Racing back to back on consecutive days is always tough, but to podium on the first race and win the second shows true class – the TORQ way.

The weather was a complete contrast to the blue skies of Hyde Park (the previous day’s venue for the ITU paratriathlon), where I rode as a guide with Iain. It was pouring with rain and quite cold. In the UK, it is usually compulsory to wear a wetsuit for the outdoor swim, however this event takes place in a heated lido. This race is famous for its unusual start – the difference here being that the race is started by the firing of a shot gun!

I was in the last wave of the day (the fastest boys – JE), so after waiting around in the rain, I really just wanted to get on with it to warm up. There was steam coming off the water, which looked very inviting, but I wondered how cold it would feel on the bike after a nice warm swim.

An 18 length swim of a 33 yrd pool was a random distance and I felt quite tired after my tethered swim the day before, so was pleased to get into T1. I was about a minute down on the leader. The bike course was on country lanes and was rather twisty and particularly undulating in the second half. I made good headway, got stuck in to the driving rain and felt good. I caught the lead swimmer of my wave with a couple of miles to go and felt quite comfortable. The run was multi terrain and had become a bit muddy with the rain. This took me back to my x-country roots. I was certainly pleased that my legs were able to hold up to running on consecutive race days! I came into the finish and soon found out that I had the fastest time of the day.

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