Valencia Standard Distance TriathlonFor my penultimate race of the season I had decided (been instructed) to combine an Olympic Distance Triathlon with a weeks holiday in Valencia. This would be my first Olympic distance since Malta in 2009 and only my second of this distance.
The race setting was fantastic, a one lap swim in the Americas Cup port, 4 laps of the F1 circuit and 3 laps around the Valencia Marina.
Having arrive the Wednesday before the race I had some time to aclimatise to the 30 degree + temperatures and complete a few steady sessions given to me by Dermot to lead me into race day. After a couple of steady sea swims I regained my confidence in swimming in the sea that had been somewhat lost due to a bad swim at the Marazion middle distance earlier in the year.
The racing in Valencia was arranged over two days, with the Super Sprint and novice races on the Saturday and the Sprint and Olympic races held on the Sunday.
I registered collected my goodie bag and racked my bike on the Saturday evening after watching the tail end of the novice races. The days before had been typically calm and still in the mornings with the breeze picking up in the afternoon, so I was hoping for the same on the Sunday.
The alarm went off on the Sunday morning and we arose (well I did, the othe half of Team Brooks stayed in bed, deciding to make an appearance at the end of the swim) to perfect still conditions and a temperature of about 27 degrees. After a breakfast of toast and cereal I made my way down to the race start. We had booked a hotel at the port area so a five minute walk and I was there.
The Olympic race was in 4 waves of approx 250 people. I was in wave 3 so I had change to have a chat with my fellow competitors before the start. There was a good mix of competitors and a good mix of countries represented.
The race setting was fantastic, a one lap swim in the Americas Cup port, 4 laps of the F1 circuit and 3 laps around the Valencia Marina.
Having arrive the Wednesday before the race I had some time to aclimatise to the 30 degree + temperatures and complete a few steady sessions given to me by Dermot to lead me into race day. After a couple of steady sea swims I regained my confidence in swimming in the sea that had been somewhat lost due to a bad swim at the Marazion middle distance earlier in the year.
The racing in Valencia was arranged over two days, with the Super Sprint and novice races on the Saturday and the Sprint and Olympic races held on the Sunday.
I registered collected my goodie bag and racked my bike on the Saturday evening after watching the tail end of the novice races. The days before had been typically calm and still in the mornings with the breeze picking up in the afternoon, so I was hoping for the same on the Sunday.
The alarm went off on the Sunday morning and we arose (well I did, the othe half of Team Brooks stayed in bed, deciding to make an appearance at the end of the swim) to perfect still conditions and a temperature of about 27 degrees. After a breakfast of toast and cereal I made my way down to the race start. We had booked a hotel at the port area so a five minute walk and I was there.
The Olympic race was in 4 waves of approx 250 people. I was in wave 3 so I had change to have a chat with my fellow competitors before the start. There was a good mix of competitors and a good mix of countries represented.
The swim was a deep water start so there was time for a warm up swim to starting point which was just under the F1 circuit bridge within the Marina.
The start gun sounded and we were away. I settled into a steady pace, and had positioned myself to the right at the start to avoid the usual bun fight. The swim was a one lap circuit with only 2 Bouys to negotiate. Sighting was easy with a harbour wall to the left for the first 700 meters which suited my 4BS pattern. At the start the fast Chaps sped off and i was left in relatively free water with only a few people to avoid during the first half. After rounding the first Bouy it go a little more congested and I got caught up behind a couple of swimmers who had a sprint front crawl for 20 strokes then breast stroke for 20 strategy. My pace felt good and i was swimming comfortably, having rounded the second Bouy and just being able to sight the finish I felt though that I had been swimming for quite some time. The last 400 meters was a straight swim down the oppostie side of the Marina to the start. Exiting the water onto the finish pontoon and up the steps I looked at my watch , 30 minutes!!! slower than expected but I felt comfortable.
Into transition and i located the bike straight away, socks on, shoes on helmet on gels and GU Blocks in back pocket and I was off. Then I was stopped, no number belt (still hanging off the front of the bike Doh!!. Number belt on and out of transition. 4 laps of 10K was the advertise bike distance. I decided to try and just average 20 MPH and see how it went. The race circuit was in most parts perfect (if is good enough for the F1 boys it is good enough for me), flat smooth tarmac with no climbs. Some twists and turns. One section goes through the centre for arts and sciences the section was quite technical with approx 1 mile of cobble type surface and some tight bends. One lap complete and my speed average was about spot on. A steady second lap and I still felt comfortable. On each lap I took 2 GU blocks at the same point to keep up the energy. Lap 3 came and went with reasonable ease although the time seemed to be really slow? Coming into transition after lap 4 I flicked my watch to distance 47.5K for the bike (still it is the same for everyone).
Bike racked and Hat on I settled into a steady pace for the run, by this time it was 29 degrees so I took on water at every feed station and also ensured I also poured water over my head to keep me cool. I tried to concentrate on people who were in my wave and use these people as my targets on the run for the 3 laps around the Marina. My previous record of running in Triathlons is not good, generally my head wins the battle with the body. I was determined to put in a reasonable effort. 2 steady laps then up the pace on the last lap was the plan. With Nicky now shouting encouragement at me I started the last lap. A runner from my wave came past me with about 3/4 of the last lap to go so I gave myself the goal of staying with them I kept on their shoulder for about 1 mile then nudged ahead. I could now see the finishing area so I sped up the pace a little more knowing there was not long to go. I finished the run in 46.01 which I was reasonably pleased with.
My overall time of 2:48:06 was some way off my 2:30:00 goal although a 40K bike and I would have been somewhere near.
I would encourage anyone to do this race, fantastic venue, well organised and a great city.
Thanks to Dermot for the continued expert coaching and Bill for the wheels and the bike box.
Apologies to the 300+ people on the Ryan Air flight back home whom we kept waiting as the Police investigated the contents of my Bike Box before letting me on the plane. The Police were some what miffed when all they could find was a bike (No Shit Sherlock)a pair of Newton running shoes that smell of used cat litter and a sports Bra (Nicky's honest!!).
Full Boar Middle Distance next Sunday, last Tri of the season (or is it????)
Joe.B.
The start gun sounded and we were away. I settled into a steady pace, and had positioned myself to the right at the start to avoid the usual bun fight. The swim was a one lap circuit with only 2 Bouys to negotiate. Sighting was easy with a harbour wall to the left for the first 700 meters which suited my 4BS pattern. At the start the fast Chaps sped off and i was left in relatively free water with only a few people to avoid during the first half. After rounding the first Bouy it go a little more congested and I got caught up behind a couple of swimmers who had a sprint front crawl for 20 strokes then breast stroke for 20 strategy. My pace felt good and i was swimming comfortably, having rounded the second Bouy and just being able to sight the finish I felt though that I had been swimming for quite some time. The last 400 meters was a straight swim down the oppostie side of the Marina to the start. Exiting the water onto the finish pontoon and up the steps I looked at my watch , 30 minutes!!! slower than expected but I felt comfortable.
Into transition and i located the bike straight away, socks on, shoes on helmet on gels and GU Blocks in back pocket and I was off. Then I was stopped, no number belt (still hanging off the front of the bike Doh!!. Number belt on and out of transition. 4 laps of 10K was the advertise bike distance. I decided to try and just average 20 MPH and see how it went. The race circuit was in most parts perfect (if is good enough for the F1 boys it is good enough for me), flat smooth tarmac with no climbs. Some twists and turns. One section goes through the centre for arts and sciences the section was quite technical with approx 1 mile of cobble type surface and some tight bends. One lap complete and my speed average was about spot on. A steady second lap and I still felt comfortable. On each lap I took 2 GU blocks at the same point to keep up the energy. Lap 3 came and went with reasonable ease although the time seemed to be really slow? Coming into transition after lap 4 I flicked my watch to distance 47.5K for the bike (still it is the same for everyone).
Bike racked and Hat on I settled into a steady pace for the run, by this time it was 29 degrees so I took on water at every feed station and also ensured I also poured water over my head to keep me cool. I tried to concentrate on people who were in my wave and use these people as my targets on the run for the 3 laps around the Marina. My previous record of running in Triathlons is not good, generally my head wins the battle with the body. I was determined to put in a reasonable effort. 2 steady laps then up the pace on the last lap was the plan. With Nicky now shouting encouragement at me I started the last lap. A runner from my wave came past me with about 3/4 of the last lap to go so I gave myself the goal of staying with them I kept on their shoulder for about 1 mile then nudged ahead. I could now see the finishing area so I sped up the pace a little more knowing there was not long to go. I finished the run in 46.01 which I was reasonably pleased with.
My overall time of 2:48:06 was some way off my 2:30:00 goal although a 40K bike and I would have been somewhere near.
I would encourage anyone to do this race, fantastic venue, well organised and a great city.
Thanks to Dermot for the continued expert coaching and Bill for the wheels and the bike box.
Apologies to the 300+ people on the Ryan Air flight back home whom we kept waiting as the Police investigated the contents of my Bike Box before letting me on the plane. The Police were some what miffed when all they could find was a bike (No Shit Sherlock)a pair of Newton running shoes that smell of used cat litter and a sports Bra (Nicky's honest!!).
Full Boar Middle Distance next Sunday, last Tri of the season (or is it????)
Joe.B.
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