I wanted to get there nice and early to get a good spot in Transition. I thought I was early, but I bumped into (almost literally, it was still dark) Richard Hancock, a team mate of mine who was on his way out of transition having already racked his bike! I got a spot in the far right corner, near the ‘Bike Out’. Objective 1 – sorted.
The pool swim had a ‘time trial’ feel to it, setting off around 10 seconds or so apart, we started in the shallow end, went up and down the lane, popped under the lane rope and did the same in the next until all lanes had been swum in and the 400m were completed. With swimmers of all abilities ranging from 14 mins – 5 mins I was relatively near the end (well, 30 from the end out of 450 or so competitors). It meant that the ‘start’ of the race lasted a couple of hours and so many had finished before I had even started.
Ian Turner, great on the bike, great on the run, rubbish on the organization, nearly missed his start, but still managed 2nd fastest bike time! Thing is, nobody really knows how they have performed until the last competitor had finished and I liked that.
Ian Turner, great on the bike, great on the run, rubbish on the organization, nearly missed his start, but still managed 2nd fastest bike time! Thing is, nobody really knows how they have performed until the last competitor had finished and I liked that.
I had a good swim considering the ducking under the lane ropes. Transition went well and I headed out on to the bike hard and fast. I soon found out I couldn’t see anything thanks to the cold weather and condensation on my visor. I ended up forcing it a bit and peering through the nose bridge, I pushed on.
Recently I have got my pacing wrong, pushing too hard on the bike and burning out on the run, so I took it easy for the last five miles or so, and spun my legs near the end.
This seemed to work! I was on to the run and I felt brilliant and eventually completed the run in a time of 17:19. Members from my club would cough and mention ‘short course’! It was a slightly short course, but I was still running at a 17.50 pace. I was stoked with my run and my race performance. It was a great end to my racing season.
Richard, (the man who can rack his bike in the dark) won his age group as did 'Nicetrier' Mick Lawrence
Richard, (the man who can rack his bike in the dark) won his age group as did 'Nicetrier' Mick Lawrence
Won my age group and 8th overall from a very good field.
- Ist Phil Holland
- 2nd David Glossy
- 3rd Charlie Palmer
Full results here
My thanks to Steve and and all those at Galeforce events for another great event.
Now a week of complete rest ... and then all that’s left until the New Year is a few cyclo-x races, a few Duathlons, a couple of winter quadrathlons and some hard-core winter training.
My thanks to Steve and and all those at Galeforce events for another great event.
Now a week of complete rest ... and then all that’s left until the New Year is a few cyclo-x races, a few Duathlons, a couple of winter quadrathlons and some hard-core winter training.
- My swim coach Adam Gibson of GreenLight is setting me a monthly swimming winter schedule.
- I am going to start running on the track to get my speed up,
- I am also going to be doing some controlled cycling session with team-mates all though the winter!
I can’t wait for it all to begin..!!!
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