Race Report - East Leake Triathlon 1.19.22

Todays date was circled in big red pen on the calendar, and is one of the most important dates in my calendar. It is the first Triathlon of the 2011 season, and officially my Triathlon season kicks off here after waiting the best part of 8 months since my last one. The clocks went forward an hour overnight which meant that this mornings half five alarm, was in reality, a half four wake up call, but thankfully I managed an early night, so it wasn't too bad ! This time I packed the car the night before, and double checked it so I had more than enough time to get to East Leake in good time, which I did, again rocking up a good hour before my swim start time. East Leake is in Leicestershire, near to East Midlands airport and close to the village of Gotham - so - a Batman themed race report is in order !

Blam ! - Swim 10.56

As swims go, this was OK, the time includes a long run to transition so is there or thereabouts my best time for the 400m distance. I was started at around 9.09 with no delays, and immediately forgot all of my training and decided to thrash around uncontrollably and get my breathing all wrong. I was overtaken by two competitors and it felt really slow going, a ten minute swim time came as something of a surprise !

T1- Took my time, socks, cycle shoes, and full gloves because it was bloody cold !

Kapow ! - Cycle -41.18

Following the Duathlon, I was confident that I could go under last years cycle time of 48 mins, by how much though I wasn't sure. The cycle started with a slow spin out of East Leake where I was just trying to get some warmth back into my cold wet legs ! Within a mile I was warming up nicely though and managed to get down into the tri bars to get out of the wind. My legs felt good and I seemed to be making good time, passing a few people on the way to Kingston Upon Soar for the turnaround loop. On the way back to Gotham I started to get that treacle feeling again but this time dropped the gears and span it out. When I got to the Gotham bypass I knew that most of the hilly parts were done and that I had made very good progress. I arrived back into transition in 41 something and for the first time started harbouring thoughts for a sub 1.20 finish.

T2 - because I already had socks on this was quick and non fussy !

ZAP ! Run - 24.07

I couldn't set my garmin so therefore couldn't check my pace so decided to aim for 9 minutes laps which would see a run time of 27 mins which would be better than last years 28. I feel like I ran freely and within myself and as a result was able to finish strongly - 24.07 being my fastest split over a triathlon 5km.

In all, a good solid start to a season I am really looking forward to.

Race Report - Clumber Sprint Duathlon 1.23.50

A couple of weeks ago, I had a crack at doing a Duathlon for the first time in One Step Beyond’s Clumber Classic Sprint Duathlon held at Clumber Park near Worksop. It was a very cold morning, complete with that very fine drizzly rain that soaks you through (according to Peter Kay anyway !). This is how things went:

Run 5k – 26.12 (157th)

We were started in waves as there was also the Standard Distance race taking place at the same time, and I think that we were the third wave or so to go. I was in the Senior category and we were delayed by a good 15 minutes and had to try and keep warm and dry in the rain. At about 9.25 we were started and i decided to apply my 10k strategy – good steady starting pace for 2km – before speeding things up a little. Now, if like me , you thought that Clumber Park was flat, you will be surprised to learn that its a bit hilly !!! That being said, I’m starting to get used to ups and downs through various events and no longer find them overly tough. Once the initial couple of kilometres were over and we rounded for home, I did pick things up a bit and started overtaking a few people slowly but surely. At 26.12 not my fastest standalone 5km but not far off.

T1 – 1.21- Tried something new here – I put my bike shoes on in transition rather than leave them on the bike, and I think it was just as fast .

Bike – 20km – 41.43 (110th)

I raced my TT bike believing that the course was going to be flat and in the end this turned out to be the right choice. For the first 20 minutes of the bike I rode as fast as I think I ever had and was fluently overtaking many people whilst only really being overtaken by the fast boys in GB kit and the like. I was riding really quickly, thinking that I only had a 2.5k run afterward, so if I overcooked things I would manage. For the next ten minutes I continued to ride well, but once I was in the last five kilometres it was like riding with treacle on the tyres – I had completely wrecked my legs and slowed considerably allowing some competitors to retake their positions. I’m still happy with the bike time which is my best to date over the 20km distance and gives me some confidence that the coming season will see some further improvement.

T2 – 1.12 – Waddled around in my cycle shoes, legs like Jelly !

Run – 2.5k – 13.22
Legs wrecked, this was very hard work and I’m surprised that the time is close to the opening run pace. I just wanted this to end as quickly as possible for most of it, but as I got closer to the line my legs began to feel a little livelier, so maybe I just needed some distance to wake my legs a little.

End result 1.23.50 (128th out of 198) – My first Duathlon and although a enjoyable day out, I can’t see myself doing any more than one of these a year ! My next event is the first triathlon of the year at East Leake on 27th March.

Tired....but not from the training !

This week I am moving house and have spent what feels like every living minute painting and decorating the new house.

I have managed so far to keep going with the Don Fink plan on which I think I'm on week 13 or 14 at present and now in the build phase.

This weekend (after the move is completed I hope) I am looking forwards to pulling on the Lincoln Tri colours for the first time this year at the Clumber Sprint Duathlon - http://www.onestepbeyond.org.uk/clumber-park-duathlon.php - this will be my first Duathlon and I decided to do the shorter Sprint distance of 5k run - 20k bike - 3k run to see how I go. the club do a monthly Duathlon so if I like it , I might pop along for a couple later in the year.

One of the consequences of the move is that my broadband will be out of action until sometime late in March - but when I get back on I'll update with how the Duathlon went.