Abersoch ROC Triathon ~ Leg 3 of Dave's Welsh Triple Challenge ~ £655 raised for the RNLI

Having not taken on a Triathlon since the 2016 Ironman Weymouth, the Abersoch ROC Triathlon ticked all the boxes to tempt me out of my unintended triathlon retirement!

A 1.5km Sea Swim, a 31 mile bike ride to the foot of Snowdon, a 12km run up to the summit of Snowdon and back down, 31 mile bike ride back to Abersoch for a final 1km run along the beach. 115km in total and equivalent to a half Ironman distance... Where do I sign!? :-)

It was good to be setting up in transition again!

Never a fan of mass swim starts but soon got in to the mix and jostled my way around the first few hundred meters to settle into a good pace, completing the swim in a fairly decent time for me of 35minutes and 17seconds.

Out of T1 on the bike and along the coastal road out of Abersoch, through Pwllheli around the marina and then through Criccieth to Tremadog on the outskirts of Porth Madog before taking a left turn in land and a slight climb through Bedgelert up to the foot hills of the Watkin Path into T2 for the 'run' up to Snowdon Summit.

I say 'run'. It was very much a mixture of powere hiking and running where I could with an out and out scramble up the last steep half mile up to the summit of Snowdon, making the timed cut off point 6km up the route with 25 minutes to spare!

I took a few moments to savour the views at the summit after 1 hour 50 minutes and 45 seconds of climbing!

I thought it might have been an easier route down but the scramble down was probably more precarious than going up! once on to the lower slopes I made up good time,descending back to T2/T3 in a time of 1 hour 18 minutes and 45 seconds.

Back on the bike and glad of a few miles gentle down hill before hitting the undulating coastal road back to Abersoch, really having to dig deep for the tough return journey into a slight headwind, reaching Abersoch and T4 in 1 hour 58 minutes and 34 seconds.

A quick change back in to another set of running gear  for the final 1km run along Abersoch beach in a time of 7 minutes and 1 second to the finish to complete in a total time (including transitions) of 8 hours 13 minutes and 56 seconds!

This is a fantastic event and one I'd definitely recommend for it's unique twist on your standard Triathlon in some of the best scenery the UK has to offer! Da Iawn to the organisers! :-)

It also wrapped up my Welsh Triple Challenge for the RNLI in 2019, raising a very pleasing £655 from very kind supporters donations... Thank you very much all! / Diolch yn fawr iawn pawb!