Night Angle

Well, I survived the staff triathlon!

After my colleague had swum her 20 lengths of the school pool, we were lying in about fourth place (or fourth from bottom). I sprinted for my trusty steed, tethered and waiting impatiently for the off by the basketball court. We shot round the football goal and off out of the gates at a speed rarely seen in this type of event. And I don't mean it was particularly fast, either.

I haven't really ridden a bike for about 25 years, but it is as they say, like riding a bike - you don't forget. But I had forgotten how much your legs burn when climbing a hill at a steady speed. I had ridden 10 km up hill on the gym bike last night, but this seemed much harder.

I was quickly overtaken by a competitor whose hobby and passion is mountain biking, so I wasn't much bothered by that. Then another competitor inched past, but he is a good 15 years my junior, so that was only to be expected.

For the rest of that leg of the race, I had clear track ahead and behind - and I wasn't last! The part through the campo was a bit hairy with sand and rocks in equal measure, but the final stretch down the hill was an exhilarating full speed tarmac hurtle towards the finish line.

Until I remembered all the speed bumps in the way! But I made it safely back to tag the third member of the team, who lumbered off to run much the same course that I had just cycled.

But our reward was not cups, medals and glory but a free bar, so a couple of beers went down very well. (After an entire bottle of water, of course.)

I won't be able to walk tomorrow. But I was the oldest competitor so I felt good at having joined in and finished in one piece.

Have a great weekend.