It has taken me a while to get over the triathlon, it didn’t go that well to be honest. The swim went brilliantly, getting a personal best. However, I started cramping up within half of the 90k cycle, and it gradually got worse, to the point where I fell off two-thirds of the way round because I couldn’t straighten my legs.

I forced a load of gels and drinks down me, stretched it out, and managed to get back on the bike and get back round to transition, but then cramped again before the run.  Didn’t know how I was then going to do a half marathon when I could barely walk. I probably should have stopped at that point, but the thought of £1500 of CRY sponsorship, Phil’s memory and the strong support of my wife and kids picked me up, and helped get me round.

There was further cramping, lots of tears, bucket loads of sweat (it turned it to be a very hot day) and a little bit of sickness. But I managed to complete it all in just over 7 hours. I’m really proud that I did it and got round, and it’s still quite a respectable time, but am a bit gutted at how the day ended up unfolding, especially given I’d been training all winter to be able to be fit enough to do it.

Above is a picture of a proud, but broken me after the event outside Castle Howard.

Andrew Russell