Challenge Fuerteventura

Sat here on the beach looking out at the oacean I can hardly believe what happened yesterday.

The day started typically early for triathlon race day, and with a big old bowl of porridge and yummy things, plus a bucket of coffee. Bike racking took place the day before so the morning onsisted of checking tyre pressures and ensuring the correct things were in the correct trnsition bgs (not used those before)!

The swim was 2 laps with an australian exit. Not done one of those before either, but a run in the midle of the swim cant be a bad thing!? The pro men got underway first then it was the pro ladies and all the age group women. Very exciting! Off we went and after the first 100m or so of generally just panicking I settled into something of a rhythm. Sighting was tricky with the low bright sun at 8am, and I swam a bit of a

banana between a couple of the bouys!The Australian exit was very cool, I felt like I was in the World Series or something! This is where you get out of the swim, run along or around something and then jump back in. Unfortunately I trod on something sharp which went right into my heal, which I promptly forgot about until that evening nothicing something black stuck in myfoot!Otherpains to worry about! The second lap of the swim was made more interesting my the AG men setting off after the ladies, and now catching us up. Some were partticularly agressive wihich i thought a little unfair, as I was (im sure) the trailing lady at this point.

Out of the swim and under the cut off (this was somewhat of a worry, sicne the cut off meant I had 43 mins, im a pretty steady 2mins,100m swimmer, so any added OW trouble, a kick in the face or loosing my goggles and it could have been close). The run to trnsition was long, and uphill, but I managed to sneek past a few more people on the way. Convinced I was last in the ladies field I was determined to get my transition admin done pretty quickly! I decided to stick on some socks after chatting to a few other people over the past few weeks, quick swig of water to get rid of the taste of the sea in my mouth and off to get the bike. The bags were in a seperate tent, rather than people having their stuff sprawled around their bikes.

I set off on the bike, trying to rein myself in a little. Convinced I was last, but i kept telling myself that it was gonna be a long old ride, and plenty of time to catch people. The first part of the bike was also a really windy section through town, with really uneven roads, so there was no need to risk busting a tyre so early on, although the blokes had other ideas! I overtook one lady on the bike, and a couple of blokes, but not so many people that i had a warm and fuzzy feeling I was progressing up the field. Then going uphill my chain jumped off and she scooted past me. A few more km's and I was back past her again. Then onto the climb, which was pretty tough on a TTbike, and the half marathon was looming heavy in my thoughts. I just tried to keep my breating steady and not go to crazy at any point on the bike. The words of my coach rining in my ears,  'pedal in circles' - it really works! Before long over half way, and little treats o drinking or eating ever 15 mins was a good way to keep my brain occupied. The aid stations were a welcome sight to break up what is quite bleak landscape too, and the people staffing them were really switched on and attentive, a welcome change. I was starting to hurt at 70km but I told myself that the last 20km practically cycle themselves...yeah right!Another hill and another case of the chain not wanting to stay on my bike!

Back in T2 and out on the run. Very hilly run. The first 12km were ok and then the wheels fell off a bit for me. Very hot and I was concious I had probably not drank enough, but i didnt want to start forcing water down and end up with a giant sloshy belly!My stomach was cramping badly and I had a strange stabbing pain between my left ribs too! Im sure my face looked a picture. The run was 2 laps wich meant coming through Playitas resort, loads of people were out cheering which was great and seeing Charlie was of course brilliant. He offered some words of encouragement, to which I can never musster a reply - sorry! Down to the finish and I almost coudnt believe the time on the clock!I had guessed maybe 5h30 if I was lucky, but it was 5h16, which meant 5h14  for the ladies!

Stunned, overwhelmed, exhusted!

The results wernt up for a while. When they were, more shock and stunnment! I was the 2nd Age Group athlete overall, 1st in my AG and 10th in the entire womens race including the pro females!

The last surreal moment of the day came at the awards ceremony where the AG awards were given first and I trotted up to get my 1st for the 20-24 category. We were just about to go for dinner, as I was keen to eat everything in sight by now. They then announched no 10 professional athlete 'Abigail Bagshaw from the Royal Air Force'!