BROWNLEE TRIATHLON

George Moffitt started his tri journey at the Brownlee Triathlon five years ago. Having raced distances up to Ironman since, he returned to the race kitted out as Superman…

Superman George Moffitt on making Ali smile…

I’ve been doing triathlons for five years now – the Brownlee Super Sprint was actually one of my first. I swam competitively from the age of six, but sadly had to retire due to injury when I was 16. I had stress fractures in my lower back, resulting in two major operations. Giving up swimming devastated me, so I had to find a sport to give me the same vibe – I found this in triathlon. I’ve done races in various cities and in

July this year I ticked off a big ambition by completing my first Ironman at Bolton in 13 hours.

Training for what will be my fourth Brownlee event, I’d enjoyed doing short sprint work as opposed to the long hours I’d been putting in pre-Ironman. But my aim, as in all my events, is to finish in the top 10% overall and the top three in my age-group.

The night before, I go through pre-race checks and make sure everything is packed. I’ll be racing in a Superman wetsuit, which I’d spotted for a bargain of £18 the previous week, thinking it would be a great laugh and hopefully put ‘first timers’ at ease.

ALI’S APPROVAL

I wake up, stretch and get the tunes blasting before setting off. I grab some porridge and

with the pre-packed van I’m on my way to Harewood House. There’s already a queue forming to get through the impressive estate gates, but with great swiftness I’m parked up and heading down the hill into the athlete’s village. All tattooed and badged up, I’m into transition. I realise now that fantastic bikes don’t always mean fast competitors – it may help, but there’s no point in having a £10,000 bike with 10 pence legs!

All racked up, I’m waiting for my wave to be called out. Alistair and Jonny are busy socialising, having selfies taken and saying hello to competitors and spectators. When my wave is called I finally put on ‘The Superman’ suit, which feels ‘super tight’ – I thought its tight fit might make up for its lack of buoyancy! Alistair flags me over as I walk toward the start

and says, “I love the suit, mate.” I reply, “You can’t go wrong bud – only £18, it’s up there with your Huub suits. I mean, feel that material!” He laughs and wishes me luck as I head into the water.

The ‘Superman’ isn’t the warmest suit, but I escape the carnage by maxing to the first buoy and manage to keep the lead, overtaking people from the previous wave.

THE RACE IS ON

After a major struggle getting the wetsuit off, I push my bike to the mount line. It’s an immediate cruel ascent and I can’t slide my feet in until I reach the top of the hill. Powering on the flat I manage to pass several people. I feel sorry for those on mountain bikes, but think well done for giving it a go. I then demolish a Cliff bar to get some energy for the rest of the ride. With a fast descent around some hairpin corners I manage to keep powering through,

jumping over the cattle grid covers trying to avoid getting a flat tyre. On the third lap, when maxing at about 31mph, I get stung by a wasp and only just manage to remove the sting. With one lap to go, I feel ready for the run.

I dismount and enjoy the push down to transition, hearing cheers from friends and family. It takes me a while to get into a run rhythm, as the terrain changes constantly – running up a dirt track, through a stream and down hill towards the finishing straight. I step up the pace for the last 200m but am overtaken. The commentator shouts, ‘And we have a sprint finish on our hands!’ Even though I have the inside line, I just can’t catch him. With medal and t-shirt in hand, I’m ready for a coke and a lie-down.

The Brownlee Triathlon never disappoints. You can’t help but feel inspired by fellow Yorkshire men, a stunning venue and a great turnout. It really is the perfect first triathlon.

I’m chuffed with second place in my age-group and 24th overall in a time of 1:36:40. Next year, with more specific sprint training, I’ll be back for the age-group win. The Superman suit can stay at home.

Alistair flags me over as I walk towards the start and says “I love the suit, mate”

In his £18 Superman wetsuit, George hoped to put first-timers at ease

George passed several people on the bike leg, despite being stung by a wasp on the third lap Alistair was most impressed with George’s wetsuit, and wished him luck before the swim start The changing terrain meant it took George a while to settle into a...