Another race report: Burnham Triathlon

[andygates]

Today's race was okay. Swim was just okay - what I'd predicted, but not smooth. T1 was a comedy catastrophe with one shoe going flying off into the road - so even though I was holding evens for much of the bike course (translation: staying at 20mph) I lost so much time that my bike leg suckethed verily. Very lonely out, too, so the usual mental-focus issue (speed drops if I don't have people to chase or Hulk Smash to fuel my speed) applied. Then it was T2, quick as you like, and onto the Dreaded Beach Run (roughly 1k beach, 2k woodland, 2k beach), which took about 8 minutes on top of my best, like most folks, and came it slow but solid. 1:26:45 total.  And I finally got a T5 out of my Suunto.

Thing is, that didn't matter 'cos there was great amusement to be had with an evening of lasagne (nom!) bike fettling and pinball, then a sparrowfart dash across the Levels to set up and go before the sun got to "roast grockle" temperature. skean , xeeny and despaer were in tight competition and the result came right to the wire.  skean started in the wave behind me -- underestimated his swim-fu -- and I  was pleased to have held him off until we were back on the beach with the last 2k or so to go.  

A good time was had by all.

My swims will continue to sucketh unless I actually put the work in, so I'm not allowing myself the whine about that.  The magic shoe trick turned into pure death, so I'm rethinking that - either, again, suss it, or only use it on long transitions where running to the bike box is worth it over clopping.  Moar running would make for a faster munky, too.  Basically, I blagged that race, and you can blag sprints but you don't excel if you do.  Blagging standards is horrid.  There's a lesson here, methinks.

How do the results compare to when I last did it?  11 June 2006: Burnham Tri - 1:32:56 - 15:00 swim; 42:30 bike; 35:26 run.  So an improvement in all disciplines, and a total improvement of nigh on six minutes.

Oh, and a shot of Rego Recovery spoo when I got home means I'm ready for the next one.  That stuff is fecking voodoo.

Comments

[fialta.livejournal.com]

Well done! As I said on Fb, I still remember that run, we did an aquathlon - the same run route as for the tri. It was horrible! 6 minutes improvement is fab!

[ravenbait.livejournal.com]

Well done!

Rego is the mutt's nuts. Was that the standard or the rapid?

[skean.livejournal.com]

A fantastic time had by all I think. No one had any major upsets, we all came out healthy and it was a glorious day. That burger afterwards was pretty mediocre, but apart from that marvellous. Even if xeeny is enjoying waving the "L" at me. Overnight, somehow the results for the us three got even closer, with now no more than 31 seconds separating us.

Pos Overall Bib Competitor Category Team Finish Swim T1 Cycle T2 Run

5 34 301 Anthony Ireland M35-39 B.A.D. Tri 01:10:08 00:09:12 00:01:20 00:36:06 00:00:47 00:22:41

7 38 274 Paul De St Paer M35-39 West Country Triathletes 01:10:29 00:08:50 00:00:41 00:36:24 00:00:40 00:23:51

9 40 122 Ben Prior M35-39 switzerland 01:10:39 00:08:46 00:00:47 00:36:22 00:00:57 00:23:45

24 195 121 Andrew Gates M35-39 Exeter Tri Club 01:26:45 00:11:33 00:00:54 00:40:19 00:00:50 00:33:06

[ladyjulian.livejournal.com]

Nice one! I've just ordered a bukkit of recovery spoo for TRAT :)