DTM are proud to announce their sponsorship of Iain Murray (aka Mush) who is currently preparing for his participation in the European Triathlon Championships which take place in Pontevedra in late June 2011. Mush will be representing Great Britain in the 40-45 age group.
Mush has agreed to provide us with occasional updates as to how training is going and we hope to be able to report on a successful Championship for him in due course. Here is Mush’s first instalment:

With training over the winter months finished, and a good race at Liverpool in the half marathon producing a personal best of 1 hour 28 min, it was time for the traditional season opener in the Chirk sprint at the end of April. Whilst feeling confident in my progress in each discipline, I was less sure that they would all work together on race day. However, all went well and after a good swim followed by a bike that resulted in a much improved time from the previous year, it was down to the run to hold it all together and thankfully it did. I finished 8th overall and first in my age group.
Feeling bouyed by the result at Chirk and that the hard hours in the cold and wet over the winter months had paid off, I set about preparing for my next race, at Harlech. The preparation did not run as I would have liked as a stabbing pain to my right knee put me out of running action whilst I waited for an appoinment to see a physio. However with a week’s rest behind me the physio said it may have been down to too much training or a slight muscle injury that needed a rest. So with weekly visits to the physio, along with plenty of stretching after all training sessions, I was back on track!
Heading into Harlech I didn’t feel as focused as I did for Chirk and was also a bit unsure as to whether my knee would cause any problems. These thoughts were furthest from my mind when I arrived in Harlech on a wet and windy race day. After a quick dash to register and get out of the wind and rain, it was back to the car to wait for my start time. The swim was the usual steady performance followed by a dash from the warm surrounds of the pool into the bracing sea air. I soon became accustomed to the air temperature due to the “steady climb” on the bike out of Harlech towards Barmouth. Feeling in good spirits I steadily began to pass other competitors. Despite the strong breeze there was no help as it tended to blow across you rather than from behind. Halfway back the heavens opened and it made for a tricky descent back into Harlech. Having racked my bike it was time to set out around the golf course and onto the beach for the run. This wasn’t too bad and I soon found myself in a good rhythm. Once of the beach it was just the small matter of the final ascent up the hill to the castle. This is a race in itself as they take your number when you start at the bottom and record your time for that section when you cross the line. Having weaved my way up the steep incline and through the narrow streets, it was with relief that I found myself crossing the finish line.
Once dried and changed I went to find out how I had done and have a deserved bacon bap and cup of coffee. Despite my preparations not being perfect and the fact that I was a bit concerned about my knee the result was better than I could have expected. I finished 5th overall and won my age group and to top it all I was the fastest up the hill!!