Off-the-hoof, Lucy and I decided to head into Wales to compete in the Broddyfi Leisure Centre Aquathlon held in Machynlleth.

We fancied doing something completely different.  We both feel totally a home in Wales and we do not need an excuse to pop over the hills and walk the dogs.  My 'come back' into training hasn't exactly gone to plan.  Since the Arch 2 Arc, (August), I have been on my bike 3 times, swam 5 times and ran about a dozen times.  I haven't trained at all in the last 4 weeks. I have put on a grand total of 16lbs since the jouney from London to Paris!!

On a very windy and rainy day, only 32 athletes turned up.  But this was exactly the type of event we wanted to enter.  An event that was friendly and good fun.  In fact, when we entered the race a few days before there were only 10 athletes due to race. The event ran like clockwork and the event organisers did a grand job.  To be honest, I was quite nervous.  I hadn't raced over 5K for over a year and I haven't trained for a 5K for 3 years.  Lucy was setting off in the 20m pool about 30 seconds afterme, so I new that if I beat her out of the pool, I would be running scared all around the run course!!

The swim splits were taken outside, but athletes had to walk around the pool, put their racing daps & number belt on and leave the building before the split was taken. I think both Lucy and I were just a tadge under 6mins (400m).  On the first turn-around, I reckon Lucy was about 30 seconds behind me, so I changed my 'just a jog around the lovely Welsh countryside' attitude and went hell-for-leather for the remainder of the run.Somehow, I managed to win the event overall in 24mins 16sec.  Lucy won the women's race but amazingly came 2nd overall beating all the other men!!  I must admit that finishing 1st and 2nd as man and wife was a pretty cool thing to do and we stopped off at the local buttery on the way home and celebrated with a roast beef lunch.

The race entry was £10 only.  We also received a series t-shirt, a can of Red Bull and one of the organiser's home made flap jacks.  Great event - cheers folks!!!