Bassetlaw Sprint Triathlon 2016
August 7th 2016
400m swim, 21k bike, 5k run
After trying and failing to start this race in 2014 (thanks to being run-over by a van) I was determined to enter again this year. I hoped to be able to give it a really good go in order to measure my improvement from my very first triathlon back in 2013. However, this was not to be as my left leg/knee was still niggling a month on....
Swimming and cycling on said leg seemed fine, so I really made the most of the weekend with a hilly 35-mile cycle around the Peak District on the Saturday. This took in Ringinglow, Stanage Edge and Mam Tor (ouch!) and we were rewarded for our efforts by some stunning views. Once back in Hathersage a dip in the pool (which really was a dip rather than swimming thanks to the huge numbers of kids around) was had before returning to the stunning Eric Byn memorial campsite for the evening.
The next morning was perhaps a little flustered as we were later than intended to Worksop. However, I made it to the start on time, pleased for once that my swim lane was nearest the door. That never seems to happen! The lanes were quite busy, with maybe five people per lane on average. This made for a bitty swim, but I came out having done a 07:15 400 m which I was reasonably happy with.
On to the bike and it was familiar turf once again. Very quickly into the bike I cycled past the flat where I had lived for eight months whilst working at Explore Manufacturing. The wind at this point felt like a light cross-tail, which was helpful in recovering my breath from the swim and getting into the swing of the bike. Having cycled just the day before meant I was very quickly settled and found myself overtaking before too long too. Turning left to head West across the top of the bike course, I could certainly feel the headwind, and combined with the slight uphill and poor surface this was the most challenging section of the bike. Saying that, having climbed Mam Tor the previous day in relative terms it wasn't so bad.
Turning left again brought some relief from the gradient (albeit not from the wind) and I was even treated to a fairly long pause as I waited for temporary traffic lights to turn green,*and* a removal van to make what seemed like a seven-point turn in order to park. Very frustrating! I decided to try to see the sliver lining to this obstruction, using the break to enable me to really push on with the flatter section of the course back towards Worksop. I knew I wouldn't be able to run at all well so saw no disadvantage to going all out on the bike!
Back at the leisure centre I was soon off on the longer first lap of the run. My leg unfortunately was niggling from the start - the hard and uneven pavement surface doing nothing to help. This was my second run in five weeks and I'd really hoped it would be better! By the smaller second lap I felt better, mainly because I had recovered from the bike and my legs wouldn't allow me to push myself aerobically. The finish was still very welcome however (when I eventually found it - I got a bit lost trying to find the finish chute, much to the amusement of the crowd!) as per usual. I won't be running on this leg again for a while....
Times
Total time: 01:18:05
Swim: 00:07:47
T1: 00:01:07
Bike: 00:43:21
T2: 00:00:48
Run: 00:25:04 (still have bad leg!)
Standings
Age category: 4/9 44%
Gender category: 9/74 12%
Overall category: 63/210 30%
Swim 12/74 16%
T1: 7/74 9%
Bike 6/74 8%
T2: 8/74 11%
Run: 17/74 23%
400m swim, 21k bike, 5k run
After trying and failing to start this race in 2014 (thanks to being run-over by a van) I was determined to enter again this year. I hoped to be able to give it a really good go in order to measure my improvement from my very first triathlon back in 2013. However, this was not to be as my left leg/knee was still niggling a month on....
Swimming and cycling on said leg seemed fine, so I really made the most of the weekend with a hilly 35-mile cycle around the Peak District on the Saturday. This took in Ringinglow, Stanage Edge and Mam Tor (ouch!) and we were rewarded for our efforts by some stunning views. Once back in Hathersage a dip in the pool (which really was a dip rather than swimming thanks to the huge numbers of kids around) was had before returning to the stunning Eric Byn memorial campsite for the evening.
The next morning was perhaps a little flustered as we were later than intended to Worksop. However, I made it to the start on time, pleased for once that my swim lane was nearest the door. That never seems to happen! The lanes were quite busy, with maybe five people per lane on average. This made for a bitty swim, but I came out having done a 07:15 400 m which I was reasonably happy with.
On to the bike and it was familiar turf once again. Very quickly into the bike I cycled past the flat where I had lived for eight months whilst working at Explore Manufacturing. The wind at this point felt like a light cross-tail, which was helpful in recovering my breath from the swim and getting into the swing of the bike. Having cycled just the day before meant I was very quickly settled and found myself overtaking before too long too. Turning left to head West across the top of the bike course, I could certainly feel the headwind, and combined with the slight uphill and poor surface this was the most challenging section of the bike. Saying that, having climbed Mam Tor the previous day in relative terms it wasn't so bad.
Turning left again brought some relief from the gradient (albeit not from the wind) and I was even treated to a fairly long pause as I waited for temporary traffic lights to turn green,*and* a removal van to make what seemed like a seven-point turn in order to park. Very frustrating! I decided to try to see the sliver lining to this obstruction, using the break to enable me to really push on with the flatter section of the course back towards Worksop. I knew I wouldn't be able to run at all well so saw no disadvantage to going all out on the bike!
Back at the leisure centre I was soon off on the longer first lap of the run. My leg unfortunately was niggling from the start - the hard and uneven pavement surface doing nothing to help. This was my second run in five weeks and I'd really hoped it would be better! By the smaller second lap I felt better, mainly because I had recovered from the bike and my legs wouldn't allow me to push myself aerobically. The finish was still very welcome however (when I eventually found it - I got a bit lost trying to find the finish chute, much to the amusement of the crowd!) as per usual. I won't be running on this leg again for a while....
Times
Total time: 01:18:05
Swim: 00:07:47
T1: 00:01:07
Bike: 00:43:21
T2: 00:00:48
Run: 00:25:04 (still have bad leg!)
Standings
Age category: 4/9 44%
Gender category: 9/74 12%
Overall category: 63/210 30%
Swim 12/74 16%
T1: 7/74 9%
Bike 6/74 8%
T2: 8/74 11%
Run: 17/74 23%
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