Sunday 15 August 2010

Bedford Autoglass Classic Triathlon Race Report

Where: Bedford Embankment
Organiser: Galeforce Events 
Course details: Instructions
Distance: Swim 1500m (OW- River) Bike 41.5km, Run 10K (Pavement)
Marshalling: Excellent, Guys to pull you out the river, marshals at every turn, police at major junctions to stop traffic 
Facilities: Portaloos, Free parking 5 min walk from transition, Numbered Racking, Chip Timed, Large burger van, 2 water stations on each of 3 laps, Tri store
Technical: Swim upstream and back downstream in river, bike out into local countryside on 1 lap course with roads of good quality, 3 lap run around the river. Race was a qualifying event for ETU 2011 OD Championships
Freebies: Swim hat. T-shirt. Chocolate bar/crisps/seed & fruit mix, Juice box. Water.


So the day started early with a 5am alarm call, seemed far too early to be honest but that's life. Luckily having registered yesterday there was no need to arrive there that early, especially with numbered racking. So arrived about 6:30, got racked and laid all the gear out before eyeing up the river again to see where the buoys were.  My dad was off in the second wave, after the paratriathlete, and I was off in the 10th and last wave. At this point pre-race AD started to happen, luckily mum was on hand with some Imodium, couple of tabs then off to the portaloos to empty the system.  Luckily I managed to get finished just before the race brief and headed back into transition and spotted Dad struggling into his wetsuit, sorted him out then listened to the brief.  Spotted CCS and said high after the brief then went to be the good son and cheer dad on.  After he left on the bike (he was doing the mini) I got suited up and joined the queue for the aquaruck.


At the 5 min warning we were allowed into the water, I got in and promptly found out they might have spent a week clearing weed out, but hadn't got this far. It was horrible. Bit of doggy paddle got me to the line after acclimatising and then it was time for the countdown.  Given the number of people wearing GBR trisuits there was no way I was going to start at the front, so I started at the back On the outside of the pack but mid-river. I think this was one of the best decisions I made. I managed to get 'clear' water as I skirted the guys in front, but wasn't going anywhere fast as the weed was so thick. Soon the water cleared at bit and I went from feet to feet until I was leading a chase pack.  About 150m from the turn buoy I saw the lead pack on their way back, not bad going.  Then I started to catch some tail enders from the previous pack. 180 turn at the buoy and back down river.  With about 500m to go the weed made a re-emergence. This time it was horrible, I almost beached a one point.  Then perhaps one of my worst swim experiences ever. I managed to swim into a patch of loose weed that covered my face just as I turned to breathe.  I now have a good idea what waterboarding feels like, I just couldn't get any air in through it, I'd spill all my secrets after a few rounds of that! Weed off, air in, focus, there is the bridge, not far to go. Some guy started hitting my feet. $%^&. Few hard kicks soon sorted him out. By this point i'd caught more tail enders from different waves and was feeling good. Got pulled onto the platform then out the water by the marshals. Wetsuit off shoulders and into transition.


Swim 26:00, given the weed which must be worth 2+ minutes I'm very happy with that.


T1 was OK, apart from my right calf cramping, then at bike mount my left calf cramped.


Off on the bike and within the first km I'd seen a guy come off his bike pretty badly, just did the u-turn on a roundabout then heard grating carbon, looked right and saw a guy wheels against the curb, his bike started going over and he was hurtling towards a lamppost. There was nothing I could have done so shouted to the marshals 150m down the road as I past.  Apparently he was spotted heading back to transition looking rather dejected 10 minutes later. The bike was pretty uneventful really. Had periods of great speed, others I was the wrong side of my desired average.  I thought it was really well marshalled with police at every right turn stopping traffic, and one in a busy roundabout to do the same on the way back, closed roads aren't really needed with a service like that. I thought I was burning through my fluids at bit quickly in the first half, but that was probably to help digest the 10 portions of veg I'd gotten in the swim. I went through the 40km mark in 1:15, if they hadn't need to lengthen the course then it would have been and awesome race. About a km out from transition I caught sight of the paratriathlete on his handbike. A sight that was actually quite inspirational, and I got to the dismount line at the same time as him. 


Bike 41.8 km in 1:19:54, averaging 31.4 km/h with a good cadence. Really happy with that.


T2 was pretty damn good, managed just over a minute to rack bike, take shoes/helmet off, socks on shoes on and run 100m. 


The run was, well, hard. After and hour and 45 minutes of swimming and cycling at the rate I was going it was going to hurt. No jelly legs thankfully, but almost instantly I couldn't breathe out properly. I must have sounded terrible, everyone was cheering me on though. They could obviously see the pain in my face.  A glance at the Garmin and I could see I was going strong though, bashing out 4:50 km's pretty consistently, my heart rate was just bordering on my predicted lactate threshold for the whole of the run, which goes some way to explaining it. The 3 lap run was a killer though.  I was only buoyed up by the fact that I was overtaking as many people as were overtaking me. With about a km to go I hit a brick wall. My heart rate went through the roof and my speed fell away. Damn. I new the gel would have only repeated, but maybe I should have at least tried to take it. Time to dig deep.  JFDI! Turned the last but one corner and the finish chute was in sight, thank god, picked up the pace. I now sounded like a tractor, but what the hell. Crossed the line in a time of 2:35:40. 


An awesome run of 46:21. Only a minute slower than my standalone 10K PB. I really can't fault that. But I paid for it, I could hardly stand at the end, luckily mum and dad were nearby and I got some water from then rather than join the queue for a small cup. But F me my legs were hurting.


Still, an excellent race. Nearly 5 minutes better than my best case scenario before they extended the bike course.



Sunday 8 August 2010

Aquasphere 3.8km Swim Bournemouth

Where: Southbourne Beach, Dorset Map  

Organiser: VOtwo
Course details: Instructions
Distance: Swim 3800m (OW- Sea)
Marshalling: NA
Facilities: Showers on beach, Café on beach, Public toilets.
Technical: Run into sea, 3 clockwise laps of a rectangular then out and finish on land through gantry.
Freebies: Swim hat. Water. Various cakes, cereal bars.

So this was to be my second long swim series race of the year, returning to the venue when I first had a go at them last year.  Last year it was tough, a character building swim in a poorly fitting wetsuit that was fighting me with every stroke and a brutal current. Time 1:41:19.  Roll on this year and my time at box end was a much more acceptable 1:04:58.  Determined to be prepared I have been watching the weather and the tides.  Wind was set to be a light/non existent offshore breeze and there was a double high water tide with a stand during the swim, or so I thought.  Having swum a 65 minute one earlier this year I had high hopes of going sub 70 given the sea and my almost lack of swim training recently.

So up at 0545 to have breakfast before leaving at 0700, things were going well light traffic wasn't a problem and got there a bit earlier than planned. Registered, got my hat then headed off to off load my morning cup of tea.  Walked back up to the car and got my stuff together and prepare (mentally).  All was going well till the dreaded pre-race AD moment came. Right get a parking ticket and head back down to the facilities. Upon taking the change out of my pocket I discovered an Imodium instant, obviously from my last race. The triathlon gods were looking out for me. Having reduced my racing weight I headed off to suit up and warm up.  Getting in the water it felt bloody cold, still got myself acclimatised, checked goggles weren't going to leak, a few lengths then out to the race start. The number of people opting to go sans wetsuit was surprising, didn't they realize it was cold? No surprises at the race briefing, lets get ready to rock.



Stood on the start line, on the left 1 row back, 5-4-3-2-1-Go! Sprint down the beach, over the gravel, high knees and off through the washing machine. Whilst the adrenaline of the moment meant I didn't feel the stones, the cold water made it feel like someone had hammered nails into my feet once I started swimming. Coming up to the first turn buoy and I had somehow managed to get in the middle of a pack. Crap. Round the buoy, yep there is a pair of feet, dodge left, dodge right, clear water without getting kicked, phew. About halfway along the top of the course I saw a submerged yellow buoy, odd, bit hazardous. Still get on with swimming, next urn buoy check of the watch, 12mins, hmm might have overcooked this a bit, this should be into the current and hard. Oh well. The rest of the lap was pretty uneventful, completing it in 23 minutes and change.

Onto the second lap, round the buoy and onto the top of the course. Next thing I know I am confronted by the biggest jellyfish I have ever seen. It wasn't a submerged buoy, it was a jelly fish, about 2ft in diameter! Shit, has it got huge stingers out the back. Nope, major relief at that point. Seems somebody is looking out for me. Round to the halfway turn buoy, 11 minutes for that half lap. OK so I'm swimming well on this part of the course, round the buoy and back inshore, round again to follow the shore, about halfway along my hat decides to pop off. I'm not going to lose another one, so I grab it and try to stuff it down the front of my suit while swimming, nope bad idea as it starts to let water in. Ummm. Up my sleeve! Roll onto back, up the sleeve, onto front and off. Yep that works. Finish the second lap, 25 minutes. Huh? it was shorter, my first split was faster, whats happening? The current, shit, its going west, the tide must be ebbing.

The offshore leg confirmed it as I was getting pushed down onto the buoy, adjust direction to ferryglide, round the buoy and down to wards Boscombe, annoyed at my target slipping away I start to crank up the power.  All seems to be going well till I realise I'm getting sucked out to sea and end up swimming much further. Damn, 13 minute split. Back inshore to the next turn, Whoa! another huge jellyfish. Reach the buoy, there is a serious angle on the warp, yep the current is running the opposite way, long slog home then. And that it proved to be, reached the final turn and headed inshore. The tide had gone out far enough that there were no some bigger breakers on the shore, swim in as far as possible, up, out and sprint for the line. It's over.

Lost my actual splits taking my wetsuit of, but looking at the sheet I managed 79th out of the water in 1:20:16. Not exactly impressive. Not sure whether to be pleased at finishing, and except the current pushing me back as the cause. Or whether it is my fault for letting fitness slip too far.  I felt I swam consistently.  Well who cares for the next hour. My roast beef is ready!