Hi guys! (I already sound like a YouTuber or TikTokker, I’m so down with the kids).

I’m feeling a bit deflated and down today. Breca Gower has been cancelled with only two weeks notice. Of course I understand that this was always a possibility in the current global situation but I am absolutely gutted. This would have been my longest ever event and Chris and I were really looking forward to being team “The Centaur and The Fish” and swim/running 43km around the Gower Peninsula in beautiful South West Wales.

So to cheer myself up (or make myself more depressed) I thought I’d have a look back at 2019….

Last year Chris and I had planned a holiday in Northern Ireland and decided to factor a triathlon into our plans. As you do. We found the perfect race to start our holiday (I think this might be an oxymoron)…

Mourne Sprint Triathlon

29th August 2019BC

Organised by Olympian Triathlon Club.

A 750m lake swim, an undulating bike course through, but not over, the Mourne mountains, on closed roads and a scenic run around the lake which they described as “flat”. Ha ha. Must have been the Irish sense of humour.

I can heartily recommend this triathlon for the post race spread alone.

Portsmouth Triathlon

8th September 2019BC

Hosted by Portsmouth Triathletes

September saw us heading as far down South as it’s possible to go, to compete in Portsmouth Sprint Tri. A “750m” sea swim (I clocked over 900m) in the flat calm sea, a flat but technical multi lap bike course on closed roads and a beautiful sea front run, flat flat flat. Perfect conditions.

Last year seems like a whole lifetime away, a time when we were allowed to train together, race together, hug each other and travel around the world with no worries or facemasks or hand sanitiser.

Well done to all Tyne Triers who have managed to race this year in these “unprecedented times”.

Here’s hoping for a happy, healthy 2021.

Love to all,

Bella Pearce.