Windsor Triathlon: report and reflection

Last Sunday was my key race for the year at Windsor. I was planning to beat last year's time of 2hr36. I was feeling fitter than last year so expectations were high.

When I started this training regime I planned to lose a stone, starting at 12st4. Come the morning of the race...



So that was the first challenge complete.

The alarm had gone at 5am and after the weigh in and breakfast Mel dropped our friend Ian and myself down near the start. The first Olympic waves were heading out. Our start was 7.45 so after setting up transition we headed over to the start.

Swim

After being slightly concerned about a shoulder twang a week earlier I was slightly apprehensive about the next 1500 metres. I set off at my usual pace and thankfully the shoulder didn't cause problems. I exited the water around the half hour mark and ran the 200m to T1. An ok transition and I was off on the bike

Bike

On leaving transition the mount line is always an area for comedy/ tragedy. The chap in front tried a flying mount and flew into the crowd bike and all!!

I got motoring and soon got onto a good rhythm. The Speedfil bottle on the bike made so much of a difference, and I was supplementing drink with Powerbar ride shots.

At this point the weather closed in and the rain and wind came down. I was heading on the only real incline when I realised something was not quite right. My fingers were so numb I couldn't change gear! It didn't help that traffic was heavy with horse boxes so I really needed to change up and down often. I was having to use the palm of my hands which meant coming completely off the aerobars. I managed to get back to T2 in about 1hr13 but had a transition nightmare as my cold hands fumbled with my bike helmet strap. It took over a minute to undo it

Run

My running had been going well in the preceding weeks so I felt I should be able to run about 45 minutes. I took a Hi5 gel as I started and soon got into a good rhythm. I saw Mel, Georgie, and other friends which was a welcome boost, especially as Georgie had made me a banner



......She's such a clever girl!

The first two laps went well in just under 30 minutes. As I rounded the last turn for the third lap, my hamstrings and quads just seized up. Game over. However, only 2 miles to go so I slowed down and enjoyed it.

I came over the line in 2hr37 and 24 seconds according to my watch. I add that as it soon became apparent that my chip had failed so I had no split times.


Reflection on the race

Initially I was gutted I hadn't hit my target sub 2hr30. It took a hot chocolate and bacon sandwich and some reflection time to realise that in the circumstances it wasn't that bad. On the day the conditions weren't great. Even Tim
Don "donned" a waterproof towards the end of the run.

My training had been concise and I have to admit I haven't done enough distance training for Olympic triathlons. For sprint yes, for oly no. I have my next oly race in 8 weeks, so I plan to sit down this week and plan a better programme including a focus on strength training and an extra weekly long slow run. I'll outline this in my next blog.

To sum up

This year is all about returning to health and fitness as well as having fun. I still want to target the GB age group squad but know it's going to be a tough time. But I'm ready to give it a bash over the next few years. And if I don't make it, then maybe the next generation might.




"Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it."

T. Alun Armstrong