New Forest Olympic

This race should be on everybody’s calendar.

After rumors of the swim being shortened due to the cold water I was happy to find out that because the water was 14 degrees (yea course it was) they left it at 1100m, got in and tried to acclimatize but just didn’t have enough time only managed to make it to my favored position in the centre of the second line otherwise known as the washing machine.. Off we go a mass start of 350 competitor’s legs and arms flailing everywhere what a buzz took me about 200mts to get into the swing of it so the leaders had escaped me at this time, never mind, out of the water in 18:30 and no dizzy head there’s a first. A 200mtr run to T1 and over the timing mat in 19:15 leaving me in 47th position.

Off with the wet suit then bang I overbalanced and nearly fell on the floor, the dizziness kicked in, strange it took its time, anyway out on the bike in 3:25 long T1 but I’ve been taking tips of James Dear and must have been brushing my long locks.

Out of T1 with a 300mtr run to the mount line, the bike was great, out through the forest and over exposed heath land, the wind was almost non existent, I kept having to refocus though as I took in the scenery from my tuck position. Also having to dodge the odd cow or horse that decided to wander into the road, saw highland cattle with the biggest horns I’ve ever seen so sped past that as quick as possible. Off the bike and a 300mtr run to T3 67 mins dropped to 150th must improve my bike or wear blinkers and stop being a tourist.

Out of T2 in 2:06 not so much hair to brush this time.

The run starts off with a gentle 1-2k then you hit a long hill, I got to the top and the run moved to off road on gravel/mud tracks, I turned the corner, only to see another hill... anyway my run was finished after the first km as I picked up a ankle injury, bit typical for me, but decided I was not going to dnf even if I had to hop, so a stuttering 10k for me at 62 mins.

All in all it was a good race that I would strongly recommend, I was aiming at a sub 2:15 and came in at 2:28:20 and in 203rd so as my old school teacher used to say ‘could do better’, anyway I am off to ride the south downs way this weekend and racing another Olympic distance at Dorney lake on the 25th May and hope to do a sub 2:20 this time.

Don’t know if I’ve done the right thing but in my post race excitement I have now signed up for the middle distance version of this race...gulp.