I competed / completed the East Coast Triathlon in Great Yarmouth last Sunday, organised by Active Outdoor Sport. This was my first event of the year and I was really looking forward to it, the combination of training over the winter and anticipation for the coming year.
The event was a super sprint distance which comprised of a 250m pool swim, 16km cycle and 3km run. This is not my first triathlon but my first after putting in some decent training so was looking forward to seeing how my body coped, as during my first tri last summer my legs stopped working on me during the run and it was a major struggle to complete.
Registration opened at 6.40am and closed at 8.00am with race briefing at 8.15, after seeing the entry list of over 140 people I decided that I would get to registration earlier rather than later, also the fact that I didn't sleep much the night before helped!!
I arrived just after 7, already the atmosphere was building with people checking out bikes, laying out shoes, towels and food in the transition area. I choose a spot just in from the end on one of the racks, hopefully will remember where it was when coming in from the swim!!
My bike is a Specialized Allez Triple 24 (will review), I had only picked it up a week before the event and had only rode it twice too, previously I had a Claud Butler Stone River mountain bike and the difference is massive, firstly the Allez has clip pedals, different riding position and so so much lighter. I was slightly nervous riding it and had visions of my being unable to unclip my shoes at the end of the cycle leg and falling over.
After the race briefing it was down to the pool, the way the swim leg was arranged was swimmers were going off in 30 second intervals, don't know if this is the norm, with the faster swimmers going first, therefore in theory no one should be overtaken, as when I entered the event you had to estimate your swim time, I put down 5mins to do the 250m, 30seconds a length that's doable I said to myself when entering and my swim training was coming along really well, until they decided to close my local pool for the 4 weeks leading up to the event, thanks!!
The swim was 10 lengths of the pool starting at the deeper end and ducking end the lane markers each time to work your way to the 'beach' end of the pool to the exit and transition. All I wanted to do was swim well and not to hold a better swimmer up behind me. We all lined up along the pool in our starting order I was number 80, number 79 didn't turn up and also 81 therefore I had a minute gap between me and the swimmer in front and behind, great I thought should be able to stay out of peoples way. Swim started and I felt really strong, mentally saying don't go to quick early just keep smooth. Have been working on my stroke and just wanted to concentrate on that. However after 150m I had already caught up on the swimmer in front of me and 50m later caught up with the swimmer in front of him, brilliant. Completed the swim in 5m 11secs, was really happy with this and ran off to transition.
Right where did I rack my bike, found it. I don't have a trisuit and therefore had to put some clothes on for the bike leg. The weather that day was good as previously it was a mixture of rain, hail and wind, this morning the sun was out and the wind reduced, however not mega warm. Therefore I had decided to wear a base layer and a running top along with a pair of 3/4 lengths. So on went the base layer got a bit stuck, running top, 3/4 lengths, my new cycling shoes, helmet and finally glasses (got to look the part) unracked bike and headed to bike exit. Got to mount line and jumped on bike and set off, clipped in easily and set off on the cycle leg. This was a 3 lap course along Great Yarmouth sea front, slight head wind going out and slight tail wind coming in. This was the first time I had properly ridden my new bike and loved it straight away, got into a comfortable position and gear and pushed on. Thinking to myself try and not get overtaken by people who started the swim after you and if I can overtake someone. Towards the end of the first lap I had been overtaken by number 82 and 83, never mind as I had manged to overtake someone in the numbered in the 70's.
I must take this opportunity to say thanks to my family, as the cheers 'go daddy' helped.
Right end of the cycle leg approaching, are my visions of me falling off going to happen. As I approach the dismount line I think to myself right take it steady so I unclip my left foot and then the right, that wasn't hard, however as I then stop at the line I have reclipped my left foot back in again and have a slight moment, but luckly it comes uncliped and I get of the bike and enter transition again. Find my spot and take shoes off and slid running shoes on, all I can say are get elastic laces for your running shoes, this is the best £5 you can ever spend on triathlon gear.
Out on the run I feel strong and the weather is getting warmer. The run was along the seafront prom, beautiful beach to the right and gift shops etc to the left, these sheltered the wind and the run was great. This was my first run on a hard surface after suffering a knee injury and so far the knee felt fine. Got to the halfway point of the run and saw my family eating ice creams!! Final push to the finish.
My finishing time was 1h and 56 seconds, was really happy with the time and more so how I was feeling as I wasn't completely knackered and felt good.
Splits
Swim 5:50.2 this included 50m run from pool to transition
T1 2:26.6
Bike 38:29.5
T2 0:46.1
Run 13:23.9
Total 1:00:56.5
Met up with the family, they had saved some ice cream, had a cool down run and stretch.
I was feeling great, had really enjoyed the event, was happy with my performance and happy that my training was making me feel fitter and stronger and that my new bike felt great, more to come.
I would recommend this event to anyone as a first triathlon, it was brilliantly organised, had a good range of abilities so you can see what to aim for and a great distance that is achievable with some training.
Looking forward to next years event all ready, also this has made me even more focused on training hard for the North Norfolk Triathlon in Wells at the beginning of September, Olympic Distance.
My next event is the Great East Anglia Run on Sunday 6th May, this is a 10k run around Kings Lynn and is the first time I had entered this event, will post my report on this.
Mark
