Mid Sussex Tri Club team photo taken at the 2009 AGM.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
16 STORM BARNS GREEN
BAR Race 10 1st November 2009
With the rain lashing down, and a driving wind, 16 intrepid athletes lined up at the start of the Barns Green ½ Marathon. Apparently it was started by Dame Vera Lynn but I hope she was well wrapped up!
It was not possible to stand outside without getting soaked through so hundreds of runners crammed into any protected area they could. By the time the race started no-one was dry. Mind you, this was one of those races where running was much better than watching.
It was so wet that Emma and Julie developed one of the slickest pre-race toilet strategies ever seen. They waited in the steamed up comfort of the Landrover until the race was about to start. Then they sprinted across to the portaloos where there was now no queue. By the time they had done what was needed and got to the start, the last starters had not yet crossed the line! No time wasted standing in pouring rain.
The run itself was just a blur of torrential rain and pain for little gain! I am not sure how many PBs there were, but I believe that Stu, Kay and Lynn did achieve this. For most it was not a day for very fast times but nevertheless, WELL DONE to all those who turned out on such a day and completed it.
Congratulations to Jon Webster getting his first 10 point haul. BAR points are awarded on time over the finishing line (gun time) but I have calculated percentages on chip time. Andy Heath managed to gain 2 BAR points by default! Margaret won the ladies race comfortably but I believe it was hard work. Special mentions go to Alice and Kay who ran very well to get 2nd and 3rd respectively.
MEN Winner 1.10.01
Jon Webster 1st 1.33.30 10pts 33.57% age percentage 16.39%
Steve Alden 2nd 1.34.31 9 35.01 22.34
Dave Lashbrook 3rd 1.38.24 8 40.57
Callum Murray 4th 1.39.53 7 42.7 21.17
Andy Heath 5th 1.42.24 6 46.29
Richard Bool 6th 1.41.36 5 45.14 26.48
Stuart Nisbett 7th 1.41.03 4 44.36
Mat Record 8th 1.46.01 3 51.44 31.97
Steve Mac 9th 2.04.14 2 77.47 54.65
Loz Wintergold 10th 2.10.49 1 86.87 69.33
WOMEN Winner 1.24.32
Margaret Hollamby 1st 1.56.16 10pts 37.54% 24.00%
Alice Wintergold 2nd 2.10.50 9 54.77
Kay MacMenamin 3rd 2.11.34 8 55.63
Julie Williams 4th 2.15.57 7 60.83 43.97
Claire Cresswell 5th 2.18.59 6 64.43
Emma Alden 6th 2.19.23 5 64.9 47.60
Lynn Lashbrook 7th 2.30.30 78.04 (not a member -yet!)
Age related percentages are for over 40'
Results
With the rain lashing down, and a driving wind, 16 intrepid athletes lined up at the start of the Barns Green ½ Marathon. Apparently it was started by Dame Vera Lynn but I hope she was well wrapped up!
It was not possible to stand outside without getting soaked through so hundreds of runners crammed into any protected area they could. By the time the race started no-one was dry. Mind you, this was one of those races where running was much better than watching.
It was so wet that Emma and Julie developed one of the slickest pre-race toilet strategies ever seen. They waited in the steamed up comfort of the Landrover until the race was about to start. Then they sprinted across to the portaloos where there was now no queue. By the time they had done what was needed and got to the start, the last starters had not yet crossed the line! No time wasted standing in pouring rain.
The run itself was just a blur of torrential rain and pain for little gain! I am not sure how many PBs there were, but I believe that Stu, Kay and Lynn did achieve this. For most it was not a day for very fast times but nevertheless, WELL DONE to all those who turned out on such a day and completed it.
Congratulations to Jon Webster getting his first 10 point haul. BAR points are awarded on time over the finishing line (gun time) but I have calculated percentages on chip time. Andy Heath managed to gain 2 BAR points by default! Margaret won the ladies race comfortably but I believe it was hard work. Special mentions go to Alice and Kay who ran very well to get 2nd and 3rd respectively.
MEN Winner 1.10.01
Jon Webster 1st 1.33.30 10pts 33.57% age percentage 16.39%
Steve Alden 2nd 1.34.31 9 35.01 22.34
Dave Lashbrook 3rd 1.38.24 8 40.57
Callum Murray 4th 1.39.53 7 42.7 21.17
Andy Heath 5th 1.42.24 6 46.29
Richard Bool 6th 1.41.36 5 45.14 26.48
Stuart Nisbett 7th 1.41.03 4 44.36
Mat Record 8th 1.46.01 3 51.44 31.97
Steve Mac 9th 2.04.14 2 77.47 54.65
Loz Wintergold 10th 2.10.49 1 86.87 69.33
WOMEN Winner 1.24.32
Margaret Hollamby 1st 1.56.16 10pts 37.54% 24.00%
Alice Wintergold 2nd 2.10.50 9 54.77
Kay MacMenamin 3rd 2.11.34 8 55.63
Julie Williams 4th 2.15.57 7 60.83 43.97
Claire Cresswell 5th 2.18.59 6 64.43
Emma Alden 6th 2.19.23 5 64.9 47.60
Lynn Lashbrook 7th 2.30.30 78.04 (not a member -yet!)
Age related percentages are for over 40'
Results
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Horsted Keynes Triathlon Results
Results for the Horsted Keynes Tri are now up on the hedgehog tri website.
Thanks to Paul Hedger for organising the event and well done to all those who took part. Congrats to Tamsin, Andy and Martin who were the fastest team from the club.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Race report to follow...
Thanks to Paul Hedger for organising the event and well done to all those who took part. Congrats to Tamsin, Andy and Martin who were the fastest team from the club.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Race report to follow...
Hever Castle Triathlon
3 Mid Sussex Tri Club members competed in Hever Castle’s Triathlon on Sunday, 27th September, which was the first time they have held such an event. Competitors were Rupert Robinson, Trevor Moore and I, Samantha Anderson who all opted for the Henry VIII distance, which consisted of an 800m open water swim, 40km undulating cycle and 8km run.
The swim took place in the lake which was cold enough to warrant a wet suit, but more to the point was exceptionally shallow in places, only 3 foot deep. This made the last 50 metres or so interesting, as you were not only trying to pulling through the water but the bottom of the lake too. But complaints aside, due to there only being 33 people in each wave there was plenty of space to avoid being kicked, pulled and nearly drowned.
You then exited the water up a small grassy hill into the transition area which was engulfed in small pebbles, which made getting to your bike with any sort of speed quite difficult.
The cycle route was a 2 lap circuit through the High Weald of Kent which made for a scenic race around this area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The only slight snag with the route being in and around these shaded country lanes was that it did make for some bumpy cycling as well as interesting traffic dodging. Other than that with the sun shining, spectators and supporters yelling words of encouragement as you sped by, it was extremely pleasant.
The run route was a 2 lap circuit which circumnavigated the castle’s estate and led you pass their lakes, through their woodland and beautiful gardens. Although the scenery was great you had to keep your wits about you, as you had to dodge those visiting the castle for the day and avoid misplacing you foot on the sometimes uneven ground.
The star of the day was Rupert whose results were as follows:
Swim: 16:28 Cycle: 1:15:25 Run: 47:53
Placed: 91 out of 414.
My results were as follows:
Swim: 14:42 Cycle: 1:28:09 Run: 44:39
Placed: 171 out of 414.
Trevor’s results were as follows:
Swim: 18:08 Cycle: 1:33:45 Run: 48:25
Placed 292 out of 414.
Congratulations to all.
By Samantha Anderson
The swim took place in the lake which was cold enough to warrant a wet suit, but more to the point was exceptionally shallow in places, only 3 foot deep. This made the last 50 metres or so interesting, as you were not only trying to pulling through the water but the bottom of the lake too. But complaints aside, due to there only being 33 people in each wave there was plenty of space to avoid being kicked, pulled and nearly drowned.
You then exited the water up a small grassy hill into the transition area which was engulfed in small pebbles, which made getting to your bike with any sort of speed quite difficult.
The cycle route was a 2 lap circuit through the High Weald of Kent which made for a scenic race around this area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The only slight snag with the route being in and around these shaded country lanes was that it did make for some bumpy cycling as well as interesting traffic dodging. Other than that with the sun shining, spectators and supporters yelling words of encouragement as you sped by, it was extremely pleasant.
The run route was a 2 lap circuit which circumnavigated the castle’s estate and led you pass their lakes, through their woodland and beautiful gardens. Although the scenery was great you had to keep your wits about you, as you had to dodge those visiting the castle for the day and avoid misplacing you foot on the sometimes uneven ground.
The star of the day was Rupert whose results were as follows:
Swim: 16:28 Cycle: 1:15:25 Run: 47:53
Placed: 91 out of 414.
My results were as follows:
Swim: 14:42 Cycle: 1:28:09 Run: 44:39
Placed: 171 out of 414.
Trevor’s results were as follows:
Swim: 18:08 Cycle: 1:33:45 Run: 48:25
Placed 292 out of 414.
Congratulations to all.
By Samantha Anderson
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Martin christened and a club one-two at Crawley
Four Mid Sussex Tri Club members competed in the Crawley Late Summer Triathlon on Sunday 27 September, including Martin Back, taking part in his very first triathlon.
The distances were 600m swim, 25k (I think) bike and 6k run, with swim times including a fairly lengthy jog from the 50m pool at K2 sports centre down a footpath past school sports buildings to the transition area by the A23 roundabout.
The cycle route involved dodging around Sunday footballers making their way to nearby pitches in two underpasses beneath the roundabout before emerging on a residential road that joins the dual carriageway from Crawley to Horsham, familiar territory to anyone used to Crawley Wheelers evening ‘10s’ in the summer.
Martin was 73rd out of 106 in a highly respectable time of 1:31:42, after getting the swim out of the way through a combination of front crawl and breast stroke, before a strong 42:57 cycle and an excellent 27:03-minute run, the fastest of the four on the day.
Martin was 35th out of 49 in the highly competitive Vets 1&2 category (the first three places in the race overall were taken by competitors in this category).
Not far behind Martin in 86th place, with a time of 1:35:27, was Hazel Tuppen, showing huge improvements in her cycle (47:07) and run (32:38) times, to complement her expected fast swim time of 15:42.
But the star of the MSTC show on the day was, without question, newly-appointed club president Mark Jordan who was 29th in an overall 1:21:53, after setting a blistering time of 14:28 in the pool, despite still struggling with a broken wrist.
Mark then put in a 39:27 cycle (“without once coming close to falling off”) and a 27:58 run on the tough, out-and-back, cross-country route through Tilgate Forest, culminating in a vicious hill that reduced some competitors (but not ours) to walking, just before the turn.
Callum Murray, the only Mid Sussex athlete with ‘previous’ in this race, was 44th, with a time of 1:24:59, an improvement on last year’s 1:27:11. Most of his improvement came on the bike, enabling him to pip Mark to the title of ‘fastest MSTC cyclist on the day’ – by four seconds – in 39:23.
He also improved his run time slightly with a 27:21, but must return to the ‘special needs’ section in swim training sessions, after a disappointing 18:15 swim – just two seconds quicker than last year’s time. So, just to be absolutely clear, that’s a whole year of battling up and down the pool, cajoled and encouraged by David, Rose and Mark, for just two seconds improvement. Dear oh dear.
With just eight competitors in the Vets 3&4 category, the good news was a club one-two for Mark and Callum in this category.
By Callum Murray
The distances were 600m swim, 25k (I think) bike and 6k run, with swim times including a fairly lengthy jog from the 50m pool at K2 sports centre down a footpath past school sports buildings to the transition area by the A23 roundabout.
The cycle route involved dodging around Sunday footballers making their way to nearby pitches in two underpasses beneath the roundabout before emerging on a residential road that joins the dual carriageway from Crawley to Horsham, familiar territory to anyone used to Crawley Wheelers evening ‘10s’ in the summer.
Martin was 73rd out of 106 in a highly respectable time of 1:31:42, after getting the swim out of the way through a combination of front crawl and breast stroke, before a strong 42:57 cycle and an excellent 27:03-minute run, the fastest of the four on the day.
Martin was 35th out of 49 in the highly competitive Vets 1&2 category (the first three places in the race overall were taken by competitors in this category).
Not far behind Martin in 86th place, with a time of 1:35:27, was Hazel Tuppen, showing huge improvements in her cycle (47:07) and run (32:38) times, to complement her expected fast swim time of 15:42.
But the star of the MSTC show on the day was, without question, newly-appointed club president Mark Jordan who was 29th in an overall 1:21:53, after setting a blistering time of 14:28 in the pool, despite still struggling with a broken wrist.
Mark then put in a 39:27 cycle (“without once coming close to falling off”) and a 27:58 run on the tough, out-and-back, cross-country route through Tilgate Forest, culminating in a vicious hill that reduced some competitors (but not ours) to walking, just before the turn.
Callum Murray, the only Mid Sussex athlete with ‘previous’ in this race, was 44th, with a time of 1:24:59, an improvement on last year’s 1:27:11. Most of his improvement came on the bike, enabling him to pip Mark to the title of ‘fastest MSTC cyclist on the day’ – by four seconds – in 39:23.
He also improved his run time slightly with a 27:21, but must return to the ‘special needs’ section in swim training sessions, after a disappointing 18:15 swim – just two seconds quicker than last year’s time. So, just to be absolutely clear, that’s a whole year of battling up and down the pool, cajoled and encouraged by David, Rose and Mark, for just two seconds improvement. Dear oh dear.
With just eight competitors in the Vets 3&4 category, the good news was a club one-two for Mark and Callum in this category.
By Callum Murray
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
English Channel
Hi all
Just a quick note to say a big thank you to all who sponsored me, to those who have not... http://www.justgiving.com/stevemcmenamin or http://www.justgiving.com/stevemcmenamin
All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dream with open eyes to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
It is early Friday morning, on a blowy but clear August 7th. Whilst many are fast asleep, we nervously make our way to Samphire Hoe, a beach near Dover.
At 00:45 wearing just a regular swim costume, a latex cap, and a pair of swim goggles our first swimmer, Karen, leaves the comforts of the shore and slips into the icy cool dark waters. And so begins our journey to France.
The night swim is the roughest part with gale force winds reaching 5-6 making the already cold and very choppy seas even more foreboding. What else will the channel hold for us?
It's 01:45 and now it's my turn. The first thing I notice is the complete isolation and sensory deprivation. However I am totally enthralled by the plankton as its phosphorescence glows as your hand passes through it. This is probably why I set off in the wrong direction. It takes some time for me to hear the team shouting at me, I look up and wonder what on earth the boat is doing all the way over there?
With the second hour complete, thankfully Jamie takes over, as I now have a full body shiver going on. I think that Jamie had the worst start, waiting for 2 hours, dealing with the motion of the boat and contemplating what is about to happen.
On your day, in the dark, in the middle of the ocean, you can find out what kind of man you are - the one who quits or the one who swims. It would be so easy to quit. All I need to do is reach out and touch the boat, then it will all be over. I could climb aboard, put on some warm clothes and have a hot drink. But to swim on in the dark with my imagination going wild, motion sickness taking its toll, shivering uncontrollably with the cold, and depleted energy stores making my body desperately scavenge for more, what reason is there to continue? Then I remember the cause; the money we are raising for brainstrust and I notice that the sun is rising, the ocean is calming. That’s it, I'm a swimmer. Life is good.
We are feeling confident as we pass the midpoint of the swim. During this part of the journey, we make it look easy and carefree, well as carefree as you can be when traversing the ice cold waters of the English Channel.
By 11 hours we are less than a mile from shore but the tide has turned and is pulling us up the coast towards Calais. Each time we look up we are reminded how close to shore we are but the strength of the currents makes it so hard to swim forward to land. We know that our job is simply to swim hard now and think later. My throat is raw, reminding me that I am swallowing so much salt water. I feel like I'm slowly drowning.
Karen is swimming the 12th hour. She is nearly there but unfortunately for her hour is up. The final sprint to shore is mine. What a feeling. Standing up with out being rocked as a crowd of holiday makers make their way over to me. I quickly clear the water line because if one of them touches me before I clear the water line the swim will be classed as a fail. Karen and Jamie jump from the boat too and are close behind me making that final swim to shore. Now we are all on the beach smiling, happy and posing for a few pictures. We collect a couple of pebbles to keep as mementoes and swim back to the boat and back to Dear Old Blighty.
Steve McMenamin channel swimmer 13hrs 18mins
I have learned to set goals with "failure potential." Do not be afraid to fail. In fact, risk failing. If you have never failed, you are not trying hard enough. Mark Twain said, "twenty years from now, we will be more disappointed by the things we didn't do than by the things we did." It feels so much better when you achieve something that once seemed so difficult. The Channel seemed pretty impossible to me once, and I have had plenty of failures, losses, and bad races along the way. That's what makes the finish line so rewarding.
You may ask why do such things. I have a lot of varied answers to this question but basically sometimes you have to explore if you have what it takes. Will I reach out and touch that boat or will I swim on?
Many thanks to the dozens of people who took the time to respond and email/text me, you've been an inspiration. The amount raised is amazing and we are truly grateful to you. So far your donations (£2200 and still growing daily) would buy 36 brainboxes or pay for two MRI scans or pay for 7 private consultations, which could save 7 lives. Brilliant!
Until next time, au revoir
H2O: two parts Heart and one part Obsession
PS
One of my team mates has also written a good review at http://www.thelongswim.blogspot.com/
If you can get access http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YJBNExMwU0
Just a quick note to say a big thank you to all who sponsored me, to those who have not... http://www.justgiving.com/stevemcmenamin or http://www.justgiving.com/stevemcmenamin
All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dream with open eyes to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
It is early Friday morning, on a blowy but clear August 7th. Whilst many are fast asleep, we nervously make our way to Samphire Hoe, a beach near Dover.
At 00:45 wearing just a regular swim costume, a latex cap, and a pair of swim goggles our first swimmer, Karen, leaves the comforts of the shore and slips into the icy cool dark waters. And so begins our journey to France.
The night swim is the roughest part with gale force winds reaching 5-6 making the already cold and very choppy seas even more foreboding. What else will the channel hold for us?
It's 01:45 and now it's my turn. The first thing I notice is the complete isolation and sensory deprivation. However I am totally enthralled by the plankton as its phosphorescence glows as your hand passes through it. This is probably why I set off in the wrong direction. It takes some time for me to hear the team shouting at me, I look up and wonder what on earth the boat is doing all the way over there?
With the second hour complete, thankfully Jamie takes over, as I now have a full body shiver going on. I think that Jamie had the worst start, waiting for 2 hours, dealing with the motion of the boat and contemplating what is about to happen.
On your day, in the dark, in the middle of the ocean, you can find out what kind of man you are - the one who quits or the one who swims. It would be so easy to quit. All I need to do is reach out and touch the boat, then it will all be over. I could climb aboard, put on some warm clothes and have a hot drink. But to swim on in the dark with my imagination going wild, motion sickness taking its toll, shivering uncontrollably with the cold, and depleted energy stores making my body desperately scavenge for more, what reason is there to continue? Then I remember the cause; the money we are raising for brainstrust and I notice that the sun is rising, the ocean is calming. That’s it, I'm a swimmer. Life is good.
We are feeling confident as we pass the midpoint of the swim. During this part of the journey, we make it look easy and carefree, well as carefree as you can be when traversing the ice cold waters of the English Channel.
By 11 hours we are less than a mile from shore but the tide has turned and is pulling us up the coast towards Calais. Each time we look up we are reminded how close to shore we are but the strength of the currents makes it so hard to swim forward to land. We know that our job is simply to swim hard now and think later. My throat is raw, reminding me that I am swallowing so much salt water. I feel like I'm slowly drowning.
Karen is swimming the 12th hour. She is nearly there but unfortunately for her hour is up. The final sprint to shore is mine. What a feeling. Standing up with out being rocked as a crowd of holiday makers make their way over to me. I quickly clear the water line because if one of them touches me before I clear the water line the swim will be classed as a fail. Karen and Jamie jump from the boat too and are close behind me making that final swim to shore. Now we are all on the beach smiling, happy and posing for a few pictures. We collect a couple of pebbles to keep as mementoes and swim back to the boat and back to Dear Old Blighty.
Steve McMenamin channel swimmer 13hrs 18mins
I have learned to set goals with "failure potential." Do not be afraid to fail. In fact, risk failing. If you have never failed, you are not trying hard enough. Mark Twain said, "twenty years from now, we will be more disappointed by the things we didn't do than by the things we did." It feels so much better when you achieve something that once seemed so difficult. The Channel seemed pretty impossible to me once, and I have had plenty of failures, losses, and bad races along the way. That's what makes the finish line so rewarding.
You may ask why do such things. I have a lot of varied answers to this question but basically sometimes you have to explore if you have what it takes. Will I reach out and touch that boat or will I swim on?
Many thanks to the dozens of people who took the time to respond and email/text me, you've been an inspiration. The amount raised is amazing and we are truly grateful to you. So far your donations (£2200 and still growing daily) would buy 36 brainboxes or pay for two MRI scans or pay for 7 private consultations, which could save 7 lives. Brilliant!
Until next time, au revoir
H2O: two parts Heart and one part Obsession
PS
One of my team mates has also written a good review at http://www.thelongswim.blogspot.com/
If you can get access http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YJBNExMwU0
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Karten Ironman Austria
As you know I've just come back from Austria after competing in the
Ironman at Klagenfurt, so as a reply to all those who wished me luck,
or have emailed me about the result, I thought I'd write a quick
report. I know some of our ladies were thinking about a girl's trip
to Klagenfurt next year and I really can't recommend this event
enough, whether its the organization, the support or the fantastic
scenery that you see as you speed through the Austrian Alps, its a
fantastic race.
For me it started with a 2 day car journey, shared with my friend and
fellow competitor, Mark, arriving at our camp site at 1700 on the
Friday. The campsite was practically in the Ironman Expo, about 50m
from transition, and our tent was, more importantly, only 25m from
the toilets! after setting up camp we wandered around the expo and
set up our bikes. A free pasta party followed, with a fantastic
display of gymnastics by a danish group of kids, doing back flips etc
through the main marquee. As the sun was setting we rode one lap of
the run course, quite easily followed by the messages of support
sprayed onto the pavement.
Saturday started with registration and racking, interrupted by one of
the frequent thunderstorms and showers that were forecast every day
of the event. That afternoon we drove one lap of the bike course and
were introduced to the infamous (for us anyway) Ruppittenberg, or as
the English named it, Rupert the Bear. This it a sharp hill at 60km
and 150km on the bike course which gives the height required for the
long downhill sections of the course that make Austria one of the
fastest Ironman. That evening, a relaxing meal in the centre of
Klagenfurt was followed by a surprisingly good nights sleep.
Race Day
We got up at 0500, time for a bowl of Ready Brek and a cup of tea,
then it was time to go to the transition and load the bike. I'd been
training with High 5 gels and have never got on with Powerbar stuff
supplied on the course, so I would have to carry all my provisions
with me. I wanted to get my brakes sorted out as they were pulling,
so I joined the queue of racers with punctures and flats at the bike
repair tent. They couldn't help me, so I'd have to risk it. I donned
the wet suit and downed a Red Bull and joined the throngs making
their way to the beach. There was a bit of a bottleneck over the mats
that all had to pass over, so we weren't even in the water when the
gun was fired and the race had started.
The lake (The Wodersee) was, we had noted, a funny colour and I
wasn't looking forward to the swim, but as I entered the water I
realized why it looked wrong. It was so clean, not the usual green or
brown slime that you get at Southwater. The swim was a 1400m out,
following 3 buoys, then a left turn around a forth buoy another 100m
on, then back to the shore. to finish the swim you travel 900m down a
canal to the exit. The lake was fantastic with very little pushing
even though there were 3000 people in the water with you. Sighting
was fairly easy with large mountains on all sides and beautiful
castles allowing you to keep the swim distance to a minimum. The
canal was very crowded with lots of pushing and all you could do was
concentrate on a long stroke and accept that you weren't going to
improve your position.
T1 was pretty quick, aided by the fact that I had forgotten to pack
my sun cream, and then it was out on the bike. I settled down and
concentrated on keeping a low level of perceived effort for the first
lap. The course is closed road and the road surface is mostly smooth
and allowed for a fast first part along the lake shore. Mark ,
although having a slightly faster swim, was behind me, but caught up
around 10k. we cycled together for a couple of k, but were very wary
of the marshalers who, with typical Austrian efficiency, were
enforcing the no draughting rule very tightly. Mark dropped back and
I put my head down and set out to face the hills. The first hill you
reach is the Egg, a steep, short gradient that got you out of your
saddle and dropped your cadence down to 50ish in your granny cog. The
support though was brilliant with people all around the course. The
downhills were long and very fast, leaving me slightly worried about
my still squeaky wheel and my catching brakes. At you get to the 60k
mark you meet the Ruppittenberg for the first time. The crowds push
in and only leave you the space for your bike, all the time ringing
their cow bells and shouting "hop, hop, hop". It was fantastic and
you couldn't stop, even if you wanted to. A bloke had the PA going
and was shouting out encouragement (imagine Austrian accent), "I-ron
mans, I-ron womans, willkomen zue Ruppittenberg....etc". Over the
summit and I really let the planet X of its lease, making a top speed
of 69kph through the twists and turns of the Austrian Alps,
fantastic. The last 15 k was along the dual carriage way back to
Klagenfurt and lap 2. The second lap was a hard slog, with the
temperature rising to 29/30 degrees, but all you could do is
concentrate on your cadence and keeping hydrated and refueled. 180k
and it was back into transition and luckily (for me not her) a young
frauline willing to smear suncream on my shoulders. I threw on my
trainers and set of for the run.
The heat now was the biggest problem, with half the run unshaded and
the temperature still in the low 30s. My stomach was also giving me
concern with cramps, so I settled down to my target pace and tried to
re-hydrate when I could. I realized that if I wanted to get through
this that I would have to change my plans. I decided I had to walk
through the water stops so I could fully drink the water. I kept on
taking my high 5 gels and kept my required pace between the water
stops. The run initially goes along the northern shore of the
Wodersee then returns to the start before going into the centre of
Klagenfurt and around the Lingwurm ( a statue of a dragon in the main
square), past all the cafes and restaurants, before returning to the
start. You do this twice, before finally turning into the finishers
tunnel and the end. About half way round the clouds started to build
and the rain dragged the temperature to a more reasonable 26ish. This
gave me a new lease of life and even though the shower was short
lived I realized I was going to make it. Turning the last corner and
hearing the crowds at the finish was one of the best experiences of
my life. I took my time enjoying the crowds as I finished, which
unfortunately meant I missed out on a below 4 hour marathon.
Mark finished some time latter after being around 10k behind me on
the run, but shortly after 25k he started throwing up and was unable
to re-hydrate or take on any carbs, but finish he did, before being
placed on a drip by the medics. A real Ironman.
The results
3.8k / 2.4 mile swim 1:14:28
180k / 112 mile bike 5:49:20
42.2k / 26.1 mile run 4:00;04
T1 06:34
T2 06:27
TOTAL TIME 11:16:56
Thanks to all at MSTC who have helped me over the last 6 months
achieve my ambition of becoming an Ironman. To any body, who is as
fortunate as I am to have the time to train and a very understanding
family, I would thoroughly recommend this experience. I would jump at
the chance to do another, although I fear I will not be allowed to.
It is, I think, a once in a life time experience, but it is
definitely one that will rank up there with (in chronological order):
my first solo flight, my marriage and the birth of my children.
Now, bring on the Vitruvian!
See you all back training when the legs are working.
Jon
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