Monday 16 September 2013

NIC'S WORLD TRIATHLON AG CHAMPIONSHIPS in LONDON

I've managed to get not-a-lot-done this afternoon because I was glued to the tele watching the World Triathlon Championships from Hyde Park with Alistair Brownlee battling through the pain of a wobbly ankle and then the sprint finish between Jonny Brownlee and Javier-Gomez-with-the-nice-arms. It was totally terrific entertainment- what  jaw dropping fitness from all the competitors. Superb stuff!

And what is so fantastic is that Nic the Pixen was part of it all.

She had qualified for the World Aquathlon Age Group Championships (a tri-without-the-bike) a few months ago and so would also be swimming in the Serpentine and running in Hyde Park on the Wednesday.
IT WAS SO EXCITING!!

Her TEAM GB trisuit arrived in the post.

HOLLINDALE GBR!!!!!  


I collected various Union Jack items to whack, wave or wear...



then drove to Coventry to pick up LiddyMoo...


and we caught the train to London. (First-Class-without-the-free-tea)

Because we were serious supporters and wanted the best view, and with the added responsibility of being chief photographers as well, we needed to suss out the spectator areas so we had a little walk through Hyde Park the night before and saw the new swimmer sculpture.



But such was our excitement - we got locked OUT of Hyde Park and faced a long walk all the way round to get back to our hotel.... it meant we had a lovely view of The Albert Hall...


...but we ended up hailing a cab ("hailing a cab!") (getting a taxi) back so Nic didn't completely wreck her calf walking miles in her flipflops.


The day of the race was here!!! Breakfast was hooty, the sky was cloudy and the Serpentine was grey but Nic and Michal were READY! 


The Team GB tent had all GB competitors' names on a wall.


Nic's was right in the middle.


Just there.


17 degrees doesn't sound very warm to me but I wasn't swimming in it.


Nic's wave ... look closely, she is waving ..


Fabulous swim! She was 9th out of the water (ish)
and her super-duper dazzling trainers were waiting....


After a quick transition..





... the 5km run.




As she whizzed past the stands her form from school went wild with their banner and balloons!


We, too, went wild with the bashers and the vocal chords. 

SHE DID IT!!!! 14th IN THE WORLD and 6th Brit home.


She even let me wear her medal!






LiddyMoo and Benno were excellent supporters.


It totally meant the world to Nic that they both made the effort to go and watch her.


She was so happy.




And we were so proud.


No comments: