Sunday was the Cheltenham triathlon at the Sandford Park Lido. A
really great local event that gets better every year. It's a super
sprint event raced over 500m in the 50m pool, a 15km cycle around the
town and then a 2.7km run. Due to the nature of the event there's all
sorts of folks that take part, to illustrate this on the bike leg I
was over taken by a chap on a full carbon TT bike wearing a Spiuk aero
helmet and myself overtook a couple of people on MTB's with baskets on
the front. That's part of the appeal though, that its interesting
enough for some really good competitors and also not too scary that
newbies are turned off.
This year, as last, I was in an LRFC Tri-Team comprising
representatives from the U13's Cheetahs and the U14's Cougars. Our
start time was 7:30 and at that time of day the pool was warmer than
being outside.
Racking our bikes in transition there was all the normal banter you
get about each others kit, what we are and aren't capable of and some
other rubbish. It's nerves and adrenaline basically. It was then a
cold walk into the pool and the briefing. One of our team was in a
wetsuit which he was asked to remove, this then showed he had a single
calf guard that he was also asked to remove. Something to do with
buoyancy. He adhered to the rules.
We set off in lane 1 at 10 second intervals. I have not swum properly
since the last tri at the lido in September 2012. Or, put basically, a
year ago. That showed. I was second in the lane, the chap in front of
me pulled away and Britta, starting behind me caught and overtook me
easily. I felt pretty rubbish during the swim as I had no power and
knew I wasn't doing myself justice.
Out of the pool in 3rd spot on our team with Britta and Roger in
transition. I was quickly into my shoes, helmet and race belt on and
heading out. Quicker than them in T1 I exited first. There were a
couple of changes to the bike leg this year. Firstly, on the route,
there are some sets of traffic lights. If you jump the red light it
means a DQ. but then it's not fair if you lose time and others who get
there on green don't. So this year if you were held up you were
credited a minute at each set. I hit two sets and so was credited 2
minutes. This was adequate for the loss of momentum and time waiting
at the lights.
At the first set Roger and Britta pulled alongside and we exchanged
some words of encouragement. The lights changed and I went off,
quicker than them both. I did feel a bit stupid for a moment or two as
started to think should I cycle with them but then actually it's a
race and we all want to do the best we can. So with the thought gone I
put my foot down. I was overtaken twice on the bike, the chap in the
Spiuk aero helmet and another guy on a standard road bike. I tried to
keep pace but just couldn't.
The route change meant a cycle down through Southam rather than past
the mushroom farm into Bishops Cleeve and that downhill was excellent.
It's more a slope but was great for getting some speed up.
Unfortunately at the end are the Smiths Industries lights that were
red. So a loss of momentum and a stop. There was a chap just in front
of me cursing the stop too. I made sure to shout out my race number to
the Marshall so I was credited the time.
When the lights changed I went off fast, I wanted to get in front of
the other chap and get a march up the race course hill. In front there
were a number of competitors struggling to get over the top on large
heavy MTB's. I dropped the guy I was at the lights with and did some
nice over taking. Knowing the course meant I pushed as hard as I could
as once over the top it's a long downhill and flat back to the lido.
Before the end of the bike leg I did have one stupid moment. Crossing
the lights at London Road into the section between the two halves of
Sandford Park there was a guy in front of me down on his Tri-bars. I
was on the hoods and caught him easily. As I went past him up towards
the hospital I saw an arrow pointing left and made a sharp stop and
manoeuvre only to then realise I'd taken the run route! Arghhh! A
curse at myself and quick turn around and I was racing back up past
the hospital, determined to catch the guy I had just passed. I passed
him again as we approached Coxs Meadow when, the pedestrian crossing
was activated and there was a red light. I dutifully stopped only to
see him fly down the inside of the cars and jump the light.
I was really furious at this and so again put my foot down. I was
close as we went into T2 and resolved to do him on the run. A quick
change of shoes and out.
The run is interesting as its short and sharp with, at the start, a
little kick up a gentle slope. With jelly legs its difficult to get a
rhythm and run with any power or balance. The chap that jumped the
lights was in front of me and I passed him easily at the first
crossing. Behind me was a guy who was breathing like he had one lung
and that wasn't working well. Wheezing would be an understatement.
I wanted to do a good run leg so set about trying to drop him. I had
(and still have) no idea what he looked like or how old or anything. I
never saw him, I just heard him breathing. I couldn't drop him. I put
some spurts in and he was there, right behind me heavy breathing. As
we neared the end of the run I was over taken by a guy that came from
a way back. As he passed me I kicked to try and get the ground back
but he ran across me. The reality was I wouldn't have been able to but
his tactic was a little underhand too.
I crossed the line in 46:19 - awesome!
A medal and T-shirt and, more importantly, a breakfast voucher were
great fully received. I then waited for the team to come in. One by
one they all finished, buzzing from good performances and improvements
on previous years (even allowing for the shortened bike course).
What was interesting when looking at the results is that I think my
time compared to last year is slightly faster, I was faster on avg. on
the bike and also the run. So my previous PB of 51:20 would have been
beaten if the courses were the same. Yet my overall position dropped.
In 2012 I was 23rd, this year only good enough for 31st. It may be fun
but its also competitive.
My split times were...
Swim 09:24
Bike 27:43
T2 01:08
Run 10:04
-----
Whilst queuing for my breakfast sandwich a fellow competitor in the
queue spotted me and asked me if I had been in the pool that Monday
evening. The answer was simple, "no". If he had seen me swim he would
have known I had not been.
He then said, "that's funny because someone that looks just like you
was and kicked my breaking my nose." I was feeling good humoured so I
replied that it definitely wasn't me and that if it had been I would
have apologised anyway. A which point he sneered and turned his back
on me. A lady who was with him then said, "you do realise that anyone
that looks like that will now be leaving". I was getting back into my
head now and pulled her up and said "I'm sorry, 'looks like that'" she
then looked embarrassed and said "sorry looks like him"
They left but I then started to think that that guy thinks I broke his
nose when I really didn't and he didn't believe me. So rather than
just ask decently or accept my answer he was rude because he thought I
was living.
Looking back I wish I had;)
