Page 167 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

The Swashbuckler

Triathlon 2016

By Sergeant Kim Hughes

A team of nine Officers and The Swim realised 22.5 km of running left before I
Soldiers from 26 Engineer could breathe easier so cycling shoes off
and running shoes a quick toilet pit stop
Regiment entered the My heart began pounding faster and faster and off I trotted. As I ran out of transition
with every step I took until eventually I
Swashbuckler 2016 which was was swimming to the start line. Then after I saw the front runner of our team going
being held in the New Forest a few minutes the klaxon sounded and off through for his final 11 km lap of the run
and all I could think was he will get a
we went, as I exited the water I couldn’t
in Hampshire. believe how quick I’d swam; it was a good good time. The first lap wasn’t as bad as I
six or seven minutes faster than in training thought it might have been, until as I ran
The New Forest and I didn’t even feel like I’d swam that through for my second lap two more of
my team were just finishing and as I ran
far.
through I could hear the cheer they were
Arriving in the New Forest at 0430 hrs The Cycle receiving and it spurred me on. I crossed
ready to set up for a 0600 hrs start, all I the road into the last 2 km and those last
could think was “what was I thinking”, I Next was transition for the bike and as couple of kilometres seemed to go on for
was about to embark upon a 1.9 km swim I was getting ready to go, in came my ever. I hit the bottom of the worst hill
followed by a 90 km bike ride and then training partner with a quick “how are with the finish in sight using my arms to
an exhausting 22.5 km run. Not only had you feeling” and “see you later” and I drive my legs harder than they have ever
I never completed anything close to that was away again. Someone told me that driven them before I crossed the line in 6
distance in one hit before, but my training this course was a flat course, but I can tell hours 58 minutes and got my medal. All
had been interrupted for two months by you, it doesn’t feel flat when you’re not I wanted to do was sit down, but I knew if
injury. much of a cyclist. The last 10 km were I didn’t keep moving and sort my kit out I
the worst; I could feel my right hamstring wouldn’t move again. The best part of the
day was in the vehicle travelling the short
getting tighter. Finally, when I got off journey back when I had that sense of
the bike I sighed a breath of relief until I
achievement and a very well earned sleep.

Kim Hughes is fourth from the right, all ready to start

167

*2016 J Layout.indd 167 10/01/2017 15:46