Yeah, ok, that wasn't written about the Oswestry sprint triathlon but bear with me here...

The opening 400m pool swim saw waves of 10 swimmers starting every 10 minutes. This was a first for me but worked really well. I swam the first two lengths with my tri top unzipped (duh!) but even with a seasons PB of 7:53 I was still the last in my wave to enter T1.

With Oswestry being on the Welsh borders I was expecting a tough bike course. What I wasn't expecting was the toughest bike ride I've ever competed on......At only 25k it was packed full of hills and short technical descents. With a lightweight bike and being a lightweight myself, my bike control on the descents was hopeless, skimming the verge a couple of times and once ending up in the middle of the opposite lane!?! But being last out the pool I had nine cyclists to chase down from my wave.... Eight were dispatched with ease but the last gave me a good battle with me in the ascendency on the hills but losing out on the descents.

And finally the 5k run was three laps of the school playing fields. No heavy legs this time after plenty of transition training and with plenty of drinks and spectators it was an enjoyable run.

So what of the quote? Well, this was only the second running of the Oswestry triathlon and the organisers, Oswestry Olympians, put on a fantastic event with plently of helpful and enthusiastic marshals. As for the myth and legend, well I managed to get a top 10 finish.........

Gary Mason