Race report for the ECF Monster Middle Distance Triathlon, Ely,
Cambridgshire.
Another early race start for the Ely Middle distance triathlon (07:30) and as it was 90+ miles from my home so the alarm was set for 02:30 and we were away at 03:00. I wanted to get there early as i had never entered this race before and according to the race brief T1 and T2 were roughly half a mile apart and the swim start another 30min walk from expo. We arrived in plenty of time just before 5am and everybody was still in bed. I had thought about camping myself but much prefer my own bed to a cold damp tent.
I registered just after 5am and set both transition areas up before 06:00 so there were no last minute panics for me. There were a few other panickers putting unnecessary pressure on themselves and i can't really see the point in that. The day has enough pressure with the race without adding any more.
The swim was in part of the slow flowing Great Ouse which flowed past pubs,restaurants and houses so there was plenty of spectators around even at that time of the morning. We got off to a late start maybe around 10 -15mins late but no drama's!, We had all day. I had positioned my self to the front of the swim on the left side which gave me a straight line through the first bend and hopefully would keep me from the washing machine that was going on to the right of me. I had chosen to keep tight past a few barges really settling in to my stroke after just 3 or 4 hundred meters and never really struggling like i had in the past at the start of the swim. I put this down to the water feeling surprisingly warm enabling the blood to flow better. I had dropped back a few places by the time i had the swim finish in sight so when i got around the last buoy decided to put a bit more effort in and gain a few more places. I exited the water in 29mins which was a decent swim split for me considering how my last swim split went at the Cowman of 35mins.
I made my way into T1 and forgot where i had put my bike. Ha ha what an error but hey first time for everything. I eventually found my bike and still managed to exit T1 in under 2mins, I think it was 1min 23 secs to be exact so not too much time lost.
I mounted the bike and after a little struggle with my shoe's and grass cuttings stuck to my feet got onto the road and started to get the hammer down. I was really looking forward to the bike section as i had checked the profile of the course and it was quite flat so being a bigger boy i knew i could make some decent power on the flat. The course was two loops, One smaller loop and then a bigger loop. The road surfaces were very poor on the first loop so i took it a little easier always feeling like i should change to a bigger gear but still holding decent speed and my cadence was good. The weather had really started to warm up and there wasn't really any sheltered areas on the bike course so i was making sure i took on plenty of fluids. At 75mins into the bike i decided to go for it and really get my head down. There was very little wind and the road surfaces were really quite good on the second lap which enabled me to really hold a decent speed. I had made up so much time during the bike and passed so many people i had no idea of my position but knew i would be up there and started to get a little excited. I had passed a sign which said Ely 4miles and my watch said 2hrs 15mins so i though there was some mistake but no!, I arrived at T2 and finished my bike leg in 2hrs 35mins. A massive pb on the bike for me. I was well happy!.
T2 went well again in and out in under 2 mins and onto the run.
The run was a straight out and back along the river bank to a turn around point then back the same way past the many farms and houses. About a third of the run route was a trail run and the other 2 thirds were tarmac along the lanes. The run route had very little cover and the sun was burning down. After only 2 or 3 miles my hamstrings had started to tighten and pull. The fluids that were being supplied was Hammer which is usually quite good, However the stuff had been mixed so weak it didn't really make any difference. I had to over do it on the gels a bit and try to get some electrolytes into me that way which just seemed to upset my stomach. I got to the turn around point and had a sip of water then headed back. At the 10 mile marker i was in agony and could hardly walk let alone run. I had to really back off and try and hold my position with the hope of making a last mile sprint and taking a few places back, The finish line in sight i picked up the pace and after only a few meters again i was getting severe cramps. I was within 100 meters of the finish and had to stop as the cramps were that bad every time i tried to pick my legs up for another step they just cramped up!....Ouch!.... Never mind it must be better to put everything in and have nothing left at the end of the race than to think maybe i could of gone faster. All in all a really enjoyable day and the best bike split for me so far.
Another early race start for the Ely Middle distance triathlon (07:30) and as it was 90+ miles from my home so the alarm was set for 02:30 and we were away at 03:00. I wanted to get there early as i had never entered this race before and according to the race brief T1 and T2 were roughly half a mile apart and the swim start another 30min walk from expo. We arrived in plenty of time just before 5am and everybody was still in bed. I had thought about camping myself but much prefer my own bed to a cold damp tent.
I registered just after 5am and set both transition areas up before 06:00 so there were no last minute panics for me. There were a few other panickers putting unnecessary pressure on themselves and i can't really see the point in that. The day has enough pressure with the race without adding any more.
The swim was in part of the slow flowing Great Ouse which flowed past pubs,restaurants and houses so there was plenty of spectators around even at that time of the morning. We got off to a late start maybe around 10 -15mins late but no drama's!, We had all day. I had positioned my self to the front of the swim on the left side which gave me a straight line through the first bend and hopefully would keep me from the washing machine that was going on to the right of me. I had chosen to keep tight past a few barges really settling in to my stroke after just 3 or 4 hundred meters and never really struggling like i had in the past at the start of the swim. I put this down to the water feeling surprisingly warm enabling the blood to flow better. I had dropped back a few places by the time i had the swim finish in sight so when i got around the last buoy decided to put a bit more effort in and gain a few more places. I exited the water in 29mins which was a decent swim split for me considering how my last swim split went at the Cowman of 35mins.
I made my way into T1 and forgot where i had put my bike. Ha ha what an error but hey first time for everything. I eventually found my bike and still managed to exit T1 in under 2mins, I think it was 1min 23 secs to be exact so not too much time lost.
I mounted the bike and after a little struggle with my shoe's and grass cuttings stuck to my feet got onto the road and started to get the hammer down. I was really looking forward to the bike section as i had checked the profile of the course and it was quite flat so being a bigger boy i knew i could make some decent power on the flat. The course was two loops, One smaller loop and then a bigger loop. The road surfaces were very poor on the first loop so i took it a little easier always feeling like i should change to a bigger gear but still holding decent speed and my cadence was good. The weather had really started to warm up and there wasn't really any sheltered areas on the bike course so i was making sure i took on plenty of fluids. At 75mins into the bike i decided to go for it and really get my head down. There was very little wind and the road surfaces were really quite good on the second lap which enabled me to really hold a decent speed. I had made up so much time during the bike and passed so many people i had no idea of my position but knew i would be up there and started to get a little excited. I had passed a sign which said Ely 4miles and my watch said 2hrs 15mins so i though there was some mistake but no!, I arrived at T2 and finished my bike leg in 2hrs 35mins. A massive pb on the bike for me. I was well happy!.
T2 went well again in and out in under 2 mins and onto the run.
The run was a straight out and back along the river bank to a turn around point then back the same way past the many farms and houses. About a third of the run route was a trail run and the other 2 thirds were tarmac along the lanes. The run route had very little cover and the sun was burning down. After only 2 or 3 miles my hamstrings had started to tighten and pull. The fluids that were being supplied was Hammer which is usually quite good, However the stuff had been mixed so weak it didn't really make any difference. I had to over do it on the gels a bit and try to get some electrolytes into me that way which just seemed to upset my stomach. I got to the turn around point and had a sip of water then headed back. At the 10 mile marker i was in agony and could hardly walk let alone run. I had to really back off and try and hold my position with the hope of making a last mile sprint and taking a few places back, The finish line in sight i picked up the pace and after only a few meters again i was getting severe cramps. I was within 100 meters of the finish and had to stop as the cramps were that bad every time i tried to pick my legs up for another step they just cramped up!....Ouch!.... Never mind it must be better to put everything in and have nothing left at the end of the race than to think maybe i could of gone faster. All in all a really enjoyable day and the best bike split for me so far.
I have one more race to get out of the way this season then my
focus for next season is to try and compete for my country in the Europen age
group catagory. Fingers crossed!....Watch this space!
Thanks again to Dermot for training me and my family for supporting
me and my mate Ryan for coming and giving me support who also now seems to be
hooked on Triathlon. Next stop Full Boar middle distance on the 2nd
of September. My last race of the season and i am looking forward to a break.
Its been a long summer with plenty of racing and training.
See you all soon
Buzz
