WITH triathlons increasing in popularity, Evening Mail reporter GABRIELLE ROWLEY set about taking part in one for a very good cause.

THIS year Ulverston Tri Club had a record number of entries for their first club triathlon of the year on Sunday June 26. They offered a long course for their more experienced members and a shorter course for beginners. I was among the beginners.

This year the event included a special Go For Jo race which was run in memory of Evening Mail journalist Jo-anne Davies, who was a big supporter of Ulverston Tri Club.

I was encouraged to enter the shorter course by Jo's husband, my colleague, Evening Mail sports editor Matt Davies. Matt took part in the longer triathlon as part of a series of sporting challenges he is undertaking this year to raise money for Jo's Appeal.

However, as I arrived at Ulverston Leisure Centre on that Sunday to take part in my first ever sprint triathlon with my pink Victoria's Secret 'kit bag', my black halter-neck swim suit and my fluorescent pink running shoes I started to feel somewhat uneasy about my decision to compete.

It wasn't that anybody was unfriendly at all; on the contrary, all the organisers were lovely and supportive - I simply felt that I had over-estimated my own fitness and bitten off a little more than I could chew.

All the other competitors seemed to be members of triathlon clubs based up and down the country, dressed in very professional looking 'tri-suits' (lycra all-in-one outfits that you can swim, bike and run in without changing).

I entered with one of my oldest friends, Elysia Harvey, a 25-year-old optician at Specsavers in Barrow, with the idea that it would give us something to train for in the build up to summer.

If you're wondering what exactly a sprint triathlon consists of, the distances were as follows:

::A 250m swim (10 lengths) in Ulverston's pool.

::A 16km coast road bike ride to Aldingham and back.

::A 5km run to Bardsea and back.

When I signed up for the sprint triathlon, I really didn't think that these distances seemed so daunting. True, I had never ridden a road bike... or any bike since I was about seven years old (I was always more of a horse person), but I brushed this reservation off with the comforting thought that I go to two spinning classes every week - meaning I must be a fantastic cyclist by now.

My idea of training was to cycle from my house in Ulverston down to the Bay Horse at Canal Foot for a hot chocolate with my friend (all of about two miles and pretty flat for most of the way).

However, with some perseverance I managed to build up my routes to the 10-mile mark that we would be riding in the event. Just a note - when you see cyclists whizzing up and down the coast road, you never truly appreciate just how hilly it is.

Even as somebody who goes to the gym five to six times a week I was exhausted after my bike rides. No wonder cyclists are so fit and slim!

For the swim, I always knew I would be far outpaced by Elysia, who always swam in the national competitions when we were at school. She in fact went on to achieve one of the fastest swim times for the ladies and beat many of the men too! My own swimming training had consisted of lake crossings with my dad at Coniston on Sunday afternoons.

I much prefer open water swimming and have more stamina than speed - like a whale shark. My triathlon pool performance wasn't too awful I suppose - I managed 10 lengths breast stroke in seven minutes which I was happy with.

The only thing that I was slightly embarrassed about was my swimming attire. Unwilling to spend my hard-earned cash on the dreaded 'athletic swimwear', I convinced myself I would be fine in the only one-piece swimsuit I own. When I lined up on the pool side with my rivals however, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. My black, Baywatch style costume really was not the wisest choice!

The run down to Bardsea was the only part of the event I felt remotely confident about, as I run frequently in the gym and at weekends in the Lake District. However, much to my dismay, when I dismounted from my bike, my legs appeared to have turned from muscle, sinew and flesh to the consistency of jelly.

I wobbled off down the lane making a horrid sort of banshee wailing noise to express my displeasure, my only consolation being that the event was almost over.

Elysia started a little later than I did but due to her faster swimming and cycling time we were able to run together and cross the finish line holding hands - something that the more serious triathletes seemed to find rather silly.

My final time was one hour 29 minutes for the whole event, this was certainly not fast but for me I was just pleased that I didn't put my feet down in the pool, stop to push my bike up the hill or walk during my run.

To anybody looking to take part in a triathlon, I would definitely recommend it - even if just to challenge yourself and push your body out of its comfort zone.

I have decided to continue cycling as I noticed a difference in both my core strength and how toned my legs were. I will definitely be stepping up my training before entering my second sprint event in August, in which I hope to shave a few minutes off my time and buy a tri-suit!