Dambuster Olympic Triathlon

Dambuster Triathlon based at Rutland water was one of the races I wanted to as a training session so I know what the course is like in preparation for the Vitruvian triathlon that I have planned for the end of August.

So I drove down the day before to get registered just so I knew how long it would take to get to location on the day and so I could have a quick look at transition and see how it was all set up and to have a look at the swim course so I knew where I would be going.

Day of the event was pretty straight forward. I had my usual breakfast and coffee and I am feeling pretty good in doing my first Olympic distance race. Even though I have done a 70.3 triathlon I was unsure how hard to push myself for an Olympic distance. I have been told to race it like a sprint tri so with that in mind I was going to attack it from the start and see how I hold up.

Bike is racked and everything set up and I'm waiting around to get going. At the race brief everyone just wanted to know what sort of start we would be having. It turned out it was a beach start. I had never started a race from the beach all my races I have been deep water starts, so I was unsure how this would go. I positioned myself quite near the start line and I soon realise that I just about on the front line and before I could do anything the race has started. I hated the start of the race as I have people everywhere around me and I got in to a little panic attack as I was unable to move out of the way from anyone. Approx 500 metres in to the swim I finally find some sort of rhythm and I soon find myself overtaking people and it wasn't long till I was at the front of the pack I was in. I was determined to catch up with the next group of swimmers and with the last 100 metres to go I finally got on to them and was able to draft and relax a little till we got out of the water. Swim done in 24:57

In to T1 and it was straight forward and I was soon on my bike. I decided that this time I would put my bike shoes on first and just in run in them till I get on to the bike. I just didn't want the same problem that I had in my previous race in trying to get my feet in my shoes. Straight away its a slight up hill until we get to the main road and the start of the bike course. started off on the bike at a decent pace and I was pleased of my average speed. and I knew that I would have the ribbles to tackle. The ribbles are a series of small hills that just take all the speed out of the bike and you need to put the work in on the bike to successfully get over them without dropping my average speed. The bike course is quite a fast course with no real major issues.
so in to T2 and it couldn't have gone better in transition. Before I knew it I was out on the run and looking forward to the last 10km. Bike done in 1:18:09

I find my pace quickly and I start overtaking the cyclists that always seem to fly past me on the bike and my body is feeling quick. The run course is a very basic as you run towards the dam, run across the dam get to the church and run back to the finish line. the run course is completely flat and I was hoping to get very close to the 40 minute mark, but I knew I would to pull out something special to achieve that. I always have a plan when I run now, start of steady and increase the pace and then push on hard for the last 1km. I finished the run in 41:39 and I was happy with how I felt. I do wish that I push it harder for longer on the run, but that is something I need to work on. In training I need to start to push harder for longer towards the end of my run and this should give me a stronger finish on race day.

Total time 2:27:46
Pleased with my time for my first Olympic distance tri and I really enjoyed racing at this distance.

Dambuster Triathlon is organised by Pacesetter events and is very well organised and every one who helped organised this event were very helpful and I look forward to take part in this race in the future.

Woodhall Sprint Triathlon

14th June I took part in a local sprint triathlon at Woodhall Hall Spa. I was really looking forward to this course as I knew the course was flat and fast and I was hoping to get a good result at this race. The morning of the race for once I didn't have to get up too early as to thanks to my swimming going really well I put in a fast swim time which gave me a late start.

After waiting for a while to be aloud in to transition It doesn't take me long to get set up in transition and one thing I have learnt is not to over think it when setting your bike and gear up. Get in set up bike in transition and running kit then walk away and leave it and not worry about it.

My race gets going and I'm straight away on to a friends feet tapping away, second length in I pushed as hard as I could and got by him. He is a quicker swimmer than me when we train together but I felt good and nothing was going to stop me today. A few more lengths in to the 400m swim I start to feel my timing chip working itself loose. I get to the end of the swim in just over 7 mins, not my quickest 400m but I know I pushed it too hard at the start.

In to T1 and in less than a minute I'm already on my bike and got going really well. My plan was to get round the first corner and put my feet in my shoes and crack on with the bike section. For some reason I could not get my feet in my shoes. I started flapping around and losing all the speed I had picked up. Finally I get my feet in my shoes and I quickly get in to a good rhythm. I catch up with the people that over took me whilst whilst I was messing around with my shoes and one of them tells me my race number is about to come, so quickly I tuck it in to my race belt. Approx 1 mile later I can feel my race chip getting loose on my ankle, I reach down and try and reattach the strap. Another mile in timing chip works itself loose and this time as I reach down the strap comes off and I grab it just in time. With out thinking I put the timing chip down my tri suit and try and concentrate back on the task at hand. I get the bike done in 45:32 and I knew I was behind my plan thanks to my feet not working and my timing chip causing me a few issues.

In to T2 and my bike is racked I quickly grab my timing chip and sling it back round my ankle to make sure my time is registered. The run is my favourite discipline, if I was to gain some time back it would be on the run. I soon get in to a strong running pace and straight away I'm feeling happy again. my plan was too push as hard as I can for the last 1km and see what happens. When I picked up the pace in the last Km I feel my timing chip coming loose and not wanting to have to stop and grab the chip, I ease of the pace and  I managed to do the run in 18:54.

I for some reason finished the race feeling a little disappointed with how the race went, but overall I was pleased that I was able to handle the small issues that I had and was still able to enjoy the race. The one thing I took from the race was to put a safety pin on my timing chip to make sure that it is secured so wont have a chance of losing it in the future.

Woodhall Spa Triathlon is a great local race and is a very popular event that is organised by One Step Beyond. It is very well organised and the bike course is clearly marked and well marshalled.

Outlaw Half Triathlon 70.3

So I have competed my first 70.3 triathlon and I chose to do the Outlaw half which is organised by one step beyond. One of the main reasons why I chose this event was that it's not far from home and I heard that the bike course is fairly flat and the run is flat, so would be a good one to start off with.

A friend and I decided that it would be best to stay over the night before so we didn't have to worry about getting to the venue on the day and something going wrong. We hired a campervan and stayed in the campsite right near to the start line. Was glad we stayed over as it meant I could just concentrate on getting ready for the race and not worry about a journey and forgetting something. 

Woke up nice and early and straight away the kettle was on for coffee and to add hot water to my porridge. Also had a banana & peanut butter wrap which has become one of my favourites recently. It was then time to get changed and a quick set up of the bikes and then head down to transition.

Got in to transition and I find myself overthinking everything like I always do. I have I got enough gels and how to set up my transition space. This is something that I shouldn't do as it makes me nervous about the race and I start to forget to do stuff. I had planned to open all my flap jack and malt loaf bars wrappers so when on the bike it would be easier for me to access and I wouldn't have to worry about opening anything. Well since the fact that I forgot to do this meant I didn't eat what I should of done on the bike. 

Start of the swim, my wave started at 0640hrs and I felt really good, I felt ready and I knew that my swimming has become one of my strong points. So the race begins and straight away its a mad panic to get going and straight away I feel someone actually grasping at my ankles, physically holding on and trying to pull me back. I soon put a stop to this and started kicking in anger, there's no need to grab hold of people. As the swim continued I was struggling for lace and decided it would be easier to swim out to the left and get some clear water. 200m later it all calmed down and I found myself swimming alongside someone. I soon realised that I was swimming the exactly the same speed as him so decided to get behind him and draft off him to make it a bit easier for. By the time the swim was coming to the end I felt really good and finished the swim in 32:13 mins. Straight in to transition and on to the bike the weather at this point was wet and cold, but I decided to stick with just my trisuit on and hope the weather got better throughout the bike.

I soon get in to a very good rhythm on the bike and was enjoying it was hitting a good average speed and was able to ride at a good speed considering the weather. Had a reality check about 15 miles in where we were approaching a tight left hand bend. The guy in front of me over cooked it and the bike went a way from him causing him and his bike to slide across the road. This then made be be a bit more careful on any corners. The whole bike course was really good and I really enjoyed it. The only thing I wish I did differently was to take my feet out of my shoes earlier as trying to take your feet out whilst going down hill over speed humps is not fun. Bike time was 2:51:27 hours. This was the fastest that I have bike that distance and my legs knew it. 

In to T2 and I could feel my legs. I put my bike back in to the rack and bend down to put my socks and trainers on and that's when I realised I had pushed it too hard in the bike. Cramp in the front of my thighs. Great, I have ran before with cramp but usually with only a km to go and I can push through it. So I set off on the run and felt ok and then 5 miles in that when it became hard work, pushing hard on the bike was now causing me problems on the run (my favourite discipline). I tried to grin and bare it but it was hard work, every food station I got to I had to have a quick walk and drink some coke to try and help. This was a steep learning curve that I probably needed. Managed to get the run done and it was a great finish. The atmosphere was great and the crowd cheering us all in with incredible. Finished the run in 1:49 hour. 

Total time took me 5:16:36.

For my first 70.3 event I was really pleased with my time and with some changes to my training plan I think I could shave a bit of time off. This was a training event in getting me ready for the full outlaw in July