Tallington Lakes 1991: My First Middle Distance Triathlon

Firstly, half an ironman wasn’t a thing back then. We did middle distance. Which was 2500m / 80km / 20Km. Much better ratios IMO.

I was as badly prepared for this one as I was for my first Olympic Distance race in Swindon the year before. But I absolutely had to be there. To be part of the scene at a now classic triple effort venue.

I drove up the day before. Probably the last road trip for the Skoda Estelle before I sold it to go to Brighton Polytechnic.

I gave a lift to a club-mate and we camped. Which surprises me now. As I wasn’t really into it back then. Pretty sure I didn’t have any of the equipment either. We went to a local pub for dinner though.

Images: 220 (UK) September 1991

Exiting the swim fairly well up tricked me into riding too hard too soon. And my Dave Russell was starting to be too small, causing back pain.

I had plenty of walk breaks on the run. Which gave me time to consider the future as my A-Level results were due to arrive the following week.

The race was on 21st July. But it seems to have been hastily arranged. As it didn’t appear in the 220 race calendar until June. It doesn’t surprise me then that 220 pointed out some organisational shortcomings.

Honestly, I was just happy to be going gun to tape with some of my triathlon heroes. And didn’t regret paying the £20 entry fee.