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Current page: Home > support our work > sponsor > triathlon > diary Day 7 - Saturday 30th August
Swim Lake Bala - 4 miles
 Today our three intrepid triathletes completed their epic challenge when they swam the four miles across Lake Bala in Wales at 1.30pm. They did this after just two hours sleep, which they grabbed in a carpark at the base of mount Snowdon, from which they cycled at 6.30am to reach Lake Bala at 11am! The weather was finally favouring the team and the 45 mile cycle went smoothly setting the boys up well for the swim across Bala, which took a relatively short two and a half hours. Day 6 - Friday 29th August
Swim Windermere - last 6 of 12 miles Climb Snowdon - 3,559 feet
 A technical hitch this morning means the team don't don their wetsuits and plunge back into Windermere until 11am, but the guys are soon making good time and after an interview with Border TV, the obligatory water bound breaks for energy gels and of course, a dry land lunch, the team complete the swim at 6.30pm.  The time has now come to take stock of the situation. The appaling weather conditions which have threatened to holt the challenge at every turn have pushed the team a day behind schedule, and it is grudgingly accepted by the team that they will need to drive the distance from Windermere to Snowdon. The team understand they must do this in order to make it to London Saturday night for their homecoming party, where their presence is required to act as poster boys for further fundraising. This decision being made, everyone wastes no time in hopping into the vans and the team arrive at the base of Snowdon just before mignight. You might think they would crawl straight into the caravan to get a well earned nights shut eye - not our Excellent Triathletes! The team fasten on their head torches and begin their ascent of Snowdon, at midnight! Despite the dark, the team fly up the mountain and reach the summit at 2.30am, stopping only for a quick photo before heading back down. Excellent employee Emily later remarks on the utter silence of the whole team during the descent, and that she was sure some of them were actually walking in their sleep at points!
 Their extreme fatigue is no surprise, but their choice of sleeping spot really illustrates the importnace of not wasting a second of valuable rest...
Day 5 - Thursday 28th August Climb Scafell Pike - 3,201 feet Cycle to Windermere - 25 miles Swim Windermere - 6 of 12 miles 8.50am and the team are talking to BBC Radio Cumbria from the summit of Scafell Pike. Despite more appaling weather conditions and near zero visability the assent has gone smoothly, and the team are clearly feeling positive about their chances of finishing the course on Saturday. Unfortunately, the teams descent dosen't quite go as smoothly...  As you can see, the team were having
trouble seeing two steps ahead of them, which compounded by a problem with the GPS resulted in them getting lost around the upper reaches of the mountain for three long hours! This was obviously a massive blow, and cost the team valuable time, it was 2pm when they finally reached the base of the mountain. After some quick lunch and a regroup, it was time to hop on their bikes and wizz down to Windermere, a mere snip at 25 miles, so 20 mins later the team were wiggling back into their wetsuits... Day 4 - Wednesday 27th August Cycle to Scafel Pike - 180 miles
 Today saw the team out of the water and back doing what they're best at, cycling. As you can see spirits are high as they enjoy a day on the open road, and finally after a VERY wet start to the morning enjoy some fairer weather.  The team made it into their campsite for
the night in time to get a good nights rest, and are ready and rearing to go for their climb up Scafel Pike at first light tomorrow, where we're hoping they're going to have another little chat with radio Cumbria, so listen in... Day 3 - Tuesday 26th August
Swim loch lomond - last 10 miles Early in the morning, minus team member David Barnes, who is on Excellent orders to rest his shoulder, the team once again don their wetsuits ready for their final swim across the loch.  Excellent employee Emily, who is acting as photographer and some time canoe paddler on the event, reported that it has been the coldest day yet on the water, and that watching the guys push on hour after freezing hour was the most amazing show of pure will-power and grity determination she has ever witnessed. All at the Excellent offices are awed at the spectacular mental and physical strength shown by our triathletes over these past few days, and can't wait to congratulate them at their homecoming party. It was dark when the team completed their epic 24 mile swim across Loch Lomond at 9.30pm, a truly magnificent achievement.
The team are looking forward to a good nights rest, hopeful of fairer weather for their cycle to Scafel Pike tomorrow... return to top of page Day 2 - Monday 25th August Swim Loch Lomond - 12 of 24 miles  8.50am and the Excellent Triathlon Team are being interviewed by BBC Radio 5Live. They're all trying their best to sound positive despite the appalling weather conditions, but it's clear that after yesterday evenings cold and difficult swim they're understandably nervous. Eager to get on, and put this leg of the challenge behind them they’re off again at 9am sharp, and swim for four hours straight without a break! Following lunch, which was spent moored at a private pier close to Luff, ran by some very friendly people who on hearing the Excellent cause the team were swimming for, emerged with hot soup, tea and coffee! (A big Thank you to those wonderful people - I'm sure hot soup looked like a mirage to the team at that point) the rest of the day is broken only by water bound breaks for energy gels and juice. The team finally call it a day just before dark at 8pm. The team have finished another extremely tough day, and sadly David Barnes is the latest to fall foul to injury, straining his shoulder so badly he will not be able to swim tomorrow. But they remain focused on the challenges ahead with Richard and Paul intent on completing their swim across Loch Lomond’s immense 24 mile length tomorrow and David determined to rejoin his team mates for day 4 of the challenge. The team arrive at Loch Lomond 6.30pm intent on making a start across its freezing waters that day, before completing the majority of the swim tomorrow, so it's straight into the wetsuits, caps and googles and off! |
