British Olympic Distance Triathlon Champs - Liverpool July 2013

Liverpool Eye

Mid July and we were off to Liverpool for the British Champs for Olympic Distance. This was also the last chance to qualify for the World Champs in London in September. Now just to say...i went here with low expectations...i knew i wasn't going to qualify for London, and i knew i wouldn't do anything of note against people in my age-group. This was just a chance to race at a high level; given that i had raced in Turkey, i felt i needed to mix it with the top of my age-group just to test myself, put myself on the line if you were.

I took the day off work on the friday as we had to register the day before and it meant we could have a leisurely trip up there, without it all being a rush. We chose the scenic way up, meaning lots of twisty roads which did make me feel a bit blurgh but just meant i needed to focus on the road ahead (i was in the back). Got to Liverpool and after one wrong turn we soon found the hotel which was smack bang on the run course and only 100metres or so from race HQ. There were paratriathletes and triathletes milling around everywhere, quite a buzz. The weather was perfect and there were fears that the water temperature would make it a non-wetsuit swim. Having unloaded and got everything into the hotel room, which had a lovely view of the Liverpool Eye, it was off to explore. The triathlon was taking place in the docks in Liverpool, two interconnecting ones...wapping and queen's, which meant swimming under bridges (which was cool, gave a relief from the glaring sun, but also unnerving in some way, not sure why), and this was the most technical swim course yet. The numerous turns meant it was interesting but at the same time meant a slower pace maybe? The bike course was out and back loops of the main road and then the run meandered through the dock areas, past some famous buildings like the liver building, so it was scenic, again interesting, and also meant some shaded parts from the heat.

 

Dreaded jellyfish caused anxiety mayhem!!

On the recce of the swim course and wandered down onto the exit jetty - surprising how bouncy the temporary jetty was. what was even more surprising was the ba**ard jellyfish looming the water!!!! Not what i had expected at all!!!!!!!!!!!! yes, there was rubbish in the water, and i had been warned it was salt water, but jellyfish!! enough to give me nightmares and it certainly caused me to be the most anxious i have ever been before a race. why, i don't know, as i have known there to be jellyfish in the sea swim races i have done, even touching one last year in the gower, and being stung by one in Turkey, but it unnerved me. Once i knew about the jellyfish i was definitely going to be wearing a wetsuit!

Anyways, we had a nice evening, the area around albert dock has really been developed and there was a lovely chilled but electric vibe to the place. We bumped into a few people i knew, which was nice, and what was nice was seeing people that i had met out in Turkey, so even though there were hardly any Celtic Tri people racing, i still had people to chat to.

Beautiful swim setting

I never sleep well before a race but when i woke i was really nervous, which was a first. It wasn't an early start, as race time was 9:45am, but i couldn't stomach breakfast. i managed about half a pot of porridge and later on took a few haribos to have at least some energy in me, but later on it would tell as i was running on empty on the run, plus de-hydrated as the water stations were "shots" of water, which was hot, and it was obvious they were rationing our water, even though when you saw the elite race they were handed full bottles each!! I would quite happily have gone home and not raced, and pulled out of all remaining races for the season, i was being to question why i do this to myself...However, i talked myself into it and race i did.

The swim wasn't fast, and i actually think it was long based on my time, but also the times of others i know. However, what was brilliant was the water support. There were waves every 5 minutes and each wave had about 8 kayaks with it, with each section of the dock being fully covered by plenty of kayakers. It was also settling to see the kayak track the last triathlete in each wave.

I started out on the left and was out of trouble for the most part of the swim until the wave behind caught me up. I always take a wide line when i know i am being caught by the wave behind but i could sense the presence of the wave coming and when the course narrowed into an off-shoot of the dock i started to get twitchy and stopped a few times to check where they were rather than being unnerved by being swam over. I know this lost me time and lost me a position or two but i wasn't in the race to win it, for me it was about getting out of the swim problem free given my anxiety before-hand, and then work on that for future races. What was annoying for my swim cap came all but off during the swim and i could feel it having risen up over my ear...do i stop and put it back on, or risk that it will come off and take my goggles with it...i stuck with it but you can see a photo of me exiting the water with the cap perched on my head line a cone!

Transition was huge so it was a long run from racking to the mount line but thankfully out on the bike. I was trying a new water bottle today, an aero one between my tri bars. However, my tri bars had been knocked going over a bump so were slightly misaligned causing the bottle to be at an angle. I drank the bottle in next to no time as it was a hot day so for future races i might just stick with 2 water bottles in the holders as i've practised still turning the pedals whilst taking the bottle, rather than free-wheeling to get the bottle. I had 3 gels on the bike, basically one at the end of each lap more or less - there were 4 laps on the bike, along with the 750ml of 3:1 carbs/electrolyte drink solution. The bike had 2 little inclines at either end of each lap, before a dead turn - this wasn't expected and whilst not major inclines, there were enough to make you change gears and sap the strength a little. When i first started the bike the course was busy but by the end it was much quieter and i was just getting passed by paratriathletes - it was amazing to see people cycling without any forearms, or just one leg...you wonder about the logistics of it all and it puts into perspective the pain you are in yourself.

As there were 4 laps it was great for spectators so i saw my parents each lap. In that respect the course was brilliant for my mother as there wasn't far to walk from the swim over to the position they took up on the bike course, before a short walk back to the run course. Ideal for achey knees!! with plenty of railings to lean on :) I felt OK on the bike but nothing that quick really. I gave it as best i could but i am still a long way behind the best girls in my age-group on the bike. I am sure i can improve though, it's just how much...

Prior to the race i had practised mounts and dismounts. I hadn't mastered the shoes on the bike with elastic laces thing as the elastic didn't break and i couldn't get my feet into the shoes, but on the dismount i had mastered hooking my leg over whilst still moving and then running straight from the dismount. However...coming towards the mount line here and i didn't feel comfortable trying to hook my leg over so i opted for my usual (my feet are already out of the shoes) and stopped, got my leg over and then run barefoot into T2. Lost time on the girl i came into T2 with but hey ho! it's all a learning curve. 

Out onto the run and the first lap was tough going. i was running on empty and it was baking hot - hotter than running in Turkey, but then this was 2.5 hrs later in the day. It wasn't helped by the minuscule water being handed out so i took 2 "shots" each time, one to wet my mouth and one to pour over my head. There were 2 laps on the run, 2.5k out, 2.5k back, x2. At the end of lap 1 i waved at my mother but said i couldn't smile as there was nothing to smile about, i wasn't enjoying and i was struggling. However, i said to myself to focus on what i could control, something i do a lot now. What i could control was my technique, so i focused on keeping good form and it definitely helped as i felt better and my parents said i looked better too coming towards the finish at the end of the second lap. No sprint finish needed as i'd passed and left for dust some girls i had been running near in the last lap. Fist pump to cross the line as the announcer had called my name but i was just glad to finish. When i asked for a second water bottle at the end i was told no, they only had enough for one each! I thought that was poor, a british champs race and rationing water on a boiling hot day - if i had thrown myself to the floor it might have been a different story though! you could see how dehydrated i was by all the salt that was on my trisuit from sweat. i hadn't had that in turkey. Time wise it was disappointing...slower than my bala time and therefore my turkey time, but faster than my gower olympic time - which given the hilly nature of the bike course and the brutal nature of the run course you would expect so! No post-race euphoria, was just glad to get it done. 

Coming towards the finish

We had paid a little extra for a late check out in the room which was great as it meant i could at least shower properly and feel fresh to travel home. I did go see some of the elites race but they weren't household names so i didn't stay long before i came back and we packed up and set off for home. The race was fantastically run, a great race bag, lovely tshirt that i had pre-paid for, but the water situation was disappointing. 

Would i race this race again? Hmmm...it knocked my confidence really as i hadn't progressed as i had hoped since Turkey, and i was way out of my league. I'm not the best in the local races so why i thought i could cut it with the best of the best is beyond me, lol. one of my blonde moments i guess! however, it is good to race in different places, to experience different courses, different atmospheres, see different sites. It certainly gave me food for thought for the remainder of the season though...i didn't enjoy the race...i hadn't enjoyed poppit sands...i wasn't happy generally with tri life...

Poppit Sands Aquathlon

Long time since i've written a blog post it seems...not that i haven't thought of it, just had a lot on my mind and not in a space to put 'pen to paper' as you were. Back on 7th July i did my first aquathlon race...this being a 1k sea swim followed by a 5k multi-terrain run. A short sharp race, but given that it was a club championship race, and also a way of forcing me to do what i don't like doing - swimming in a race, then it was a good warm up for the British Champs in Liverpool the following weekend.

The race was a late morning start so we were able to leave at a decent time and still get down to Poppit Sands with plenty of time to spare. The 90 minute drive to Poppit Sands was beautiful and the setting for the race was idyllic. With a little campsite overlooking the beach it was a stunning find...everything you would need there, with a big wide open beach, and crystal blue clear calm waters...

Mass beach start

As it was a club race there was a large turn out from the club which was great to see. The weather was perfect too, so the water was calm, and not too cold, and it wasn't too hot either, even though i had caught the sun a lot after the race having not put suntan lotion on.

There wasn't as many in the race as i'd thought, less than 100, so about the size of a wave start within a tri. I hung back a little during the run into the water but felt OK going out to the first buoy and then around to the left. Feeling OK i was swimming between two other swimmers, who unfortunately then decided to close the gap and they both took a stroke at the same time which meant a double wallop for me on the head as they swam shoulder to shoulder with me. I stopped due to the knock and one of the swimmers did stop, bless her. I took a few breaths to get my breath back and then off i went again. For the next 100metres or so though i was asking myself why do i put myself in these situations, why do i race in races that require me to swim?!?! However, the rest of the swim was trouble free. I wasn't quick, but felt OK, and swam around the buoys without trouble, only 1 or 2 around me. What i did notice was how bad others are at swimming in a straight line as that's something i'm OK at really, unless i choose to take a wider route. The swim felt a long way and then when i finally got out of the water i found it tough to actually get out - the sand stayed shin deep for quite a while and i was finding it hard to get out as quick as i'd hope. Then the tide had gone out during the swim so there was a long run up the beach to transition.

The tide had gone out during the swim so it was a long run up to transition

It was strange having a transition that was based o the ground with no bike racking. Struggled a little to get shoes on due to the added factor of sand and then out onto the run. The run would make a great training run, multi-terrain, some ups, some brutal soft sand bits...but during a race it wasn't fast and was a lot tougher than i had expected due to the soft sand where it was shin deep for long stretches.

I made up a few places on the run but i never felt like i got into my stride and i was very glad when i saw the finish in sight and i was able to overtake the woman in front of me to at least finish strongly, even if i was just glad it was over. Looking at the results after my swim had been average but the run could have been better given a couple of people who i am faster than had a faster run split. Still, this race wasn't important, and the main thing i took from it was how beautiful Poppit Sands was so it was a nice trip out with my parents, which ended in a nice picnic :)

There were some great results within the club so it was a success all round for the club and as for me, well i survived being bashed in the water but i know i need to be stronger and hold my own in the water, rather than getting a little anxious as soon as i see other people close to me in the water. Will i do this race next year...well it was very well organised by a local club, in a perfect setting, so if it fits into the schedule then i would certainly consider returning, as i'd want to improve on my run for definite!