"This is it, this is really it, this is what I've
trained for, this is the Commonwealth Games". These were the thoughts going
through my mind as I dived into the loch in Strathclyde Country Park on
Saturday 26th July 2014. For the first few seconds it seemed a bit surreal that
after days, months, weeks and years of training the moment was finally here.
But I quickly refocused on the task in hand, to swim, cycle and run around the
Commonwealth Games Triathlon Relay course as fast as I could.
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| Running down the ramp into the Loch |
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| Diving in |
As soon as I came out of the water I was hit by the noise
from the crowd. Coming into T1 I focused on what I had to do. Hat and goggles in
the box, helmet on, bike out, run run run, jump onto bike, feet into bike
shoes, pedal pedal pedal. Then I heard the crowd again as I tried to push as
hard as I could round the bike course. I spotted a couple of people I knew in
the quieter areas and I heard my Aunty Clare cheering on me. Back into
transition, bike in, helmet off, run shoes on, run run run. "This is it,
everything you've got, oh no my legs hurt, I can't keep this up, just keep
pushing, I'm going to have to slow down, just keep trying, all the way to the
end, every second counts".
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| Coming out of the water |
After the race we cycled back to the hotel, showered,
changed, attended a Triathlon Scotland reception and finally headed back to the
athletes village for dinner and then the bar for our first alcoholic drink in
quite a while. One was enough.
I stayed in the athletes village for the remainder of the
Games, soaking up the atmosphere, watching other events, having my nails done
in the village salon(!) and of course making the most of the 24 hour food hall.
The closing ceremony at Hampden and following Team Scotland after party were brilliant and the
perfect ending to an amazing experience which I'm still happy to recall minute
by minute to anyone who makes the mistake of asking!
Thank you to everyone who has supported me, especially husband Jamie and coach Jack.
Thanks also to Jamie Simpson/Herald & Times for the photographs.