Ironman UK 70.3 race report

The toughest Triathlon that I have ever completed - a beautiful torture if I can describe it as such. On Sunday, I managed to complete the half ironman at Wimbleball  - described as the hardest 70.3 in the world by some bloke who knows more than I do - this is my report.....

Pre-race
Arrived in Somerset on Friday and made our way straight to the lake to register. Local Rotary Mafia mugged us for a tenner for parking, however, it didn't seem muddy and I thought that the tales of mudbaths in previous years were exaggerated. Registration was quick, expo looked a bit like a bad village fate ! Drove from the lake an hour to get to our lodgings at Cullompton in Devon - saw the town and realised I'd forgotten my banjo and rocking chair...

Day before.. 
Wet and very windy, we made our way back to the lake, this time going via Haddon Hill and getting to see some of the lumps I'd be riding up - not bad, but I'm in a car, might be a bit tougher on the bike. We were making good time as well, but as soon as we got near the lake... traffic chaos and an hour queue to get in.... complete mudbath causing this, as well as the Mafia getting their money with menaces ! Racked the bike in Glastonburyesque transition area and told not to cover my pride and joy because it was too windy. Went to pre race briefing and had to listen to the rain peeing down all over my baby. Listened to the meat of the briefing before legging it toward the end to ensure a quick getaway. Some were held up two hours leaving the car park....organisers...party....brewery ?

Raceday
Weather did a complete U-ey, and it was calm and almost sunny as we headed down to the lake. The pros and the young uns went off at a delayed 7.15 (that brewery again and even longer delays for car parking) . The 40+ fogies made our way into the water for a 7.30 start. No klaxon, no gun, everyone just started swimming so I sheeped up and cracked on with it. I couldn't see the first buoy so generally tried to swim in the same direction as everybody else. I didn't start too fast and tried to keep a good technique. There was little biff over than a clash of hands occasionally, and I managed to narrowly avoid breaststroking kick to the face, just the shoulder as we made our way around the first buoy. The remainder of the swim went well, the markers were easy to see , I felt confident as I got out of the water of a 35min swim, casual glance of the watch... 42 something WTF ???? and the swim was a little short apparently.. 


T1 - 7.58 - A bit of a dizzy run up the hill into transition tent, all of us looking like wipeout contestants ! Grabbed bag, sat down and then took my time, hoping my senses would return. Out into the mud, doing a penguin waddle in the bike shoes trying not to get mud in the cleats ! Not a bad time considering....


Bike
Straight out of transition, and run the bike past people falling over at the mount line. Climb the first rise in the small ring, and then change up for the flatter section that follows, then further hill, no probs, will just change down into small ring again.......oops that didn't work..damn LBS had supposedly fixed that last week.. OK so now lets see if I can kick it down...worked but scared too do this too many times so decided to ride the first half of the course in the big ring, then heel kick it down into the small ring for the hillier second half of the course - this worked fine initially, but there were still climbs on the first half that I could have done with taking   a little easier ! Enjoyed the first half of the course and got some good aero speed down in the bars. Thought the first climb was coming up at the bottom of the first long descent and changed down only to find that it was a fair few miles before it started - bad error and should have driven the course, but it was what it was ! First time up 'pylon hill' not too bad, and didn't seem too long. Made my way round the second half of the course OK, with the toughest climb being the rolling 14% job on the way to Haddon Hill. Got about 5 miles from the end of the first lap when Phil Graves came tear arseing past at the fastest speed I have seen anyone on a bike. It was a further 15 minutes and then some before 2nd place blokey came past. First lap done in about 1.48, and now time to really put the hammer down on the 2nd lap....yeah right..... to be fair, the speed remained similar, but those climbs became like treacle as I ground my way up them for the 2nd time with plenty of people choosing to walk them, and me swearing my way up ! Happy to get back into transition in a bike time of 3.37 - the hardest, hilliest ride of my life ! 


T2 - 3.55 - Seemed a lot longer than that, and included a lavvy stop, so can't beat myself up too much....


Run
Straight out of transition, and immediately apparent that I'm just running up and down around a lumpy field and not the nice flat tarmac I'm used too. This is hard, but also a good challenge and the first mile was dispatched in 7.50 something - maybe this will be quick I got to thinking and then promptly took that back as I hit 'concrete mountain' which seemed to up and up for ever and not the final 10 metres that they show on TV. Legs recovered enough for the downhill, and then really enjoyed the flat part across the dam with its stunning scenery ! Plenty of tough trail type running followed all of it either up or down, but I seemed to be coping with it and my recent injury didn't flare up. Walked the aid stations eventually as the first couple ended with me pouring cups of water down me but not in me.


Began to feel tired of all the climbing on the second lap and was not pleasant swallowing so many flies down by the lakes edge. By the third time up concrete mountain, I was the only one running it albeit as a very camp,slow motion, Peter Kay way to Amarillo kind of way ! 2.00 almost bob on for the run, and a finishing time of 6.32 for the whole thing....mid table mediocrity and my best WTC event finish so far... the mission completed and plenty of practice for Bolton in five weeks time.


In all.... yep, the pre race queuing, delays and the like are annoying, how much of that is down to the restrictions of the venue, and how much the organisers I can't say. The course is tough but also fantastic. Last night I went to bed saying I wouldn't want to do Wimbleball again. This morning though different story......