by Jessica Leitch

Jessica and her two freinds after finishing the Triathlon Background
Some people excel at swimming, some at running and others at cycling. But how about combining all three disciplines into one of the most grueling sports of all? Triathlon involves a continuous race comprising of a swim, followed by a cycle, and then a run. Competitors race against the clock, which starts as they enter the swim and stops when they cross the finish line after the run. Because the clock never stops, triathlon is often reported as having a 'fourth discipline' known as the transition - how you go from the water to the bike and the bike to the run.

Triathlon distances vary, from sprint which comprises a 400m swim, 16km bike and a 5km run to full ironman distance which involves a 2.4mile swim, 112mile bike followed by a 26.2 mile marathon run!

The event
On Sunday 6 August, I competed in the London Triathlon to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. The race was a standard Olympic distance event comprising a 1500m swim, a 40km bike and a 10km run and is the biggest event of its kind in the world.

Although I had already completed an Olympic distance triathlon, I had a special goal set out for London; to finish in the top ten of my age group. This would make me eligible for a half-blue award in triathlon from my University, Oxford. I have recently graduated from the University and started a post-graduate course at Balliol College in September. I am now Captain of the University Triathlon Club and so train and compete with the University Team.

My race started at 8am. This meant that I had to have my bike racked, my transition area set-up and be wearing my wetsuit and ready to enter the water at 7.30am. It was an early start that morning to say the least! The swim was a 1500m out and back course in the London docks. Out of the water and a quick run up to transition where the mental checklist begins: wetsuit off, hat off, goggles off, socks on, bike shoes on, helmet on, sunglasses on, bike off rack. And we’re off on the bike phase, a 40km dash around London and then back to transition again for the final change ready for the 10km run. I completed the whole event in 2 hours and 29 minutes, placing me third in my age group! The picture shows myself (centre) with fellow team mates, Ruth Burnett (left) and Kathy Burgoine (right). We all completed the triathlon in under 2hrs30, a fantastic achievement and one that allows us to race in a more competitive category in future years.

I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who sponsored me for this event, to all those who attended the coffee morning and cake stall that I held in Llanon.

The training I did
Triathlon is a very physically demanding sport and requires hours of training time and a high level of discipline. I've outlined a typical training week below for interest:

Monday:
am: Nothing
pm: Hard bike session 2hrs30mins approx.
Tuesday:
am: Easy swim 2km
pm: Hard run session (6x800m)
Wednesday:
am: Easy bike {1hr)
pm: Hard swim session 3km
Thursday:
am: nothing
pm: brick session (bike-run-bike-run)
Friday: Day off
Saturday: Long bike (2/3hrs) followed by run.
Sunday: Long run

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