Kingswood Triathlon Club » 2008 » November

Kingswood Triathlon Club

We swim, ride bikes and run.
Nov 27

A few reports from the races (very well done to all):

Philippa’s report
Driving to the 10km in the pouring torrential rain the roads were starting to flood and I did wonder if it was wise to race. However it did stop for the 10km and the wind wasn’t too bad. In fact I was over dressed. Was good to catch up with Michael K. Who said he was aiming for sub 50 but unfortunately just missed out.

10km results

1st Doug Hall (NOT KIT) 34.24
125 Michael Kirley 50.16
170 Philippa Crocker 55.36

then I had a bit of a wait around as the duathlon was so popular and was split into 3 waves (I was in the 2nd). This gave the wind chance to pick up with a vengence. I started off on the run (which was all the girlies plus a few other no hopers) and got onto my bike. It was already a reasonably busy track but they started wave 3 so the track got even busier. Then just to add to the fun it hailed! Still I managed to finish in my slowest time ever. Not a day to hang around so I didn’t stop to see the others come in.

Results 2miles/10miles/2mile

1st Oliver Mott NOT KIT 43.09 (9.27,.47,22.14,.44,9.56)
143 Neil Kerfoot 58.21 (12.48,1.18,28.42,1.22,14.11)
210 Graham Anstis 1.01.13 (15.05,2.07,26.23,1.22,16.02)
221 Jan Melichar 1.01.40 (13.58,1.11,29.45,1.18,16.27)
238 Tom Weaver 1.02.48 (15.03,1.09,30.41,052,15.03)
358 Philippa Crocker 1.10.52 (18.13,1.18,32.14,.55,18.11)
388 Dave Ogborne 1.14.58 (17.04,1.34,36.53,1.10,18.15)

and Neil, Dave and Philippa came 6th team based on position in age group

From Neil Kerfoot:
Race report – it was cold and rain and hail hit us on the bike leg. The elite university boys were impressive and lots of nice bikes passed me and also were passed by me.
leg one run went well as did the first 4 laps. Slightly down hill and down wind along the finishing straight meant I was at 30mph as i went passed the family on the pit wall. looked great but slowed to 14mph slighly uphill into wind on back straight!!! What a contrast. Was glad to get off bike until both calves cramped and I looked rather strange getting trainers on and hobbling into run 2. still managed to shake off the cramps and put in a slower but still respectable time in run 2 to beat my aim of under 60 mins. Not bad for an ol duffer.
Helps loads when you are cycling scared expecting Jan Melichar to overtake you at any time!!

From Graham Anstis:
Race report – Had a chat with Philippa at registration and was told to keep racing line on the track would make big difference to speed. Also that I would get too hot in waterproof jacket.
It was cold so started run in it anyway ( only started training back in March then running 2 miles in 30 mins) thought I would run in approx 15 mins each run 30 mins on bike with transition so 1 hour approx.
Did run in 15mins 5 secs so OK took off jacket in transition so lost some time. Got out on track I thought it was rain but others reported as hail.
Keeping to the race line was a laugh took first corner too fast started to lose traction so had to straighten up a bit then the wind hit you I was grunting up the hill at 15 mph.
Had to slow up on a few bends as approx 30 or 40 other cyclists in the way no way through.
Past the pit lane winding it up to 31.7 fasted lap 5 mins 3 secs 43 seconds slower than leader slowest lap 5 mins 31 secs. 59th on bike leg happy could have been faster if less traffic on wave 3 but guess others were having same problem. See if I can do better next time.
2nd run just hanging in there then gave it my all down slip lane to finish.
See I had Jan breathing down my neck and need to improve my running to pass Neil next time.
Any hints to get my running down to 10 mins have been doing hill sprints and walking back. Doing 2 mile runs 5 mile runs on and off road around Purdown

 

Nov 4

From Maggie Bromley

Rimini is a seaside resort on the Adriatic Sea, which in the height of season is crawling with tourists out to have a good time. Fortunately at the end of September it was a lot quieter and there was plenty of room for all the athletes and their supporters..

We arrived on Thursday, the weather was cool, cloudy and blowing a gale, not what we had expected for Italy in September. The wind continued to blow throughout Friday and Saturday..

First impressions were that things were well organised. We all received a copy of the athlete’s handbook in our goody bag. As well as the usual T shirt, socks, energy drink we all received a new wheelie sports bag.

The athletes briefing was scheduled to take place on Friday at 3.30 in one of the hotels. It was only when we all arrived that we were told that only the team managers would be briefed and they, in turn, would brief us immediately afterwards, which just happened to be when the parade of nations was due to start.

The GB team manager gave us a briefing when it emerged that many of the times in the handbook were wrong, including times at which transition opened, start times etc. Arrangements for collecting one’s chip had also changed. The changes were, on the whole, fairly minor but some people got very stressed by it all.

After the GB team briefing we strolled down to the parade of nations. It was bitterly cold with a biting wind and those of us who had been too mean to buy GB fleeces immediately regretted it. Fortunately we weren’t kept hanging around for long and the parade consisted of marching for at most 400 yards, standing around and chatting for a while and then beating a hasty retreat to somewhere warmer.

The GB team support was very good with 2 bike mechanics and 2 physios. The physios went out of their way to make sure that everyone who needed treatment received it. As Andy had hurt his back just before we came out to Italy and could barely put on his shoes and socks, without some vigorous sessions with the physios he would have struggled to race.

The elite and junior races were on the Saturday morning and the women’s age group race started at 4.15. The wind was still blowing but at least it was dry as we started. The sun came out during the first 10k and for a while it was quite warm.. The run route was a 4 lap course which twisted and turned. It was well marshalled and there was never any risk of going the wrong way. Apparently it was about 11K rather than the official 10 K. I had a good first run, particularly if it was 11K.. Aileen was also going well. Transition was well laid out but involved running quite a long way with the bike over cobbles, although these had been covered with a carpet.

The bike course was 6 laps up and down the promenade, straight and flat apart for a little dink a third of the way along the outward stretch. It was at this point that things began to go wrong for me. As athletes streamed past me, I got terrible cramp if I tried to pick up the pace.  I finally completed the 6 laps and got cramp again as I went into transition. I managed to pull back about 1 place on the second run, but finished 16th  overall. I was disappointed, particularly as I was beaten by several people I had beaten before, but there is always another year. Aileen had a great race and finished 5th . The standard was very high and 5th  is a real achievement.

The age group men raced on the Sunday starting in 3 waves, with the oldest (50 and upwards) starting first at 7.45. Andy’s spirits were not lifted when he opened the curtains on Sunday morning to pouring rain. The rain meant that the bike course would be slippery, the sand blowing off the beach didn‘t help. The weather didn’t improve much during the race although the rain did ease off. After all his injuries in the run up to the race Andy was just pleased to finish. He still managed 41st which was about half way. His age group (50-54) was won by a Bristol man-Pete Wheddon of BAD Tri

The weather steadily improved through the rest of Sunday and when the youngsters started at 2.30 it was warm and sunny. At least it made watching more enjoyable.

Overall the GB age group team won 14 medals and, of course, Pete Amey won gold in the elite men and Catriona Morrison silver in the elite women.

It was great to be part of an enthusiastic and supportive GB team. The atmosphere was great and the spectators cheered on everyone. I will definitely try and qualify again. The prize for the most enthusiastic team must go to the Japanese. One of their men won a gold medal and the whole team, of about 15, accompanied him to the stage waving and cheering and once he had received his medal they threw him in the air (and caught him). They were also keen to swap kit, and we saw the team sight seeing on Monday in the old part of Rimini, all dressed in the national kit of a range of countries including GB and South Africa.

Nov 4

From Michael Kirley

This event was a fantastic experience, for the location, race and organisation – it certainly made up for the disappointment of Almere just six days before.

I left Bristol at 9am for a mid afternoon flight from Heathrow to Basle and eventually arrived in Gerardmer at 9.30pm. A long day but it was worth it. The hotel was a perfect location for the event – my balcony window over looked the lake. The small town of Gerardmer had plenty to offer for this 4 day visit – lots of restaurants, shops, cinema and a casino. I even found a bike shop for a last minute repair. The locals were very supportive towards athletes needs for this event. I understand it had the IM franchise, before it was transferred to Nice a few years before.

The race organisation ran very smoothly and I had already double checked the cut off time before I left the UK – it was a sensible 13.5 hrs! I was now looking forward to the race – but the objective was just to finish.

 The race:

I awoke at 0615 and peered out of my bedroom window to the lake. It was absolutely pouring down. The rain would be ‘torrential’ all day, long into the evening.

At the Team GB breakfast, there was much talk about wearing rain jackets and arm warmers. I could not relate, as I don’t possess such attire – tough where I come from! I left the hotel for the short walk to T1 – all bikes were covered with all weather jackets – such good organisation.

Were all ready for the 4,000m swim and on time. Off we go at 0830 with the elite at the front and age groupers behind, in one mass start. I know this sounds daft, but I found it slightly uncomfortable in the water while it was raining (heavy)! No mishaps with the swim distance, or my hrm watch, unlike Almere (I used my £19.99 timex stop watch for this race). I was out of the water and very pleased to be under 1hr 34 Raced up the ramp to the change tent, but I noticed all other athletes were changing into light rain jackets and / or arm warmers, except me! (ETU ok’d their use, due to the awful conditions – normally athletes must have kit bearing their country name).

Set off on the bike leg through the town to cheering crowds – bless them in this weather. The120k bike would be the toughest I have ever done. A three lap 40k route in the national park of the Vosges mountains. The driving rain made it difficult on the descents and I was glad to get onto the ascents, as it was a break from the cold. I crashed twice (going uphill!) but there was no way I would quit, despite a bloody elbow (after busting my hand 3 years ago, I have now learned to fall on my elbow).

The bike route was used for a stage in the 2005 Le Tour and there is a monument at the foot of the biggest climb in commemoration. In fact that was the only drawback – no crowds to get you up the climbs – solely due to the awful weather.  However, I was on live TV at one point – even if it was whilst lapped by one of the elite! Despite my bike computer not working (it was the hrm last week), I eventually completed the ride in 5hrs 48

The run was a 30k four lap course around the lake. It was around 1600 and still pouring down. Unlike Almere, I had no foot pain off the bike, probably due to the wet & cold. In fact, I actually felt good and ran the first lap without a stop in the aid station. From lap 2 I decided to walk through each of the 3 aid stations whilst taking on feed and ran in part with other GB athletes during our respective laps. There was good encouragement from GB supporters out on the course and from our team manager. After collecting the necessary 4 bands to complete the course, I saw the funnel and managed a sprint finish. Cold, bloody, sodden wet, but I did not care. I am a finisher in the ETU European long distance championship 2008 in a respectable 11hrs 14 in 494th position from a start field of 562

From the funnel, I was taken to the first aid area – complete with beds, warm blankets and medics, including a doctor, who insisted on checking my arm in case I needed an x-ray. Other athletes were ‘spaced out’ on the beds, but I was very impressed with all the care on offer.

Gerardmer was a great experience. Team GB had the first two places in the men’s elite race and 2 girls had first place in their respective age groups. I also received a finisher’s t shirt, a very nice jacket & towel and a goody bag for my endeavours. I think I would like to go back to Gerardmer another time – they also held an Olympic distance tri next day. Any one interested?