A lovely sunny day in Waterford, perfect for enjoying the scenery along the Greenway path. So much so that it was easy to forget there was a race going on! Another well organized event, looking forward to coming back next year.

Switzerland is beautiful and the mountains are even more beautiful but this “race” lives up to its name as Xtreme Triathlon. 5am Swim cut short due to thunder storms, cycle over 2,600m climbs which cause altitude sickness for my son. 40min recovery was needed but he bravely carried on. Then the run! Starting at 15:30 we set of with easy run walk. All self supporting so I carried food and water. Up and down beside the lake for 18k then inland towards the mountains. The last 10k have 1,200m of climbing directly up hill by head torch in the wind and rain. Brutal, exhilarating and exhausting. What a thing to do with your son as TW would know!

Thoroughly enjoyed this tough event which was held on the South West Coast Path between Lyme Regis and Exmouth, especially revisiting the section I ran with Vicky as part of the Long Run Home relay. Achieved my goals of finishing injury-free and having a great time. Took a cautious approach having DNF'd a marathon only 7 weeks ago due to hip pain. It couldn't have gone better, despite all the super-steep hills I conserved my energy well and felt strong to the end.

Injuries and later niggles meant I was the worst trained I have ever been for a marathon - only one 20 miler 7 weeks before the race, but after two years in the planning I had a choice - either drop down to the half and give up my dream of running the midnight sun marathon the day after my 40th birthday; or accept it was going to be hard work and tough it out. Opted for the latter of course.. Both the lack of training and the constant rain meant I suffered, and definitely had to put on my big girl pants in the second half as I slowed down a lot more and a lot earlier than expected for my second slowest marathon ever. Still an amazing experience though, and in the last 500m managed to catch up with my husband who was doing the half so we crossed the line together. Tom and Martin, you guys definitely should do this one in 2020!

A beautiful course with outstanding organisation and the most friendly runners you could wish to meet. We started out with big ambitions before being humbled by the first hill within 500m of the start line, and then ran/walked the remaining 26, 27 ish miles in awe of what Dorset has to offer. My thighs developed Instantaneous Onset Muscle Soreness (an experience worthy of a new condition) about 16 miles in, but somehow this didn't matter and it was a pleasure to take on the course with my friend Ellie whilst we awaited news from the front. Would Holly beat Ed?