Oh The Places You'll Go - The Triathlete's Poem
Posted by william newbery on Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Quite a few years ago, at some significant point in my life as a child, my mum gave me a Dr Seuss book called Oh The Places You'll Go. Being the kind of boy I was I probably said thank you and never actually read it in depth. But recently it has come back in to my mind - like the "One Ring" in the Lord of the Rings, I didn't know what the book was about but it's importance has become apparent.
As an athlete/coach I have been to great places, I have shared the best moments of people's lives (and mine) with some very special people. Whether it is guiding a blind athlete to a Silver Medal at an ITU event or supporting someone at the Norseman; from racing on front of tens of thousands at the London World Championships to winning my first "Baxter" in front of the closest people to me; from my first race running round an estate in Southampton (where my mum missed me cross the line) to my last race charging round the Lava fields of Hawaii - Triathlon has provided me with a platform to do and experience such amazing events and most of which have had me thinking "how the hell did I get here".
The last 9 months have gone quickly since Kona, I won't bore you with details but this weekend I am off to the Scilly Isles for another of those "How the hell did this come about" experiences - The Otillo SwimRun race around the islands. You have to swim in your running shoes and run in your wetsuit and goggles. It is a team event and Andy Blow from Precision Hydration approached me to see if I would do it with him. A quick phone call to Claire and I was in. Next thing I knew Andy and I are running up Bournemouth promenade in our wetsuits having just emerged from the sea at Hengistbury Head. Looking like two slightly dodgy versions of James Bond.
Keep an eye on the various FAcebook
As an athlete/coach I have been to great places, I have shared the best moments of people's lives (and mine) with some very special people. Whether it is guiding a blind athlete to a Silver Medal at an ITU event or supporting someone at the Norseman; from racing on front of tens of thousands at the London World Championships to winning my first "Baxter" in front of the closest people to me; from my first race running round an estate in Southampton (where my mum missed me cross the line) to my last race charging round the Lava fields of Hawaii - Triathlon has provided me with a platform to do and experience such amazing events and most of which have had me thinking "how the hell did I get here".
The last 9 months have gone quickly since Kona, I won't bore you with details but this weekend I am off to the Scilly Isles for another of those "How the hell did this come about" experiences - The Otillo SwimRun race around the islands. You have to swim in your running shoes and run in your wetsuit and goggles. It is a team event and Andy Blow from Precision Hydration approached me to see if I would do it with him. A quick phone call to Claire and I was in. Next thing I knew Andy and I are running up Bournemouth promenade in our wetsuits having just emerged from the sea at Hengistbury Head. Looking like two slightly dodgy versions of James Bond.
Keep an eye on the various FAcebook
