City of Birmingham Sprint Triathlon 2017
July 16th 2017
750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run
I'd done this event last year, and was keen to compete again as it was just so local!
Setting-up went well, got myself a good spot near Bike Out (wondering why lots had people had already racked near Swim In). The free racking was a bit confusing, and there were definite advantages to be had.
Before long, I was wetsuited up and heading into the water, which felt chillier than last year. I settled myself near the front as the men's field looked a bit slow - and we were off! My start felt surprisingly panicky, with my chest being constricted by the combination of HR monitor and wetsuit. Not being in a good place, I backed off a tad and gradually resumed the ability to breathe normally (or normally for swimming anyway). Around the first buoy I started to feel OK and pushed on along the second straight. On the third side of the rectangular swim, I managed to find someone to draft, which makes a change as I normally find myself in some sort of swim void. However, they started weaving around (swimming across me twice!) in the last straight so I swam my own course to swim exit.
This involved a huge step and then very short run to T1, by which time I had my wetsuit down and goggles and hat off. I put socks and shoes on (whilst having a chat to my friend Hannah) in T1 then set off to mount the bike. I noticed at this point that a) my watch was falling off(!) and b) it was starting to drizzle. Addressing a) as best I could, I set off up the first hill. The bike course is 4 laps of what is an undulating and poorly-surfaced course. Before even starting I had witnessed a man who had come off his bike badly, covered in blood and with trisuit that was starting to resemble tri separates!
After one lap, and overtaking just one lady, I noticed I was catching on another. I caught up and we rode two laps vaguely together, until the last lap where she got a gap on me on the descent. Another time and I may have gone for it, but in what were now very wet conditions, and with a full iron looming in less than a week, now was not the time for risks! I kept a steady pace and arrived in T2, ready for what turned out to be the swiftest transition of the women.
Setting off onto the run, I immediately caught site of another lady a fair way ahead. I noticed that my bike-buddy was catching on her, but decided to take it steady as I was heading uphill on a three lap course. However, even at my steady rate I was catching, so I pushed on, and before the end of the lap had overtaken her. A surprise as I rarely overtake on the run.
Coming around the main field where the finish was located, I spotted a sign saying "Run - 2 laps". In my mind (based on last year) it was 3 laps, so this news was very welcome indeed. My watch only read 1.4 miles, but I pushed on nevertheless. Heading up the hill again I was also pleased to note I had created quite a gap to the lady who I had overtaken - but not willing to be caught out I maintained a pretty gut-busting pace right to the end.
Coming down the finish-chute I heard my (maiden-oops!) name being announced, and as I crossed I heard them say "2nd place"! I was very shocked, having assumed after my panicky swim and conservative bike that there were many women ahead.
Overall I am very pleased with this performance. Admittedly the times of the field were slower than last year, but the weather conditions were much worse, which may have accounted for some of that, and I still managed to beat my time. I was chuffed to be given both age-group and overall trophies in a ceremony after the race too - a rare thing for me!
Times
Total time: 01:18:29 (~4 mins faster than 2016)
Swim: 00:15:33
T1: 00:01:12
Bike: 00:37:56
T2: 00:00:39
Run: 00:23:09
Standings
Age category: 1/9 11%
Gender category: 2/61 3%
Overall category: 22/222 10%
Swim 4/61 7%
T1 4/61 7%
Bike 3/61 5%
T2 1/61 2%
Run: 3/61 5%
750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run
I'd done this event last year, and was keen to compete again as it was just so local!
Setting-up went well, got myself a good spot near Bike Out (wondering why lots had people had already racked near Swim In). The free racking was a bit confusing, and there were definite advantages to be had.
Before long, I was wetsuited up and heading into the water, which felt chillier than last year. I settled myself near the front as the men's field looked a bit slow - and we were off! My start felt surprisingly panicky, with my chest being constricted by the combination of HR monitor and wetsuit. Not being in a good place, I backed off a tad and gradually resumed the ability to breathe normally (or normally for swimming anyway). Around the first buoy I started to feel OK and pushed on along the second straight. On the third side of the rectangular swim, I managed to find someone to draft, which makes a change as I normally find myself in some sort of swim void. However, they started weaving around (swimming across me twice!) in the last straight so I swam my own course to swim exit.
This involved a huge step and then very short run to T1, by which time I had my wetsuit down and goggles and hat off. I put socks and shoes on (whilst having a chat to my friend Hannah) in T1 then set off to mount the bike. I noticed at this point that a) my watch was falling off(!) and b) it was starting to drizzle. Addressing a) as best I could, I set off up the first hill. The bike course is 4 laps of what is an undulating and poorly-surfaced course. Before even starting I had witnessed a man who had come off his bike badly, covered in blood and with trisuit that was starting to resemble tri separates!
After one lap, and overtaking just one lady, I noticed I was catching on another. I caught up and we rode two laps vaguely together, until the last lap where she got a gap on me on the descent. Another time and I may have gone for it, but in what were now very wet conditions, and with a full iron looming in less than a week, now was not the time for risks! I kept a steady pace and arrived in T2, ready for what turned out to be the swiftest transition of the women.
Setting off onto the run, I immediately caught site of another lady a fair way ahead. I noticed that my bike-buddy was catching on her, but decided to take it steady as I was heading uphill on a three lap course. However, even at my steady rate I was catching, so I pushed on, and before the end of the lap had overtaken her. A surprise as I rarely overtake on the run.
Coming around the main field where the finish was located, I spotted a sign saying "Run - 2 laps". In my mind (based on last year) it was 3 laps, so this news was very welcome indeed. My watch only read 1.4 miles, but I pushed on nevertheless. Heading up the hill again I was also pleased to note I had created quite a gap to the lady who I had overtaken - but not willing to be caught out I maintained a pretty gut-busting pace right to the end.
Coming down the finish-chute I heard my (maiden-oops!) name being announced, and as I crossed I heard them say "2nd place"! I was very shocked, having assumed after my panicky swim and conservative bike that there were many women ahead.
Overall I am very pleased with this performance. Admittedly the times of the field were slower than last year, but the weather conditions were much worse, which may have accounted for some of that, and I still managed to beat my time. I was chuffed to be given both age-group and overall trophies in a ceremony after the race too - a rare thing for me!
Times
Total time: 01:18:29 (~4 mins faster than 2016)
Swim: 00:15:33
T1: 00:01:12
Bike: 00:37:56
T2: 00:00:39
Run: 00:23:09
Standings
Age category: 1/9 11%
Gender category: 2/61 3%
Overall category: 22/222 10%
Swim 4/61 7%
T1 4/61 7%
Bike 3/61 5%
T2 1/61 2%
Run: 3/61 5%
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