Last weekend, fresh from his exploits at the World Triathlon Championships in Spain, Newport & District Running Club’s Chas Bickford-Smith took part in a race that was a little more close to home: the Lydney “Last Tri” Triathlon in Gloucestershire. Based at the Freedom Leisure Complex in Lydney, this race consists of a 750m swim, 40km bike and a 10km run, the swim taking place in the leisure centre pool, and the bike and run sections using local roads. Afterwards, Chas sent us this report:

I did the Lydney “Last Tri” near Gloucester on Sunday, and came 3rd in my age group (amazingly). I missed a turn and cycled 58km – I was overtaking someone down a steep hill and didn’t see the arrows to turn. I kept going down the rather hilly main road feeling really good so kept on. Then the thoughts of “Where is everyone?”. 

Finally, I stopped and turned around to cycle back in what felt like a long way back to finally see cyclists in the race and the missed turn. Thoughts of giving up changed to seeing this as a training day. Doing the extra distance messed up my nutrition, so I was pretty dehydrated at the end of the bike and had to run 5km to get a drink, so I was cramping which didn’t help. 

Chas (left) with his friend Nick at the Lydney “Last Tri”

All done, and it was a good training day with some good hills added in. Looking at the results I feel I could have come higher… Maybe 1st in age group, but that is another day, and at least I didn’t get lost in the pool swim!