Photo Album
Name Swim Bike Run Total
Glyde, Jon 33:09 2:59:18 1:42:47 5:15:13
Hebbard, Abigail 32:53 3:10:23 1:58:10 5:41:26
Dyer, Billy 37:55 3:01:43 2:04:20 5:43:57
Scammell, Steve 38:33 3:06:44 2:08:41 5:53:58
Hobbs, Sarah 31:45 3:20:15 2:05:29 5:57:29
Duthoit, Anthony 38:23 3:03:56 2:21:17 6:03:35
Cole, Jacquie 37:37 3:12:13 2:20:44 6:10:33
Merrington, Ian 40:11 3:33:43 2:27:01 6:40:54
John - Great race yesterday, really enjoyed it, the only sore bits I have today are my arse cheeks - spent too long sat on those hard benches in the sports hall after the race - Dave and I were making the most of the free tea and cakes the WI were severing up - Dave should have exploded the amount he tucked away, I think he must have been on a bet, maybe he thought cake eating is the fourth discipline (I was saving myself for Abi's flapjack but none was offered!)
Anyway back to the race, great challenge, but extremely hard, the new bike course is much harder than last year.
I was pleased with my swim, I guess these times include the transition as I was 29 mins out of the water, 4 mins in transition messing around with wetsuit, trying to get arm warmers on wet arms and doing my hair etc before setting out sounds about right.
Bike was tough, although I was glad I had recced the route so new the hilly bits etc, the wind was strong on the top exposed section of the course. I had a couple of incidents, one cow and one deer, both had death wishes. And some stupid woman in a four wheel drive who tried to kill me by pulling out right in front of me. Felt comfortable on the run, although had had enough by the end.
Some great results from the team, awesome bike by Dave, must have spent even longer than me doing his hair in T1 judging by his swim split. Great Cat positions for Abi and Sarah, 4th and 5th in their categories, well done girls.
Much better run than last year Steve, I recon that you were 30 mins quicker this year - obviously got your eating and drinking right on the bike this year, your definitely ready for IM now!!!
Well done to Jacqs, Billy and Ian all doing their first Middle Distance, this race is a baptism of fire, by far the hardest Middle Distance I have done. So well done to you all, maybe an easy one next, Hayle if you fancy a fairly tough bike, or Weymouth if you want to set a fast time overall. Ant hell of a good result coming just two weeks after Vitruviant.
Ian - Being as I had the longest time for the day I'll try to give the longest report as well!!!!?
Camping the night before certainly saved lots of driving - but not sure I got much more sleep. However breakfast under the star3s was a calm moment before the final faffing around - and make no mistake - I did plenty of faffing in getting me, my bike, the gear and kitchen sink to the various transition areas.
Getting ready for the swim we were certainly relaxed - so much that I wasn't in the water when Richard shouted 1 minute to go.... I was at full speed when the hooter went and didn't stop!!! All in all a good swim - I did stuff up the turn around the top - I was trying to relax and pee while swimming - not something I had previously practiced [sorry for those easily offended] not having had time to 'relax' in the water before the start. By the time I had stopped concentrating on relaxing I had overshot the turn by about 10m, so took a very wide turn indeed!!!! The final section in was hard as the sun was right in my line of sight, so all I could do was follow feet and before I knew it there was the exit slope!!!! swim plus more faffing was 40min - so I think it must have been short, either that or I swam like a rocket [for me].
T1 - so relaxed! Milk and sugar please.
The bike - I loved it. Very hard going in the wind at times, lots of loud whoops of delight on some of the decents. 1 stop for a pee, so fluids were going well. rider no.1 [Hywel Davies, 2 overall on the day] went past on his second lap while I was on my first... oh my god,I felt very slow after seeing how quick he went past and off into the distance! Food and drinks went ok - I did have a bit of tummy ache, so perhaps too much drink? Took a gel about 15 mins before the finish which couldn't come soon enough as I needed another pee... Really pleased to get round without any mishaps, I found it tough going, I think it took more out of me than i expected [probably the wind], but in 3hr 30 I was ok with that.
t2 - hmmm clean comfy socks with lots of talc. No rushing going on for me!!!
The run - well I planned to walk up the first hill - madness to run up it!!! and was ready for the long needed pee!!!! The run went really well - up to mile 6 [8min 30 miles] and then my legs stuck two fingers up at me. Not sure what went wrong, maybe needed more fuel on the run? but I'm not sure I could have kep[t much down to be honest. Maybe not enough long runs off the bike? From mile 6 on all I could do was walk, jog, walk, shuffle, jog, walk some more. The end took forever, the weather went from brilliant sun to rain, I got cold, fed up, overtaken by every man and his dog and trudged to mile 12 where I set about a devastating come back - that old donkey ambling along was not going to beat me.... so 2hr 30 for the run and I feel pretty dissapointed in that.
Overall it was 6hr 40. A bit flat now, really chuffed to have got round, dissapointed to have failed on the run, but lessons to learn. Am pleased that I want to get back at it - I did worry that I might want to chuck my bike in the lake - but keen to get back on, after some tea & cakes for most of Oct & Nov!!!
Would I do it again - oh yes, bring it on!!!!! I'm looking at maybe 2 x 1/2 IM next year - I want to finish feeling like I did myself justice. Maybe an early and late season... but will need to check with Symone first! Certainly a big step up from an Oly and my hat is really off to those IM folk.
Well done all - a cracking w/e. Bring on the winter training.
Steve - Well, that's it! The seasons over for me. I'm happy with what I've accomplished and now I can kick back on the Doritos, Dip and Lager diet. Had a great day at the Middle Distance, managed to get round in fairly good shape, and under my target time. The improvement from last year came from
better nutrition on the cycle, and more specific "brick" training. I don't think it was a result of more training hours (training smarter?). Thanks for all the advice and training company in the last 6 months (you know who you are). Looking forward to having a couple of easy weeks before Swindon Half, Great
South Run and who knows from there. I hope everyone is happy and achieved what they wanted to this season. See you all soon. Steve
Billy - really enjoyed the pain and pleasure of my first Middle Distance. It has given me a insight into how much more pain I will have to endure when I do Iron-man Switzerland!
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