Cotswold Women’s Sprint 05/06/2011
This year my Triathlon season opened with another sweet PB! I entered the lady’s only race in the Cotswold Water Park as it is a very good venue, precise organization, fast course and a convenient on site camping facilities by the lake shore.
I arrived at the venue the afternoon before with plenty time to register and pitched my campervan in a good spot. I then made good use of my time by going round the lake for a sighting of the course, especially the swim course as last time I raced here I managed to swim off course! I also checked the bike course, partially driving and partly on the bike to get some last minute practice in taking shoes on and off on the bike, and I had time to check and lay out my kit ready for race morning.
The small and friendly camp site slowly filled up by tents, cars and lots of bikes and compression wear clad athletes: a pleasant buzz of typical race atmosphere. I had an early dinner and got round for a bit of socializing before settling down to a good night sleep.
On Sunday I was up before the alarm feeling good but a bit too relaxed and flat rather than my usual bouncy race morning mood. That was rectified with two strong cups of coffee and a thorough warm up. I got to the start line with plenty time, feeling very happy and rearing to get in the placid and inviting lake waters.
The swim was 1 lap of a 750 meter course with a run start from a beach and a small climb out of a bank near transition. There was a little bit of biff in our wave at the gun, but not being shy it did not bother me, and after a 200mt sprint I got settled on a faster pair of feet to get a tow. I was feeling really good and smooth and may be, in hind site, I could have pushed a bit harder in the mid section of the swim perhaps. The last third of the race I started to put the foot down on the gas and catch up some places ahead. I exit the water in 16th position, not as good as I was hoping but the swim time was good for me at around 12:25.
The marshal did a good job of lobbing me off the bank on to the grass run to transition, I did take that run quite carefully as I have still a bit of a problem on my left knee so I was dodging holes rather than spreading canvas to get to transition, but I thought wet grass makes for a good slippery surface...
T1 went reasonably well, having fixed the location of my bike with a particular selling stand I found it quickly: I remember finding myself sitting on the floor as must have tripped in taking my wetsuit off, but it must have been a quick scarper as I still managed the 12th fastest transition on the day. A long run to the mount line, the race organizers did a fab. job of laying down a smooth carpet for the 250 meters to the mount line... until you get on some gravel and dust 5 meters before you mount your bike?
The bike course was windy, the first section there was a strong head wind and it seemed that almost all the way round was either cross wind or head wind again. Work that out! ;-) I was looking forward to this section as Dermot set me up with some good bike and turbo training and I wanted to see if I could execute a good ride; an added bonus was that recently we have had very windy conditions so I was comfortable with being buffered about a bit by strong blows.
The advantage of racing a ladies only event is that you can perceive how well you are going as all the other competitors are in the same category, and on a selfish note, I get overtaken much less. Nice for a change!
My legs felt good all the way to the end and I was still strong on the last fast segment; also the practice of timing of removal shoes paid off. I registered the 44th fastest bike split of the day just short of 19 mph on a windy day witch I am happy with. I was soon back running on to the long stretch to transition for the last leg of the race.
T2 was uneventful, that is the best way to keep it although may be less interesting for the spectators, but rather slow considering that I only had to rack the bike, take the helmet off and slip a pair of shoes on....and out on the run. At first I had a feeling of my knee movement being inhibited and not able to grab the floor and push off, so I was a bit worried. It did not help that the run is on and off small segment of grass and lumpy path, but the rest of me felt really good and rearing to go. On the whole my legs, heart and lung were in for the party! It seems still quite surprising that each race I do I feel some improvement. The benefit of having Dermot setting a training plan is even more pronounced this year and in spite of a dodgy knee I have had 4 consecutive PB.
Once the path got a bit more even I was able to feel confident and push some more. The first lap of two was good... but the second one was even better and I finished just over 3 minutes faster than the previous time I raced here. Also it is my fastest paced sprint run to date @ 7:55 minutes miles! Yea! ;-)
I am very pleased with the result of 1:18 and 36st overall, and also I have taken a few points back to work on, especially on pacing and T2... and may be I need to practice whipping the wetsuit off without falling down!
This year my Triathlon season opened with another sweet PB! I entered the lady’s only race in the Cotswold Water Park as it is a very good venue, precise organization, fast course and a convenient on site camping facilities by the lake shore.
I arrived at the venue the afternoon before with plenty time to register and pitched my campervan in a good spot. I then made good use of my time by going round the lake for a sighting of the course, especially the swim course as last time I raced here I managed to swim off course! I also checked the bike course, partially driving and partly on the bike to get some last minute practice in taking shoes on and off on the bike, and I had time to check and lay out my kit ready for race morning.
The small and friendly camp site slowly filled up by tents, cars and lots of bikes and compression wear clad athletes: a pleasant buzz of typical race atmosphere. I had an early dinner and got round for a bit of socializing before settling down to a good night sleep.
On Sunday I was up before the alarm feeling good but a bit too relaxed and flat rather than my usual bouncy race morning mood. That was rectified with two strong cups of coffee and a thorough warm up. I got to the start line with plenty time, feeling very happy and rearing to get in the placid and inviting lake waters.
The swim was 1 lap of a 750 meter course with a run start from a beach and a small climb out of a bank near transition. There was a little bit of biff in our wave at the gun, but not being shy it did not bother me, and after a 200mt sprint I got settled on a faster pair of feet to get a tow. I was feeling really good and smooth and may be, in hind site, I could have pushed a bit harder in the mid section of the swim perhaps. The last third of the race I started to put the foot down on the gas and catch up some places ahead. I exit the water in 16th position, not as good as I was hoping but the swim time was good for me at around 12:25.
The marshal did a good job of lobbing me off the bank on to the grass run to transition, I did take that run quite carefully as I have still a bit of a problem on my left knee so I was dodging holes rather than spreading canvas to get to transition, but I thought wet grass makes for a good slippery surface...
T1 went reasonably well, having fixed the location of my bike with a particular selling stand I found it quickly: I remember finding myself sitting on the floor as must have tripped in taking my wetsuit off, but it must have been a quick scarper as I still managed the 12th fastest transition on the day. A long run to the mount line, the race organizers did a fab. job of laying down a smooth carpet for the 250 meters to the mount line... until you get on some gravel and dust 5 meters before you mount your bike?
The bike course was windy, the first section there was a strong head wind and it seemed that almost all the way round was either cross wind or head wind again. Work that out! ;-) I was looking forward to this section as Dermot set me up with some good bike and turbo training and I wanted to see if I could execute a good ride; an added bonus was that recently we have had very windy conditions so I was comfortable with being buffered about a bit by strong blows.
The advantage of racing a ladies only event is that you can perceive how well you are going as all the other competitors are in the same category, and on a selfish note, I get overtaken much less. Nice for a change!
My legs felt good all the way to the end and I was still strong on the last fast segment; also the practice of timing of removal shoes paid off. I registered the 44th fastest bike split of the day just short of 19 mph on a windy day witch I am happy with. I was soon back running on to the long stretch to transition for the last leg of the race.
T2 was uneventful, that is the best way to keep it although may be less interesting for the spectators, but rather slow considering that I only had to rack the bike, take the helmet off and slip a pair of shoes on....and out on the run. At first I had a feeling of my knee movement being inhibited and not able to grab the floor and push off, so I was a bit worried. It did not help that the run is on and off small segment of grass and lumpy path, but the rest of me felt really good and rearing to go. On the whole my legs, heart and lung were in for the party! It seems still quite surprising that each race I do I feel some improvement. The benefit of having Dermot setting a training plan is even more pronounced this year and in spite of a dodgy knee I have had 4 consecutive PB.
Once the path got a bit more even I was able to feel confident and push some more. The first lap of two was good... but the second one was even better and I finished just over 3 minutes faster than the previous time I raced here. Also it is my fastest paced sprint run to date @ 7:55 minutes miles! Yea! ;-)
I am very pleased with the result of 1:18 and 36st overall, and also I have taken a few points back to work on, especially on pacing and T2... and may be I need to practice whipping the wetsuit off without falling down!
Simona
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