UPDATE: I made it!

Due to injuries limiting my training  and a 12 day hiatus from training in the last two weeks due to a throat infection,  I seriously thought about postponing to a later event, but went ahead, and achieved a reasonable finish.  I will keep this brief as many of you are not triathletes and will be bored rigid by the detail!

A 7am start, in a muddy lake but water around 19 degrees, which with a wetsuit is very pleasant.  With 200 people starting at the same time it is a bit of a melée, but I got round the 1900m in about 43 minutes - very acceptable for me.

I set off on the bike – 93km on a slightly undulating course (8 laps of about 12km).  The rain set in shortly after starting, but as I was warmed up this was not a problem (my shoes were full of water by the second lap though!).  Pretty much exactly 3 hours for the bike ride – a good time result - slowing slightly on the last two laps.

I changed into dry and clean socks and set off on the run – 4 laps of just over 5km totalling 21k (a half Marathon).  As I had never run above 16km, and running is  my weakest sport, I got slower and slower, managing about 2h25.  My partner Kate was there cheering me on which was a massive boost, and I was delighted to have finished. 

We had a long drive home ( helped by a nice little snooze) and I am walking like an old man. And very hungry!

THANKS FOR SUPPORTING ME!

Julian
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On Sunday 26 July 2009 I will be doing a Half Ironman distance triathlon at Trentham in the UK

This involves
     1.9km lake swim
     90km cycle ride
     21 km run (half marathon)

one after the other with no breaks.  I hope to finish in under 6 hours

As you probably know I have done a few short distance triathlons over the past couple of years, but this will be over double the time of my longest ever race, and will require a large commitment in training - probably around 10-15 hours a week for 6 months leading up to the race.  I will need to do at least one half marathon in training, and will do a few shorter triathlons too as a warm up

I aim to raise £1000 for the NSPCC - details on the left hand side of the page.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: NSPCC gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation. ALL THE MONEY RAISED GOES TO THE NSPCC.  I am paying ALL training, equipment, travel and accommodation myself)

So please sponsor me now!

Julian

(if anyone cracks jokes about "only" a Half Ironman they are very welcome to come and try two of the three disciplines back-to-back in a training session with me and see how they get on!)