Gosh but where has the year gone? I’ve just realised that my last update was back in May, and there have been many events since then, but the weeks seem to have run away with themselves, and suddenly we find ourselves on the brink of November. In fact this year’s events are essentially finished, other than a 10 km race in a couple of weeks time, so it seems a fitting time to post a wee round up of how things have gone. I planned to take part in nine events this year, raising money for the Beatson Cancer Charity…

I thought I ought to post a wee update about my progress with the fundraising events of 2017 so far. Despite my trepidation, these have been almost enjoyable although I think the unexpectedly nice weather we have had in May has helped enormously. Everything began with the Bishopbriggs Triathlon on the 7th of May. Paul and I were both doing our first ever sprint distance event, and Jamie and Holly were taking part in their Tristar category events too. This was our club event, so we were there early to help set up the course, which was fine since I’d…

I’m not sure I can really justify asking anyone for any more money (ever again), but actually a few people have asked what I’m doing this year so I’ll put it here for information, rather than suggesting anyone should feel obliged to donate. This year’s sporting activities in aid of the Beatson Cancer Charity will be mostly triathlon based, but there will be a few other things thrown in for a bit of variety. Last year was our first foray into the trials and tribulations of triathlon and so we stuck to novice events, which on paper looked like a…

Prior to the Wee Beastie event in July I had been quite looking forward to this. For the first time, all four of us (me and Paul to the adult novice event, Jamie and Holly to their respective Tristar events) were signed up to race on the same day. There was a great sign-up from the youth section of the Glasgow Triathlon Club too, which was especially helpful as we didn’t feel quite so bad about the prospect of abandoning the children when we took off to race. However, after the panicky near drowning experience on Loch Lomond my enthusiasm…

After a number of weeks of anxiety, yesterday’s day of reckoning was finally upon us, and we headed off (at dawn) to the southern (and surprisingly not rainy) banks of Loch Lomond, for our first attempt at an open water triathlon. When we signed up a few months ago this seemed like an insurmountable task. However, after successfully completing the Bute novice triathlon in May (albeit not an open water event) with no significant injuries, and even a medal to show for it, a glimmer of optimism had begun to creep in, that perhaps this might not be the impossible…