The Outlaw 24/07/2016.

What an event!...

We arrived on the Friday and, after checking into the hotel, made our way to HPP for registration.

Parking was well signposted and easy to find.

Registration marquee was well laid out, with easily identifiable sections (by numbers), plenty of tables to get your race pack from. The marshalls took a few minutes to explain everything and we were off. Just outside the marquee were big maps of each discipline and also T1/ T2.

Back again on Saturday, I racked my bike at the allotted place in the spacious racking. I hung my bags on the easy to find, numbered hooks. Again, marshalls all over the place, only to happy to give directions, or answer any queries.

I also took the oppportunity to peruse all the stalls at the expo and sit in the Sun, enjoying a pre race coffee and slice of cake.

Back to the hotel, for the last sleep!

Sunday morning, I was late! Leaving the hotel in a hurry and speeding through to HPP, fighting against the 05:45 transition close time, and needing to get fuel on the bike, and my wetsuit on! 

I got into the water, ready for the 'deep start' and all too quickly, the start of the race was announced by the sound of a klaxon. At least the rush had meant that I didn't feel any of the usual last minute nerves.

After the usual melee of the first few minutes, the swim settled nicely. Water was great, clear and pleasantly warm. The swim course couldn't have been any easier, pretty much a straight out and back route.

Arriving at the swim exit, there were plenty of hands to assist you out of the water (not pulling) and quide you to the 'strippers'! Wetsuits were pulled off your arms, then you were seated on the floor, before having the suit fully removed. What a bonus that was. 

I was out of the water after 1:24:06, which was a tad quicker than expected, and no doubt down to the efficiency of my Vanquish wetsuit, provided by Zone 3.

The transition tent was easy to negotiate and I was out on the bike after 9:06.

The bike route was well marked, with plenty of marshalls along the way and traffic controls where needed. A nice rolling course with just the one hiccup on the 2nd loop being Oxton Bank. 

My glutes grumbled right through the race! Not sure why, but it made the TT position a little uncomfortable.

I had opted to use Tailwind Nutrition for the bike leg, so had a premixed bottle between my arms, and another bottle on the downtube prepared with a concentrated mix and the bottle marked into 4, so as to replenish the BTA every hour. Was a little messy, but worked quite well on the whole, and I felt good throughout.

On the 1st/ 3rd loop, you encounter Car Colston, as sleepy little village which certainly comes alive for the race, and I really did appreciate all the encouragement through there.

At about 80 miles my right foot started to ache along the outer edge. My foot had swollen in the heat and my shoes are a snug fit! At about 95 miles I was passing the OSB mechanic van when a rider called out to me, to see if I had an angled inflator, for a disc wheel... His lucky day... I did. Sod the time, I decided to stop and help. I was only there a couple of minutes, but, when I set off again, it had eased the pain in my foot ;) Karma.

Arriving back at T2 was something else. The commentator announcing your arrival, the crowd responding to it, another helper takes your bike, you just need to get to the tent... Again. 

My bike had been a disappointing 6:19:03.

A (not so) quick change (7:48) and I'm out running. 

A simple course, meaning you have nothing to worry about, but to finish your race. It's a well thought out course, taking you out along a popular section of embankment and back, meaning there is plenty of encouragement every step of the way. There is also a feed station inside of every 2 miles. Well stocked, they even have a bank of portaloos at each and every one!

The run started well, too well. I was having difficulty reigning in my pace, my legs just wanted to run, but I knew it was a long way to the finish, so kept a good eye on the pace.

The main concern was the pain in my right foot from the cycling 'hot spot'... It was like running with rocks in my shoe! I tried to run through it, but eventually I had to ease up and walk briskly a few times, just to soften the bows to my foot

Finally, I arrived at the finish chute, and what an atmosphere that had.

I managed to motor down the last few hundred metres at a good fast pace, almost catching Ian Robinson out, as he didn't see me till the last seconds, before blurting out that I was now an Outlaw... Music to my ears.

Run time: 4:14:20.
TOTAL Time - 12:14:23.

Straight into the Massage tent, I was keen to avoid as much DOMS as possible!...

After that, I was pleasantly surprised to find 2 starter options,about 7 choices of main course and an array of cakes in the food hall... All very well cooked and hot.

I gathered all my kit, then managed to get a shower in the venue changing rooms.

Big thanks to: 

Jason (Performance Coaching.Me), for delivering me to the Outlaw in top shape. Train smart, not long ;)

Zone 3, for providing me with the slippery Vanquish wetsuit.

Tri Harder, for help and advice.

Tailwind Nutrition.

And my club, Tri-Anglia, for the boundless enthusiasm, endless support and answers to everything!

I am generally a little critical of my races, seeings as they now cost so much money to enter. Not so with The Outlaw... Besides being a very competitively priced event, there was not one thing that I encountered, or saw all weekend that could be criticised... The best race ever!

One Step Beyond really do take that one step beyond any of their competitiors and deliver an event worthy of all the effort that you, the competitor, have put in to get there.

Yes, I will be there, next year...

Now, for some wider shoes before Wales!