Aquathlon....who would have thought the run would be THAT hard?

[RebeccaSK]

The task - relatively simple really. Swim 200m as fast as you can and then run 3.5km. Doesn't sound that hard. Running 3.5k whilst your feet squelched on every step - yuk! The hardest part was starting to run whilst you're still out of breath from the swim. The fact that I had a tri suit - so no putting on t shirts or shorts after the swim - meant my transition was pretty quick and I didn't catch my breath. The downside to this was that I started to run already knackered and I couldn't run the whole thing. At the end, one of the marshals said to me - next time you do it, save a little bit of energy for a sprint finish at the end. Little did he know that WAS my sprint finish!!!!!

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

Oh I know that feeling. I remember when I did my tri running out of the pool and starting to cycle with a wet bum, it really is a strange feeling. It is something to do with the blood in the body when it is horizontal while swimming having to change to Vertical it makes you go all wobbly. Sounds like a great day well done. Would you do it again? I'm often tempted.

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

I HAVE to do it again! This was a practice for a proper triathlon in three weeks. Back in February I went to cheer on a friend who was doing a half marathon. She'd never run before and she inspired me. She came last - but she didn't really because there were quite a few non finishers. She was running for a charity we both support that helps displaced Syrians and Syrian refugees. I tried to jog along side her as she ran so I could take some photos and even that left me gasping. So, I joined a gym and started swimming. Then, back in March, something RIDICULOUS, prompted me to sign up for a triathlon to raise money for the same cause. I fully expected, at that point, to walk the run - it's only a mile but it's a HORRIBLE mile up a long, long hill. A friend told me about the NHS C25K and here I am. I hope to be able to run that entire mile . I've not managed it yet (I've managed 3 miles without stopping, just not involving that heinous hill).

I was totally unprepared for how tough I would find the run after that swim but I'm optimistic about the triathlon. The last bit of the cycle before the transition to run is downhill so I'm hoping I will have control of my breathing when I come to run. I'm not convinced I'll ever do another triathlon - I've found it quite stressful trying to train for three different disciplines - but I may do another aquathlon - I have to beat today's time after all!!!!!

[Irish-John Graduate]

But - you did it! Well done

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

There is no stopping this superwoman!!!!

Well done Rebecca!

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you - but the only resemblance to superwoman today was the one piece outfit!!!!!

[Hidden]

You are my superhero Rebecca, and after that traditional pre Aquathlon Camembert too....

Don't you just love helpful advice at the end.....

brilliantly done, hope you got a special nephew hug

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I got a special nephew squeeze! As I said to Tim, above, the only way I in any way resembled a superhero was because of my one-piece outfit!!!!! My greatest achievement was getting into the trisuit - I bought it, without trying it on, about a month ago. Couldn't get into it so bought some shorts and a vest but I didn't want to wear them as I knew the vest would ride up as I swam. So, I thought I'd just try and get it on one last time this morning - and somehow I got it on. Of course I then had to take it off again but with a lot of squeezing and heaving, I managed to limber into it again for the event. Jeez, all the women there this morning were slim! I felt like an elephant next to them!

[Hidden in reply to RebeccaSK]

I think the phrase is it's not what your body looks like it's what you do with it that counts.... We may not be twiglets, I can recall way too many years ago my vital statistics being 28/28/28 - that's a perfect barrel shape in any language! But who cares, you just did something amazing with that body of yours. And you ain't no elephant either. Well done you, your commitment is a shining example to us all.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to RebeccaSK]

But .... the elephant is a strong, untiring swimmer...the elephant can walk up to 80K in one day...they may run slowly...but boy, don't get in their way!!!

You are awesome... ( and not an elephant) !

[Hidden]

Sounds amazing.... Well done

[Rignold]

quelle achievement ! Formidable!

It is a shocking and humbling thing how hard it is to run straight after something that has gassed you out. In Crossfit it is quite common to have short runs 800m or 1.2k in between rounds of doing HIIT stuff, and i always look at it on the board and think 'oh, I'll be ablt to get my breath back during the run'... and every time I get about 200m out of the door and hit the wall. Lungs of fire and legs of lead.

You can have the day off squats in recognition of your achievements.

(but back on it tomorrow!)

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to Rignold]

Sunday morning spinning class tomorrow! Ever tried a triathlon Rignold ? From what you've said before you've obviously got excellent all round fitness.

[Rignold in reply to RebeccaSK]

I am terrible at swimming, unfortunately. Also my all round fitness has slipped from excellent to woeful in the year I had on the IC.

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to Rignold]

Hmmmmm. Apparently the swim is what puts most people off the triathlon - according to the people running the event today. I would urge people not to let the swim put them off a triathlon if they're interested in doing one. As a complete newbie I was the first to start the swim. the next person started a minute after me and so on and so on. By the time I got out of the pool I had a HUGE lead. However, it took no time at all for the stronger runners to catch me up. Truth is that even if your swim took twice as long as mine, because the swim is relatively short, if you're a strong runner you'll make that gap between you and the person in front of you up.

[SueKen Graduate]

Well done you! I'm exhausted just reading your post!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Go Rebecca... you blinking well did it!!!! Knew you would.... yeay!!!!

[SuzyKK Graduate]

Wow! Very impressed - well done