It's that all important moment in a triathlon where I leave T2. The body seems to just about still work and as I run out on the bright pink carpet, I get plenty of cheers. They're all in Hebrew, but positivity transcends all linguistic barriers and I'm most grateful for the collective encouragement.
My glorious Red Sea swim is now far away, both in terms of memory and location, but the bike course is very much still with me and my legs.
Over an hour of solid climbing, followed by a battle with crosswinds, which for good measure changed direction to face me for the last 30km, has clearly taken its toll.
I've now 10km of descent to run and then a seaside circuit to finish the half marathon. With the heat building, I focus on soft feet, but right from the start, they slam into the smooth tarmac as I try to keep pace with the runner in front.
I've never been particularly concerned about dehydration in January, but I'm here, in Israel. I sip my water bottles more out of fear than, for the moment at least, actual physical need. The early quad discomfort is significant but fully expected and I quickly regret a lack of downhill running conditioning. I think of the last time I did anything like this - a 10km run descent - and quickly realise the answer is never.
My legs struggle but this is not a place where I can in any way justify feeling sorry for myself. This is no ordinary half-iron run course, but it is one very special race.
The flanking mountains gradually give way to the Red Sea, with Jordan to my left and Egypt on my right. It feels like I'm a long way from home, and I am. I'm in Israel doing the aptly named Israman triathlon. I'm always looking for different things to do in January and this certainly ticks that box.
TAKING THE PLUNGE
Denne historien er fra April 2023-utgaven av 220 Triathlon.
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Denne historien er fra April 2023-utgaven av 220 Triathlon.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
How to Carb Load - Packing your working cells with carbohydrates in the build-up to your big race is a proven strategy to race stronger and faster...
Whichever distance triathlon you're racing, the intensity and duration of your activity will see your body tap into its stores of carbohydrates (in the form of glycogen) to power your effort. While it's possible to top up your tank on the go, it's better to start your event with your stores full to the brim.
The Olympic Champion - On 31 July, Great Britain's Alex Yee put together arguably the greatest one-day performance we have ever seen at an Olympic Games to win gold. And we were there at the finish line to speak to tri's new poster boy...
The opening line of the race report read how 20 years on from New Zealand’s first and only Olympic triathlon gold medal, Hayden Wilde had put in a careerbest performance to regain the title for his nation. Then Alex Yee comes around the corner.Yee’s charge, seemingly from nowhere on the final lap of the 10km run in Paris, didn’t just help him become the most decorated Olympic male triathlete of all time, and didn’t just cap a rivalry that has been building for six years, it left seasoned watchers of swim, bike, run in awe. It will go down as one of the greatest triathlon races; Yee, still just 26, as one of the greatest triathletes. His medals from Paris added to the two from Tokyo, leaving his haul at two gold, a silver and a bronze, and counting.
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British Triathlon CEO Ruth Daniels talks Paris, her plans to grow tri and her own personal goals... knees allowing
ZWIFT RIDE
£1,199.99 Zwift's new Ride is an indoor bike that might help you break your PB... but won't break the bank
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With the spotlight on triathlon like never before at these Games, debutant athletes talked about being overwhelmed by the unique environment
GAMES AT THE GAMES
After watching and enjoying the Olympic triathlon events, Brunt amused himself by playing the 'guess how far into each event I would die' game...
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With little heat prep, the wrong gear choice and a course-recce mistake, would experienced extreme triathlete Sean McFarlane soar like an eagle or drop like a stone in Italy?
HOW TO INCREASE RUN PACE WHEN FATIGUED
The ability to dig deep in the latter stages of a race helped Alex Yee achieve Olympic gold. Here Ben, a member of Team GB's coaching staff in Paris, explains how you too can find that extra gear...
BUYER'S GUIDE: BIKE COMPUTERS
Log your rides, find your way and monitor your multisport training with a quartet of impressive bike computers...
POLAR GRIT X2 PRO
\"You can't be anything other than impressed with the GPS, whose design is one of the significant changes to the V3\"
