STARTING THE YEAR RIGHT

Beginning 2026 as he means to go on, Iain Veitch chose the iconic Edinburgh New Year's Day Sprint Triathlon as a way to blow away the cobwebs. Cue nipples like bullets, overtaking dinosaurs and cycling up and down an ancient volcano...

- WORDS IAIN VEITCH IMAGES ANNA HENLY

It’s New Year’s Day.

It is literally freezing. I'm soaking wet, wearing a skimpy tri-suit and hurtling downhill at 65kmh. I absently wonder if my nipples or my fingers will fall off first. I question my life choices. I turn 45 this year and no-one is making me do this. What am I playing at?

A RACE WITH HEART AND HISTORY

I have just started the bike leg of the Edinburgh New Year’s Day Sprint Triathlon. Now in its 30th edition, this triathlon has grown from a wacky idea into one of Scotland’s most loved annual sporting events and one of the longest-running triathlons in Scotland, if not the UK. It has endured three decades of festive hangovers, the Covid years and occasional extreme weather to deliver a truly unique New Year’s sporting tradition.

The 400m swim takes place in the Royal Commonwealth 50m pool. Having hosted two Commonwealth Games it’s an impressive setting for athletes and supporters and after the race briefing bagpipes are played to both welcome those able to attend and remember those who could not. Racers then start one at a time in 5 second intervals based on their predicted swim time. Slowest first and fastest last.

After each length they change lanes, finishing at the opposite side of the pool.

I am number 414 which means plenty of time to warm up and plenty of time for nerves to get a hold. I’m in the middle of training for an iron-distance event and it’s been about two years since my last sprint tri. I wonder if my old cart horse of a body can even get going before the race is over. Either way, it’s going to hurt.