WHAT A DAY!!! Let me start by saying thank you to all the friends, family, athletes, sponsors and clients that came to join the pink massive and support this fabulous event. It made me so proud to see you all there representing Passion Fit (Joanne, thanks for the shout outs, they loved it). Two years ago Passion Fit didn’t even exist. There are no words to describe how it felt to see you all there at the end supporting all the last heroic finishers when many of their own clubmates were long gone. These are the things that make Passion Fit so special for me and hopefully bring something extra to a sport that can inspire so many.

Congratulations to all of you that performed so well on a scorching hot day. There were so I many athletes out there representing Passion Fit and so many other friends of ours racing that the day was filled with awesome moments. I am so proud of all of you. Lots of PB times and AG placings. You are inspirational. Nothing is better than seeing an athlete complete part of their journey with a great result on the day.

Thanks to those at home that supported online and to John and Bill for feeding the guys on the ground updates and splits.

Biggest thanks as always, though, go to my long suffering wife, Loren, who has to endure living with me and then taking the lead for Passion Fit when I race. You are amazing.

In the end, mixed emotions for me. The day ended with my first UK 40-44 AG win, however, I also picked up a tendon tear in my calf at mile 10 on the run causing me an anxious last 2-3 miles. Disappointingly this may put me out of the last ever Exmoor 70.3 next weekend. It was a tough decision to carry on but with a 3 minute lead it seemed worth it. A shame, though, as I have been preparing for this dirty double for weeks and raced with this in mind all day yesterday. It’s hard not to feel a bit flat today.

Performance wise it was a B+. A slow swim, unusually misjudged by me (one maybe I should have tried to lead out), a poor first hour on the bike before I settled in to my rhythm and a injury on the run (my first ever in 5 years of triathlon) meant I felt I like had more to give. Unlike everyone else, I loved the hot conditions. It was also a terrible to shame to see AG favourite, Tony Cullen, pull out with a bike mechanical after passing me like a rocket ship 12 miles in. I have no doubt Tony would have seen off the race for a win and, for me, you always want to be racing the strongest field you can. Thanks to Scott Hill for the company most of the day and also to Paul Cowling who helped me fight the pain in the last few miles of the run.

An AG win was something I would have given anything for 2 years ago so I am absolutely delighted and privileged to be able to race at all, let alone at a pace that puts me in contention. An AG podium at my last 6 consecutive 70.3s is something I am so proud of but so much of the credit has to go to all of those around me that continue to support and encourage me when I am having days of self doubt and low motivation.

Thank you too to the amazing Passion Fit sponsors who make all of this so much more fun and enjoyable for us. I hope we did you proud yesterday.

#Zone3
#SkechersPerformance
#LeisureLakesBikesCheltenham
#EndlessPools
#JCSportsandRemedialMassage
#TrimaxEvents
#almostathletes

So, lets see what the week brings and if my body can repair itself in time for the next one on Sunday. Although at this stage in looks in doubt as I can’t even get down the stairs. If not, see you all in Dublin.