A philosophical Mrs Bisson (73) said she had been battling a virus and, after a ‘‘very, very tough swim'' in Oamaru Harbour, she realised she did not have the stamina to complete the event, once she started on the cycle leg.
‘‘If you're not feeling well, the sensible thing is to pull out. There's no point pushing your body and making yourself ill.''
The swim, which was held in windy conditions at Friendly Bay, had ‘‘knocked the stuffing'' out of her and, at one stage, she did not think she would ever get to the first buoy.
Mrs Bisson was applauded by other competitors as she emerged from the water in her wetsuit.
Mrs Bisson, who competed in the recent Masters Games in Dunedin, said it was ‘‘probably madness or stupidity'' which kept her competing.
She enjoyed the Oamaru stamina event but was not sure if she would be back next year.
