With my last tri of the season, I have many thanks to give:

-thank you to the 4 or 5 swimmers who "invited" me to take part in my first energy-drink fuelled bisexual underwater rubber-clad orgy. (Sorry, I didn't get any phone numbers.)

-thank you to all male runners who wear heart-rate monitors. From behind, you look as if you are wearing a bra. Firstly, this amuses me, and secondly a man of my reputation cannot be seen to be chasing a man wearing woman's underwear, thus giving me that extra incentive to overtake you.

To actually be serious for one moment, I thank Tess for taking part in yet another tri with me, and also Steve for acting as chauffeur, showing support (when he remembered what I looked like) and fixing Tess's swimming goggles with literally seconds to spare.

I also thank the aforementioned + the ever stylish Caroline for all your company and support during my best tri season ever. Allerthorpe gave me a pb of 2 hours 30 mins and 44 seconds. (84th out of 199 at time of writing - it keeps on changing! 29th out of 64 M40s.)

Tess also had a pb of 2 hours 49 mins and 38 seconds, 161st out of 199, which hides the fact that real women (wearing real bras) were very thin on the ground, as she was 7th of just 11 F40 competitors.