World Mixed Team Relay Triathlon Championships, 16 Jul 2023

The second race of the weekend gave me another chance to have a go – and after a last-minute re-shuffle of the teams I was allocated the final leg of team 3, meaning I’d get to run down the blue carpet to the finish line.

Something I hadn’t anticipated was that it was surprisingly difficult to get across the course to access the bag drop tent with the constant stream of competitors. The event organisers placed a timing mat a short distance away from the handover zone linked to a big screen so we got a few moments’ warning before it was time to go. I must have checked and double checked the number on my arm a thousand times waiting for our team to appear!

Then it was my turn to run down the ramp onto the pontoon and dive in – and my goggles instantly came off. I’d been training with darkened socket goggles in the pool and big bright yellow goggles for open water swimming and obviously that day they failed. After draining the lake water out, I was off. The swim course went through a tunnel twice and it felt good to overtake people! The bike course was technical with plenty of hairpin turns and I’ve now got high-definition photographic evidence that when I concentrate, I stick my tongue out. Wonderful.

Transition 2 didn’t go to plan: I’d remembered a drain right next to my shoes, which was subsequently covered by a blue carpet put down later that day. After a very embarrassing minute running up and down the transition area I finally set off on the run. I’m proud of my run – and really appreciated friends and family cheering me on from the sides. I gave that race everything and although my total time wasn’t what I was hoping for, I’m proud of the way I pushed myself. Hopefully it won’t be too long before I get to do another one!

Lizzie Fox