I headed up the slipway (motioning to my family that the sea had been a little “up and down”!), found my trainers and began to jog to T1, wrestling with my wetsuit and again getting cheered vociferously for my efforts by the incredible support! In T1 I gathered my belongings, and my thoughts. Around me there were conversations about the condition of the sea around the first buoy, and plenty of encouragement and camaraderie. From now on I become acutely aware of the elements of the day that concerned me the most – the elements I really could not train for – littering (leaving a bag on the floor by accident for example), drafting on the bike, and outside assistance (which would lead me to refuse jelly babies from children who offered them to me, completely against my compassionate nature!). Therefore I spent longer than needed in T1 re-packing my bag and checking and double checking I had everything before heading out to my bike!