Hello again...... I think I've recovered now! Actually been a bit busy, annoying how work interferes with one's training and triathlon commitments. Anyhow on to the race experience. Arrived in good time, got registered, T shirt quite good and friendly atmosphere. Had a quick chat with fellow NDTri bods and the launched into the swim. This went quite well, four in a lane and as I was lapping then they mostly let me past. Very happy with the swim as first out of the pool in a spectacuarly unelegant fashion (its not my fault my legs are short!) and off to shove on my trainers. A litle bit of a faff on this as decided to wear socks but got going ok and happy to be first out of my wave. I actually managed to mulitask and run and smile and look up all at the same time - there is photographic evidence - and set off. The weather was good so comfortable in just my trisuit on the run. Iain had said don't go out to fast as its pretty hilly so I used my watch to try and keep a steady heart rate and feel comfortable. I was pleased as as I got into it I felt quite strong - so the base training over the winter seemed to have helped and took it steady away. I knew I wasn't going to be that fast on the run but was happy to be going at a steady rate, feeling good and actually confident in my fitness for running. Got round in 1hr 11 so given my hubby said if I didn't get back in less than 1hr 17 he wasn't going to let me into the house then I knew I'd be ok when I got home :)

A good race I thought..well organised and with good signage and marshalls who encouraged throughout. I got back in time to see Iain leaving the pool, for some reason he decided to kick the wall when he set off running.......each to their own, but it looked painful and I think proved to be so. Also top marks to Shell for a sucessful "goggle-catch" it looked well practiced to me. I went off for a nice shower (another good thing about this - good facilities) and was out in time to see Havoc and Damo and Iain all back in. That left Helen to go in the shorter race. So set off for home thinking we'd all enjoyed the event, good to see some success with Iain and Helen taking 2nd place honours.

Overall a nice way to start my racing season, I even found myself enjoying it.............! So starting to think I might enter another now........

Onwards and upwards.......a good boost for the confidence to get through ok and enjoy the event so I'm looking forward to more now, it gives a real impetus to your training. Looking for some lighter evenings now so can get out about after work!

And finally a mention for Basher and Fat Santa who were racing elsewhere but did great, well done chaps!

Laters..........

And so it begins...........

This time last year I'd been doing some swimming, running and cycling just for my own interest and having a vague idea about tieing it all together. One year on and I've joined a great club, got through a few triathlons, and am looking forward to a full season of differnet events. Its now the run up to my first event of the year, the Taunton Deane Aquathon at Wellington. I think I may have been feeling a bit odd as I entered the longer version, which is 1000m swim followed by a 10kish run. I'm looking forward to the swim.......and to getting through the run.

Over the winter I've been trying to improve my running by attending a club/group session on a Sunday morning after swimming. I think this has helped ( thanks to Coach Tim and the encouragement of others) as having distinct goals, running with others and a structured programme has given me a clearer focus on what I need to do and how to do it. My times have improved a bit so I guess Sunday is a good place to see if I can pull it togther on race day!

Update when I've recovered then.............. :)

The Road to 70.3 Ironman UK – Wimbleball

Why does anyone want to get involved in Triathlon?

Probably like most people I was unfit. Thinking back to the glory days of my youth I remember looking at individuals who had ‘let themselves go’ with their large guts and thinking ‘I will never be like them.’ Sadly, there I was around April 2008, not too fat but definitely unfit. I bought a cheap racing bike and entered the novice event in the Exe Valley Triathlon.

Triathlon sounded more complicated than I though so I joined a Triathlon Club, North Devon Tri. Living in Tiverton is a bit restrictive in respect of training with other members, however, everyone is so friendly and supportive. Answering daft questions and helping with kit set up – everything really.

With 3 weeks of training before Exe Valley (which was ok as it was only short!!), I left my soul on the road and managed to come 2^nd - Which was probably due to the entrants rather than my ability. This was confirmed when I entered Bude, Bodmin and Hayle sprints and came consistently in the bottom 2/3. These people are fit! Next season I thought with some off season of training behind me I will better myself. I had thoughts of trying an Olympic distance event – a pipe dream?

Then came the news that my wife was pregnant. Wonderful news, which laughed in the face of my triathlon plan as baby was due right at the start of the season. Never mind, I’ve wanted a baby for so long – nothing mattered. Sadly, on the 18^th December, for reasons yet to be discovered, at 6 months my wife went into labour and Nathaniel was still born. Obviously, we are devastated.

What do you do after that? As a youth I got through some very angry times Kickboxing. Something, at 37, I’m a little too old for. I needed a challenge something to get out of bed for - to make something good out of something so terrible. I decided to do a triathlon and get sponsored. It would have to be a challenge. A big one. I decided after a few days thought to do Wimbleball and get sponsored for two charities. Firstly, for SANDS; a charity which provides support for parents whose babies die after birth or are still born. Secondly, for the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital, in particular the Heartsease room, in which my wife delivered Nathaniel and we were able to spend a night and a day with him, our beautiful boy. Only the families are donating to this charitable trust.

So, it’s the end of January and I find myself training harder than I ever have to hopefully finish this event.

To follow my progress visit my blog... http://damiantraining.blogspot.com/

To sponsor me go to http://www.justgiving.com/damianrailston

We have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have sponsored me so far. I have raised over £1100 for SANDS and people are still sponsoring me. The personal messages of support from friends, family and strangers has been so motivating. Hopefully I’ll make you all proud.

For Nathaniel, 18.12.08, 1lb 80z our beautiful boy.

Happy New Year

Well it's finally here. 2009.



After all the Christmas festivities, presents, alcohol, cakes and general bad living it was time for the clubs traditional run/dip/eat session at Woolacombe Beach.

Firstly there's the meet up and hangover comparison session at 10am near the main carpark. Then there's a short, steady, friendly 4mile run out to Putsborough along Marine Drive and then back along the beach before anybody brave/stupid/foolhardy enough practices transitions by getting rid of their running gear and dashing into the sea for a bit of a dip.

Once in the water there's a bit of a splash around to make sure everybody gets a thorough soaking and it's back to the clothes where once again transitions are practiced, although this time it's trying to dry and dress yourselves with rapidly freezing fingers, toes and limbs.

After the cold, cold and cold it's time for a full on fry up at the Red Barn where the staff have to kick into top gear as a mass of starving hungry and freezing cold Triathletes come stumbling through the doors.



Click on one of the picture above to find more snaps from the mornings fun.

What a great way to start a New Year.

Here's to a great and successful 2009. Happy New Year everyone.

Toastys First Rant....

Well my first blog post....

Firstly an Introduction, hmm what shall I record here... You can expect news on coached training sessions organised by myself for the club. How the club members are or are not performing and a general reflection on all things club, be it more serious or in jest.

But firstly a report on the clubs travels. Many years ago in a distant galaxy known as Iains youth. A Tri Club first appeared in North Devon. Since then it has grown and developed with a core membership who have many a tale to tell. In the last few years the club has grown from these solid foundations. Membership has boomed as has the clubs 'Green Army' Spirit.

This was most evident last weekend at the clubs annual dinner and presentations evening. A great night was had by the rather large crowd. Where several new members from this year even took over were older members have previously dominated (Thanks Basher!!) :)

2008 has been a fantastic year that all members have enjoyed, the club has definetly grown socially. Many members have been hitting PB's and many completing their first races. At the head of the field many a race has had its top ten dominated by Green with numerous wins.

I for one was very proud to see all of this and in a similar vain to Chris Hoy on receiving his Sports Personality of the Year Award and reflecting on a superb sporting 2008... I would like to say...

"Heres to an even better 2009, roll on the Green Army"

Well hello there! A new voice on the blog here following Iain's invitation to blather on about stuff occasionally related to triathlon and ND Tri in particular. I expect a few are still recovering from Saturday's Christmas do - you know who you are :) Many thanks to Sara for her stirling efforts in organising everybody and getting them to pay - it was a splendid event. Photos to follow here I expect from an expert. I'll try to add some comments from the novice tri bod point of view as we go along but if you are reading from interest and thinking about joining all I'll say thus far is do it. I've had a fab time since joining in Spring this year - lots of help and support and alot of laughs.

I'll also add bits about my training, it'll make you feel alot better knowing how bad I am at this stuff -starting as we mean to go on, nothing today -my excuse being my work Christmas do where I had exactly the same to eat as Saturday night - some sense of deja vu there -no red wine though - had to drive home.

So chin chin for now........laters

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit's Christmaaas

Saturday was the day that all the talk has been about lately, the North Devon Tri Christmas Party and Presentation.

To warm up for it there was a small Duathlon training session on Braunton Burrows which was attended by a hardcore of seven club members (Phill, Jan, Sally, Dave, Iain, Dick & Steve). This consisted of a 5mile trail & beach run, a 10.5mile bike ride and another 3mile trail run to finish with. Recent downpours had turned some of the trails into lakes and navigating your way around without getting soaked was a real challenge. Thankfully though the rain stopped and for the session itself the weather was gorgeous, if a bit on the chilly side.

The big night itself was soon upon us and 56 triathletes & significant others piled into Cedars to fill our faces, dance and find out whos strict training regime affected their drinking ability the most. Of course there was also the all important presentation along with a fine raffle with many prizes sourced by James, Alan and Michelle.

So to the winners :-

Most improved Swimmer - Steve Ditchburn
What can we say about Steve. This time last year he did a damn good impression of a brick when he swam. Now the brick goes across the water rather than heading straight to the bottom.

Most improved Cyclist - Sally Pope (who hid from the camera)
For constantly improving her performances and showing the rest of the club that there's no excuse for not getting out on your bike.
Most improved Runner - Phill Miles
Mostly awarded because Mark made him look good by failing miserably to run him down at Dorney Lake Relays this year. Ok ok, so he's worked (quite) hard at improving this year too.

Male Triathlete of the year - James Marshall
Surely there hasn't been a more blatent results fiddle since Blue Peter named their cat 'Socks'

Female Triathlete of the year - Helen Banbury
In her first full season of Tri she's taken the South West by storm and things can only get better in 2009 Performance of the year - Paul Bitmead
For a storming performance at his first open water event (Bude Tri) when he was out there so long that the timekeepers had gone home. How they failed to notice him when he got by far the biggest cheer of the day is still a mystery. The Infamous Chicken Helmet - Paul Bitmead
Where do we start.............. Well I'll keep it clean and just mention his walking the dogs over Braunton Burrows at 7pm one evening and not finding his car again until 11:30pm. I'll leave the tale about him trapping his testes in his trisuit for your imagination. His performance later at the party has already made him a front runner for next years award.

There were further suprise presentations for various random reasons (ego massage) to Alan Ward, Peggy Crome, Iain Hindes and Michelle Williams.

After the presentation Club Chairman James announced to the club that the lovely Stephanie who puts up with him and all his rubbish was expecting their first child.

There's obviously been something in the Devon water during 2008 because joining in the clubs baby boom are Nicky and Gary (left) along with Jo and Damian (right).

Congratulations to James, Nicky and Damian. We all look forward to the new arrivals in 2009.

After the awards everybody partied away as if there was no tomorrow. There was certainly no training tomorrow for most of them.