Nag Nag Nag !….Yes Stephen…No Stephen…..Yes I will get you a report soon honest !
I eventually gave in to Stephen’s perpetual nagging ( Hazel how you manage I just don’t know !)….I think it was the early 6.00 am phone calls every Sunday from Whizzer stating that the report was several weeks over due that eventually pushed me over the edge !…. so he wanted a report…….well he got a report, actually several, all at once so here is my ramblings of a very enjoyable season of Triathlons 2009 etc. If you have less tedious things to do, do them or even just switch to channel 4 & watch the highlights of the cricket as the following is a bit like ‘War & Peace’.
Anyway to the point. The 2009 Mid Argyll Triathlon & Cycle Clubs big event.
The season for me had gone pretty well prior to the big day. A few duathlons early on set the scene for an interesting year…..There was Tranent sprint event on a very cold day in March in Edinburgh, then on to Bishop Briggs at the beginning of May. This is Glasgow Tri clubs event & is nearly a local event !…. was quite novel to do a 4 lap bike section which meant you could really stretch yourself each lap & the run was very similar to our event, along the Glasgow-Edinburgh canal. A week later was Bute . This really friendly event is a must for the newly hooked sprint athlete & they also do a great super sprint which was the first I had ever done in 2007. It was good to see so many MATCC members there & it would be great to see a few more next year. Then on to Etape Caledonia for a quick but tacky! 80 mile ride around Perthshire. Will have a bash at that one next year at full pace & see if we can keep up with Julian, ‘the splenic–vent’. Then onto the MOK run a week later. Again a must for the locals. This will be on my calendar for years to come as it is largely the reason I got involved in Tri stuff as the 2007 run was Kirsty & my first competitive run for the last 20 years ! ( well certainly for me….).
After a mad May there was then Stirling Sprint event early June, which again is now a favourite. As Whizzer had said to me before the event…you must crush your demons !! In 2008 I had the great experience of not only having four punctures on the bike leg, (always make sure you clear out all the glass from your tyre !), but I was last at 217th !…… ……someone has to & there was a strange feeling of enjoyable success coming last. At least I had the near certainty of bettering that this year. It is a tough, but enjoyable course & again nearly a local event. No punctures this year & a pleasing 15th old boy. They also do a super sprint event for the newly weds! Well worth a bash…… On to Ayr late June, the open water sprint event which was my 1st ever OW in 2008. For all the OW specialists a definite one for the calendar. You swim up the River Doon & then on to a tough, but scenic bike leg along the coast looking out to Arran. The run is also tough, but enjoyable with a bit of everything in there. Got 4 minutes off my pb. with a time of 1:17:52..well pleased. Booked in for 2010.
At last a rest in July. On holiday somewhere hot. Missed Loch Lomond which was a bit disappointing as it is a great event & one I think we should all make an effort to do next year, especially those OW die-hards. Great to see Sally, Eamonn & Laura do so well there this year. After a good holiday break it was straight into a Dirty weekend away with Kirsty at St.Mary’s Loch Selkirk. This one I was really looking forward to. The sprint OW Durty Triathlon event that is! (I always look forward to the other !)… Anyway the reason I was looking forward to this one was because I completed it in 2008 & had a ball. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but for me this was off road, tough & enjoyable. Knowing the route was a real advantage & you could pace yourself really well. Everything went to plan on this one & not only did I take 10 minutes off my pb. but I was 1st old boy, my first silverware since 6th year!. Hannah & Mike also had a ball & did really well. Again, will try & fit this one in next year….may even stretch things & do the Olympic distance, but only if Eamonn who has agreed to do it gives me a helping hand…….
It was now September & I was ready for the big event…the MATCC 2009 MacQueen Bros. Sprint event. Could I stay the pace with the ‘big boys’ ? could I stay in front of the new contenders in Tim, Garret, Toby & John A ? who knows, but I was ready to give it my best shot.
On the lead up to the big day there had been the usual banter & mind games with Whizzer being the main catalyst for this, wanting to know who was doing what ? when? & how much!…. The Aquabike & cycle Time trials had given everyone a chance to measure their own potential & of everyone else’s for that matter. The Aquabike went down a treat with dozens of newcomers coming out of the woodwork – well done JR for this great idea & to see it through to a very successful conclusion.
The Saturday before the Big day, dozens of members turned out to help with the Marquee & race signs etc. It was great to see so many helping hands & the same happened on the Sunday from 7.00am onwards. By 10.00am even the bike racks had been completed ! …everything was suddenly very quiet, that is…..until JR’s briefing which seemed to get everyone in the mood.
In the majority of previous Triathlons I had entered I was usually in the 1st or 2nd heat due to my slow swim time, but somehow the race director (aka Whizzer) had managed to sneak me in to the last heat with all the elite girls and boys!….was this a cunning plan by Whizzer to let me ‘blow up’ with the fast crowd or was he just being nice ? Even stranger was that he had managed to sneak himself, JR & Tim in the same lane with Peter, the Heron, in the lane beside us. Was this so Whizzer could keep an eye on all of us & not let us get away?……..
Anyway on to the heats…I watched the teams go out with Tess, Ruairidh & William doing their stuff. They all did very well & thoroughly enjoyed themselves. A few heats passed & as I was mingling about, Peter, the Heron caught my attention & signalled if I wanted to go for a warm up down to the Coop. Anything to take my mind off things as the nerves seemed to be kicking in. I don’t get too many nerves at other events, but I think in familiar surroundings they become worse. On returning from the Coop we were met by Whizzer et al, changed & going poolside! Help it was only 11.25…..our kick off was 12 o’clock. …..Simone you’re just too efficient!…..a quick change & I was greeted by Simone who indicated ( in her teacher voice! ) that we had 2 minutes…….where was Peter? had he done a runner?. The briefing came & went & as we marched to our lanes Peter strolled in, looking if he meant business. We all jumped in & did the ‘may the best man win’ stuff & then we were off ! Whizzer, JR, Tim then me at the rear. My plan was simple….go as fast as I could & try & keep Tim in my sights. They were all around 90 secs faster normally so I knew if I could hold them to only overtaking me once then I could do no better. At 15 lengths I felt the feeling of being ‘run down’….then the tickle of Whizzer on my left ankle…..then Wham!! A shark had just taken a chunk out my right ankle……..I stopped in my tracks at the end of the pool (to call for the Coast Guard!) when Whizzer passed. He definitely meant business ! I let JR passed as well, & then attempted to get a tow from John. It worked for a couple of lengths then I was on my own again. With 3 lengths to go I again felt a tickle or two so I let Tim passed who looked apologetic as he only had 1 lap to complete. It then suddenly became very quiet in the pool. Oh! Surprise….surprise I was the only one left splashing about for the last 2 laps. I upped the tempo for these two & finished in a pleasing 10.00, a whole 1 ½ minutes faster than last years result.(all that shouting & coaching from Sally & Simone does not go on deaf ears!)
Out the pool & with a quick transition I was on the bike. I could here Martin shouting that Tim was away & out on the road. I got 30 yards & had to stop with another two competitors at the 1st road crossing. Once it was safe to go we all surged off up the road & as we went through the gears I passed them both as we turned off to Cairnbaan. I looked ahead & could see the silhouette of Tim about 500 metres up the road. On the climb up to Belenoch I was slowly gaining on him & by the canal bridge I was around 300 metres behind. It was going to plan & then suddenly it all went terribly wrong! It seemed different? (this is where all the excuses come out…. ) Now I forgot to tell you that I had committed the cardinal sin & had also fallen to greed the week before the race……
It went a bit like this ….08.45, Sunday 20th September. Whizzer & myself were out for a Sunday bike ride trying to keep up with Stan & Julian. We all reached the top of the hill climb on the way back from Ormsary & as we stopped & had a drink the subject of who was faster than who in the bike leg of a Triathlon was brought up by Julian. After a few minutes of discussion Julian suddenly suggested that I borrow his ‘time trial’, go fast wheels as they would fit my bike & would take at least a minute off my time for no extra effort! …(& put some pressure on Whizzer)……..mmmmm! I said what’s the catch? Nothing he said, but there’s a funny hat you have to wear to make them work………Now these wheels Julian was talking about are individually more expensive than my whole bike! Had greed really taken over? Was I obsessed at beating Whizzer?…I think so. The night before the big day I fitted the wheels & went for a test ride along the road. The funny hat was built for someone with ‘no ears’ so I would have needed lashings of baby oil to get it fitted in transition. It would have taken ages to put on…my transition time would be horrendous….nearly as bad as Whizzers! Now I know I’m fond of the baby oil for the ‘wetsuit removal’ in open water events, but this was taking it too far! The hat therefore stayed at home……
……Back to the Moss. As I went to go through the gears along the Moss the bike seemed to have a mind of its own. The blustery side winds were making me wobble all over the place…What had I done…my trusty steed had been tampered with. These alien wheels were for elite athletes, not veteran geeks like me. I continued on growling all the way to the main road junction. By now Tim was nearly out of sight. I caught a couple of riders as I went through Kilmichael up that deceptive hill which gave me a wee boost. Then on to the Cairnbaan corner where the smiling marshals were still shouting support…things were looking up & yes I was starting to reel Tim in. On down the Meadows going at full speed, my legs burning, down on my Tri bars giving it everything….then disaster, I’d pushed it too hard….less than ½ mile to go & my right thigh muscle cramped up big style. Why now ? What had I done? My first thought was, just get to transition using my left leg to keep my momentum going, but second thought flashing passed me was, was I able to run out of transition, on my own local event? This horrible feeling had happened to me before on a couple of my first sprint events in 2008 & it is not a pretty sight!….. I eased off the pace, changed down a few gears to try & shrug off the cramp & then free wheeled into the dismount zone.
As I approached the dismount I could see Tim going out on the run, down the pavement looking pretty relaxed, no cramp problems for him….. Martin’s voice over the tanoy announced ‘there’s Tim heading out on the run & here’s Matt just coming into Transition’…..That seemed to spur me on….Then, as I tried to jump off the bike the chain flew off the derailer & jammed the back wheel ! …The bike came to sudden halt. My first overwhelming thought was ‘ Oh no the £600 wheels!’ I lifted the bike up & ran to transition where more disaster was awaiting! Now being colour blind & generally daft I have found a good technique that ensures you know where your bike is & you do not make an arse of yourself in transition by not finding your bike ! Now I know that may seem odd to some of you, but in large events with 2 or 3 hundred bikes it always happens to a few. My technique is firstly, ‘walk through transition’ before the event, from both directions, i.e. from the pool exit & from dismount zone, noting your bike position with regards to the surroundings. This may seem overkill, but when you push your body to the limit strange things happen & it can all go horribly wrong. Secondly have yourself a towel that no one else would possibly dare to use in public, like a Postman pat or sponge bob square pants towel….This has worked for me really well in the past, but what happened next even Chrissie Wellington or Alastair Brownlee would have not come across.
As I approached the approximate area where my bike had been racked I firstly noticed two athletes sitting down struggling to put there shoes on & secondly I couldn’t see my towel or any of my kit for that matter. I looked to the left & then to the right…nothing! Help what had gone wrong with my cunning plan?… Then out of the corner of my eye there she was…Postman Pats black & white cat being squashed by a young ladies left buttock !…She was sitting on my towel & shoes !! A few polite excuse me, sorry, That’s my towel etc…….I racked the bike, changed shoes, helmet & off I ran. I think the shock of it all had taken over, & the cramp had suddenly gone. As I left transition in a less than impressive 55 seconds I was greeted by Kirsty shouting ‘ pull your finger out! you can catch them’….Not sure who them was, but I was just glad to exit transition in one piece. As I got to the turn on to the Canal bank I could see Tim not too far in front with 2 competitors just behind him. I felt pretty good & my legs were surprisingly loose. I upped the pace to full blast & as I reached Millers bridge I overtook the two Glasgow & Stirling Tri athletes, then about 300 metres later sneaked passed Tim. As I passed I muttered a few words as you do & he growled back & smiled. As I passed the Bowling green I could see the first of my heats athletes returning along the Canal.
Then just behind was Whizzer looking far too relaxed, then Ironman John with Peter who looked if he had given his all just behind them. A few shouts of encouragement & high 5s’ & they were off. I reached the turn & passed a couple more competitors. I now had a gap of around 300 metres on Tim with Peter around 500 metres in front, but could I catch the runaway 3? (negative thinking was creeping in). I still felt good though so I just put the head down & went at full pace on the return leg. As I passed Millers bridge again I overtook a couple more & could see Peter still about 400 metres in front. With only ½ mile to go I knew it was just me against the clock. There was no way I could catch the Heron unless someone was to push him in to the Canal! & as the Whizzer was up front that wasn’t going to happen! So I pushed on to the finish & as I approached the main road I could see Toby & Garret encouraging Fiona as she ran along the pavement towards the finish. I sprinted the last 300 metres & was well pleased with a finish time of 1.14.31. That was 3 minutes better than last year so if I can manage that improvement again, who knows, the veteran contenders may be able to push the Whizzer even more next year!. Mind you I think we should all be watching out for Toby & Eamonn who will be showing the local boys all how to do it properly!
What did I enjoy about the race ? …………..….
…That even with all the competitiveness about, everyone seemed to do their best & enjoy it at the same time. What a great day & what a fantastic well run event.
…. A pb in the swim & 6th overall in the run with a pb, well pleased with that.
….The only slight disappointment was on the bike as it just wasn’t to be my day. The school boy error of changing things last minute & trying something new for the first time during a race taught me a harsh lesson.
….What a great days racing had by all & what a good example of what a small community can achieve when all working together. Well done everyone who helped, who took part or who just supported on the day. See you next year.
Phew ! that was good to get that off my chest & keep Whizzer off my back for another season…….
Mad Dog…
|
|
|
