This event was booked many months ago, in fact just after finishing Ironman Vichy last year.
As always great plans to keep the training on track, but with a few niggles from that event I decided to lay off training until they had gone. The problem was I never really got started training again!
I started with the best intentions several times, but the consistency was never there. Anyway, around 10 weeks out I started to put some consistency into some training but knew this was a little like panic training. That said, the rides started to come together, and my swimming was feeling okay but knew the run was going to be the challenge.
Needless to say, all the other preparations were coming together, the nutrition and hydration, the bike and other kit, as well as the travel arrangements with Stuart and Hayley.
The day before the race everything was logged, checked in and ready, the weather was sunny and 25 degrees, with the sea very calm.
Race Morning 
Stuart and I were out of the hotel early, checked the kit and made our way to the swim start. We noted that the wind had increased from yesterday and there was a bit of a swell on the sea, but nothing that worried either of us.
This was my first sea swim event, and I think the nerves had set in a little as my stomach was like a washing machine. As I waited to be penned with our age group, I was rehearsing in my head the transitions and the plan for each discipline.
Swim.
The time came, we were lined up and set off at five-second intervals for the run down to the sea. Some sprinted, some walked, but most, like me, just had a slow jog, into the sea. The sea was not cold but was shallow for a while. I got swimming as soon as I could and headed out to the buoy. Many people were around me to start with, but I just got my breath and tried to get into a rhythm. When we turned left at the first buoy to parallel the shoreline, as it was an in, swim left and out with no loops so quite easy in principle! The reality was slightly different as the swell was more than expected, with my sighting being just sea everywhere. It dawned on me that I was trying to sight at the bottom of the swell and once I figured out that I started to see the other buoys. I kept tight to the buoys and soon saw that they were marked 5 down to 1, which helped with the mindset. I found my stroke and felt to be moving okay through the water and even saw the green caps that had set off in front of us. I turned left back towards the shore only to take a mouth full of water which caused me to splutter and as I turned to go on my back, I felt sand under my feet and just stood up, still 100 meters out in the water, maybe more? But cleared and got back on swimming. The shallow water made it difficult to swim and the amount of people walking was a pain to navigate so I stood up and walked the last bit into the shore.
out that I started to see the other buoys. I kept tight to the buoys and soon saw that they were marked 5 down to 1, which helped with the mindset. I found my stroke and felt to be moving okay through the water and even saw the green caps that had set off in front of us. I turned left back towards the shore only to take a mouth full of water which caused me to splutter and as I turned to go on my back, I felt sand under my feet and just stood up, still 100 meters out in the water, maybe more? But cleared and got back on swimming. The shallow water made it difficult to swim and the amount of people walking was a pain to navigate so I stood up and walked the last bit into the shore.Swim time 34:15 (1:48 per 100m) – A PB for me over this distance! 90th in my age group! Well happy with that!
T1
The run/walk to transition was not a short one and with varying surfaces, compact sand, and sand where you sank 5-6 inches into it sapping your legs and rubber mats. All in all, I walked most of it. I was pleased to hear the Yorkshire voice bellowing behind me as I came into transition “Come on big lad!” as Stuart was entering transition at a vast rate of knots!
I located my bag and got to work sorting myself out for the ride, nothing impressive just slow and methodical.
T1 time 14:54
Bike
As I was leaving transition, I saw my mate Stuart dealing with a puncture, and in true ”Top Gear” style, I shouted some encouragement and promptly left him to it, however, I knew I’d pay for that later when he was flying past me!
promptly left him to it, however, I knew I’d pay for that later when he was flying past me!My plan for the ride was, to have my cadence around 80, my heart rate between 135-150bpm, my power between 140-160w, drink a litre an hour and just eat!!
The ride was flat but did have the odd incline but not much, and overall, the surface was good. However, there were patches which were cobbled and others that were quite rough. I noted that over one section of cobbles, my bike was making noises that I had never heard before and I just hoped it held together, the same couldn’t be said for others as there were a lot of people who had mechanicals, flats being the main one I could tell, but the bike mechanics on the motorbike were doing a great job getting people back on the road.
All in all, a good ride, I came into T2 trying to smile and I battled to get my feet out of my shoes, but only managing one before I had to stop and unclip the other.
Bike time 3:11:22 – Quite happy with that! 134th in my age group. 28.22KPH average.
T2
This time, the walk was only short, I racked my bike and went to get my next bag. I methodically changed my socks, got my trainers on and with a refill of nutrition set out again.
T 2 time 9:21
Run
The run was three loops of the seafront and as it was starting to warm up now, I was glad that there were sections which were in shade from the buildings. This for me was going to be the mind over matter, so just revisited my plan in my head as I set off telling myself I was running too fast and forcing myself to slow down. I wanted to run/walk (9/1) the whole race and what helped me was the feed stations were just around that marker for me, so it felt quite natural to walk them.
and forcing myself to slow down. I wanted to run/walk (9/1) the whole race and what helped me was the feed stations were just around that marker for me, so it felt quite natural to walk them.Around the course, Hayley kept popping up and shouting at me which was great, and I also kept seeing Stuart. The whole way there were people shouting and cheering you on with bangs and music being played, a great atmosphere!
As I came into the finish, both sides were lined with people and in for the photo finish!
Run time 2:46:09 again quite happy with that, 142nd in my age group!
Total time 6:56:00 and 136th in my age group.
Very happy with the result as I felt that due to my lack of training, I was sure I was heading for an 8-hour finish, but no.
