BLOG |
Wow what a weekend it has been. Yesterday I went to pick up my race pack and practiced open water swimming with my friend from tri club (I had never raced in open water swim before). My family had a bit of a scare with my puppy who actually had to go to the emergency vet last night for blood tests and an intravenous drip. I was already nervous for today’s race + to see my puppy so ill was horrible. 4:25am Rise and shine! Porridge making followed by race prepping. 5am Time to leave. It was a gorgeous morning and as we were driving to Worthing the sun was rising. It wasn’t as quiet on the roads as I thought it would be though. 5:40am
We have arrived. I set up my bike, trainers, drink etc in transition and worked out where I would run to after the swim… just below beach hut 134. Obligatory toilet stop, wetsuit on and to briefing at 6:25am. ` 6:45am Heading down to the water’s edge for a warm up swim and familiarisation of the route. The race started at 7am from the water’s edge. Because I hadn’t done an open water swim before I just followed everyone else at the start. I knew I had to offset myself due to the current but this guy next to me kept swimming into me. I soon settled into the swim and just kept aiming for the orange buoys. Towards the end of the swim I followed people into shore but unfortunately they were heading in the wrong direction. I couldn’t sight properly due to the sun glare across the water but I soon made it back to the shore. Running up the beach into transition I struggled getting the wetsuit off as it got stuck on my arms despite using body glide but once I had got the top half off it was easy to get the rest off. 7:12am Yesterday I actually drove the cycle route with my dad so I kind of knew the course and the lovely hills :( I think out of the whole race my cycle was the worst part. Well it didn’t start well when I took a turn too early hahaha, luckily the people behind me shouted and said I was going the wrong way, quick U-turn, now I had to catch up. The hills were tough and I kept being overtaken which is quite disheartening but nevermind, just got to keep going. The views on the cycle were lush across the South Downs along with the morning sun. Back into transition, dump the bike and run onto the promenade for the 5k run. I felt quite comfortable off the bike but I am glad it was no later because it was getting super hot. I came into the finish, got my times and was very surprised to see that I had come first in my gender age group. I don’t want to sound arrogant or boastful but having only started triathlon in April/May, then to come 1st in my age category in both of my triathlons + being pretty happy with my times, I am quite proud of myself. The Worthing triathlon was actually a qualifier for 2019 ETU Sprint Triathlon “In order to qualify athletes are expected to meet a minimum requirement of completing their qualification race in a time within 120% of the winner in their gender age group. Places will be offered automatically to the highest placed athletes that registered by 5pm on the Friday before their qualification race and finished within 120% of the winner of their age-group and that have not already qualified at a previous race” so fingers crossed. Although it would be so cool to qualify, it is all about experience and I did the race because I like triathlon, I had no expectations. It is fair to say that I am quite sore and tired now.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
RECIPES
RACE RECAPS TRAINING BESIDES RUNNING SELF CARE BACK TO SCHOOL OVERTRAINING THINGS I AM LOVING LATELY TRIATHLON NEW YEAR Month/year
August 2023
|