New Years Day took on a new look as club members Magi Hunter and Sandra Cromie completed the Edinburgh New Years Day triathlon, ably supported by our pit crew, member, Gregor Heron. This was the first time for me, but Sandra is practically a veteran competitor with a very credible finish in 2023. Following on from modest success in the Speyside triathlon in June 23 (See “last place pride”) I was hoping that I would be able to offer a better performance in the 400m swim in the Commonwealth pool, 3 times round Arthurs Seat on the bike and a running lap to finish. We had the perfect weather, cool and bright but dry, and a very encouraging pre-race pep talk from members Jim Hardie, Sandy Patterson, Fraser Gibson, Nicki McLean and relay team members, Carole Fortune, Julia Saunders and Philipa. As this is run with a staggered swim start, I was extremely early in the pool and very quickly passed by Sandra but the whole race has a very friendly and encouraging ethos which continued throughout. In fact, if anyone wanted to do their first triathlon, this would be the one to start with. Once on the bike the public support kept the spirits up as Holyrood Park was full of walkers and recovering revellers who cheered everyone round (and occasionally wandered in front of the bikers) but kept us going until the running lap. I was very much feeling it by then, and this must have been obvious as several much older women made a point of saying “Good for you, Hen, keep it up”, a very kind tourist started to pace me and a young mother spontaneously offered to feed me Jelly Babies. I took this all in the spirit it was intended and, with a final burst of effort, made it to the finish line well before the last competitors feeling very, very proud (but also, according to Gregor, looking a bit “grey”) But did I wait to cheer over the final runners? You bet my aching old backside I did! There is nothing more important than feeling part of the whole event regardless of your finishing place and, for those who are at the end, this is even more appreciated. Feeling integrated into the race “family” encourages you to try again, try harder and learn from your experiences to hopefully make improvements so, the time the racer snakes spend cheering on the stragglers is never, ever wasted.
So, here’s to a fit and fulsome 2024 for us all, and always, let’s hear it for (not quite) last place pride!
Magi Hunter