: #a52a2a;"> more used to running on the fells than roads. </span><span style="color: #a52a2a;">As for the results...........I was the first </span><span style="color: #a52a2a;">woman to</span><span style="color: #a52a2a;"> cross the finishing line!..........However, I will admit that this was due to some mix up with the start time that I had been allocated rather than any exceptional performance on my part, so I didn't actually win. But I am pleased to say that my Olympic distance race times have improved over the year. Tri Tri Tri Again 2010 - a success.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #a52a2a;">On that note, I would just like to remind everyone that, besides personal satisfaction from completing 3 open water triathlons this year, the reason for setting myself this challenge was to raise awareness of and funds for the NACC. I have had some wonderful responses from people and many very generous donations for which I am extremely grateful. I will be continuing with a few less strenuous fund raising ideas until the end of the year when my JustGiving webpage closes. So, if you haven't already and can make a donation, either off or online, it will help me to reach my fund raising target but, more importantly, it will benefit those suffering the effects of Crohn's and colitis diseases as well as all associated in assisting with their care. Thank-you.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #a52a2a;">And finally...........Next year..........Maybe, "Hell or Heaven 2011"</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #a52a2a;">.........................................Any ideas?........................................</span></p>