Archived Race Reports 08

ARCHIVED RACE REPORTS 08

ALEC

7 September 2008

up at 03:30 for a monster breakfast (this was on top off the 15000 - 25000 calories I'd consumed over the previous 2 days) before heading to the race venue at 04:30. Once I got changed I headed to the athlete holding area. It was an amazing sight as 1700 triathletes gathered in the dark at 05:30 for the start at 06:00 - all shapes and sizes, and ages. People were excited but their was also a lot off quiet contemplation of what lay ahead. Before we headed down to the Lake I topped up my energy levels with a SIS go-gel and 500ml of gatorade. Felt quite calm, and enjoyed the post race atmosphere

SWIM - We entered the water in the dark and had to swim approx 250m to get to the start line. We then had to tread water (not even 6'4'' me could stand up) for 15 minutes while the organisers got everyone lined up. This didn't go down well as everyone was wasting a lot of their valuable stored energy. I started near the front, which was a bad idea. When the horn went off to signal the start I was soon surrounded by a mass of manic swimmers all fighting for the little clear water that was available. I got a few kicks and punches (had to throw a few myself to prevent being pushed under or swum over) which was a bit unsettling. Things soon settled down and I quickly got into my swim stroke. Lap 1 passed in a blur. When the sun came up at the start of Lap 2 it was quite surreal thinking "here I am in the middle of a lake in Dorset doing an IM". Shortly after this thought I got punched in the right leg which left me with a dead leg (which still hurts today). I exited the water in 1:14:20, which I was pleased with. I felt comfortable and headed towards T1.

I was handed my blue bag which contained my bike kit. I started to pray that I hadn't forgotten to pack something. Thankfully everything I needed was there. Had another gel and a quick drink of water, then headed out to collect my bike. I picked up my bike and headed for the exit knowing that was "1 down, only 2 events to go".

The bike route kicked up straight away for 2 - 3 miles which focussed the mind for what lay ahead. I put my head down and settled into my race plan - 100 rpm, aim for a 17mph average, 140 - 150 bpm, 1 energy bar and two gels per hour, 500ml of water / gatorade per hour. The bike course was a two part affair. Part 1 was a nice 20'ish miles of rolling countryside with the wind behind you, which was ideal for tri-bar riding.

Part 2 was the opposite! It was 20'ish miles of hills with the wind in your face. At one point I was down to 5mph, but on one of the decents I hit a pleasing 49mph (even at that speed someone passed me doing at least 55mph, and unbelievably they were on their tri-bars). Lap 1 and 2 went well. On Lap 3 I started to think about the run and the need to conserve energy. With Lap 3 over I headed back to the start, which meant only one thing, the RUNNNNNN. I reckon I could take some time out of my 6:28:47, but with the wind and the hills I was happy with the effort.

T2 - When I jumped off my bike on entering T2 I got cramp in my right leg. I handed my bike to one of the helpers and headed to the changing tent, where I was met by my 'changer'. This person was solely there to help you get changed for the run. My 'changer' already had my red kit bag and guided me to a spare chair, then helped me take off my cycling shoes and put on my running shoes and kit. They also made sure you grabbed something to eat and drink. What a service! Finally they directed you towards the the exit and onto the run course.

RUN - This was the bit I was really dreading. It took me a few miles to get my legs working properly, but once I did I settled into a routine of run to a feed station and then walk through it eating and drinking. The run couse was a mix of on-road and off-road, and was anything but flat. There was a feeding station every mile. Lap 1 was nice and steady, Lap 2 was a nightmare and I really had to dig deep, but Lap 3 was fantastic, felt I got my second wind. Must have been the thought that it was almost over and I was going to realise a life long dream. I couldn't quite believe it when I saw the finish chute and I was being guided towards it. Seeing the finishing line, hearing the noise of the crowd and the commentator, and the camera flashes was the best feeling I've ever experienced. I crossed the finish line with the biggest smile on my face, which I still have today. I was pleased with my 4:39:22. I reckon I ran about 60 - 70% of the course, so some room for improvement for the future.

POST RACE - Utterly exhausted, but very very satisfied with my 12:35:23. Will I do another one?....you bet. A big thank you to housemates Ken and Elaine - great company and great support. Can't thank Jules, Andrew and Christie enough for their support over the last 6 months.

Ian

9 & 10 August 2008

Just returned from London. What a tremendous event. 13,000 people over two days and three different distances - "super" sprint; sprint and olympic. I competed in the sprint in an attempt to beat my time last year. Did so but only just. A vicious wind nearly sank my swim completely as I fought the waves in Lodon's Victoria Dock along with the 370 others in our wave (got that name right). Bike and run were better. A great flat course on closed roads. An amazingly well organised triathlon, and they give out medals at the end. Mind you, for £70 I should hope so. I suggest putting this on the calander for next year although it may well clash with other things closer to home. Take a look at www.thelondontriathlon.co.uk

Andy

25/26 October 2008

Original Mountain Marathon

What a weekend. We can increase our lung volume even push our hearts beyond it's max but endurance is more than that. Before I talk about just how much water fell from the heavens I'd like to say just how few people retired from this race. What people can and will endure is amazing!

Friday off down to the lakes cuppa at my dads and headed off to the event start around 7pm. First time I'd ever met my partner and he was a good guy and we both seemed to be relieved that we had a chance of finishing. Got the tent up with only the wind to fight. No rain yet!!! headed off to the hospitallity tent where pasta and beer were served. Yummy!
Got a decent sleep on friday night with a few flapping tents and people arriving late into the night.
Saturday started at six. Got the stove out and stuffed myself with bacon and beans, banana's and hot coffee. Packed the bags up again and we were ready.
Our start was at 9.48 so we had to make the holding area by 9.35. As we got to the holding area it started to rain. Started on time but by this time the rain was heavy. Add in the wind and we found reading the map a bit more challenging than it should have been. Many maps were lost within feet of the start. Did I mention the wind was 70mph??
Having never done anything like this before I gave up reading the map and just followed the vast line of people marching up the hillside. Oh, and it was raining.
check points 1 and 2 out of 5 were in the bag reasonably quickly. we were pasting people in the line and were feeling ok dispite being a little damp. The next hour was great we ran with our back to the winds and covered a lot of ground quickly. It was blowing so hard it took you off your feet on occassion. Once at check point 3 we it was about noon. and we got behind a rock had a cold diner and big drink and choc. The will to live was strong at this point but the 4th check point was back the way we came. Walking in to the gale, and not being able to lift your head because a 70mph rain drop hurts your eyes, is were my previous point about endurance applies. It was tough and I haven't felt as low as that for a long time but we made it to the slate mine that was on the news where we heard the race had been canceled. We were probably 30-45mins from finishing day 1. We were sent back to the start point a 90min trek round the fell on the road. It is here that all the stories of the floods begin. We did wade waist deep in flowing water. There were cars up to the steering wheels with water ( these were only people who did not park in the car park!!!). Hundereds made it back. The news, as ever embelished the story but the organisers did a fine job I think. I could write for ever about how the evening went with people arriving in the dark. People ranting because they couldn't believe it had been cancel and how sunday moring wasn't that bad. But that was my race and the other stories can wait for the pub.
I would add though, I'm disappointed that I didn't have the opportunity to finish. What I do feel is that I'v been a part of something quite unique and I will certainly be doing it next year. Andy

Ben

28 September 2008

Portobello Open Water

First of all, I did not enter the National Champs I entered a little Aquathlon in Portobello so I could have a go at a sea swim.

If you have read the other thread on this forum you will know I wasn't feeling enthralled by this event and was even checking the the website on Saturday night just in case it was cancelled.

Unfortunately the race wasn't cancelled and as there was a substantial sum of Monkey Nuts ridding on the result I couldn't quit.

Once again it was an early start on a Sunday morning to register for an event that wasn't due to start until 10:30 but at least I had my father in law for company. We arrived to discover a lovely old public bath building in Portobello right on the beach bathed in Autumnal sunshine. My spirits felt lifted, after all I was just going for a swim and a run, that happened to start at the same time as other people.

The race program had the pool swims starting first with the 8 year olds of first and the Adult Novices of last (perhaps that should of included me). Time drifted by with competitors getting larger every ten minutes and the sun kept shining until eventually transition was opened for the Open Water swimmers or as the organisers kept telling the spectators "the elite".

I quickly got into my wetsuit and set up transition (with my pink and blue towel) and took my bag with my dry clothes to my farther in law to look after. He promptly dropped it on the floor and burst a water bottle all over my dry clothes, a quick sort revealed it wasn't too bad so I headed of for a warm up.

I immediately discovered a problem, the combination of wetsuit and salt water makes doing breaststroke (my current preference)extremely difficult. I tried a few strokes of crawl and felt OK but new I couldn't keep it up for long.

The starter called "the elite" swimmers out of the water so we could line up on the beach for the start he shouted GO and we were off. I jogged down the water splashed my way in and set off . My new plan was to try and do crawl for as long as possible which as it turns out it wasn't very long, after about 250m I switched to breaststroke telling myself I could switch again later but I never did. I drifted off the back of the pack but managed to find a reasonable rhythm even though I swallowed some water as some waves crashed onto my face.

By the time I got out of the water I was convinced I was last but I wasn't!!! I stumbled up the beach got out of my wetsuit rinsed out my mouth and started the run just catching a glimpse of someone else getting out of the water.

I felt so sick on the first part of the run and retched a couple of times that I was barley moving. I thought I could keep ahead of the chap behind me but at the 2k marker he passed me. I started to feel a bit stronger and picked up the pace partly to try and shake of the ambulance guy who was following me on his bike (he seemed a bit upset that I didn't collapse). I finished with a sprint but I was last.

On the other hand I was the top finisher from Perth Tri Club and I think I was in the top 20 of Senior Men in the Scottish Aquathlon Championships and my swimming cap stayed on.

I don't think this will be on the list of events for next year even if my swimming has improved.

ANDY

7 September 2008

I'm a lakelander and my dad still lives down in Keswick. A perfect distance from the start point to stay the weekend with the wife and child, and drive the cycle route the day before. As we drove over the Kirkstone pass the car seemed to have issues with the 20% gradient. If the car needs first gear what will I need I mused

I was lucky that my fan club braved the cold. Weather was poor and this had an impact on the race due to safety. The swim was pulled into 1100m as the lake temp further out was only just above the legal 12C. (Loch Ore at 20C was a laugh compared to this. We all started in the water and had to make our way out to an imaginary startline between 2 boats. Horn goes and we are off!!!!!!!!! I swam like a fish. Got out the water in 210th place. 26mins was a fair time. However there were 700 in this race 500 of them being in the senior mens race.

T1 was busy as was the wee gate they forced us through to the bike mount point.

The bike route was untouched. 38miles of Waighwright beauty.

It was made up of 2 climbs out of one valley along it and back in to the original valley. Climb one was fine if a little long. 210th soon saw me watch all the cyclist of the event breeze past. 28miles in to the cycle I arrived in Ambilside and turned on to the Kirkstone pass. The road block was nice and needed. As I mustered all the strength I had I watched people further on, off and pushing. Not me I said. Yes me it was. Had to have 2 spells of pushing. It took me 45mins to cover the 3miles of this climb. I WILL GET UP THERE NEXT YEAR

2h54min of cycling gone and I was in T2.

The run also suffered from the conditions. 9miles was shortened to 6m and the peak of the mountain was off the route. It still climbed nearly 700mtrs up Helvellyn. Fell running in the rain and in the clouds is grim but enhances the feeling of acheivement when after 1h39 I was crossing the line. So 5h8mins was a good time for me as my goal at the out set of the full course was 5:30 I'll be doing it again next year!