I have been a member of TTG for 25 years. The club has ebbed and flowed, but always been full of lovely people. I met my partner, John at the club (our eyes met across Brockworth pool in 1998) and have made lifelong friends on training rides and many trips to Majorca. During those years I have represented GBR on over 20 occasions in standard and Sprint distance. With the advent of covid I thought I had settled myself into a rut of pootling around on my bike, enjoying lengthy coffee stops. However last year my competitive spirit returned, only to be thwarted by a broken wrist and a complication which required carpal tunnel surgery. Having recovered from that I had a bike crash which resulted in a broken pelvis, ribs and fingers. I had to get real and accept the fact that a Dexa scan revealed fairly advanced osteopenia and another crash would not be the best idea. So very reluctantly I decided to concentrate on swimming and running through my rehabilitation. I entered an aquathon in May and no one was more surprised than me when I found that my times qualified me for the European Championships.
So, to the race report that Charlie asked for. Well, it was a 1k swim in a Belgian river followed by a 5K run. And that was it really, nothing exciting to report. I came 6th, which was respectable, but there is work to be done and I know I can improve. There is nothing like the feeling of pulling on a GBR dry suit, and it was quite exciting being the baby of the 65 to 69 age group.
It is great to see the club thriving and continuing to be so supportive and inclusive.
