East Grinstead Triathlon

[Marek]

It has been 4 years since I last attempted a Triathlon so I lined up in trepidation at what lay ahead for the East Grinstead Triathlon. 500m swim, 26km hilly bike and 5km run. Earlier in the year I had been focussing on my run training culminating in some good 5km times and also my first sub 1.30 half marathon. After the half I decided to take a small break from running with the plan to start again 5 weeks before this event.

In the meantime the cycling was coming on well and the swimming is not worth training for as 20 lengths isn't enough to get too worried about. Unfortunately due to a slight spatial miscalculation (I kicked the bed) I managed to fracture my 3rd toe on my left leg 5 weeks prior to the event. I was now down to no swim training and unable to run train even is I had wanted to.

On the Friday before the event I tested the foot by running for the train. It seemed to feel ok so I decided that I would tough up and get through this event as best as I could. 3 days out another leg issue, due to dehydrating (too much beer) I managed to cramp up my right calf 3 days prior to the event. It was agony and even on race day as I pedaled up to the start line I could feel a taughtness in my calf.

Ok, enough of the excuses.

I lined up and got my numbers drawn onto my failing body. Then it was over to the pool. into the water and 3,2 1 and I was off. I went out quite quick for the first 2 lengths and then early on I could feel my form starting to fade away. I was beginning to thrash it out and I just wanted to get it over with. Some racing dolphin overtook me in my lane twice, he was flying and left me in his wake quite literally. My perfect swim technique I found only lasts about 4 lengths if you haven't done any training, darn maybe I should have hit the pool prior to the event!!!

After I had managed to clamber out of the pool (I was worried about that part, getting out the pool is starting to get a bit harder these days and we were not allowed to use the steps) after my 20 lengths it was a 100m run to pick up the bike. Socks and shoes on, helmet sunglasses and a mad dash out onto the road to then hammer this section. I was hoping for a good bike section as this was the only part that I had managed some consistent training. After navigating through a bit of traffic into the town I unfortunately got stuck behind a slow cyclist on the long descent out of the town towards Forest Row as he was holding up the traffic. I eventually got around him but it must have cost me 30 seconds if not more.

Onto the road to hartfield and I was picking off a number of the swimmers that had been in my wave. On the hills my relative speed seemed to really show as I was just picking them off like flies.

Back to the transition area and I could see by my Garmin that I had put in a good bike section relative to the time I had done on this course 4 years ago. Now helmet off, cycling shoes off and trainers on. Damn I wish I'd have brought elastic laces, trying to jam my feet into my trainers with a fractured toe was pretty hard going and again I think I lost a bit of time relative to the top guys in transition. I wasn't exactly brushing my hair or reapplying fake tan but I was a bit slow on this part of the race.

Onto the run. Oh no, this hurts. The feeling when you get off the bike onto the run is never good and is something that most triathletes train their body to endure. As i hadn't even run since February I was not enduring this particularly well. Speed was defo down and was a real shame as the course is pretty flat and on a good day with a bit of training I think I would blast it. After the first of 2 laps I had settled into a rhythm and was catching a few people, also the legs started to feel a little better.

Into the finish and over the line where I was asked if I would like an ambulance. Jeez I must have looked bad.

Overall stats:
19th out of around 400
500m Swim - 8min 52secs
26km Bike - 43min 17secs
5km Run - 19min 56 secs
Overall time - 1hr 15min 43 seconds

All in all a reasonable performance considering the poor run. The top guys are taking 2 to 3 mins out of me on the run. Maybe next year....

Cheers

Marek