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Name Swim T1 Bike 1 Bke 2 T2 Run 1 Run 2
Chris 19:57 1:44 40:41 15:59 0:31 19:17 18:32
Ian 32:33 4:42 33:56 35:18 1:21 23:48 23:46

Race report from the London Oly - Phew what a scorcher!!!!

I was in the very last wave of two days racing at london - so keen not to be last overall!!!! My off time was 3:40 pm on sunday so lucky to avoid the real mid day sun; but it was still hot hot hot. I did get to see Tim Don 'cruise' to a win and taking on tips from the 'don' I went on to give it a bash myself!!!

Swim was 32:33 - it just felt really nice and easy, didn't push and I would have been so much quicker if all those others weren't in my way!!!! Mind you I did get a few drafts - and a few kicks as well, so it all evens out in the end I guess. Was very, very happy with my time.

T1 - a great long run to the bike - I mean a big run, and up some stairs. Seriously - a long run!!!

Bike - two loops - riding into the wind in both directions!! !! Went hardish on the first loop and then easier on the second - saving it for the run? Closed roads is nice - you get to go under a tunnel with a 30mph speed trap - I got to 37 and couldn;t get it to flash - pah. Bike is where I think I have the most to gain, but was happy with a 1hr 09

T2 - quick off the bike and ready to go - have to admit to not feeling so good going out - lunch may make a second showing.....

Run - again two laps, mostly very flat - but there is a ramp into the building which you have to run down and up [each lap] and it felt hot, really hot. I felt sick from the off; I had a gel which I carried all the way as I just couldn't stomache taking it, and I am too tight to chuck it away!!! I saw a bloke in an orange tri suit heading off and thought he looked like a real fast runner, try to stay with him, but off he goes - oh well pold on. To my amazement I went past him, and lots of others on the first lap!!! I could only manage a sip of water at each station and I felt as tho I was just hanging on... Second lap especially - god it was hard going - I stopped at one water station to try to drink properly - not doing well tkaing it on the run - but no good, just couldn't get it down me - and it was really hard to get going again. So pleased to get towards the finihs and still going. The bloke in orange reapperaed at 50m on the slope up to the finish - I could have put a spurt on to hold him off - but to be frank I was knackered and just didn;t care. I was amazed with a run time of 47:33, it felt like I was runnig slower than that!!!

Overall time was 2hr 35:19, which i'm delighted with.

Best bits
Getting out the swim and seeing my time!!!
Swimming with other people this year, rather than at the back
Hanging on in the run - I so wanted to walk
The run into the finish and seeing the time
The finish
Getting back to my bike in transistion to find a flat tyre - I was so lucky to puncture in transition than in the race!!!!!

Worse bits
I kick on the goggle in the swim - it created a suction on my eye, making it feel like my eyeball was popping out!!!
end of the first run lap - looking at the finish line and thinking I have to run round again - looking at people finish when you have to run again...
Running with a gel that is getting warmer and warmer and more and more unappealing
The finish - I was so hot and felt absolutely rotten for about 15 mins.

So a great day, and thrilled with my time. Need to check from last year, but I think I'm down from 2hr 57ish - so a big improvement.

Sorry for the length of report!

Ian