Justin completes The Lakesman Ironman

There is an old saying that triathlons are enjoyed by people who think one sport is not hard enough!

Two years ago, after completing the Hamburg Ironman with Kathy, I entered The Lakesman Triathlon. But due to the pandemic it was postponed a year.

Well, on Sunday, I finally completed the middle distance triathlon, The Lakesman, in Keswick. It was a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.2 mile run. I came 34th out of 55 in my age group and achieved a personal best. I’ve only ever done one other middle distance triathlon, so that wasn't too difficult!

It was an amazing experience. I entered Derwent Water at 6 am; it was crystal clear and 17 degrees. 39 minutes later I struggled out of the lake and ran down to my bike. 3 hours and 56 miles later, after enjoying beautiful rolling countryside, I dropped my bike off to start the half marathon. My first six miles were on pace but as I started my second of three laps, my left knee started screaming at me to stop! I struggled onwards at a much slower pace and completed the half marathon in two hours and 15 minutes.

As I reflect on two years of training, with pools and gyms being shut, events postponed and motivation within sometimes being lacklustre, I conclude that, like financial planning, triathlons are simple but not easy. Set your goals, create a plan, stick to your plan, and modify it as and when your environment changes.

Simple, but not easy.