As part of this series of challenges, I have been aspiring to do things that are a bit odd, a bit different and maybe a bit mad... This month's challenge definitely ticked those boxes!! The World Bog Snorkelling Championships have been held in Llanwrtyd Wells to promote the smallest town in Britain to tourists for many years. Recently they have added a triathlon to their list of alternative sports. This involves an 8 mile trail run, a 120 yard bog snorkel and then a 12 mile mountain bike.
Running: sorted. Bog snorkelling: odd, but manageable. Mountain bike: terrifying.
I borrowed my sister's mountain bike a week before the event, and proudly posted a photo on facebook 3 days before the race, only to be told by my cycling friends that I had, in fact, put it together wrong. Oops. Not the best start, but I fixed the problem and thought that meant I was ready to go!
Arriving at the race field, it was obvious that this race was going to be pretty small! All 17 competitors set off in one go, after leaving our bikes in the smallest transition area I've ever seen.
The run was right up my street, and I raced well, coming in 1st lady and 3rd overall, finishing the 8 miles in less than an hour. Off with the t-shirt (drenched in the rain) and on with flippers, mask and snorkel.
The bog was cold, murky and my mask quickly steamed up. We had to doggy paddle through one bog, get out, and come back in the other direction. On the way back, I had fixed the steaming up, but managed to get some water in my snorkel. Not good. A lot of spluttering but I made it to the end!
Now time for the final event - the mountain bike. Ben had managed to persuade the organisers not only to let him join in the mountain bike part of the race, but actually to lend him a bike to do it on!!
Also, parallel to the triathlon was a competition for "Best dressed helmet". I made my creation in the car on the way to Wales, and found on arrival that I was actually the only person to enter this particular competition. However, this did mean that I won! I reckon it would have taken a lot to beat my Shaun anyway....
Right, back to the bike! It began with a steep grassy uphill, where we had to push the bikes up. I was not impressed, starting to get tired and hungry. At the top of the hill, we had a small escape by getting some road to cycle on but then into the forest we went. We were met with steep downhill slippy rocks and waist deep muddy puddles. I did have a bit of a strop (or two) rescued by Ben's persuasion and the marshal with jelly babies: LIFESAVER!
Then back down the hill we went to the finish. Despite being overtaken by many a biker, I had survived in my position as first lady, earning the title: Ladies World Bog Snorkelling Triathlon Champion!
I'm only doing all this stupid stuff to raise lots of money for such a good charity. A recent report showed that the number of babies dying from sudden infant death has grown since 2012, so this research is crucial. Any money you can give will help. To donate go to www.justgiving.com/RADCC2015
Running: sorted. Bog snorkelling: odd, but manageable. Mountain bike: terrifying.
Arriving at the race field, it was obvious that this race was going to be pretty small! All 17 competitors set off in one go, after leaving our bikes in the smallest transition area I've ever seen.
The bog was cold, murky and my mask quickly steamed up. We had to doggy paddle through one bog, get out, and come back in the other direction. On the way back, I had fixed the steaming up, but managed to get some water in my snorkel. Not good. A lot of spluttering but I made it to the end!
Now time for the final event - the mountain bike. Ben had managed to persuade the organisers not only to let him join in the mountain bike part of the race, but actually to lend him a bike to do it on!! Also, parallel to the triathlon was a competition for "Best dressed helmet". I made my creation in the car on the way to Wales, and found on arrival that I was actually the only person to enter this particular competition. However, this did mean that I won! I reckon it would have taken a lot to beat my Shaun anyway....
Right, back to the bike! It began with a steep grassy uphill, where we had to push the bikes up. I was not impressed, starting to get tired and hungry. At the top of the hill, we had a small escape by getting some road to cycle on but then into the forest we went. We were met with steep downhill slippy rocks and waist deep muddy puddles. I did have a bit of a strop (or two) rescued by Ben's persuasion and the marshal with jelly babies: LIFESAVER!
Then back down the hill we went to the finish. Despite being overtaken by many a biker, I had survived in my position as first lady, earning the title: Ladies World Bog Snorkelling Triathlon Champion!
I'm only doing all this stupid stuff to raise lots of money for such a good charity. A recent report showed that the number of babies dying from sudden infant death has grown since 2012, so this research is crucial. Any money you can give will help. To donate go to www.justgiving.com/RADCC2015
