Boundary Park Aquabike, 27 Apr 2025

This one had been in the calendar for sometime, but it was with only 16 days to race day did I finally decide to enter, but I’m so glad I did. The event was a strange mix of distances, a 900m lake swim and a 55km, two lap ride in Cheshire. Training has been going well, with the main focus being on the European Middle Distance Championships in Pamplona in mid May. My decision to race was to gain experience in open water swimming as well as the transition. I travelled to Cheshire the previous afternoon in glorious sunny weather, and race day wasn’t going to disappoint. An early start with the sun streaming through the curtains, it looked as though conditions would be ideal. I got to the event in good time, registered and made my way to transition and the lake which was 14.5C.

After the briefing it was into the lake and time to acclimatise, not something I admit I’m very good at, that being said I thought it went well. With a minute or so to go, we were rounded up and 3,2,1 we started. The course was two laps of approx 450m, which I made so much hard work of. I had a new wetsuit, which although tried on several times I hadn’t swam in, I also had a neoprene balaclava which I was trying for the first time. While I was prepared for the cold, what I wasn’t prepared for was not being able to coordinate, arms, legs, breathing, rolling of the hips and the catch and pull. Basically, I’d forgotten how to swim. Legs sank as I raised my head to sight, I wasn’t sighting well, so swam much further than I needed to. It took the best part of the first lap to begin swimming with coordination and I picked up the pace in the second lap. Out of the water and into transition went well. Wetsuit, balaclava, swim hat and Googles came off easy, sunglasses on, then helmet, which didn’t feel right. It’s a new helmet, which I had ridden in a few times, but which didn’t quite sit well on the bars. It didn’t take me long to realise it was on back to front. Off it came, turned around and back on, although I know encountered difficulty doing up the strap as my hands were so cold. A few stern words to myself to take my time, and it was done. Out of transition and onto the bike. This was my road bike, as the bike leg was draft legal and tri bikes were not permitted. I quickly got into my stride and started to pick off some of the quicker swimmers. Two laps of 26.9km, with a negative split, the second lap being marginally quicker. I ended up finishing fifth overall, but took away a lot more in terms of lessons to be learned before Pamplona in two weeks time.

Bryan Harding