London Triathlon – SprintPosted by Moonshine on August 3rd, 2009
In keeping with the ethos of propping up the bottom third of the results table I set off for a 5 hour drive to compete in my A race of the season and the only one I had intended to do – not entirely sure how you mange to enter 2 others byaccident but that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it. Had a detour on Thursday night to Blueseventy OW in order to practice my OW drowning technique – not quite to plan as happily swam the 800m all front crawl with no panic in sight.
Saurday set off from parents – picked up a stranded triathlete in Islington and hit EXCEL early as wanted to ensure that the panic levels were at their best. 375 in my wave 1st female sprint wave!!!!! Oh my **** how was I ever going to refind my bike without satnav.
4pm suddenly appeared and there I was listening to a fellow Welshie try and get us all to smile – it worked and wondering what was I doing.
Swim – this has been a major learning curve and landed up being breaststroke in my previous tris as my heart rate hits 2000 and I decide I can’t breath – not entirely sure there’s enough O2 in the world that would make me feel any different – however on this occassion did the dip hands in water, dip feet in water, do 4 breaths in 1 minute, slide in, fill wetsuit up and float on back – something not right feel fab and grinning like an idiot – crawl to start – plot to start on side at back – off goes hooter and all I can see is empty water to swim in – crawal crawl crawl – site – something definitely wrong swimmers all around me some of which I appear to be passing and some of which are also behind me and not an aqua ruck to be seen. Turn buoy and still doing crawl!!! Suddenly there’s a guy dressed as a ligeguard yelling ‘well done’ and offering ahand to get out – oops forgot the kick like mad bit and wander up the quay like I’ve had far too much to drink, wetsuit off and then head for the stairs – TIME 21:58 3mins off my previous swim times
T1 – satnav not required as drapping cerise pink top on bike helps with the finding off it but it still took 4:45 !!!!! Down to the loooooonnnnng wobble from swim to bike and the even loooooooonnnnnnggggggeeeerrr totter (floor very slippery) to the bike hop on
Bike – then it decided to tip down, monsoon springs to mind and roads felt a bit greasy so was a bit of a wimp on the speed front but did manage negative splits. There were occassions where swimming the bike leg felt like a better idea. Don’t believe anyone who tells you that the bike at London is flat it isn’t especially not that ramp TIME 50:49 NB 21k
T2 – pink top no where to be seen so a short period of headless chicken before finally locating area 4:24
Run – great fun having people cheer you on even if for the first lap swimming still seemed a good idea. And suddenly it was over PB run 29:18 aim achieved – and oh dear a desire to do it all again
Total time 1:50:49
473rd out of 656