Barbarian Odyssey

It feels very unreal but 12 months ago we were just about to leave for Lands End to start our bike ride.  What a difference this April has been to last year. We will see how May compares.

Preparations are continuing for our Triathlon this year. Barbara is itching for the temperature of the loch to increase so she can try her new wetsuit out and save having to drive to the swimming pool to get some swimming practice in. My bike needs a good clean!! It shows that it is been used though.  Just need to get some up & down hill practice done – that’s the scary bit.

The Durty Triathlon has become a bit more of a reality over the last week for both Barbara & I.  Barbara has started here swimming practice, not in the loch I hasten to say, as it won’t be warm enough for swimming for at least 3 months.  Peebles swimming pool is hosting the training at the minute.

I in the meantime have splashed out on my new bike which will hopefully get me both up and down the hills.  The picture is a photo of the new bike with the Captains Road rising up into the hills behind it.  This is the first of the hills on the route of the Triathlon. I am making the most of the fine weather out on it.  Before long I will go off road!!

We did the deed this evening, entered a team into the Durty Triathlon 2012. Well we could not resist the challenge!  The triathlon is based at the Tibbie Shiels Inn on the 21st July,  and involves an open water swim, off road bike ride & off road run.  When it says off road it means off road – up and up and down the hills around St Mary’s Loch!

We are doing this as a team relay, the Cappercleuch Crazy Gang.  Thought not that crazy that we are doing the whole thing!

The team:  Barbara is doing the 750m open water swim, I am doing the bike ride, 15km, and Rob, our neighbour,  has agreed to do the 5km run.

We will continue to post updates on the ups and downs of our training, as well as the event.  We are now waiting for Michael & Laura to confirm their entry!