The Start time of the Ryton Triathlon was approaching but the anemometer on the roof of the Sailing club was consistently showing gale force winds. The race organiser, keen that we should all have the opportunity to go for a swim in the Derwent reservoir, delayed the start of the race by 30 minutes. We continued to get changed into our tri kit. My brother rubbed his bodyglide wetsuit lube onto his testicles then offered the bar to me. I un-politely declined.
The organiser decided to ask the rescue canoeists to paddle the swim course to get a more accurate idea of conditions at water level. The wind prevented them from even getting their canoes into the water. At about the same time a 65mph gust almost flipped the rescue rib over in the middle of the lake. The decision was reluctantly taken to turn the event into a duathlon.
My relief was short lived. The cycle course was very tough. The scenery was superb on the route but cycling along the A68 with strong cross winds isn’t my idea of fun. Me and Bob leap-frogged each other throughout the race; he was stronger on the bike but I had the edge on the run. About ten minutes before the end of the race we agreed we’d both given it a good go so decided to finish the race together. At several points during the race we’d joked that ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’ The joke didn’t seem quite so funny when we heard after the race that one of the competitors had died during the swim at the Ripon Triathlon.
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