1.9km Swim 90km Bike 21km Run - Temperature 80oF
Swim 29:05 - T1 04:05 - Bike 02:35:08 - T2 02:42 – Run 01:23:51
Total Time 4:34:51
2nd 50-54 Age Group, 91st overall
This race marked the start of my tri season but I was
feeling way more relaxed than I should have been. Over the last 6 weeks I
estimate I had run more miles than I had cycled and this was a course for the
bikers - train smart? I must admit that the impending trip up to Edinburgh for
the marathon was my main focus and this race felt somewhat of a distraction
albeit a very welcome one in the sunshine.
The race had been billed as the biggest 70.3 Ironman in the
world with some 3800 competitors signed up. The swim was in waves of 500 so a
simple plan to plant myself on the front of the start line would hopefully see
me keep away from the argy bargee as we raced into the surf. The only thing
that was calm at 08:35 was the sea, the shore line was rammed and the
atmosphere electric – bang, we were off and we hurtled through the shallows,
launching ourselves into the deeper water. Almost immediately I was in
relatively clear water and looking to hunt down the lead group, a 300m
anaerobic effort and I was on the train. The rest of the swim was about the
easiest I have had for some time, simply moving up and down the lead group as
feet came and went but all in all a very relaxing start to the race. I exited
the water, glanced down at my watch to see a race PB, 29 and change.
I set off the for the long transition zone, probably close
to 1k from beach to mount line. It never ceases to amaze me how slowly some
people move through transition, working hard on the sbr to gain minutes just to
let them carelessly slip through their fingers in T1/2. I estimate I moved from
15th to 10th just in T1, happy days.
I jumped on my bike, slipped my feet into my shoes and set
off only to be passed immediately by someone in my AG, out of the saddle and
mashing the pedals. I had resolved not to let anyone pass me on the bike but to
start racing so early was a real dilemma. I was here to race and use my numbers
to guide me, so nothing for it but to be all in and go with the race. As we
approached the big climb another two guys attacked and passed me, I had to raise
my power still further to stay with them, hanging on as best I could until the
top of the very long climb. At the top of the climb I took stock of the elapsed
time and quickly came to the conclusion that I was unlikely to hit the time
benchmarks I figured I needed, off the bike in 03:15 to give me a shout of sub
4:40 and a podium. I settled into a more comfortable pace and got back on the
numbers plan.
The descent was very technical (not good for a boy from the
fens) but as soon as we hit the flats I started to see 45kph, the race was
coming back to me. I had to rapidly recalculate my bike split and soon it was
clear 03:15 was on. The nutrition was going to plan and a small smile crept
onto my face, soon I would be on the run.
Into T2, counted 7 bikes on the racks, passed someone faffing.
I had been looking forward to the run, time to go to work. I quickly settled on
a plan to treat this like an Edinburgh marathon simulation, 4 min ks on tired
legs for 21k – within a couple of ks I locked into the pace, even stealing a
few seconds at each split. Lap one on plan but by 7k I felt my pace start to
drop and a sense of fatigue creep in. I popped a gel, problem solved. However,
by 14k my focus started to wane, perhaps heat induced, but I was certain not a
calorie issue so I opted to grab coke at the next aid station to see if the
caffeine would get me on task – magic, back in the race. Throughout the run my
friends had been trying to shout my position status but with no body marking
and thousands of athletes on the course it was almost impossible to spot. More
by luck than judgement I managed to clock three guys in my age group as I went
by them so I figured just stay on pace and reel them in. The last guy I passed
was at 19k so I kicked hard, although I am sure he would not have been able to
firstly identify me and secondly respond, I wasn’t taking any chances.
I entered the finish chute pretty certain I had a top 5 and
probably a podium but you never can be sure. Mary quickly got the results
through the athlete tracker and confirmed I had got second and a 4min/k run
split, fantastic. Not only that, but I was faster in every element than when I
raced here in 2012, just need to nail on some endurance to be good for IMUK. So
much for aging up and requiring slower times.
My plan for this race season was highly dependent on how
busy work might be and therefore I haven’t spent a great deal of time dwelling
on it. My stint working away from home came to an end about 4 weeks ago and
therefore the opportunity to train more consistently has opened up. A spur of
the moment decision Saturday afternoon saw me lining up to pay my C$400 to race
at the 70.3 worlds in Mount Tremblant. I am not deluding myself I am competitive
in a middle distance championship race but it will be a great road trip!
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