Halesowen Sprint Tri 2018
April 8th 2018
Sprint Triathlon
First tri of the year! Not sure the weather was quite prepared, but I was - new kit and everything. Actually untested kit, something I try to avoid but given this was only a sprint I thought it would be OK (which thankfully it was).
I felt unusually nervous at the start, probably because I hadn't done a tri since last July! I made a bit of an error by jumping in the pool too, rather than letting myself in gently. It was so deep I didn't reach the bottom, and water gushed up my nose. Therefore I started my race spluttering a little, eventually calming down to produce a fairly poor swim.
Out in transition I decided gloves were the way forward. The right decision but this slowed me down yet again. However, I was soon off on the bike and immediately confused by the lack of signage. I took guesses at the first two sets of traffic lights, one of which I frustratingly got held up at (for no bonus). The remainder of the course was better signed, and I got into "bike mode", propelling myself along the course. Near the start there was a fairly fast but predictable descent, albeit I still didn't feel comfy being in aero at that speed on what were very busy roads.
Quieter country roads followed, with associated potholes and elevations. I enjoyed the opportunity to sit up on the hill, but it certainly was long. The top gave way to another steep descent where I got overtaken by a few people with much more confidence than I had in the road surface. Soon I was back onto a bit of the course I recognised, and then back to the muddy patch of grass that was T2.
Trainers on and gloves off, I set off on the run. This took me through a culvert and onto a delightfully scenic (not) housing estate, which nevertheless provided a decent surface, if very little support. At the turn point (which I missed as a car was in the way) I noticed my right ankle starting to tighten up. This didn't worsen however, and I continued to build towards the very uphill finish.
Overall this was an OK race. My kit worked, I didn't make any huge mistakes, I just wasn't very fast. Blame the marathon training! Hopefully next time will be better.
Times
Total time: 01:23:35
Standings
Age category: 3/10 30%
Gender category: 4/19 21%
Overall category: 48/109 44%
Sprint Triathlon
First tri of the year! Not sure the weather was quite prepared, but I was - new kit and everything. Actually untested kit, something I try to avoid but given this was only a sprint I thought it would be OK (which thankfully it was).I felt unusually nervous at the start, probably because I hadn't done a tri since last July! I made a bit of an error by jumping in the pool too, rather than letting myself in gently. It was so deep I didn't reach the bottom, and water gushed up my nose. Therefore I started my race spluttering a little, eventually calming down to produce a fairly poor swim.
Out in transition I decided gloves were the way forward. The right decision but this slowed me down yet again. However, I was soon off on the bike and immediately confused by the lack of signage. I took guesses at the first two sets of traffic lights, one of which I frustratingly got held up at (for no bonus). The remainder of the course was better signed, and I got into "bike mode", propelling myself along the course. Near the start there was a fairly fast but predictable descent, albeit I still didn't feel comfy being in aero at that speed on what were very busy roads.
Quieter country roads followed, with associated potholes and elevations. I enjoyed the opportunity to sit up on the hill, but it certainly was long. The top gave way to another steep descent where I got overtaken by a few people with much more confidence than I had in the road surface. Soon I was back onto a bit of the course I recognised, and then back to the muddy patch of grass that was T2.
Trainers on and gloves off, I set off on the run. This took me through a culvert and onto a delightfully scenic (not) housing estate, which nevertheless provided a decent surface, if very little support. At the turn point (which I missed as a car was in the way) I noticed my right ankle starting to tighten up. This didn't worsen however, and I continued to build towards the very uphill finish.
Overall this was an OK race. My kit worked, I didn't make any huge mistakes, I just wasn't very fast. Blame the marathon training! Hopefully next time will be better.
Times
Total time: 01:23:35
Standings
Age category: 3/10 30%
Gender category: 4/19 21%
Overall category: 48/109 44%
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