Apart from today it would seem, as from the moment I got up I could hear the pitter patter of rain on the conservatory roof, and the forecast confirmed that it would be a blanket of rain for the entire day ! Still, onwards and upwards, and I loaded up the car nice and early to make my way to the venue - Jubilee Park at Woodhall Spa. After negotiating a diversion, I arrived plenty early but found that the usual car parks were already full, which meant a trip to the overflow car park located on the run route. Once registered and in receipt of another fab technical t-shirt I returned to the car to get my bike and other bits - this was a good walk and I used it as a warm up as I was getting very cold and very wet - in fact it was a relief to get in the pool when the start time came around a short half hour later, as the heated outdoor pool had steam coming off the surface and it was a beautiful warm temperature!
I could have sat there all day, but all too soon, I was being counted down and I was off !
Swim 8.39
Unlike at Southwell, there was no traffic as I pushed away from the wall for the first time and I was able to enjoy a smooth first couple of lengths. It was fast though, and the inevitable slow down came over the next few lengths, until my breathing and stroke rate settled down. I really enjoy the swim here and todays time of 8.39 was nearly a minute better than my personal best set in last years race.
T1 1.29
I have been getting precious about slow transitions like this one recently, but today being wet, cold, and muddy meant that some time and care had to be taken - so I'll not beat myself up!
Bike 42.34
I've invested some cash in a silly pointy helmet, and whilst its not the most comfortable of things to wear - especially when it was bending down both my ears, it certainly feels more aerodynamic, and as a result I really felt that I was flying, even though the race conditions were treacherous and there were big pools of standing water everywhere. I was flying past people, and riding quicker than I have ever ridden, and really enjoying it ! I did wonder if I was overcooking things, but thought nah, just crack on! Once the first half of the course is done (which includes the long deceptive inclines), there is a really fast second half and today with a little backwind I was holding 30mph in parts quite comfortably ! I arrived back in T2 in 42.34 which was over four minutes faster than last year - booooom !!! Maybe there was something in that little pointy hat....
OK could have sharpened that up a bit but couldn't feel my feet, they were numb from the cold!
Run 20.40
So, couldn't feel my feet, calf guards heavy with water, and reduced speed in training due to my niggling bum injury - got to say as I headed out onto the run course I wasn't holding much hope for the run, but I just kept working as hard as I could and as I got my legs working, I somehow managed to get my legs working enough to knock out a 6.47 first mile ! The second mile came and went in 7.07 and I knew that I was in for a good time if I could keep it up ! We were soon back onto the footpath that runs along the main road and the last mile was spent dodging the huge puddles that had formed (I don't know why though cos I was wet enough in any case !) and attempting to overtake the chap in front. I kept up my 100% record of losing every sprint finish I've ever attempted, but overjoyed to cross the finish line in 1.14.31 and inside my target of 1.15 that I had set myself.
A good days work then in terrible conditions and a personal best finishing of 61st place to boot ! This meant that I finished 5th in my age group over the 3 races that make up the Midlands Triathlon Series.
That was my last Sprint Tri of the season (I think), as in two weeks time I head for Wimbleball in Exmoor to compete in the UK Ironman 70.3 race - I can't wait !
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