Dare to Tri by Louise Minchin

Author:Louise Minchin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Chapter 18

let the world ­championships begin

‘We had been competing against each other, but now we were racing together and there was an infectious sense of camaraderie.’

Finally, in September 2015, the moment for which I had been training arrived. We touched down in Chicago, the Windy City, ahead of the World Triathlon Championships.

I was so excited. After 18 months of relentless training and racing, while juggling the logistics of home life and getting up at an unearthly hour to present BBC Breakfast, I had made it. I was in Chicago, along with 450 other age-groupers from the Great Britain team, ready to race against athletes from all over the world.

David, Mia and Scarlett, my most loyal supporters for all this time, were determined not to miss out. They had flown out to be there with me, and were joined by my dad, Patrick, and my younger brother, Mark.

We were staying in the main hotel for the Great Britain team, the iconic Renaissance Blackstone. I was delighted to find that staying there too was my fellow Chester Tri Club triathlete Sharon Plested. She had been with me all the way along my triathlon qualification journey, and I always loved racing with her. She was in the age group above me and faster than I was, and she had been a constant source of advice, help and reassurance.

The hotel was situated right in the heart of Chicago on South Michigan Avenue, which turned out to be in a fantastic location right next to the course. It offered stunning views of the bright blue waters of Lake Michigan, as well as the bike route for the triathlon and the running course.

Right from the start, it was wonderful to be part of the team.

Everyone was proudly wearing the GB kit and there was constant chatter in the lifts and the lobby – about what was happening outside, as well as snippets of race news and information.

One of the highlights for me was taking part in the opening ceremony beside Lake Michigan. I have always loved watching the Parade of Nations in the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games and I couldn’t believe that now I was taking part in something very similar.

The event was bathed in a warm orange evening sunshine, and as dozens of national flags fluttered I felt incredibly proud and privileged. Great Britain, along with the US, had by far the biggest number of competing triathletes, and we all spent a wonderful hour or so laughing and waving as we paraded around the Buckingham Fountain while supporters cheered from the grandstands.

BBC Breakfast had sent a camera crew to Chicago consisting of our Planning Editor, Lisa Kelly, and cameraman Brijesh Patel to film my triathlon experience. Before we flew to America, Lisa had been in touch with the other nine or so women competing for Great Britain in my age group, and had arranged for six of us to meet up on Olive Park Beach, to have a chat and then swim together.

All

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