Tidworth 'Fast Twitch' Triathlon

400m swim, 15 miles bike, 4.5 mile run.

Well, today was hard. I was a little jaded, even after a reasonable pre-race night's sleep. Got there nice and early to get organised. Changed into tri-suit and got marked up and went for a 15 minute ride along part of the bike course, looked ok, good road. Back into transition to set my stuff out. Rummaging through my bag I panicked, where's my race belt! I am always well organised, and check and triple check everything, I knew it was there, but I must have forgotten it. Striaght to the stall where tri gear on sale. Yes they had a race belt, £5. Paid my money, opened it up, and what was the next thing I saw in my kit bag...... yep, my race belt. Typical! Not a good start! Anyway, panic over, I got set and then ambled over to the swim.

I just wasn't focussed enough on the swim, and didn't really put as much effort in as I could have. That said, my time was 7 mins 57 secs, so no major problems, slow and steady, my target time was 8 mins. Getting out was hard as the raised diving start blocks were built into the end of the pool and all along it, so it was a long way to climb out, which everyone struggled with!
Then into T1 for what was a reasonably quick transition. I was 8th out of the pool in my wave, and 2nd onto the bike. But alas, one elastic band which holds my shoes in place did not snap, so I had to slow down after setting off to snap it free with my fingers. So not a great start to the bike leg. And after a steady climb in the first 10 minutes, my legs felt dead! No life in them at all. Really quite sore when I tried to put the pedal down, and that continued for a good 25 minutes. It was until the last almost 30 minutes had gone by until I started feeling my legs were working as they should. That said, I did 39 minutes approx for the bike leg, averaging just over 21 mph, which was reasonably ok. But again, could have gone much quicker were it not for tired legs.

So into T2, quick this time straight out onto the run. And boy I really felt my legs hurting by this stage, and I was tired. And this was no easy run either, very hilly. A long slow climb for the first mile, which really sapped my strength, then downhill for the next mile, steady for another mile, then hit another long slow climb, and then downhill to the end. By this time the sun had really come out(it was around 10am when I finished, and I was glad I was finishing when I did. Still managed to finish ok, with a spring in my step. And to be honest, I felt reasonably ok after the race. And now 10 hours later, I feel fresh and well recovered, and my legs don't feel too bad.

Times were ok, nothing special, although, yet again, very good bike time. Run was a little disappointing, but would have been better with fresher legs. This race was done on the back of two long training weeks, so I'm not too concerned with the result. Just pleased to get another race under my belt. More experience to take with me on my journey!
Overall, finished 52nd in over 200 racers. I was 16th quickest on the bike of those that finished. There were a few DNF and DQs. All in all another good race, if a little disappointing time-wise. But I put it down to experience and will consider it a damn good training session!!

Nutrition was a bit hit and miss today, did not have a lot. Some electrolyte drink, 250 ml energy drink on the bike, 1 PowerBar gel towards the end of the run.1 PowerBar gel before the swim.

Finishing time - 1 hour 23 minutes 16 seconds.