On the 2nd of June, Glyn, Hughes, Martin Foster and I took part in a Team Triathlon at Blenheim Palace.
Glyn was our swimmer, I was to do the cycle, and Martin was our runner.
The following reports by Glyn and myself are a true and accurate description of our parts in the event.
I made Martin's up.
John Barry.
THE SWIM
Saturday morning and I find John by the help desk and the first thing he said is “its 16 degrees”. Thinking he is nuts looking around at the summer dressed gardens and people of Blenheim Palace. Then panic sets in - he is talking about the water which I will have to swim, in about 55 minutes. I lose it then - every thing comes into perspective - months of training. Decide then to get to the water briefing point so that we will not be late (it’s a good 15-20 min walk).
Get to the swim meeting point just as another wave goes off water becomes white with the spray of fast and not so fast swimmers.
Decide to get changed it a brand new tri wet suit so Wendy helps me cover my body with baby oil (no this is serious - it helps in transition, (but it is nice)). Get down to the water 20 min to the start safety briefing and the time flies fast - in the water and it is cold.
My heart is pounding and then off.
I can not believe it I am keeping up with the leaders – oop’s - not a good plan, I’m kicked, had my ankle pulled and, unlike swimming in a pool, it seems never ending. Swim past a twig, a leaf, and I have just swam over a competitor and he said sorry - how nice. At the turn around most people go wide but I try to cut in and pass 6 people can now see the finish - my wet suit is great but tight and I find it hard to breathe, pass another 4 people get to the finish and am dragged out of the water legs gone run straight into a wall. Turn right try to run up some stairs and miss, then get my head together and run up, but the up does not stop they said 400 meters to transition they did not say is was all up hill. Just before transition there is a tunnel of people clapping and I hear one person say he must be an athlete. I see Wendy I think of (baby oil) where john and his bicycle are and she shouts orders - middle of rack E. I sprint harder my lungs bursting there is transition there are John and Martin.
THE CYCLE
At the start of the race week, I had not been feeling too good, and a ride over one of my regular training routes revealed that I was a few minutes down on my time 6 months ago. As the week went on, I improved, so I decided to go ahead and compete. At the allotted time, Martin and I waited in the transition area and started looking out for Glyn amongst the approaching swimmers. When we saw him, he seemed to be struggling, and as soon as he reached us, he made a valiant attempt to make it look as though he intended to sit down, rather than collapse on the floor. After fastening the chip to my ankle, I un-racked the bike and started to make my way through the crowded transition zone.
The cycle leg was 19.8 km, over a 3 lap course. I decided to use the first lap to see what the course was like, and then decide how to tackle the next 2 laps. It turned out that there was only one hill that worried me - hills are my weak point at the moment - and as that was followed by quite a long downhill / flat section, I could attack it on each of the remaining laps, as I would have time to recover afterwards. I was surprised at the number of people that I overtook on the first lap, but they were probably on second or third laps. I passed more people on the later laps, but there were quite a few passing me as well! (I even managed to lap someone - but he was wearing a Polar Bear outfit - I bet that slowed him down in the swim!). Most of the course was very good - no potholes or manhole covers to worry about - only the occasional cattle grid to negotiate - but at least they had been covered over, so didn't slow you down. At the end I had to fight my way through the transition zone - past people getting changed or posing for photographs - but eventually managed to rack the bike, and pass the race number and chip on to Martin for him to start his run.
I had averaged 17.8 MPH, and peaked at 37.1 MPH.
THE RUN.
Martin took over and left the transition area to start his run. Conditions were not too good - it was quite hot by now, and with a clear sky, it was not ideal race conditions. There were a few hills in the 2 lap course, but everyone else seemed to be suffering - especially the ones not in the team event! The course was actually 5.4 km, so Martin's time wasn't too bad - in fact it was the best of our positions in the race, and must have moved us up a bit!
THE TIMES
Discipline Time Position
Swim 18:42 87
T1 4:17 89
Cycle 42:37 64
T2 2:02 109
Run 25:25 31
Total 1:33:01 63
Full results here
Incidentally, the chap cycling in the polar bear suit went on to complete the run in full polar gear, pulling a sledge. He was raising money for the NSPCC.
