I had completed a few smaller triathlons before entering the 2012 Blenheim Palace Triathlon so didn’t have to purchase any additional kit as this can be expensive for your first event.

I arrived early to soak up the atmosphere and familiarise myself with the course layout.

I racked my bike and prepared my running gear and gels. Make a mental note of which row and the position of your bike as transition looks different from when you leave to when you return due to the multiple starting waves.

The tension starts to build as you enter the starting pen and have the safety briefing before taking the plunge into the lake.

The swim course is wide with one turn which is close to the exit of the water. The exit ramp is slippery and marshals are on hand to support if required.

The run to transition is hard, up hill and quite far, during this you also should try to remove the top half of the wetsuit to ensure a speedy transition.

Check you ankle after removing your wetsuit to make sure you timing chip is still in place.

In transition, make sure you have your bike helmet on before you take your bike of the rack and make your way to the exit, when past the line jump on the bike and get going.

The bike course is multiple laps so expect to be passed by some speed machines.

The course is very scenic with undulations to make it more interesting. The support is mostly located at the palace but marshals are on hand along the extent of the route and great at pointing out any potential hazards.

At the end of the bike course, time for the last change into running shoes. It took several minutes to get my running legs on. The running course is fast with a few drink stations. Crowd support is fantastic and a encourages a sprint finish.

A great event with fantastic support