This is my forth visit to Dorney Lake (Races 5, 6 and 9). However this time the race is based at the other end (eastern) where all the facilities are. If you want to refresh your memory to how the place came about, its history and what not, rather than bore you, have a look at the Race 9 update as it was about this I began to get into this blogging malarkey and turned on the 'verbosity tap'. The view from the other end looks like this - so unsurprisingly, it looks like a long straight lake with those two yellow buoys marking our swimming course. The cycle course this time is four laps of the lake making a grand total of 20.4 km. The 5km run is up the path on the right hand side, around some cones and back down the same path - which means you can see exactly how fast other runners are gaining on you!
As you can see from the photos it was another reasonably sunny day (I have been SO lucky with the weather in all my races - although jumping ahead - there were a few spots of rain on the cycle). However it was incredibly windy, so much so that the exit gantry from the swim blew over and one of the women's waves had to virtually crawl under it until they managed to re-inflate it.
The windy conditions were recognised by the race report on the event website: "Following on from Saturday’s action at Dorney Lake, the Eton SuperSprint Sunday featured more great racing, fierce competition and excellent performances right across the board. The strong wind turned a traditionally fast course into a leg sapping challenge and gave the swim leg an added dimension with plenty of chop evident on the water. [I'll say, the waves were up to 12" and some swimmers had problems while I reverted to breast stroke straight away. Furthermore only one person managed a sub-30min cycle and needless to say there were no aero-disc wheels in evidence].
The day actually started early with a somewhat younger age group than usual due to the first round in the Human Race Scootathlon Series – a scoot, bike, run event designed to introduce four to eight year-olds to the world of multisport [get them young I say!] Lining up their scooters at 9.30am were over 100 youngsters who tackled the three-loop course with determination, effort and lots of smiles!"
Getting (wet) suited up, exchanging banter with the others in the "codgers category" of 50+ , admiring some of the kit on show, yet commiserating on how tight the wetsuits were (as this is often the first race of the triathlon season in open water for many) and 'surely my chest hasn't slipped that much to around my waist?' There was also a distinct lack of enthusiasm in actually getting into the water to the increasing exasperation of the starter. It was cold though and as already mentioned with the wind blowing down the 2.2 km length pretty choppy. I must admit I wonder how the rowers manage as their boats seem very close to the water - though on reflection I suppose as long as it isn't a cross wind it would be all right? Just to confirm, I wasn't thinking this at the time as a was bobbing away like an oversized rubber duck - more should I even attempt freestyle or go straight into 'turtle' mode.
Once off managed to settle into a rhythm to the first buoy. Going across between the two buoys I'd remembered to aim slightly up wind and allow the wind/wave combination to do its work. Some swimmers didn't and ended up going a bit off course and then having to dogleg to get around the buoy. With the wind and waves it was much easier and almost relaxing which gave me an opportunity to have a look at the different types of pond weed, follow the mooring line of the lane buoys, and generally enjoy myself.
Once out, dash to the bike and this time got out of the wetsuit with minimum of fuss. Onto bike and round the back of the complex into the full force of the wind. This is certainly where aero-bars are an advantage and managed to overtake quite a few. Fixed my eye on a fellow cyclist also in the tuck position and gave chase. Finally caught him at the far end to find that with the wind he had slightly higher gear ratios (53:11 - I subsequently found out) and he managed to pull away with the wind down the 2.2km straight. It was an absolute joy go that fast and during the whole four laps neither of us were overtaken - pure exhilaration. Again began to reel him in going into the wind and again got alongside only for him to find an extra spurt and pull ahead just before gaining 100m or so with the wind.
It is great fun when there is a ding-dong battle like this - just the two of us competing to the exclusion of everyone else. He kept on looking over his shoulder to see where I was while I refused to totally loose touch with him. I found out after that he was so adamant that he would stay ahead that he refused to take a drink because it would mean he'd have to get out of the tuck position as his bottles were frame mounted. My bottle - a wonderfully aerodynamically shaped thing sits between my tri-bars with a long straw which allows drinking while in the tuck position. Boys and their toys!
As transition was at the windward end of the straight, he entered about 200m in front. Both of us had a reasonable change so it was onto the run. Running into the wind was a bit of a nightmare - it was like running uphill and having put so much into the cycle it was really hard work. At 1.25km we went around some cones and headed back - exchanging grins as we passed each other. With the wind the run was almost easy, in fact you weren't even aware that there was a wind just that the running was (relatively) easy. Then it was back into the wind where I was lucky enough to slipstream a big 'fella' who'd just got off the bike and was setting a cracking pace! He fade towards the end of the into the wind section but I'd got to with 50m of my nemesis. Aware of this at the turn he picked up the pace and the race was on! It would have been more impressive if two others from our wave hadn't cruised past at this point chatting to each other!
We finally crossed the finish within 2m of each other - I'd just hadn't got the legs. However on checking our times we'd both been given the same - so both were 126th. The only reason I'm above in the lists is alphabetical as Clive Newnham come after Huggett - yay! We had a long chat about kit, races ..... etc. that' one of the great things about triathlons is that they are so friendly. Also you get all types competing, swimmers, cyclists and runners - so its likely that everyone is good at one part or other. Back home the decision to tape up the blisters to stop the water getting in proved to be a little problematic - put it this way it's one way to loose a fair amount of skin! Oh well, I'd take the precaution of having "liquid painkillers" of the amber variety in the fridge - allowing me to rehydrate and replace lost carbs - all at the same time!
One other problem I'm going to have to address with this 50 @ 50 malarkey - is what to do with all the event t-shirts? I got another two this weekend! Its not really something you can give to the charity shops with "beast in the east" splurged across it and there are just so many you actually need as rags to clean the bike etc. Oh well, the pile on the bedroom floor will just get bigger until I get some inspiration/advice.
Result: 126th (tied with two others) out of 668 in a time of 1:10:36
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