Sunday morning started very early - so early in fact that Jerry had to take a picture to prove what time we left the house. He doesn't see this time on a Sunday usually unless there is a Grand Prix on.
Having got to Stirling I registered, and got my number painted on my arm and leg (it's still there despite a bath and two showers), set up my transition area, checked it, looked at everyone else's, moved everything, moved it all back again, checked it and so on for the next half hour. Then we had the pre-race briefing where they tell you all the important stuff, but I was so nervous I promptly forgot most of it. 
The elite athletes went off first in the pool and I went along to see how it was done. Then all too soon it was my heat. I was last to go in my lane. There were five swimmers per lane with colour coded hats. Each colour set off at 5sec intervals. As I was planning on doing breaststroke for the whole thing I was fully expecting to be last out of the pool. I was amazed when I realised that not only was I holding my own, I was actually faster than some of the crawl swimmers. In fact, I passed two swimmers in my lane and was out of the pool in less than the 18mins I had planned for. It was a great feeling to know I was not the slowest. I quickly ran around to transition, got myself kitted up and ran out for the cycle.
The cycle was slightly surreal as I only saw three other cyclists on most of the route. One of them passed me and I passed two others, then overtook the first guy on the hill into the finish - which felt great, and he was impressed too. All that training up the West Lothian hills on my mountain bike paid off!
The transition from the bike to the run was much quicker, rack the bike, take off the helmet, grab the water and a gel and go - except my legs weren't too keen on the idea. I just focused on moving forward and ignored my pace, swallowing the gel and getting some water into my system, which really helped, as did all the shouts of su
pport from the crew who came to cheer me on - Thanks a lot Kirsty, Andy and Finlay. What didn't help was the short, very steep hill after the first 300m, that was really tough, but I knew it would get easier and by the time I came back down I was really stretching out my legs, but that was only halfway as I had it all to do again on the second lap. All the way up the hill for the second time I was determined not to walk and kept saying to myself '£1300, £1300' just to keep going. The second loop was much easier after the hill and the final run in was great with everyone shouting me home.The most amazing moment was realising that not only had I beaten my planned time of 1hr 50, or my admitted stretch goal of 1Hr 45, but even my private stretch goal of 1hr 40, I had a time of 1hr 37mins 24secs!!
I had a truly amazing experience and am already thinking about doing it all again. The other hard part to do now is to get the money in, but I am sure that will happen. I am so grateful to everyone who has sponsored me. The money will make so much difference to those in Africa who it will go to. Supporting the training of a prosthetist to learn how to make and fit prosthetics is such a constructive move, and will not only benefit the individuals but will also help all those around them as they are able to fulfil their potential.