[music] Mark: I think I best get going to work.
[music] When I started
at Global Triathlon Network, I decided I needed to become one with triathlon. I needed to live
and breathe the thing so rather than grabbing the train into work or simply cycling into work,
I decided why not start triathloning into work. After all, our Global Cycling Network friends,
the guys and girls there, they cycle into work each day. The Global Mountain Biking Network guys,
mountain bike into work so why can't I triathlon into work? So, yes, that is what I started to
do each day. I would swim, bike, and run my way into work and I'm about to do that now.
[music]
That was good. Why swim before work, when you could swim to work. I've got to say, I did use to
do this commute at quite a pace before. I think I got my time down to around
51 minutes. I think at one point, I shaved off around five minutes just in transition alone,
but I think I realized going all out and almost racing a sprint distance triathlon
which it effectively is each day just isn't sustainable, so I've really capped it now at
zone two, so, yes, felt a lot more relaxed today. Let's get to the bike, T1.
[music] Lovely. Bike's here
and ready now. I've managed to actually strike up a bit of a deal with our local landlord, Trevor.
He puts my bike out 7:30 each morning, so there is a little bit of an incentive to get on with
my swim and get here by 7:30 just in case someone takes a bit of a liking to my bike. I know I said
I do a slightly more relaxed triathlon these days, but I do still like my slick transition.
I oil up well in the morning before putting the wetsuit on, so that slips off nice and quickly.
I've also trained Trevor up in clipping my bike shoes to my bike with elastic bands so I can do a
nice flying mount. Talking of which, actually this is a very slow transition so I best get going.
[music] I'm riding really well today actually.
I think that was about 320 normalized power there just over that last section. It's not my best. I
think I've gone 331 before, but, like I said, I am cruising this triathlon commute these days
and also I don't want to get too much sweat on because they don't actually currently have showers
at work. I have actually also toyed with the idea of swimming all the way into work. The river does
actually go all the way into Bath, but that would be about 15,000 but that would be silly.
I'm not a swimmer, I'm a triathlete. Anyway, I best get going. I still got a little bit
left to go and I don't want to be last in the queue for the coffee machine.
[music] Time for T2 and I've got to admit
this was a bit of a logistical nightmare when I first started out. Where do you leave
a bike like this all day. Initially, I started just locking it up in various places but quickly
finding out that probably not a good idea to start to lose the odd wheel. I reached out to
the local triathlon community actually to see if anyone else triathloned to work like I do. Oddly,
I didn't get a reply. Long story short, Margaret, lovely lady that lives here has offered for me to
leave my bike in her garden throughout the day. So yes, that's what I'm up to now. It allows me
to continue with my dream because I was slightly worried I wouldn't be able to continue this
triathlon to work each day. Let's get this going.
[music]
Just a few hundred meters more, I'm on for a good time. Last push.
[music] I know I said
I thought I was on for a good time, but, unfortunately, I wasn't quite a PB today.
I don't know if I've mentioned it earlier, just I have woken up with a bit of a scratchy throat
and I did actually do a [unintelligible 00:06:42] race last night so I probably have got a bit of
residual fatigue in my legs. Did you see that woman, she stepped down the corner
earlier and that was probably a good five seconds there just that deceleration and
having to get back up to speed again, but I think I'm probably still one of the first in, so I'll be
first at the coffee machine. All those GCN and GMBN guys are going to be coming in feeling like
they've accomplished something cycling, and I've just swam, biked, and ran in. On with the day.
It's the end of the day. Right. [00:07:26] [END OF AUDIO]