HUNDREDS of competitors run, swam and cycled a total of more than 50km at the annual Maldon Triathlon, held at the Promenade Park on Sunday.
A mix of those doing it for charity and those doing it for sporting glory took part and the park was covered with hundreds of spectators.
The event, organised by Dengie Events, offered athletes either Olympic or sprint distances and this year it played host to the Triathlon England Eastern Region Junior Championship.
Olympic-distance competitors swum 1.5km in the River Blackwater, cycled 45km and ran 10k.
Sprint distances were shorter, swimming 750m, cycling 28km and running 5km.
Dede Singh, 49, of Ilford, spoke to the Chronicle before he set off.
"I have been doing triathlons since 1995 so you could say I am a seasoned triathlete, but whether that means I am any good is debatable," he joked.
"I do them for the fitness and the challenge – they are really good fun and addictive."
Speaking as the race start time of 11am fast-approached James Swift, 30, and Hethin Davis, 33, both of East London Triathletes, were raring to go.
Swift said: "I have been doing triathlons for three years – we do them for the challenge, because we like doing crazy things."
Mr Davis, of Leyton, explained he wasn't as experienced as his team-mate.
He said: "This is only my second triathlon and I have never done open water swimming before. I can only hope I don't swallow too much salt water. We do them because were probably a little bit mad."
Some people decided to split the load between three team members, each specialising in either running, swimming or cycling.
One such team, a band from Chelmsford, were competing for both Mencap and Great Ormond Street Hospital charities.
Caroline Flavill, 24, of Howe Street, took on the running. She said: "I haven't ever done a triathlon before. I am looking forward to it but I am nervous."
Fellow team member Max Lewis, 22, was a last-minute replacement. He said: "My brother was supposed to be doing it and then I found out last week he wouldn't be able to make it.
"I will be doing the swimming and I haven't really been able to prepare for it, but it should be fun."
The final piece in the jigsaw is the 6ft-plus Matt Wilkinson, 25, of Wear Drive, who was taking on the cycling.
He said: "Chris Froome may also be tall but there is less of him. But I am sort of looking forward to it."
Pete Dyson crossed the line first in the sprint event, in a time of 1 hour 16 minutes and 34 seconds, ahead of Arran Rae (1:21:58) and James Kidd (1:23:30).
And in the Olympic event, Adrian Berry (2:18:46) beat Simon Lashmar by just nine seconds to win the event, with Richard Greaves (2:21:29) in third.
