Took place on Sunday 15th July 2012 in Sutton Park, Birmingham, organised by UK Triathlon, fun2tri Finding the event was very easy and was well sign posted and we were quickly able to park. Registration the day before made for an easier set up, with a 7am mass start in the under 39 category, registration was one less thing to worry about. I was glad my friend, Fraser was with me who explained how to rack the bikes- Bikes rack in alternate directions to maximise racking space, however, I noted no guidance to this either from marshals or in signage.
1500m swim
A brief briefing informed us of the change of laps from 2 to 4 laps, everyone had orange swim caps, the bouys were orange and the canoeists wore orange, again I wondered if we'd get confused? In the water, I positioned myself on the outside edge so that I'd get a shot at clear water. My race provided swim hat was already beginning to creep up my head, I was glad I had decided to wear my google strap beneath the cap. With the race under way, I worked hard into the first turn, my blue tinted goggles did their best to reduce the glare from the morning low hung sun, but once we had turned the bouy, I doubt anyone could see the boat house I had ear marked as the land mark to head for: I moved onward in a fairly straight line and as the swimmers begun to spread out I was able to take a more inside line. The swim hat waved it's goodbye somewhere around the the 2nd lap but these was not time to stop or mess as I began catching and overtaking the swimmers ahead. Several times I became aware of swimmers drafting behind me, but a few long pulls and a quick kick soon shook them off. I exited the water inside the top 30. Official time which includes a long transition Recorded 35.35, by my watch I exited the water around the 30min mark.
40km bike - 8 laps of the park.
I was really grateful for a practise ride earlier in the week around the cycle course with Fraser as it gave me a heads up to the pot holes and where the turns and speed ramps were. I had 2 drinks bottles around the bike course of high 5 zero. Its amazing how a chafe can persuade you up out of the saddle, just remember to change up to give that power somewhere to go! The downward section of the course was the most fun and where I was going in excess of 32mph, overtaking route cautious others! The presence of white gate posts at the bottom of this by the lake really seemed to cause some people to back off through this section, when in fact the track was just as wide as before. It seems apt to point out that I was getting racked off with the slighter build competitors who I must have easily given away 40kilos to, they made it look easy as they rode passed eating into my reasonable swim time! However that's the name of the game and until they introduce a heavyweight category into the sport, something I'm stuck with. I crossed the line in 1 hour 22mins, The official time which must include my transition was 1hour 28 43seconds.
10km run - 4 laps trail and grass
Bike racked and cycle shoes off, I pulled on and laced my trainers tight, swigged a drink and with 2 gels in hand and a bottle of drink set off on the run. I wanted to do this section in around an hour, I crossed each lap just inside the quarter hour mark and my final lap was the quickest. My watch showed 59 mins, official time 1hour 1min 25seconds. My race photos look evil, with a last moment dash, I never seem to get a smile captured by the official photographers! Total official time; swim 00:35:35, bike 01:28:43, run 01:01:25 total: 03:05:43 position 124 out of 192. A great day, lovely medal, though I wish it had the Olympic distances on it!
A little disappointed returning to my bike to find someone had dragged my stuff out of the way so that they could rack their bike the wrong way. Reported to the marshals who didn't really understand the rule, that aside, I am really pleased with result and as a local event will look to enter again in the future.
