Suffolk Sunrise 2013
Having my hand forced by
injured participants, I nervously jumped up a group, from Slouch to Fast and we
set off about 20 minutes after the Elite group. I very quickly found the pace
too much to sustain and had pains, with only 10 miles completed and a decision
I might regret, I persuaded Steve and his group to completely desert me. 1
mph slower and my stamina seem to recover, but the pain seemed to continue
until, cursing my pre-race tinkering, I noticed my saddle was 2 inches too
low. It was like a different set of legs had taken over, well for another
10 miles or so, just coming in towards the 1st stop, my legs felt heavy once again, looking
down I now realised that the saddle was actually slipping down until it hit the
reflector bracket. Had someone had oiled my shaft the night before! Just like
when you are camping a couple of big leaves, seem to wipe most of it off, clamp
up super tight and why, why did I not do that earlier.
My target time was
eight hours with 7 hours cycling, averaging 15 mph seem possible and now
checking with my only friend left, Mr Strava, he was telling me it was
possible, but tight. I started to feel more confident, but knew all too well
what the last 10-20 miles would feel like, also knowing the wind had little
affect so far, so I knew it would not be long til it did. After lunch at
47miles, I managed to get in a little group and stayed with them for 5 or so
miles, which was a welcome relief, but apart form a few more short tows that
was about the only drafting I got. I bimbled on, cursing a bit and
enjoying it at times, but the last 35 miles were windy and tough, the last 20
very tough, but I could not give up, after all, I am a Gauntleteer. I had
3 stops, drunk 4 litres of fluid and gel ran through my veins, bowl of spicy
pasta for lunch and 4 bananas saw me through. If it had gone slightly
better, yes I could have gone maybe 1mph faster, if I had not mended someone’s
chain I could have saved some time and yes if I had not stopped at all I could
have shaved off another 50 mins, but incredibly even with all this, I would
still be a full hour slower than the Elite Surfer group – Very Impressive.
That will be difficult to pull back in the 10K.
Highlight, the fool who
thought he could keep up with me down a steep descent with a tight sandy corner
at the bottom. I got the turn-in right, hit the apex as my Rossi gate leg
clicked back on to the pedal, giving me enough time to turn and see him cross
the road and use the opposite bank to stop himself. I did warn him and getting
my foot down must have given him a clue.
Lowlight, realising I
have not trained enough and as always, the last 10 miles, although there were
still some to overtake this year.
I was not quick, but some
40 mins quicker than last year, mainly pushing forward on my own, so a great
sense of achievement and as always, well organised and well catered, way of
seeing our lovely county.
DH
Wattisham Tri 2013
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| T-Shirt |
Despite vivid recollections of my last outings to windswept
Wattisham I decided to give it a go again this year. Forecast wasn’t brilliant
for later on in the day but if all went according to plan, I’d be safely in a
tent with a cup of tea and a burger when the bad weather arrived.
The sun was out and fooled by the transition area being in
the lea of the Physical & Recreational Training Centre and out of the wind
I set up and began to feel hopeful that the Met Office had, once again, got the
forecast wrong and that I was in for a nice, warm and calm event.
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| Nice and Sunny |
Briefing was over at 12:30, first swimmer scheduled for
13:01 and I was off at 14:42 – so loads of time to relax and mentally prepare.
I almost sound like I know what I was doing.
Watched the first few swimmers set off then outside to watch
the T1 activities and was treated to the most casual transition I have ever
seen. Watched by 30 or so spectators this guy comes out of the pool and calmly
walks to his bike. He then starts to gently towel himself down like he was at a
beach and had just got out of the sea. The similarities didn’t end there – once
dry he wrapped the towel around his waist and proceeded to wriggle out of his
shorts, one handed, just like you would at the beach. Then on went the cycle shorts in the
same careful way – top marks for not letting the wind flap the towel and expose
his tackle. On goes a nice cycling top then a sit down on the grass to dry his
feet properly, bit of the old talc, before pulling on socks and finally some
cycle shoes. Sorted. Must have taken over five minutes. Walked out of T1 to a
round of applause. Epic.
Now time to go get ready and implement the “just smash it”
plan for this year. The two spaces in front of me were empty so I had a free
pool in front of me. 14:42 and off we go. Steam up and down the first 4 lengths
far too fast and have to hang on for the remaining 8 and extremely glad to see
the final length stretch out in front of me – complete with single old guy pool
side spectator clearly visible on every other stroke as I gulped in air – smiling
at me – bit weird.
Out we get in one jump in a plume of water and run outside
with water pouring off me like Poseidon rising from the deep. Helmet on – shoes
on – glasses on – GO and over the T1 mat and off in 6:30 – so far so good.
Got out of the lea of the building and then it hit me. Wind whistling
round the buildings like a trailer for Twister – well that’s what it felt like.
Out to the south of the airfield against the wind then turned north round the perimeter
with a little tail wind – this ain’t so bad after all. Then across and point
down the runway into proper wind. Must have been 30mph & gusting so much more
that I was honestly almost blown to a standstill. 7-8 mins later got to the other
end, turned round and it all goes quiet, and warm and very fast – guessing close
to 40mph – fantastic J.
Still sticking to the “just smash it” plan and keep my head down and grind out
a series of headwind/tailwind encounters ready to unleash my secret weapon –
running legs - in T2.
This is where I had made a small error in judgement.
Actually my running legs are the same as my cycling legs which are now
completely done in. I transition with no real issues and go over the mats in
48:22 for the bike leg. I’m sure the blood will replace the lactic acid at some
stage so bide my time and wait. And wait. And wait. Clearly I’m not about to
spring into gazelle mode and it’s about hanging on. Which I do and knock out a
22:17 5K – pah.
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| Where have my legs gone - why don't they work! |
Still – Wattisham=Windy and it’s never going to be anything
else. Always underestimated. Always brilliantly organised.
Total time 1:17:35 – 6.5 mins slower than 2010 and 1.5 mins
slower than 2008. But it was very windy – honest.
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