Saturday 19th May: Nottingham sprint triathlon

Saturday 19th May: Nottingham sprint triathlon

Report from Howard:
This race was the first open water triathlon of the year and a qualifier for the European Championships to be held in Glasgow in August this year. I set myself up for the challenge of a hard race with lots of competition given Glasgow is accessible for most UK triathletes. Sure enough there were 61 registered for the championships of which 21 turned up at Nottingham. I calculated I had to have a blinder and come in the first 9 in the age group within 110% of the winner’s (of the age group) time to get a qualification place.

After the Ripon 10 I rested and only did some brief speedwork on the Wednesday before the race. Have to say I felt pretty sharp. It is always tempting to push if you feel good but in the last week before a race you can’t get better but you can get a lot worse by overdoing it. Thursday and Friday just swam gently and nothing else. Race day conditions were hot, which meant pleasant water temperature for the 750m swim, windless which was good for the flat exposed bike ride round the water for 4 laps of 20k total and the sun was out, troubling for some but never for me on the final 5K run.

It is hard to describe the chaos of an open water swim race at the start. Mixed ability swimmers (233 in my wave) all kicking and elbowing for space, those stopping because they were floundering, losing goggles etc. I decided to start near the front on this occasion rather than further back as the lead swimmers know what they are doing and the water opens up pretty quickly. I was soon into a strong and steady stroke and the only slight problem was I was swimming alongside some-one who could not swim straight and in the final 300m he was pushing us way of course from the exit stage. It is not the place for genteel explanations so a couple of elbows and a burst of speed from me got me back across to the right line ( I do swim straight by the way and can sight the buoys and exit quite well from years of practice). I swam hard and exited the water no problem and the bike in transition was easy to find thanks to my fluorescent yellow helmet which can be seen from space! Out of the wetsuit in a flash (sometimes you do sometimes you don’t) and I permitted myself a few seconds to slip on some sock liners as barefoot cycling, then running with sand or grit in your shoes is not recommended.

I then had a solid 4 laps on the bike which is pan flat tarmac round the perimeter of the lake. Passed more people than overtook me and was digging as deep as I dare bearing in mind there is a 5K run to finish the race with. I was unaware of where any of my competitors were apart from a couple of quick ones that passed me on the bike and a few slower ones I overtook. One guy overtook me with about 1K to go and I gritted my teeth and tried to hang on to give chase on the run. A different transition to rack the bike in ( I believe this is to get the exact distances for the championship qualifier) which I got through quite swiftly due in part to my fluorescent orange running shoes that can also be seen from space!

What did I have left for the run on in the scorching sun? Some people complain of jelly legs after the bike ride but I find after about a couple of hundred yards my legs remember they can run so I was soon up on my toes and passing people. The guy who overtook me was actually pulling away gradually and despite my best efforts I could not reverse that trend. The run is one lap of the lake and the leg out seem endless but the return you can see the finish banner to spur you on. I had gone to give it my all to try and qualify which was going to be hard, given my level of training this year and the fact I am much closer to the next age group than most of the competition. I felt strong and was able to apply years of racing experience to the last 2K. What was in my mind was I had to get with in 110% of the age group winner’s time and also be in the first 9 in the age group. In the long flat stretch towards the finish I gradually stoked up the speed and blasted the last 150m like a man possessed.

I finished 9th and got 109% of the ag winners time. What I had not included in my calculations was the fact that others also in the top 9 might have better percentages than those I had compared prior to the race, which they did. So I actually missed automatic qualification by 2 places. Still I could not have gone a second faster and I would have needed more than a minute so I can’t complain. Also in the final sprint to the line I overhauled no less than three competitors in my age group and beat them by 14,7 an 1 seconds respectively so a close run thing in 1.13.07 race. The guy I passed at the line must be sick but you don’t slow down or stop till you have crossed the finish line! I will only make Glasgow if two of the 20 who have qualified pull out for any reason so there is still a chance. My 5K run time was 21.13 which given the last 5K after the bike and swim 3 weeks ago was 24.25 was a bit of an improvement! Hopefully I can race myself fit as I have two standard triathlons in June, one in Chester and the other in Leeds. Also international qualifiers but for next year and next age group. What’s the betting it doesn’t get any easier!

One thought on “Saturday 19th May: Nottingham sprint triathlon

  1. What a competitor you are Howard , and you deserve indeed to go to Glasgow for the European Championships . Also I liked your report from Nottingham , the reading of your elbowing in the swimming made me chuckle . To do the last 5k in 21.13 after a 750m swim and 20k on the bike it is just outstanding , and the total time of your race in 1.13 is a great sporting achievement . Well done to Howard J.

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