Just heard that after the Monster Middle, I am now in 3rd place for Vet Males, in the TE Eastern Region Triathlon League!
I'm on the waiting list for the last eligible Sprint race of the season, so maybe able to jump another place... But, then again, plenty of others could do more!..
Triathlon England East Veteran Men
Tuesday 18 August 2015
Monster Middle Triathlon - 16th August 2015.
Well, what a day that was!... Great race, sponsored by Revitaflex, in Ely City centre.
This was another late addition to my calendar, as I thought it would give me enough time to recover for the Rubicon, but give me a good indication as to how my fitness was, and also test my nutrition strategy.
Being not too far from Sharon's, I took advantage of the close proximity and opted to register on the Saturday afternoon. As the weather was good, we had a walk to the swim start and also checked out transition and finish areas.
I must say that being at transition for 5am really didn't impress me, at all.
I'm a massive sufferer of OCD, and I just can't leave it all to the last minute, as others do... So, an early start was had.
Somehow I had been seeded with the faster swimmers in Wave 1. Completely wasted on me, as my swim is awful! So I spent quite a while, being escorted by my own personal kayaker.
Determined not to suffer similar issues to that of the previous years IM Majorca 70.3, I chose to use my regular road cycling shoes, instead of the quicker to fit Tri shoes. Coupled with socks, this proved a bit of a faff, but, in my opinion, worth it. Helmet on, number belt on, and off I went.
Once out on the road, I quickly got into my stride and settled in for the duration. First section (A10) was quite a drag, and I found myself watching the k's tick off on my Garmin!
Turning off the main drag, we soon came to the B1411... What an awful road section that was! The road surface was dire, and I spent most of the time riding the crown of the road. Pretty sure it loosened a few fillings!
Fortunately, I had decided to ride completely self sufficient, with all my nutrition stored on my bike, so I had no need for the feed station and unfamiliar products. Just as well, as they had placed the feed station midway down a fast decent and I really wouldn't have wanted to sacrifice some free speed to slow down enough to be handed up a bottle!
Soon enough I was back to the A10, and the start of lap 2... Whoopee!!! Very difficult to enthuse about the second lap, as I was immediately dreading the tooth jarring back roads...
Benefit with two laps was regularly encountering slower riders, which made mini targets and helped ease the monotony.
Some 02:35:03 I was back in T2.
The run was good. So much better than I had encountered in Majorca, I was happy in my mind, that nutrition on the bike was bang on.
The run was lumpy and 4 laps! First lap, I just took water at the 2 aid stations, but after that I opted to take both water and electrolytes, most of the water going over the back of my head.
I took a gamble in T2, and decided not to grab my cap and shades, and I just about got away with that, as the Sun got out very strong on my last lap! Coming home in 01:41:25.
Finishing in 05:03:56, that is a PB by 2:30:14!
Although both bike and run are a touch short, that is still a significant PB for me.
Overall, that was a great race, and I'd definitely enter again.
More importantly, I feel that I have nailed my nutrition and transition requirements and I'm confident of a sub 5hr at The Rubicon.
Roll on the 30th August ;)
East of England Regional Team Sprint Relay Championship.
A very late entry to my calendar, I decided to participate solely for the craic!
Instead of all the pre race planning, and self imposed pressures, I thought it would be a great event to enjoy.
Held on the 9th August, my club had entered 7 teams of three athletes. The format was to be that, each team member had to complete the swim, one after the other, passing the timing chip to the next swimmer, on leaving the water. After the last swimmer came out, they then passed the tag to the first cyclist, etc, then repeated for the run leg.
The majority of our club entrants camped overnight at the venue (Box End, Bedford), we had arranged a nearby hotel, and the rest appeared on the morning.
The weather was superb, quite a hot day and I was glad that we had the use of our club Gazebo.
The race went quite well, for me. Pretty much as I forecast for my self, as I don't do Sprint events.
The 750m swim was started from the dry bank, a 'Le Mans' start, as it was announced as. A brief dash into the water, encountering quite a rocky lake bed! Out of the water in 15:42, I placed the timing chip on my mates wrist.
The good thing about the break between each leg of the race, meant that each person could wear clothing specific to the leg, rather than just the usual tri suit.
So, I chose to just wear jammers under my wet suit, then went off to our Gazebo, to change into a dry skin suit, ready for the bike leg.
Pretty soon, I was positioned by my bike, helmet and shoes already on.
Our third swimmer exited the water, putting the chip on my wrist.
ut of T1, I crossed the 'Mount Line', jumped on my bike and was off.
It was quite fast 10km loop. Just a couple of short, sharp digs, nearing the end of the loop.
Approaching the turning point, to start the second lap, I was flying. The 'T' junction was announced as a closed road and had a Police Officer manning it, along with a handful of marshals. Instruction had been given that, although it was effectively a closed road, caution was still to be taken.
Coming to the junction, I could clearly see the traffic stopped to my left, the Police car, with blue flashing lights and the Police officer. All appeared to be good to me, so I was ready for a quick turn.
Just as I neared the giveaway lines, the TE Official stepped out (clipboard in hand), screaming "FOOT DOWN, FOOT DOWN!" I sat up, grabbed the brakes and slammed on. Grinding to a halt, about 2 feet over the lines, I put my foot down, then set off again.
But I was very surprised as the official shouted out 'Number 4 disqualified for dangerous riding'!
As I embarked on the 2nd lap, I was gutted. I couldn't recall anything in the race brief about a 'Foot Down' junction, nor had I heard anything at the pre race brief that morning. Nothing for it, but to continue as best I could, pass the info to our teams, then discuss it with the organiser/ referee.
Back in T2 I had clocked 38:47.
A little disappointing, but I had briefly lost my mojo, as I mulled over the DQ threat. I handed over there chip, warned my mates about the junction, then headed off to see the organiser. I was obviously not the first to complain, as he was already prepared with an answer. It was a closed road, and the official was wrong. The assistant referee had already been deployed to speak with TE official.
I then went off to the Gazebo and changed into shorts and vest, ready for the run.
In between each leg, the rest of my club gathered at transition to shout encouragement to anyone in our colours as they arrived/ departed.
Finally, I was handed the chip and set off on the run. 2 laps offroad, within the grounds of the facility. Sun getting higher, it was quite a sweat fest! Running through the timing gate for the last time, I had finished in 22:35. A bit slower than expected, but still faster than my 5km stand alone time of 23:40.
A bit of a chill, as we waited for everyone else to finish and that was it.
A great day, which gave me the opportunity to meet more members of our large club. Plenty of laughs had by all.
Now for a week focusing on my next race, the Ely Monster Middle tri, on the 16th August.
Instead of all the pre race planning, and self imposed pressures, I thought it would be a great event to enjoy.
Held on the 9th August, my club had entered 7 teams of three athletes. The format was to be that, each team member had to complete the swim, one after the other, passing the timing chip to the next swimmer, on leaving the water. After the last swimmer came out, they then passed the tag to the first cyclist, etc, then repeated for the run leg.
The majority of our club entrants camped overnight at the venue (Box End, Bedford), we had arranged a nearby hotel, and the rest appeared on the morning.
The weather was superb, quite a hot day and I was glad that we had the use of our club Gazebo.
The race went quite well, for me. Pretty much as I forecast for my self, as I don't do Sprint events.
The 750m swim was started from the dry bank, a 'Le Mans' start, as it was announced as. A brief dash into the water, encountering quite a rocky lake bed! Out of the water in 15:42, I placed the timing chip on my mates wrist.
The good thing about the break between each leg of the race, meant that each person could wear clothing specific to the leg, rather than just the usual tri suit.
So, I chose to just wear jammers under my wet suit, then went off to our Gazebo, to change into a dry skin suit, ready for the bike leg.
Pretty soon, I was positioned by my bike, helmet and shoes already on.
Our third swimmer exited the water, putting the chip on my wrist.
ut of T1, I crossed the 'Mount Line', jumped on my bike and was off.
It was quite fast 10km loop. Just a couple of short, sharp digs, nearing the end of the loop.
Approaching the turning point, to start the second lap, I was flying. The 'T' junction was announced as a closed road and had a Police Officer manning it, along with a handful of marshals. Instruction had been given that, although it was effectively a closed road, caution was still to be taken.
Coming to the junction, I could clearly see the traffic stopped to my left, the Police car, with blue flashing lights and the Police officer. All appeared to be good to me, so I was ready for a quick turn.
Just as I neared the giveaway lines, the TE Official stepped out (clipboard in hand), screaming "FOOT DOWN, FOOT DOWN!" I sat up, grabbed the brakes and slammed on. Grinding to a halt, about 2 feet over the lines, I put my foot down, then set off again.
But I was very surprised as the official shouted out 'Number 4 disqualified for dangerous riding'!
As I embarked on the 2nd lap, I was gutted. I couldn't recall anything in the race brief about a 'Foot Down' junction, nor had I heard anything at the pre race brief that morning. Nothing for it, but to continue as best I could, pass the info to our teams, then discuss it with the organiser/ referee.
Back in T2 I had clocked 38:47.
I then went off to the Gazebo and changed into shorts and vest, ready for the run.
In between each leg, the rest of my club gathered at transition to shout encouragement to anyone in our colours as they arrived/ departed.
Finally, I was handed the chip and set off on the run. 2 laps offroad, within the grounds of the facility. Sun getting higher, it was quite a sweat fest! Running through the timing gate for the last time, I had finished in 22:35. A bit slower than expected, but still faster than my 5km stand alone time of 23:40.
A bit of a chill, as we waited for everyone else to finish and that was it.
A great day, which gave me the opportunity to meet more members of our large club. Plenty of laughs had by all.
Now for a week focusing on my next race, the Ely Monster Middle tri, on the 16th August.
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