Dambuster Olympic

Dambuster. Maybe it's just because I'm a Woodhall lad, and that's also  the home of the infamous 617 Dambuster Squadron, but this is a race I have come to love, and regardless of the overall years plan it's still a must on the race calendar.

This time last year I had just finished the Dambuster Olympic and walked away with a great time, a top Age Group Position, a top 30 finish overall and an offer of a place at the ITU World Championships in Chicago. A real high point of 2015.

Until last weekend that was the last Olympic Distance I had competed in, having totally pursued long course since. So here I was rocking back up at a great national event, with a full year between the 2 and nothing to measure myself against in-between. To be fair, I had geared my year around that race a fair bit in 2015, but this year was meant to be for fun, a good performance required, but essentially for the sheer love of the sport.

Also for the first time in 3 years I didn’t book a hotel. We decided to camp, and Sarah, having been completely devoured by gnats and midges on a few separate occasions last year veto’d attending, so Ella & myself packed up the car and headed over Friday night to pitch up on the side of Rutland water alongside other enthusiast racers who had travelled down the night before. We picked up a fellow Louth Tri Member who was competing in as relay team, and looking for a PB on the 10k run, the journey down whipped past nattering about everything tri.

 

Ella, set up and on the all important tea duty.

 

Pitching up next to family, Miriam found her team and disappeared off with a tent under her arm, while we brewed up and listened to the nervous ramblings of my almost Sister in Law who was here to race her first standard distance, and in true Ball (to be in October) style put her neck on the block and registered her attempt to Q for Mexico. Why not!

Camping is always a risk, but with a 7am start with a near 2hr drive meaning leaving at 4am to get there in time to register and rack I decided to chance. It’s the trade off between a potentially worse night’s sleep, or a comfy bed, but getting up ridiculously early. Camping was only for athletes, and I was surprised as we settled down how many seemed to linger outside, talking, playing ridiculous music and drinking into the night when they clearly had to be up so early and performing at their best. We were glad around midnight when it rained and drove them to their beds.

 I don’t give out negative reviews or critism easily, but I feel compelled to say that the campsite was a big disappointment. The toilets were a long way off, basically the event portaloos. To boot, the majority were locked, only a few available for use, and then the cold outside tap to get some water was in another random unmarked location. And that was it, for £17.50. That coupled with the discovery that although I had been told while booking over the phone that parking was included in that price (usually £5) only to be informed on arrival it was not, so actually costing £22.50 left a very bitter taste.  A persistant stance at the camp sign in / watersports centre desk  meant I got the parking validated for free, and some small recompense, but Anglian Water showed themselves up to be greedy and lazy. PaceSetter, the event organisers can’t help this set up, but if you are thinking of camping there, I would say spend an extra few quid and get a B&B nearby. They will at least look after you.

 So onto the important stuff. The race.

 

5am, some last minute adjustments and setting up.

 

 Awake early, time spent going through the kit, readying the bike, and playing through times and stats, writing key data on the back of the hand.

 Bike racked, I ran into an old school friend that has got into the sport over the last few years, and it was good to see him set up and ready to give his best. Race briefing, and count downs, before I knew it we were all rubbered up and down by the shore.

 

Bumping into an old school mate using this as a warm up for his
Sundowner 70.3 in September. Good Luck Reece.

 

We got to watch the first wave start, and the adrenalin began to flow in anticipation of the next 2hrs. It was time to focus and get a handle on that, save it burning me out too early.

 Once wave 1 had gone the area filled up with a multitude of familiar faces. For what is becoming such a popular sport it amazes me how small the regular crowd of competitive athletes are. Everyone mumbling hellos, understated nods and side glaces, trying to measure the form of those around them, and recall their form based on the doubtless hours of online stalking, rummaging through race stats/results and social media info to get an insight into everyone elses  current strengths, weakness and goals. Sarah is adamanat we are all crazed stalkers, and this is a pre-requisite for serious competition, in that it should almost be a part of the entry process. I can see it on the BTF ITU Registration form now :

• Q6 : Joe Bloggs has moved to the region, he is a known capable Regional Class Cyclist, and has registered for all the major events in the region, but little else is known about his tri’athletic prowess. Explain in no more than 600 words how you would go about assessing his form, and what you would do with that information?”. 

I bet most people reading this would think, well that’s an easy question…. Well that’s the point, it is…. but it shouldn’t be, and it isn’t to most of the normal functioning population – so congratulations, if you just answered that, you are clearly a dedicated racer…..

Anyway, back to the race. All this serious last minute prep and assessment always brings out the child in me. The stern faces, the posturing and macho crap that abound make me go the other way, and I start prattling about, smiling, waving, pointing, chatting and generally annoying those around me.

 

Messing about seconds from the off.....

 

“30 Seconds, the next sound you hear will be the starting horn” comes the tanoy announcement. Everything goes quiet and tense. I start my watch 10 seconds out and begin the count down in my mind.

Claxon sounds, BOOM, and the familiar rush to the water begins. I get a good start, push hard and the fastest guys start trickling past. I grab a series of feet to draft off, some are too much, and I lose them, but eventually I settle on the back of a Huub clad athlete with a ferocious kick that turns the green hue of the water around me a frothy white. I latch on and go with him. This tactic certainly improves my pace, but it soon becomes apparent he is terrible at sighting and swimming in a straight line. I intermittently leave his trail as he zig zags about, and eventually, as we turn the first bouy he swings wide, and I drop him, not on speed, but by simply getting my head regularly out the water and making sure I’m pointing at the next bouy. I pick up a few more guys by working hard to catch a group ahead and again draft with them. By the seconds bouy I lose them, and the flavour of the swim is served at that point. Intermittent drafting opportunities, and longer periods of solo efforts, slogging to work to the back of the main front pack about 20 seconds ahead.

 

No excuses at the start. Hard and fast from the off.......

 

......swiftly followed by a dodgy dive/fall !!

The way the swim worked cost me about 30 seconds on my target overall, but it was a solid effort and I was happy to get out and enjoy the run down the chute into transition in just under 23 minutes.

 

The wetsuit was down on the run and off the legs as soon as I found my spot. Helmet on, bike grabbed and out the other side. An efficient and no hassle transition.

On the bike it’s a bit of a meander out the park with a slight climb and then onto the road. It proved a windy start that required some hard work. I tried to get my head down, back flat and began eating away at a few of the back markers from the wave in front. I wasn’t being passed, and holding steady against the respective athletes dotted in front from my wave.  The first climb warmed the legs, and I settled into the rhythm, taking on fluids as required to keep fresh.

Having done the course a few times, and Olympic distance now being pretty much a training distance the miles soon got eaten up, and I reflected on the first few standard distances I completed and how tiring I felt them and how challenging they were. It is funny how things change over time, and I enjoyed seeing people out on the course giving it their all, some on bikes that were clearly the ride of a first timer, but also clearly loving it.

Just over half way round there’s a particularly big climb, which I stood up on and ground out. I focused on training I have been doing at this point ready for the hilly course in Austria, and while the splits on the back of my hand were indicating the wind had certainly slowed me up compared to last year I felt a lot stronger on the hill than I have done previously, and it was good to reach the top where there is always a collective group of sadist spectators enjoying the sight of suffering athletes as they crest the climb, and be able to look them in the eye with a flat stare, not the usual heaving chest and weak legs!

From there the road rolled through a few villages and climbed back to the main road that eventually turned for the last few villages and 1 final nasty sharp climb, before it was back into the park. About 8 miles out I decided to take on a caffine loaded gel to pick me up for the run. I had been feeling a bit fatigued and decided it would help. I had taped an SIS gel to the stem, but hadn’t paid attention to the flavour. It was cappuccino. Squeezing it into my mouth wasn't pleasant. I needed the hit, but no pun intended – that one wasn’t my cup of tea! I’ll stick to what I know in future I think.

Dismount and through T2 without any issue I was disappointed in my bike times, I could see I had dropped about 4 minutes, which is unacceptable, and a huge margin, and had gone from the 23mph that I have hit round that course before to 21.5mph. Looking back afterwards the conditions of the day probably accounted for a couple of those minutes, but with another few to account for I have been honest and on reflection come to the conclusion that with all my training being for a long focus there probably just isn’t that raw thumping  power delivery  there at the moment that is needed to empty the tank over the 2hrs of an Olympic distance. When all the A races are about 4+hrs it becomes a different animal, and that change in focus shows up with me when racing across differing distances. The depth isn’t there (yet). On a positive note it is good to see this effect, and gives me something to work on over the winter depending on which way I decide to go with 2017.

 So onto the run, it wasn’t too hot, and I settled quickly into a sustainable pace, remembering to press a bit harder every couple of hundred meters to ensure I wasn’t easing off. Just shy of 2k in the lead athlete passed me on the way back in, at which point I began counting as a few more passed, ready to shout data at others that I knew were ahead, so they had some info on where they stood relative to the leader to give them something to work against.

 

A great photo from Ella as I settle in on the run.

 

Around 3.5k in I realised that I hadn’t seen a friend from Lincoln in my Age Group that I knew was keen to beat me this year. He has been working hard with this as his A race focus to Q for Mexico at the World Champs, and I had hoped to pass him on the bike. Always a quicker swimmer I would previously have taken him at around mile 10 on the bike, but hadn’t seen hide nor hair of him throughout the last 1hr 40min, and started looking out for him passing the other way, trying to see what kind of gap he had held on me, and if there was any hope of clawing it back over the run. It was something to work on and it upped my pace, focusing my mind.

Waiting, and waiting for the pass but it didn’t come. I couldn’t get my head round it as I went round the cone at the turning point, my first thought was surely Jp isn’t that far ahead? It seemed the only explanation and I was pretty demoralised if I am honest. That was until about 750m back the other way  &I passed him on his outward leg. Genuinely surprised we nodded, and I blurted out “I’m not sure how that’s happened” to which he replied “Me either”. He said after he was waiting for the pass at any point on both the bike and the run. According to the stats I passed him on the bike, but neither of us saw each-other and both would expect to spot each other, and be actively looking out for one another. A very strange quirk of the race.

 After that it gave me the impetus to push a bit harder and hold the gap. I never saw Jp again, but am really pleased to say he took Qualification with his time none the less, not far behind at all in the end, and a huge dent on previous margins. On another day, another course there’d be a really close battle to be had now. I look forward to that down the line.

Along the dam, over the rolling grass and into the finish straight. Big cheers from fellow club atheltes, friends and most importantly Ella, who had got herself in prominent spots and cheered her head off, and shouted splits and times at me through out the day. She fired the camera and I crossed the line. 

 

Hitting the home straight.

 

After the race we stuck about to cheer on fellow club members, particular highlights being Katie completing her first Olympic distance just 2 weeks ahead of her first half Iron, and then  Laura forming the swim leg of a relay team taking second placed team over all. A fantastic result, with a strong swim/bike and run split through out. A partial podium for Louth at least! Then finally, but certainly not least Miriam took a fantastic PB on the run leg of her relay team, before going off and doing a second 10k race as a pacer the next day!!  Great results all round.

 

Post race with Laura and Katie.

 

Afterwards we went to load up the tent, only to be gratefully surprised that Ella and my brother had used their time while we were out on the bike wisely, and everything was packed and sorted ready to dash after the race. Thanks! You saved some tired legs doing some unwelcome work.

And so that was Dambuster 2016. Not my best result, 12^th in my age group out of 158. Could certainly have been better, but I have to be pragmatic and accept that last year here was a big focus and I was wired to the mains for it. If I can gear up in the same way for Austria then I will be laughing, and it gives practical substance to the value and importance of ‘peaking’ in your training plan.

 

Dambuster remains my favourite course.

 

 

 

 

 

Dambuster 2015.

Dambuster Triathlon being an Olympic distance ITU World Qualifier race means it always attracts the cream of amateur competition, and is a great test of current form against the best fellow athletes in the Country. With getting on for a few thousand entrants it's one not to miss.

 

I have to say that this race is fast becoming one of my favourites of the calendar, and this year didn't disappoint.

 

It's got a great swim, a hilly bike and a picturesque run. Thrown into the mix this year was the last minute update of an alien & invasive shrimp species present in Rutland Water, causing a few waves between club members, do they bite? don't they? I did my best t warn them all but until confirmation at the race briefing it seemed many thought I was pulling their leg. All good fun, I just wish I had remembered to take my very apt run hat.



I never expected the hat to work on so many levels!



We ate early and well on Friday night and headed off to register.

 

(I've been thinking lately of the best term for a collection of club members, because every event is a sea of bright yellow Louth Tri hoodies, generally pooling together en masse ready to cheer and shout as the athletes pass.)

 

On arrival I was pleased to hear the parking was free that evening. That had saved me a fiver, and made a pleasant surprise from the usual casual greed places seize the opportunity to operate.

 

Ambling over to the tent I ran straight into a Blunder (decision made) of Club mates, excited & hyped for the race. We had a chat, got signed up and I headed back to the family who had stretched their legs in the park, and we took the final 5 miles to the hotel.

 

On arrival we checked in without bother, and it was good to see the rest of the hotel filling with bods lugging bikes up the stairs. The room was clean and tidy, nothing fancy, but the staff had assured us that they were prepared to do breakfast early at 5am instead of the usual 6.

 

I met briefly with Oliver who passed me a wedding invite which was a nice surprise, and bonus to the evening, and had a quick chat about what would be his first Open Water and Olympic distance event. I was kind of envious of the first time feeling, remembering my own trepidation.

 

I sat and faffed with my registration pack, putting stickers on the bike and the helmet, setting the number on the belt, and writing my splits on my hand. After that, with everyone washed and ready for bed I took the children down to the car, and locked them in it for the night so they could sleep, and tucked the bike up in bed. It looked beautiful snoozing away in its new wheels kindly lent to me by a friend after the prang buckling the back wheel the week before.

 

The bike got tucked in for a good secure nights sleep in the hotel family room.

By 4:40am the following morning it was apparent we were all laid there waiting to get up. Well I was anyway, so by 4:45am all the Balls were up and getting ready began. A quick pot of porridge & honey while the family went down and enjoyed cereal and toast. I mixed my home made concoction into a bottle for energy on the bike, packed the car and racked the bike. The family, by now fully resigned to their fate at my hands are used to the preposterously early mornings, and took it with good grace, and were ready and willing to cheer from the early hours.

 

We arrived at Rutland Water just before 6am. It was busy, but the site was efficient, and the cars moved smoothly to park.

Pre race Pre Amblers

 

 

We unpacked, I pumped the tyres, unloaded the box and set off for transition. It was filling up nicely. This year, where as the year before we were on the tarmac, I was further through the transition pit and on the grass. It was a fair bit further to run, but I was actually quite pleased, because it would mean there was no rush to unzip and pull down the wetsuit before reaching the bike. I set everything up and remembered to leave my number belt on under the wetsuit. (For info - that worked really well, I never felt it on the swim and it was done and ready to go as soon as the wetsuit was off.) I practiced the run to the bike, and out, and then back through T2 and onto the run.

 

Once everything was set  there was time for the round of enthusiastic hellos with a multitude of familiar faces. Everyone excited and focused. The weather was perfect, no wind and high light cloud, neither hot or cold. No low sun to blind us in the swim.

 

After race briefing it was down the water, and a chance to watch the first wave consisting of  team swimmers and men under 35. Toes to the waters edge, the crowds went silent and the tension mounted awaiting the horn. The air horn pierces the air and the masses charge for the water. The fun has begun. I get a tingle of excitement from the adrenalin that is now pumping,  knowing that in a few minutes that will be me, as I watch and cheer club mates thrash out into the lake.

 

The Madness begins

 

 

Straight down to a quick acclimatisation swim, I'm out again and ready. Stood with a friend on the waters edge, sure of the best start, we discussed the best line and the official stated '10 seconds'. I started the watch. What seemed like an age passed, not a murmur around me. A few coughs from the spectators on lakeside in the background.

 

'HURRRRRRRRRRR' of the horn. Charging for the water I have to sprint hell for leather to the waters edge. Being shorter than the average man I am diving earlier and swimming sooner than the masses behind who can stride out deeper before they have to take the plunge. I have to get ahead to avoid being trampled. Everything went smoothly, and soon enough I shook off the athlete trying to swim on my back behind me and settled into the tow of some slightly quicker feet, and got to work on the swim.

 

 

After the usual jumbled 200m I settled in and paced off my breathing, figuring this was a good opportunity to test the 'Iron pace'. After trading off some feet to just before the first buoy I decided this guy was easing off slightly. I pulled aside him as we rounded the buoy and made the break for the next group in front. The next set of feet were perfect. Soon enough I was gliding along and catching my breath after working hard a few seconds before. The power of the draft is incredible, extra speed for less effort is an opportunity not to be wasted. I stretched out and touched the guys feet. It must have surprised him because his legs jerked into life and he kicked out in fury. The water frothed in front of me.

 

After that it was simple, like herding a beast. Every time I felt he wasn't providing the draft I felt he was capable of I tickled his feet (like a jockey whipping the horse) and again he would kick out in fury and up his pace. After about 800m of this he got cheesed off and sat up in the water, turned about and swore at me. That made me smile so I flogged him some more with a playful tug or 2 of the ankle.  I moved up his hip and tucked under his pit for a bit. His ample draft had served me well and I turned it up for the last 400m, kicked my way clear on fresh legs to warm them up ready for the bike.

 

Out the water and into the cheers of the crowd. I spotted the family straight away on my right, and sprinted to the bike with their encouragement in my ears.

 

The family making me smile as I run to T1.

A glance at the watch confirmed the swim as 22minutes. That put me squarely on a dead 6:00 per 400m pace. I was certainly comfortable enough to have held that for double if I had saved the kick at the end until needed at the end of the 140.6 next month. It's good to see things coming together.

 

Transition was smooth except for having to help one heel out of the suit with the flick of a finger. Otherwise fine. Grabbing the seat post, driving the bike forward I hit the ground and headed for the exit.

 

As I mounted I felt that I had taken my time, almost cautious, as I just wanted to get my feet comfy and settled without any issue. Talking to a team mate after it seems like it was the sensible thing to do with a lot of apparent carnage as people went to saddle up. Chains & people off, accidents and mishaps galore. 1 man by all accounts even managing to have his shoes on the wrong way round and having to stop to swap them over. I just didn't want a repeat of the week before out of T1.

 

That said, I settled into the bike quick, and took a quick drink to wet my whistle as I left the park and headed out onto the main road. The upside (trying to find one) of last week was that I took T1 calmly and it paid off, but also the buckle in the wheel had led to me borrowing a pretty slick pair of carbon tubulars off a friend. I have to be honest and say they felt good from the off. With no wind and some  undulating beginning miles to warm up on I was soon in my stride.

 

Around this point I decided that Triathlons are a bit of a weird way of time travelling. Here I was at 07:45am pedalling for all I was worth, cars passing, thinking about the swim before. Yet it had the feel of 2 in the afternoon with so many people around. Normally, training at this time of day the roads are bereft of anything but wildlife at the weekend, especially on back roads.

 

At the mile 7 marker I could see I was a minute up on the splits etched on the back of my hand.

 

Heading South off the west side of Rutland Water everything felt good, I felt strong and I grinned happily at myself. he bike felt strong, the weather was good and I was eating up the competition. I was really enjoying this.

 

Mile 11, and I had taken in a steep long climb, but the gap on my splits held firm. At the half way marker I hadn't been passed, and had ticked a lot off the wave before me. The back half of the course being the hillier I took on plenty of fluid and a couple of gels before getting my head back down for some good solid consistent effort. Still feeling strong.

 

Coming down into 1 village off a hill I smiled as I tripped the sad face on the speed display thing you sometimes get, it registered 31mph. Thankfully it wasn't a speed camera. This was around the 18 mile marker, and again I checked my times. I was now about 2 minutes up on what I had expected, and it crossed my mind that the trusty Casio F-91W 1980's original model had stopped or paused then re-started without me noticing. This thought panicked me, and suddenly worrying I might be down on what I thought I decided to give the final 8 miles of mostly up hill everything I could to be safe.

 

Taking on the rest of my juice and the last gel at around mile 22 I had 4 and a bit miles for it to settle, and then into T2. Assessing the bike as I began to think about the run and I realised I was still feeling fresher than usual for this point. I couldn't help but smile and take it all in as I rounded the bend to all the cheering supporters and had time to take on board plenty of shouts aimed at me from family and club members alike as I dismounted and dumped the bike ready for the run. The splits after confirmed the 26.25 miles were done in 1hr 08minutes. Just a tiny bit shy of a 23mph average through out the ride. Pleased with that, and admittedly with help from Glenns beautiful wheels.

 

Trainers on quick. Hurtling down the racking I passed a mate who had bagged the events fastest swim time as part of a relay with 18min 30secs. A properly great effort, but I remembered passing his team mate in the back half of the ride. Before hand he was adamant they could hold me off, and a friendly wager said otherwise. Their 10 minute head-start on the wave and then then additional 4 he had put on the swim on me gone, and more, as he stood looking hopefully for his team mate to pass the baton to their runner. I grimaced as I passed, and he eye balled me and shouted 'Run man, faster'. This drove me to find my feet quicker and I stomped past the trip mat, more cheers from the family and out on the run.

 

Once into my stride I felt pretty comfy early on. I passed a good slog of runners, and at about 2 miles in passed the lead athlete coming the other way. I started counting the wave 1 runners as they whipped passed, looking out for a good friend who is using the event to warm up for his slot in Team GB in Geneva later in the summer. As we passed I motioned he was in 7th, and through the agony of his efforts he nodded an understanding.

 

I'd heard breathing off my shoulder for a while around this point, aware a strong runner was pacing off me while he caught his breath and got ready to pass. Then I noticed another guy I know running towards me. Just as we were about to pass the runner behind me stepped up a gear and slipped past, as he did so saying "Morning Sean" as casually as possible, cool as a cucumber to the guy we clearly both knew coming the other way. A truly class move that made me smile 

 

At half way I had managed to hang on to his coat tails, and was a good way up on my times now. All I had to do was hold it.

 

Round the cone at half way and a simple retrace of the steps. It's a good flat run and I was settled until the last 2km. At that point it undulates, goes through woods and over grass with some climbs that sap your strength at the end. I passed some team mates and traded high 5s before the final push for home.

Final effort, in the impeccable Delta Simons supplied Suit.

A sprint for the line and job done, run in 38min 03secs, meaning a 6:03 minute mile average. I had hoped for under 6, but with a total time of 2hrs 11min, 36th overall in the race, and 10th in my age group, but less than 3 minutes from the 1st placed 35-39'r at a national qualifier I was well happy.

 

The congratulations after, cheering in other friends. The atmosphere was great. For Louth Tri it was a great day. Our Chairman took 2nd in his age group of 60+, we bagged the fastest swim time from our relay team member, and another 2nd place from our GB man in the 30 to 34 category. That and several personal bests and some great results from first time standard distance athletes there was nothing bad to report. As usual the club were the most prevalent in their support of the team.

 

Packed up, and home in time for lunch. It felt like evening and we all slobbed on our beds until being roused by my parents who had popped round with some beer to congratulate me on earning Q2 of the automatic qualification spot for my age group to represent GB at Chicago in September.

 

An early night, and where as normally I would be tired the next day I woke early and was treated to a fathers day sausage sandwich and fresh coffee in bed. After that I felt motivated to squeeze in  a 30mile ride and a 6mile brick run. A hopeful invite text to a few friends who also completed yesterday got short shift. Fresh as a daisy. This Iron training certainly gives you stamina!

 I can honestly say I have seldom enjoyed an event more. Seamless organisation getting there and setting up, good weather, great company, great racing with some pb's and a GB qualification thrown in for good measure, and all before 10am.

 

Team Ball. The best support squad in the World.

 

 

 



The Beavers Middle Ground

So after 8 months of preparation I was staring down the barrel of my first Middle distance on Saturday.

The training was done, and the taper started. I had deliberately picked the Beaver (Belvoir) Middle Distance set in the grounds of Belvoir Castle and surrounding area because it is such a technical course. Some big hills on both the bike and the run, but with both sections on a 3 and 4 lap loop respectively, which meant for plenty of spectator opportunities for the family who were keen to come and support.

I managed to do a reccy of the course one evening the week before, and began to appreciate how tough one particular section of the bike and hill were. From the look of the forecast I could also see that I would be hitting that hill after a 5 mile straight with approx a 20mph wind blowing directly in my face beforehand. On top of that the only flat bit - the straight just mentioned, was mostly a false flat that had just been re-chipped. Any cyclist reading this will know what an absolute grind a new road surface dressing is. Makes for a rough ride, and loss of power. It was going to be a tough test all the way. I cant say I hadn't got what I wanted. what I was beginning to doubt was the targets I had previously set myself out in my mind.

It being a longer race I plumped for a full week of rest beforehand, all except a last open water swim on the Wednesday which included 800m skins at the end to help toughen me up.  By Thursday I was bouncing off the walls with energy, and struggling to stay calm. This was the longest I had gone without doing anything for months. My body was twitching with excitement. The bike got a more than the usual thorough strip down, oil, and polish in meticulous detail. If the bike failed me I didn't want it to be through negligence of my kit.

A full strip down and service before hand.

By Thursday and Friday I was driving the family mental, talking of nothing else, thinking of nothing else to be fair, and spending alot of time in the garage prepping the kit, going over stuff again and again. I dont like racing on a Saturday, it means I don't have a full day to waste getting everything ready, so it felt rushed doing it over 2 evenings. Friday, Sarah was at home, and spent the morning putting together a comprehensive looking picnic for the family and friends that had pledged to support and spectate.

I recieved a random text from 1 such would be supporter retracting her ability to attend on account of being assaulted in the street and spat on by a fallen pop star and having to stay in to give a statement to the police.... definitely the most original excuse I have ever had for someone cancelling on me, but so random as to have to be true. So we let her off.

By Friday night Sarah had served a top tea of trout, kale, brocolli and wholewheat pasta. That got demolished and we all hit the sack early ready for a quick get away early in the morning.

Final Meal.

I had set the alarm and Sarah was adamant she hadn't slept for fear of me not waking up, but at 04:44am I was out the bed and fighting the adrenalin, trying to stay calm, hyping all the bleary eyed Mini Balls that were less than enthusiastic at the unwholesome time of day they were being cojoled out the door. A big bowl of porridge, kit in the car, bike on the rack. Final checks and we were off.



2 happy campers at 05:15am. Unfortunately I couldn't fasten either of them to the bike rack
so had to risk putting the bike on there instead

By 06:30am we arrived. The main Castle entrance we pulled in to was locked, and the guy in front who was also parked up reckoned he had been in that way to pre register the day before. I suggested he force the gate, he looked perplexed, so we left him fiddling with the tanoy next to the entrance, and drove of a bit further down the road and found the signs directing us to parking.

Easy & ample parking, unload the car, pump the tyres, apply the tape to secure the back disc and before I knew it we were stood waiting to register. A quick flash of the liscense and I was issued my numbers, timing chip and the likes, and most originally a brown (it being The Beaver) T shirt, that was quickly taken up by Molly my youngest.

Setting up the kit, I took my time. The run from the swim out to T1 was a good 700m+ over grass, but reasonably flat. I had a good spot right in the corner where you came in from the swim, so finding my spot would be easy, but there was a down side. Transitions are normally set up as a 1 way kind of flow... but today it was bike out at the far end of where I was racked, but then bike in at the same point. That meant I had around another 250 to 300m of run pushing the bike to the mount line, but the same coming back. That would make transition a slow and awkward affair. It seemed unfair, the athletes at the far end were running a good 400m less distance pushing their bike over the course of the day than us at this end. Even with that extra to find I laid out a drink on the towel and decided I was taking a few extra seconds for some fluid after the wetsuit was off.



Early arrivals begin  filling Transition under the gaze of the Castle.

The pre-race blurb had stipulated a drinks station on the bike after each lap of the course. With that in mind I decided to take a punt and only had the one bottle of honey loaded homemade juice on the bike with me. The plan being to drink that for energy, then grab a drinks bottle at the station to wet my whistle and re hydrate as I passed. Silly to carry the extra weight if I didn't have to. So that and a few energy gels, and I was set.

Early on the weather was threatening. The blue inflatable arch in the distance is about half way from T1 to the swim out.
It was a long run in rubber.....

Queuing for my final poo in the bright pink portaloos I had a lovely chat with an older lady from down south, who had travelled the night before, and we watched some Red Kites circling over-head, her remarking how they were seeking to devour the flesh of the failed athletes at the end of the day.

All set, I greased and rubbered up and we headed down to the lake. In and floating about some quick warm up sprints and we jostled between the buoys for the optimum position.

All of a sudden the horn had sounded and it went from peaceful and aprehensive to absolute bedlam. I just had time to hit the start button on the watch and the washing machine turned to Super Spin cycle. Everything around me was a murky muddy froth.

Draft on the bike and you're DQ'd. Trip someone up on the run and you're DQ'd.
Punch and kick a man in the head in a cold lake, and you're fine. 

Kicking like hell to get up to speed the elbows had to go wide and hard from the off to carve some personal space to breath. The guy on my right, much larger than me seemed hell bent on thumping me in the back of the head with every entry of his left arm. A couple of slaps back didn't abate him, but breathing to my own left I understood his issue as the low bright morning sun glared in my eyes, mixing with the churning water to blind me on that side. I tried tucking under his armpit and drafting his crazy stroke, but that didnt work, so I moved to the left. NO room there pal. I was straight up against the side of another guy and as I turned again to my left to breath and avoid the lunatic on my right popping my goggles as I tilted to his side I was suddenly eyeball to eyeball with lefty. We locked gaze for a split second, goggles almost touching, and then both dissapeared back down, head into the water. That glance was enough though, I spotted the weakness in his returning stare, the smell of fear at the boiling melee about him. Elbows back wide as my right hand man came lunging further over, I kicked out harder and swung sharp to the left, swimming clean up and over the guy I'd just eyeballed. I felt him beneath me for a few strokes, as I swam on his back, then he weakened, submerged and was gone. I had his spot to myself now, with some space to the sides. Now we could settle in, grab some faster feet in front, get in a draft and ease off the kicking and let the chest do the work.

After the inital 30 seonds of lunacy the swim was a decent, even paced affair. Twice round the course, it was unbelieveably silty and muddy at the far end. Sighting was required more frequently than I would have liked, it didn't taste unclean, but was thick with mud. I was satisifed at the end I had made the most of finding a pace that was just about sustainable breathing every 3 strokes. Looking ahead I could see I had assumed my normal position in the swim of 'best of the rest'. There was a block of the specialist swimmers out front, then I found myself in the hinter land, ahead of the masses, but away from the leaders by between 30 seconds and a minute. Me and a few other drifters.

Past the first loop and I saw the family cheering on the bank. I did my best to smile and pull a quick wave.

A great photo by my brother as I swam past. Thanks.

Climbing out the water I glanced at my watch and it read 26:42. Straight into the long run to transition I unzipped to my waist and was greeted by my brother and daughter who ran alongside me shouting encouragement and stats. That was hugely motivating, and Ella confirmed I was 16th out the water. While catching my breath and processing the swim (as I ran) I realised how much I had missed it. The bonkers start, the face down effort in the complete unknown. The cold wet start - to heart pounding, breathless madness inside a few seconds The absolute black of the murky water. The light dancing on the surface. How it looks so calm from above, hiding the unknown fury that is going on below. The big handful of scaly fish I grabbed about 1/3 of the way round that swiftly swished its tail to free itself from my grasp. I bloody love open water swimming. 

Working the figures afterwards confirmed I'd done a 5:37  400m pace for just over 1.2 miles. Well happy with that. By far my best swim for a long time, it buried a few demons from the pool sprints earlier in the year. I have always much favoured being in a lake or the sea, and as a mate always says 'dont worry, you've done the training, it will all come together when it counts'. He's right. That time was way better than I'd hoped.

The long lonely run to T1.

Some 3 minutes later and I am in transition, a welcome cheer and smile from Molly and Sarah as I entered. The wetsuit slips off my legs with ease, the helmet goes on and I curse at forgetting that I should have just put my number belt under the wetsuit to save clipping it on - as I do just that. I grab the drink and squirt half of it into my mouth. It tastes great.
 

What feels best is the sheer mass of bikes still in the rack around me, I don't see anyone else around except for 1 man 2 or 3 places down from me. All the while I am setting myself for the bike leg he is stood talking to me. It feels like a joke. He's trying to ask me about the swim, how windy the bike will be. I nod to be polite and wish he would shut up, I cannot understand how a man who has clearly had a great swim can be so blase and slow in his attack on the course. As I take hold of the bike and make to run past him he wishes me a good race, like he is is a spectator. He has been out of his wetsuit the whole time I am there. I am perplexed and wonder if he will start blow drying his hair. All he was missing was a cup of tea.



Welcome to T1. Sit back, take a load off, I think we should be friends. Nutter.

Onto the bike, I elected to band the shoes as normal. It's still quicker than not, and there's no point in wasting time. T1 in just over 1 minute. Given the distance running through it and the quick drink I took I was pleased with that. Checking my super-high-tec on board wizardry that is a written list of time splits on the back of my hand I can see that I am 4 minutes up on what I targetted at this point. Excellent news.

True Working Class Triathlete Style -
My patented, cutting edge, on-board live timing technology.

And so out of the castle grounds, high up looking across the vale of Belvoir the wind is strong, as I turn down the first hill and after about 2 miles we were into the straight. Rumbling along on the stone chips into a strong head wind is hard, but I can see a few people ahead. Head right down, a glance at the white line on my left, I know there's no turn to make, so keep that position and let the legs burn. I settle into what I have practiced, the best sustainable pace I think I dare hold that won't cripple me in the run later.

Off the straight, and the wind moves to my side & buffets me through the gaps in the hedges as I approach the just shy of a 4 mile climb culminating in the lowest gear, stand on the pedals and cry in pain slog that is the last 500m. Towards the top of this there is a gathering of sadists, sat cheering, laughing at the pain etched on the athletes face as he crests the top of the hill. The climb slowly slowly eases off, and a grab of the Ball Juice seems in order to invigorate me. Now there is a back wind, onto the flat, but after a brisk 1 mile of this there is a junction to a main road and the speed needs scrubbing. Being so high up the wind is one of those winds that always feels like you are working against it. Dipping down into a village the road twists and bends, it is difficult to maintain my pace.

Up and out of the village there is a decent bit of gentle down that gets a good hammering in the highest gear. This leans into a sweeping cambered right on decent tarmac, I commit my trust (and my arse) to the tyres completely and I imagine the countless other cyclists and motorbikers that have whipped through the bend here, and I grin as I lean over as far as I dare to hold the speed. This gives way to a sudden steep sharp down hill left. Too sharp not to break, it cruelly leaves you devoid of the speed you breifly tasted, and back into a climb.

The road opens out into a mostly back wind & undulating ride. Passing a few, being passed by a few, I feel like I am more or less holding my position. The sky is blue and although windy isn't cold. Head down, working hard I enjoy this segment the most as it turns into a wicked bit of decent downhill. Next time I come down here I'll be around half way.

Down hill long enough that I can stamp on the pedals in top gear to the point where I spin out, then shift my bum from the seat and lay my belly on the saddle, my backside hanging as long and close to the rear wheel as I dare. Chin on the head tube between the bars, completely out of control careering down the hill, my knees tucked in as aero as a I dare. One day this will go wrong, at best my bum will touch the back wheel and I will go home with a big rubber burn line up my crack. At worst I'm eating gravel. But not today. All too soon it ends as it curves back up and into the final village before the course enters the grounds of the Castle once more. This is another continual uphill into the wind, but the waterstation is in the distance as faithfully promised.

For once in my life being left handed is a genuine advantage, and grabbing the bottle from that side is easy. I ease off, take some decent mouthfuls of water, followed by more Ball Juice for energy, then more water. Disgarding the bottle the climb is steep into that head wind, then eases off as we approach the main staging area and supporters begin to appear, clapping, cheering, enjoying. Lap 1 down. and its back out and down. Checking the back of hand timer again I am now 5 minutes up on my pre race splits. Good work. I remind myself this isn't a cushion, but needs extending. The writing on there is a worst case scenario.

Lap 2 just happens, I know what's coming, it just needs doing, and looking at the times after I have stayed all but 30 seconds off the pace of the first lap. The main hills hurt a lot more, and I have taxed the energy gels and juice quite heavily to sustain the effort on this round. Back through the grounds and this time my family are there, cheering, clapping and making the most noise. Part of me really wants to stop and thank them all, slow down so I can see them longer, but all to swiftly they have gone again. It really means a lot that they can be bothered to sit around for so long to see me for such a short amount of time. I resolve to maintain my best effort for them.



Photo of the day goes to Ella for this snap of my whizzing past.

Lap 3 and the course is now busy with other competitiors on their 1st and 2nd laps. This gives a false feeling of ability as you pass some really easily, feeling like you are doing more than you are. My glutes are now burning, and these are joined by my thighs as I heave up the big hill for the final time. I finish the remaining juice and gels to give them time to process before the run.

I know my bike will be the weak point, and while I have passed some I am aware by the end of the ride that I have dropped maybe 8 places as some seriously capable competitors come hurtling past. This shows more than ever on the last lap, I know I am tiring, and this is where understanding the longer game comes into play. Some of the guys have taken their time, but I am reeled in and they storm past, unrelenting, hunting their next scalp as they pass. I am tempted to try and pace off a few of them, but that would be a bad move, I have to trust to my run, and stick to the plan. I'm confident I am still top 30.

Into the grounds for the final time, the family giving it hell again. This time friends have joined them for some extra abuse to be hurled as I go past. I am so busy appreciating the cheers I find the mount line upon me, and I have to look lively to get my feet out in time. The slightest lapse in concentration and I am nearly DQ for a stupid oversight. No matter, I dismount with mm to spare, and race to rack my bike.

Another quick drink, shoes on, and run. T2 is done in 1 minute and 1 second. Again, slow compared to normal, but given the distance to run pushing the bike it was good, and I am happy.

Settling into the run after that kind of bike isn't remotely funny. The family are all cheering me to instantly justify their support by demanding I overtake a competitor some 50m ahead. Soon enough he is passed, and we head through the trees out into the grounds of the Castle. I claim a few more easy wins from runners struggling to find their stride after the difficult bike.

Just as I settle we hit a hill. It's spoken about and warned about in the blurb, but this climb is just stupid. A steep hill around 1.25 miles in length. It's a dirty slog to the top and I take a few more places.  Grabbing a drink at the turn at the top of the hill, the stomach rejects the water and it comes back up. Nothing new there. Onto the downhill I let the legs free to try and make up the lost time from the uphill. Back through the woods, over the grass and round past transition to begin another loop. A barrage of family / friends cheers again is more than welcome and again Ella runs along side me, telling me that I am 25th, and if I stick to this pace I will hit my aims. Round the corner onto lap 2. Check the back of the hand and I am 9 minutes to the good. The run like the bike has got busier, as more people leave the bike leg and join us on the final stage.

All the while I have been exchanging positions with another athlete, he passes me, I pass him. He heaves and breathes heavy as he grinds it out, and we pass his support team a couple of times, them shouting out splits and positions. On the 3rd lap I realise that he is a full lap ahead of me from what his mate shouts at him, the athletes he is just ahead of, and behind. He is told he must hold the pace no matter what to beat the man he wants to beat. We strike into the hill for his final time and he surges ahead.

Around 300m up the hill it gets too much and he stops dead. Since the point I realise he is a full 3+ miles ahead of me in the run he is not a man I am battling for a spot with, and so as I approach and pass I do what I would hope any self respecting athlete would do for me. I shout abuse at him :  

'MOVE, RUN. NOW... Dont you dare stop. You will regret it if you do. Sort your shit out. It is only pain, embrace it you fool'.

He looks up and obliges, and we work off each others shoulder to the top. He doesn't look well, I am impressed by the drive he has. Somewhere deep inside he is forcing himself to continue. At the top once it becomes a bit easier he mutters 'cheers mate', and we turn and do our best to drag each other at an improved pace down the hill as the first placed man thunders past us both. We part ways, he enters the finishing chute to claim 4th place, and I turn for the final loop. That 3rd lap was the worst. I have been taught a lesson by that hill. Its a good job I have the extra bit of time from the swim and bike to trade off.

Grinding it out with the 4th placed man.

And so the final climb, looking at my watch thoughout I am aware the times have been well under what I have put down in training, although given the Hill it is hardly surprising. I nearly stop at the top, but know I will never forgive myself and struggle through, especially after the lip I gave bib 1 just 15 minutes earlier. Picking up some pace on the final down, my lungs and legs are now on fire. There isn't much left to give, but there isn't far left to go. With a painful push I'm back across the grass. The family are cheering and clapping and I'm over the line. I am free to lay down and die as the lady hangs a brown Beaver Middle medal around my neck, I enquire and she confirms I am 20th. 23 minutes behind the winner. I'm please with that.

I now understand the meaning of 'Spent'.

 

A quick drink and a round of hellos and congratulations from the fabulous Ball support team. I know they are all hungry, and aware there is a pack up in the boot. They have all waited for me, starving.... I urge them to get the food and get started. I have no choice but to sit and watch them all tuck in. It looks so good, but I feel like I expect. My stomach completely unable to stand anything inside it but sips of water. It will take a good few hours for this to subside, I just have to hope there is some left overs that I can pig out on in bed later.

My turn to support as I watch everyone

tuck into the food.

We grab the print out before we leave and I see that I have come 4th in my age group. I can't help but grimace at missing the podium, but doing the maths later I am chuffed to see that despite losing 8 minutes compared to my normal run pace I have still done the 13.1 miles in 1hr 30min, and the top 20 has put me at only 112.3% of the time of my Age Group, and in this case, the overall Winner.

 

I am more than aware that my achievements are modest and I write like I am winning, but that I am still a very long way off the guys at the top, but this is a learning curve, and I have taken a lot from it. More than anything I wanted to give it my best, and come away feeling I had given a good account of myself. I'm happy that 4hrs 20min does that.  With life to juggle, family and work, I try not to be disappointed at not being higher placed, but be pleased with what has been achieved.

 

To Qualify for GB at this Middle Distance you have to complete inside 120% of the winning AG time. At my first attempt I have got easily within the overall winning time to claim my spot for the Half Iron Worlds next year. I am already excited about that.

 

Much more importantly than that though, 70.3 Miles later, I have gained a lot of experience, information about myself, my limits and what I can at least half expect at the full Iron distance in a few months time. What I now know is that however hard I train it won't be enough. It will hurt like nothing I have experienced before, but I will love it. 

 

Sunday morning I was wide awake at 05:30am, and feeling like I had had a lay in. I realise that triathlon has ruined my life in some respects. I am now a slave to the early morning sun, those quiet golden training hours while the World still sleeps. My ankles ache from the strain of the down hill on that run the day before. So I get up and let my family sleep, and spend time in the green house pottering. Chewing over the race. A few hours later Sarah brings me out a brew, and we enjoy the day with family.

 

And so 06:30am this morning I was back in the pool. Back on the program. Like nothing has changed, but, going long is like starting again. A whole new sport. Re-setting the bar. Maybe now things will start to get serious.

Lincoln Sprint Triathlon & More.

Race 2 of the Midland Sprint series, it came around quick, just 2 weeks after the first race at Southwell.

Saturday (the day before) involved some unusual preparation. Up early for an easy swim to get some blood in the muscles. I wasn't swimming with the club, but along side them in the next lane.

It made a change to be on the receiving end of some casual abuse for being the slacker, caught talking and propping up the lane rather than swimming on more than a couple of occasions. That said, I had to smile while the participants of the structured swim set, many of who I was racing with and against the following day were giving me lip for taking it easy seemingly oblivious to the fact they were doing a set that involved what looked like a mile of kick at pace. I wasn't sure of the wisdom of that myself, but each to their own. I was happy to be controlling my own preparation with that as the alternative.

After the swim we had organised a transition coaching set. A good T1 & T2 will gain you valuable seconds, and seconds make places on the results table. With a huge array of times posted at the previous race it was agreed as a good idea, and the turn out was fantastic.

Ideas were shared, and advise on what worked, group practice of the in and out, and repeating the routine of Bike, Belt. Helmet, GO! A minority agreed to try banding up their bike shoes to the frame, so we did a side dish of that, with mixed success. It's something to practice before hand, not something to try for the first time on the day.... but getting it right saves you a lot of time. Putting on shoes and running in cleats is slow. Way slower than just jumping on your bike and getting on with it. Even if you get your feet in the bike slowly and take time to get moving at pace, you are still on the bike and moving. Not sat in T1 powdering your feet....

I ran into the owner of the timing company the following morning, and he told me he had forgotten to mention the week before that I had bagged the fastest cumulative splits for the Transitions at Southwell 2 weeks previous. Confirming I am too old to secure the fastest time at any of the 3 main disciplines, but can still get in and out quicker than the rest.



Pre Race Louth Tri Transition training

Home after the training and a 'quick' full 70.3 brick to keep with the going long program. It felt wrong so close to the race, but it has to remain about the bigger picture.

Sunday morning, up early and it was dire. Wind and rain howling away. It was never going to be an easy race.

My eldest Ella still got up with me, a keen junior Triathlete she remained happy to come and cheer and support, and given the weather it was more than welcome and appreciated.

We got their early again, to support family and early starters from the club. I hung the bike on the rack, watching the wind blow the disk about like a sail. Being a short arse my bike borders on child's size, and the front wheel struggled to keep contact with the ground. Making sure the box lid was good and tight I tried my best to prop the box at the side of the wheel to steady the beast, and left it to nature to see if my kit remained dry in the box, and the bike in my spot. A quick glimpse at the early exiters from the swim, they looked cold and weathered entering T1and about to brave the elements. Watching them watch those entering T2 as they went out was amusing, but it was doing nothing for my enthusiasm for the day. At the same time at the back of my mind, knowing myself well, I knew as tough as I found it, others would find it tougher, and what I lack in height I make up for in resilience. These kind of conditions are what the ice swimming is made for. It's taught me resolve. With that in mind we retreated inside.

Inside was an inverse relationship to outside. The atmosphere, albeit damp from the weather with all the huddled steamy damp bodies was warm and upbeat. Plenty of chats and catch ups as always and I was starting to feel the urge to race.

 

A few hours of clapping people off the start line, and running to different points to cheer people in, I left it as late as I dare to set up my kit, and so cheered my Dad in - who it turned out was knocked off on the bike, but suffered the run regardless, and then finally rushed off to set up my station. It was still windy and blowing, but the Ball-Box had done its job. Everything inside it had stayed dry the last few hours. I congratulated its translucent plastic construction for working so effectively, then promptly opened the lid and got everything wet through.  

A slightly damp transition

I wasn't sure about the towel, but being in a car park the transition has a lot of little pebbles and stones and bits of grit. Regardless of how well it would or wouldn't dry my feet standing on it would remove some of the debris before I put my shoes on later. So I laid it out and it soaked up the rain like a sponge.  I balanced the helmet and belt as sturdily as I could to prevent them being blown about, and did a pared down practice routine for T1. Others around me we prepping with equally morose faces. I blew up the tyres on my bike, and then had a minor panic.

 

With running a home made disc on the back I don't have the luxury of a hinged access panel to the valve, so after blowing the tyre up I have to carefully re-apply tape to stick my plastic insert back down flush. Soaking wet weather is never going to make this easy. I faffed about, began to get wound up and so stood back and took a breath. I went back to the box, took out a super absorbent brand of dish cloth I always keep tucked away and carefully dried the necessary area. That, and some premium quality duct tape (again in the box!) and it was secure. I could live with the extra 3 grams weight of duct tape this once. And in that 5 minutes alone the trusty Ball Box has paid for itself again, and the time taken to pack for every eventuality. The abuse, and ridicule it inspires at home as I clat about going through it again and again, considering every eventuality. After all the minor excitement I decided I was cold and keen to retreat indoors, and so I didn't even tape an energy gel to the bar this time. If I got that thirsty I could always bike with my mouth open. Job done.

 

Back inside and dumping my clothes on poor Ella, who was disappearing under coats, brollies and towels from people keen to have someone look after them for her. ( After the race she came over to congratulate me - and show me that her bag was so stuffed full it had broken under the weight. The box couldn't help her here.) I added to the pile and cleared off to warm up for my start. I got a good catch up with some more competitors, and looking around at the last few waves as we gathered to start could see there was a strong decent field of athlete in the mix. A final pre race poo and we were ready to rock.

 

From the off the swim felt OK, more comfortable than last time. Ella informed me after I seemed to die off badly in the last 200m, so something to work on there. Its useful to have someone watch and comment honestly.

 

Into the  bike, I didn't notice the wet, everything went smoothly and I was through T1 in 31 seconds. I got my feet in without issue this time and stuck my head down and pedalled hard on the initial straight, controlling my breathing and settling myself in time for the hill. There is 1 big hill, a decent climb that gradually gets steeper to a big push at the end. I alternated between standing and sitting, back straight. Soon enough we were at the top, off the junction and the final little crest cleared and it was time to put the hammer down. Back wind and a down hill at a decent elevation made for a swift stretch of road spanning about 1/4 of the course. Most of this was done at about 30mph and it felt good. All the while at the back of your mind the little voice laughing at you, knowing come the turn when you have to pedal back into that wind and rain you wont have it so easy.

 

Sure enough the grind back in came about soon enough, so tucking down chin to the headstock I knocked it down a few gears, kept the revs around 90rpm and let the legs burn hot back for home. Plowing through standing water it was fortunate that the carriageway was closed for the duration of the race and I didn't have to take much care to look up. Just head down and suck it up. Dismount on the line without issue, and another cheer in my ear of 'Go Dad' gave me the boost to hammer the run.

Ella  making me laugh with some lip as I exit T2.

Bike down, shoes on and a strong kick from the off. The run has felt good for around a month, and this being the worst run of the 3 sprint races in the series I wanted to get it out the way as soon as possible. Up the bank, down the tow path, back on yourself. At this point I passed a team mate coming the other way, and knowing his rough pace was able to judge my own at around the 5:45 min mile mark. Then past the finish line, through a group of lunatic club members - I couldn't help but ramp up the pace to meet their demands to 'stop jogging and start running'. Soon after the buzz of the crowds had subsided the most appalling stitch kicked in. For 1 split second I entertained stopping as my right hand side bit down on me, causing a wince with every step. So I shouted some abuse at myself to man up (to the shock of the runner next to me) and eased off slightly until it let up.

 

As soon as it eased enough I wicked it back up, round the final cone and back into the wind and wet for home. Finally round the corner, easily spotted by the wall to wall all weather Louth Supporters, a barrage of cheers and finished. 1:05:32.

 

Let's ignore the swim. The bike was a 22.8mph average and then a steady 5:54 run pace. Without the stitch and easing off on the run I'm sure I could have been a 1:04:**. Next time.........

 

I had  a 1:05 something in my mind, and given the day was pleased with the result. A decent 12th overall against a strong field, but a meagre 3rd in my age group this week. Not that it mattered, both of those above me are top class GB athletes, and not in the series this year. Their points count for nought in the league table!

 

Of course the sun beamed down the second we went to pack up, and so back home and a restful afternoon slobbing with the family watching bikes.

 

Next day, making the most of the bank holiday it was back on it and into the training with a long ride.

 

A current issue I am struggling with now training for longer distance is keeping on weight. I currently weigh now what I usually weight at the end of the season, just over  9 1/2 stone. I seem to be bleeding lbs in weight all over the place, and the last race has cost me another few. Without eating junk it seems impossible to find the bulk. At present I am consuming 3500 to 4000 cal a day, and my stomach is working over time to process it.  Our house doesn't always smell pretty. Below is a typical day.

Breakfast now includes a cheese, avocado and tomato grilled sandwich with a poached egg on top.

 

Followed by fruit, nuts and yoghurt.



A typical lunch of fish, pasta veg & sweet potato.
 

and stir fry with turkey for Tea.

All of this gets washed down with 1 to 2 litres of milk a day, homemade juice after each training session, cereal (or similar) for supper, additional fruit and nuts to snack on throughout the day, and the endless supply of homemade cake and biscuits that the 'Kitchen of Love' that is our Home churns out.

 

If you enjoy eating become a triathlete!

 

And so now into the final week of hard graft before I ease off for the Half Iron.