Social & Information

It was here again the London triathlon. Heath, Dean, Mark and Keith were all trained up and ready for action (Yes even Keith had tried a bit of training this year!).

It began Saturday morning, Keith and Dean's bikes already dismantled, helmets, wet suits and our bag in the back of the Volvo. Off to Rishworth for Heath. Wheels off, frame in, that's bike number three, another wet suit, helmet and bag. Just one little seat left in the back for me! So off we go on the long road down to London.

Geoff, Sarah (who were going along to watch) and Dean had gone by train managed to make it to London in about two and a half hours. Mark, Mikie, Sam and Eddy managed it in about four and a half. Us thanks to the rain and the 50mph (which is even slow for a Volvo driver) speed restriction most of the M1, managed six and a half hours!!!!! Well eventually we arrived at the hotel, bags dropped off; seat up in the car, Dean in, it's off to the Excel centre to rack the bikes ready for tomorrow. Due to the Olympics' there's lots of work going on near the Excel so the usual car park was closed and due to the tri so it seemed were most of the roads. One or two wrong turns, lots of stuck in stationary traffic, a sat nav that didn't understand roadwork's and road closers, diversions that sent you into dead ends. Eventually we got to the car park (someone remind me why didn't I stay at the hotel, just glad I'd taken my travel sick pills).

So bikes out, wheels back on, are the wheels in line, are the brakes working right. I have a use!, I can hold Heaths bike whilst he checks his wheels run straight. All happy with them it's the twenty min walk to the Excel. Helmets on, wrist bands on and that's just to get into transition, off they trotted to rack their bikes. I stood waiting for them, watching, the place was just a mass of bikes and people some racking, others all excited as they'd just finished. Lots of well done's and hugs from their loved ones, excited kids wanting mummy or daddy's medal. The journey's forgotten, the excitements there, memories of last year in my head, where am a going to stand to get the best view, will I make it to the different events to see them all at some point, and they think they've got the hard bit to do!

Well Sunday mornings here at last. As the race times are late afternoon this year we are able to have a nice leisurely breakfast. Fruit, cereals, bacon, eggs (scrambled and fried), sausage, hash brown, beans, toast the works. Back to the rooms to relax and prepare, meet back in the lobby midday. Mark had taken the lads to watch the elites and would meet us all there. In the lobby double check wetsuits, yes, kit, yes, swim hat number, yes well then it's off for the DLR. The nearer we got to the Excel centre the more exciting it gets, you can see the bike route from the train another couple of hours and that will be our lots. There's a buzz as you walk up to the Excel people cheering and shouting. Off into transition to drop their kit bags off, there's Mark already in his tri-suit with wet suit over his shoulder and only two and a half hours to go for him. Keith and I went off to check out the change to the in/out for the bike transition, whilst Heath had a quick look around the expo. Then it was time for them to go. Quick good luck kiss and they were gone. Right where first out to the dock side to see the swim and hopefully find Geoff and Sarah, over the metal bridge that crosses the run finish to the swim meeting point. Oh if I hang on here a bit I'll see Heath and Keith again, there they are wetsuits on bare feet over the metal bridge. Heath had had a little problem with his wetsuit really struggled getting his leg in. That was until he realised he'd got his leg in his arm hole! Off they went to the swim holding area, 20 mins and there off. Out to the dock side for me. How many people! This is a bigger crowd than last year. I walked up and down 3 times trying to find Geoff and Sarah in the end I found a clear bit of railing about were we usually stand and hoped they'd find me. The swim wave before Keith and Heaths has just set off. 10 min to their start time they start to get in the water (all 250 in there wave) to swim to the start. My stomach turns over this is it. Geoff and Sarah find me just in time. There's a cheer from the group and there off, my heart is beating faster, come on you two. We keep watching the time. We know the times they are hoping to do the swim in. Heath we won't spot as he does the front crawl, but Keith we will, he's a breast stroke man, and if timing is right if we see Keith and then move quickly we'll catch Heath getting out. Eyes peeled watching hundreds of head's and yes there he is, looking over towards the crowds, we wave, he see us and waves back. That's the cue quick to the barrier for them to go in to transition, spot on, there's Heath pulling wet suit off, shouts and cheers from us all (Sam, Mikie and Eddy) have found us now. Another cheer from the water and that's Marks wave off. Any minute now and Keith should be here, I manage to get right to the front. Yes here he comes lots of shouts from us, my stomach going over and over it's so exciting. The customary wet Victoria dock water kiss for me and his up the stairs to find his bike. Right for us its dash time to find a good view point for the bikes, hopefully we should see them all on that. 10 min and Dean will be starting his swim. Geoff's in charge squeezing through the crowds out of the Excel down the stairs across the road and yes there a good gap right by where they join the bike route. A waiting game now Geoff keeps checking his watch working out the times we should have seen Heath by now must have missed him no sign of Keith either. Geoff spots the back of Heath so we all shout; right Keith must be coming from that direction. Eyes scanning every bike we are looking for a red bike black and yellow suit and a red hat. There he is big shouts and cheers another wave from him. Geoff's back to his watch Sarah and I have the map out to see which side is the longest bit of the route, right mark should be out of the water, Dean in and both Heath and Keith heading back to us, so if timing right we will see them all shortly. Eyes scanning what's Mark bike like? Not sure but his suit red and black! It's hard work being a spectator. Right keep a close eye on the ramp Mark should be here. Yes there he goes. Oh there's Keith must have missed Heath again. Geoff's back to his watch calculating Dean's timing. Heath passes on his last lap, big cheers from us, right Dean should be with us anytime. This is when you need eyes in the back of your head. We'd Mark and Keith heading to us from the left and Dean the right. There goes Mark that means Keith's not far, but still no sign of Dean. Shouts and waves, that's Keith passed, come on Dean where are you, hope nothing is wrong. Geoff keeps looking at his watch. Still no Dean. Something is wrong ( he'd had a nasty fall last year and broke his elbow so we were a little worried by now ) We had all got knots in our stomachs by now, we had been stood 15 mins now with no sign of him, the last stragglers from his wave were on the course. Group talk if we waited much longer we'd miss Heath and Keith on the run, so decision made, off we set to get a spot on the run course. Back up to the Excel, there's a spot, a clear view we could see them approach the corner and shout them on up the new ramp.

The atmosphere is electric now lots of people shouting encouragement for the last bit of the race. My heart is bumping like mad it's so exciting. Who will we see first? There's Keith very loud shouts of encouragement up the ramp, he can't see us but knows we're somewhere. We must have just missed Heath we'll get him on the last lap, no there he is just coming back round to start his last lap "come on Heath" He'll have seen Keith so knows he's not too far behind. Poor Sarah had to go as she is at work on Monday; she really didn't want to go; not now it was so exciting. Would Keith catch Heath, where was Mark? and what had happened to Dean! The nerves can't take much more. Here comes Mark at the start of the run. Yes we see Heath he's looking over his shoulder that means Keith is close. Geoff and I start screaming at him, and then there he is, Keith rounds the bend "come on Heath's just in front" we scream. Geoff and I quickly head in for the finish line, would we catch the finish. No sign, they must be through. Geoff has a wonder and finds two collapsed bodies on the floor. Well done you two. I can go to the loo now oh and get one of those chocolate fountain strawberries and flump kebab thing (mmmmmm very nice and I did deserve it, its hard work being a supporter). No time to rest boys the supporter's job is not over. Over the bridge so we can see the run in route. Look there's Dean he is still here. Mark comes running in at the end of his first lap, more shouts, then its Dean turn he's looking strong. Here come Mark high fives with Heath and Keith well done. Then its loud cheers and shouts Dean comes in to the finish, At last the job is done my heart rate can return to normal. Another fantastic day,

Here's to next year! Well done Heath, Keith, Mark and Dean (who had got stuck in his wetsuit by the way! And they cut the bike short on his leg for some reason. Not a happy bunny)

• Heath
• 2.33.34
• Keith
• 2.34.12
• Mark
• 2.41.10
• Dean
• 2.34.18