GoTri Kingsbury Aquathlon June 2014
June 19th 2014
450 m swim, 2 km run.
My second attempt at this aquathlon - and I was determined that it would go an awful lot better than the first!
Resolving to at least swim a lap before the race, I set off from home in good time. Unfortunately the M42 had other priorities than my aquathlon performance, and somehow I still arrived later than I had hoped. However, I managed a quick dash into the water and a somewhat splashy lap before the race briefing.
Entering the water, I strategically placed myself wide of the marker and away from other people. This set me up for a much more relaxed and leisurely start than last time. I felt pretty comfy on the first straight, but the second was decidedly more wiggly. Turning at the marker I changed sighting technique so that it did not correspond with breathing strokes, which seemed to work well. Approaching the final buoy I found myself with another two swimmers and put in a big push to overtake them in the last few metres to give myself room for exiting the water.
I wish I could write that this was a dignified exit, but unfortunately I was caught out by the slippery ramp, and was incredibly grateful to the pair of hands that hoisted me upwards and out! The feeling of once again having to support my own body weight bearing down on me, I got to my shoes and attempted the wetsuit removal. Normally I'd do this on the run, but in these races the run to transition is all of a couple of metres...so...
To my delight, the wetsuit slid off fairly smoothly. I'd tried a technique overheard from some athletes talking at a previous race, of covering myself in Body Butter, and it worked a dream! (Aside from the obvious fact that I smelled like lemon and bergamot - there is a reason this Body Butter has been sitting on my shelf for nearly a year now...).
Anyway, wetsuit off and shoes on (no socks) I started the run. I'd exited with another lady and we'd been informed that we were the first ladies out of the swim (which was a very pleasant surprise for me) and a sneaky look round told me that the other lady - a very good swimmer - was someone who I'd overtaken on the run last time. Therefore I got stuck into the run knowing I could hopefully hold of the competition, which I pleasingly did. I also managed to avoid getting overtaken by any men too, a rare thing!
Overall I am very pleased with my performance at this aquathlon, and have learned preparation is key! I'm aiming to improve on my time at the next one, although that may be a tough ask...
Times
Total time: 18:07
Standings
Overall category: 06/19 32%
Gender category: 01/09 00% 1st female!
450 m swim, 2 km run.
My second attempt at this aquathlon - and I was determined that it would go an awful lot better than the first!
Resolving to at least swim a lap before the race, I set off from home in good time. Unfortunately the M42 had other priorities than my aquathlon performance, and somehow I still arrived later than I had hoped. However, I managed a quick dash into the water and a somewhat splashy lap before the race briefing.
Entering the water, I strategically placed myself wide of the marker and away from other people. This set me up for a much more relaxed and leisurely start than last time. I felt pretty comfy on the first straight, but the second was decidedly more wiggly. Turning at the marker I changed sighting technique so that it did not correspond with breathing strokes, which seemed to work well. Approaching the final buoy I found myself with another two swimmers and put in a big push to overtake them in the last few metres to give myself room for exiting the water.
I wish I could write that this was a dignified exit, but unfortunately I was caught out by the slippery ramp, and was incredibly grateful to the pair of hands that hoisted me upwards and out! The feeling of once again having to support my own body weight bearing down on me, I got to my shoes and attempted the wetsuit removal. Normally I'd do this on the run, but in these races the run to transition is all of a couple of metres...so...
To my delight, the wetsuit slid off fairly smoothly. I'd tried a technique overheard from some athletes talking at a previous race, of covering myself in Body Butter, and it worked a dream! (Aside from the obvious fact that I smelled like lemon and bergamot - there is a reason this Body Butter has been sitting on my shelf for nearly a year now...).
Anyway, wetsuit off and shoes on (no socks) I started the run. I'd exited with another lady and we'd been informed that we were the first ladies out of the swim (which was a very pleasant surprise for me) and a sneaky look round told me that the other lady - a very good swimmer - was someone who I'd overtaken on the run last time. Therefore I got stuck into the run knowing I could hopefully hold of the competition, which I pleasingly did. I also managed to avoid getting overtaken by any men too, a rare thing!
Overall I am very pleased with my performance at this aquathlon, and have learned preparation is key! I'm aiming to improve on my time at the next one, although that may be a tough ask...
Times
Total time: 18:07
Standings
Overall category: 06/19 32%
Gender category: 01/09 00% 1st female!
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