CJ (neé Elvis) and I (formerly Wolf) did a triathlon at the weekend, the Portlaoise Try-athlon.  It was a sprint, so that's a 750m swim, 20k cycle and 5k run.  We had registered in the competent swim category (12 - 15 minutes), so I was in wave 7, CJ in wave 8.  The net effect of this was sitting.  Sitting for hours (4 of them) as people did the backstroke, breaststroke and not-dying-substroke to get from one end of the pool to the other 30 times.

When I got in I acquitted myself nicely at 14 and a half minutes.  I'd have been faster except for the goon in front of me who wouldn't get out of the way.  On to transition (3 mins), a quick flash for the crowd as I dispensed with my togs, and off for my cycle.  Since the beginning of the year I had done 9.77km (total) cycling.  This was a mistake.  The bike ride was not great, either physically or psychologically.  Folk passing me out, cramp in my left calve, general misery.  51 minutes, and a resolution to cycle more before the next one.  I met CJ on his way out, he was at the 5k mark, I was at the 15k mark.  Back into Porlaoise where the traffic was backed up, went on the outside of the queue and then the inside trying not to die.

Back to transition, 38 secs, and out for the run.  Legs like lead.  Met CJ at the 4k/1k mark. 5k in 27 minutes, slow enough for me, but happy enough after the cycle.  A total time of 1hr37mins.  A PB (obviously), and a benchmark for the next one

And I got a medal.

I was talking to Al (heretofore 'The Ace') about this, and he was saying that he never got any medals for races that he has been in.  Needless to say I was horrified.  What the hell is the point if you don't get medals?  The medal for the tri was pretty shit (in comparison to the Mooathon cow medal) but that's not the point.  Screw personal achievement, if there isn't a piece of anonymous compound metal at the end, I'm not interested.  Now, it could be that he just never went looking for the medals after his races, but he was certain that the swim races have no medals.  What's that about?  Jesus guys! Pull the finger out.  I have a shoebox that I have to put these things into. 

I am now worried that I won't get a medal after the channel swim.  This really puts the whole thing in jeopardy for me.  What I am supposed to wear into work after I do it? Huh? A grin? My clothes? My knowledge of what I did?  No way man!  I am going to mail the CSA to find out, I'll let you know what they say.