Xmas Day race report.
This morning saw the coldest water ever recorded in the 17 year history of this race. 2c!!
We also had to shorten and amend the bike course because of the snow and ice in the country park. That said, everyone did manage the obligatory one minute "acclimatisation" in the water before setting off. Aparently you could hear the screams and moans 60 meters away on the jetty.
No suprises for the first out the water, despite having a headcold most of the week, the 338 days spent in the lake this year gave Mike Russell the advantage. Close behind were Team Outrageous team mates Jamie Spillett and Alan Davies (again, both of whom have kept swimming throughout the winter (non wetsuit).
The only way to describe the bike was - windy - with a headwind in both directions (or so it seemed) to everyone. Back in first was Glen Hatrick from Greenwich Tritons, followed by Mike Russell (Team Outrageous), Vince Mullen (TriTalk), Alan Davis (Team Outrageous), Jamie Spillett (Team Outrageous), Lee Kennedy (Team Outrageous), Steve Adams (Team Outrageous), Phil Lewis (Trilarks), Anita & Guy MacDonald (Team Outrageous),
The first part of the run was like a skating rink but after about 400 meters, cleared leaving just a muddy track until the turn onto the road. Glen held his position with a storming run to reverse last year's result with Mike in second place. Vince completed the podium but this morning everyone was a winner. Finishing positions were as the bike with the exception of Phil Lewis overtaking Steve "spike" Adams on the run, which was to be expected as Phil is half Steve's age!!
Star of the day - Anita MacDonald in her first ever triathlon!! It can only get easier!! Well done Anita, Hawaii next?
Finally, a big thanks to the real heros, Jane Russell, Maddy Smith, Michael Botfield, Faye Spillett and timekeeper Sarah Dodsworth, who did a fantastic job in understanding the jibbering, frozen wrecks shouting their numbers at her.
