The Return of the Birling Beast Olympic distance triathlon

On Sunday I took part in `The Return of the Birling Beast' - an Olympic distance triathlon (1500m/40km/10km) held at Leybourne Lake, Larkfield. 

The event takes it's name from The Beast a 7%, 2 mile long, hill just outside Birling that was 3 miles into the cycle route. Apart from the hill at the start the cycle, run and swim were mostly flat with just a few undulations. 

The field was only 43 strong and was comprised mainly of very fit and strong looking seasoned triathletes. I'm therefore very pleased with my time and 23rd place in my first OD tri, especially since I bonked big time 3kms into the run. Gels, gels and more gels next time!

I would recommend this race to anyone wanting to try an longer distance tri, it was a small friendly event run by triathletes for triathletes. 

Pos Name Swim(inc T1) Bike Run(inc T2) Overall
23 Richard Withers 00:30:41 01:22:43 00:48:22 02:41:46

Winners
1 Guy Bellamy 00:25:02 01:11:09 00:39:29 02:15:40
17 Hannah Meads 00:24:23 01:21:37 00:51:20 02:37:20