After waking up on New Year's day 2018, hungover, overweight and miserable I decided to make changes. I started swimming the very next day - I know you'll find this hard to believe - but I became obsessive! Every possible day for around 18 months, I swam in the openair. Didn't quite lose as much weight as I had hoped, but I did get into some sort of better shape.

September last year, my old mate Wayne from Manc persuaded me to watch him do an Ironman (went really only as it was in Barcelona), and I was inspired. The next thing I found myself signed up for this triathlon sprint. Although nothing like an Ironman, open water swimming for 1km, cycling for 20km and running 6km is a big ask for me.

Picking up a late injury this week by not listening to anyone and doing it my way was only really to be expected, nevertheless, I'll give it the best shot I can.

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