So since I last updated you all I've done a couple races, those being the BUCS sprint triathlon and the Slateman sprint triathlon. Even though the were both 'sprints' they were different distances the BUCS one was a 750 metre pool swim, 25k bike and a 5k run and Slateman one was a 400 metre open water swim, 20k bike and a 5k run. Both of them were just as challenging as the other the BUCS was completely flat and slateman was basically a hill.
So first the BUCS race, now this was possibly the worst race I've had. I had a reasonably good swim doing the swim in 11:16 which I was pleased with. However when I got out of the pool I could just tell something wasn't right, I just didn't feel right. Nevertheless I got on to the bike and set off, that's when I really knew it was going to be my day. Every time I tried to get up to race pace I would get pains which went from my lower back into my gluteus and hamstrings, this happened all the way around the bike course which meant I finished the bike in 50:16 (#tortoise). So on to the run, I was really tight coming off the bike but I wanted to try and make so time up but that wasn't to happen as I finished the run in 19:45. Overall my race time was 1:23:45! Which I was not happy with.
The following day I spent about half an hour stretching and half an hour on the foam roller just to try and loosen myself off and it help a lot. I now had roughly 2 weeks to get ready for slateman and I didn't let up that week we did one the hilliest rides I've ever been on, and it wasn't a slow one (there was a bit of willy waving going on I think) and then there was chain gang the day after which was done in torrential rain, that was also done at quite a quick pace! Then there were some other rather hard running sessions through the week. I decided that I would drive home on Wednesday two days before the race so I could a open water swim session in before the race. I also booked a sports massage on the Thursday to try and avoid a repeat of the BUCS race.
So Saturday came up rather quickly and so did the race! My mum and I got to the race an hour before I got all my stuff ready and just before setting off to the transition zone I thought I'd pump my tyres up and as pulled the pump out the bloody tyre burst! Now I was left panicking whilst I change the tyre which ate into my warm up time. Once I had fannyed about with my bike I ran to transition to try and set up in time. I had about 15 minutes before I started and I had only just racked my bike. I had allsorts running through my head the main one being "well this is going just great".
Everyone in the first wave was called to the start. I jumped in the water and tried to do a bit of warm up swim. BUT NO, my goggles were leaking! I went back to the shallow bit and tried desperately to get them to stop leaking but as I was doing they decided to start the bloody race! Rude much? I through them one and just closed one eye all the way around. There is absolutely no way I swam 400m It must have been about 600m, I couldn't stay in a straight line! However after all of that I still managed to get out the water in a time of 8:36 and in 8th position!
After a long run from the swim into transition I was on the bike. I didn't want a repeat of last time so I absolutely hammered it out of T1 to see what my legs would do and they seemed fine! Hallelujah! I hear you cry, he's finally going to stop moaning! Well I wouldn't get ahead of yourselves, I decided it would be a fantastic idea to not pay attention to the road a went over a bloody big pot hole (idiot). I ended up stopping outside of the mountain rescue centre and all of the people in there were watching the race, as they could see I was rather annoyed. One of them shouted over to me "you alright?" to which I answer "no punctured *frowny face*" (I didn't say frowny face obviously). There was a silence and he said "would you like an inner tube and pump then?". I don't think ive ever been so happy, he ran inside and came out with a inner tube, track pump and tyre leavers! As soon as I saw him I paused my watch and began to change the inner tube, it took me about 9 minutes and I was back on way!! So now I was chasing everyone which was great! I was going passed everyone that had passed me at the side of the road. I went on and finished the bike in 51:04 however I clocked 41:54 but you know that doesn't really count (which sucks).
After a reasonable transition I was onto the run and holy crap that was one hard run! There were bits of it where you could have done with rock climbing gear, I have to admit I was reduced to a walk at time but I don't know many that weren't. I however fly down which I think helped me gain a few seconds at least. Once I got onto the last straight to the finish I felt surprisingly good, don't get me wrong I don't think I could have ran any further I just didn't feel like I needed a trip to the hospital after! So I finished the run in 27:59 which I guess I'm happy with, considering I've never ran 5km up a vertical hill. My overall time was 1:30:10 and I managed to finish 38th out of 431 which I'm very happy with considering I had a 9 minute rest on the bike! I worked out that if I hadn't had the little rest I would have come around 8th/9th but you know there's a MASSIVE if there.
I'm quite happy now because I've proved to myself that I can actually ride a bike. Its also made me realise how much I've actually improved over the off-season. And I really want to thank all the people who are in the tri squad at Uni because if it wasn't you guys I still think I'd be plodding along on my bike and splashing around in the pool. So again a big thank you! I'm already looking forward to get back to Uni in September just to be in that training environment because it really is something else!
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