The Ulverston Triathlon is a brilliant local event, and this year I was racing it for the second time. This would be my first race since ‘retiring’ from triathlon 2 years ago, and my first taste of competition since being chosen for the Welsh squad in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games!
My whole family came along and we made it a big day out, and (as you do) my aunty also raced to celebrate her 60th birthday! It was her first ever triathlon, and so other family members entered into various relay teams to support her. She did really well and won her age-group, so now has an unbeaten triathlon record to her name!
I was nervous about the race, not necessarily about the result but more about actually remembering how to do everything. I was a little rusty, but it reminded me what a wonderful sport triathlon is when I was back in the zone.
I had a good swim, finishing the 400m in just under 5mins before heading out onto the bike course. The bike has always been my strongest of the three disciplines, but I still wasn't prepared for the hail, sleet, rain and 40mph winds that was to come! It was pretty challenging but I generally had a good bike leg, and felt really strong coming into transition with a good advantage over the other female athletes around me.
Eli heads out onto the Ulverston run course. Credit - Sports Sunday Event Photography
Running has always been my weak point, but I managed to keep it strong over the 6km and come home as 2nd place female finisher - something I was rather surprised about!
It was a brilliant feeling to be able to come back to a sport that I love so much, and prove to myself that I can still do it, and I still will do it. I’m racing in Southport in May, and with it being a World Age Groups qualifying race I’m hoping to be in relatively good shape by then... we’ll see!
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