Eastbourne Triathlon 2025 – Race report
8 June 2025
Eastbourne Triathlon 2025 – Race report by Mary Cooper.
Well – what a great day racing we all had (except Mike who had pulled a hamstring 🥲 and couldn’t race but was ace club supporter/cheerleader/photographer!)
The day started at 4.30 – and lovely surprise to find it already light with huge red sun in the sky – and NO rain! The sea at Eastbourne looked relatively calm compared to recent days, making most of us a bit more relaxed about the first part!
So, I still learn things in every event I do. I managed to not put my helmet sticker on going in transition, thinking I had not got one. I had put my bike post one on then screwed the backing paper up and threw it away, not noticing the bike helmet sticker on it! Had to scrabble through rubbish to find it to be allowed into transition! 🤣
We met up with Andy, Kieran, Ben and Shaun before the swim with Julian already out on course as he started at 6.30 doing the 100k race (and very well he did too – I think 5hr27 – 4th in AG) It was a run in start and a fight to the first buoy. But then the current pushed us all the way to the pier before a tougher second half against the current.
I was enjoying it and did not notice the buoy for turning back in was yellow, not red and had to turn quickly when the canoe was pointing to the beach! Oops – note to self – know the course and number of buoys involved! Luckily it didn’t matter as the tide dragged me to the swim finish! I got out and was determined to make the most of the run uphill 300m to transition. However more haste less speed and I managed to trip on a ridge in the blue carpet ! Oops again 🫣
Pretended it didn’t happen! Looked at my watch and got 23 min swim (PB!!!) Onto the bike…
Tough is one word – due to the strong wind one way !! Not much respite, was joined by Andy for a short part of it – tried to stay with him but he was off! Also managed to loose my chain once when trying to change too quickly (Was borrowing Mike’s’ bike and could feel his eyes rolling at me 😳🙄) the second lap of the bike was slightly better but still felt very long and leg draining!!
Into T2 and onto the run and there were only a couple of bikes back, so I felt I must be doing ok. Took over a mile for my legs to recover and for me to find my running legs. Then it was a matter of keeping it going to the end. Mike and Kieran cheering kept me going.
Really pleased with a PB swim and 3rd in my AG, and qualified for next year Europeans – bring it on!! Ben Short was second in his AG and Andy and Shaun were very happy with their races. Kieran got 2nd in his swim. And Ethan Hill was 3rd overall in the Sprint Tri! It really was a tough race, but extremely well organised and thoroughly enjoyed by all who did it.
Next one for Mike and I is Bayside Tri in Gosport on 22/6/25 – great local race – 400m open water swim with the current, then 20k bike and 5k run. Do join us if you fancy low key local race.
To find out more about joining Chi Tri click here!