Windsor Royal Triathlon

Well what a difference a week can make!

This time last week I was quite down following my performance at Blenheim. In hindsight despite a lot of work over the winter my preperation in recent weeks had been poor, and I was dissapointed not to post a competitive time.

In the week leading up to Windosr my preperation both mentally and physically was much better. I gave myself a kick up the arse and stayed off the beer for a whole week!! - In the previous week Marucs had displayed what correct preperation could achieve and whilst I wasn't expecting miracles in a week I felt more comfortable with the challenge ahead. The tri club won't have noticed but in the past month or so I have lost 10llbs which I have been hoping would make a difference in my speed an help to post a pb at windsor.

I love the windsor triathlon, it's my favourite event, over a distance that seems to suit me, and in the 4 years I have doing it the sun always shines. If you are going to arrange an event for the british summer - book it for the Windsor Triathlon weekend ... Guaranteed sunshine.

Race Day..

The day started early with a 4:00am alarm. I crept out of bed trying hard not to wake Caroline and Lewis and crept downstairs for more pre race breakfast of porride and a bannana. The next hour was spent checking, double checking, and triple checking kit against the handy race checklist Marcus had posted on the website. Caroline surfaced 10 minutes before we set off and lewis was carefully transferred from cot to car seat without any disruption.

The journey to Windsor was quiet and uneventful, and I spent most of the time walking the race through my head. I was in determined mood and promised myslef I would fiinish with nothing left in the tank. If that was not enough to post a PB and beat Marcus then I would be still be happy that I did my best.

We met up with Martin in the car park before the race. Fair play, he had left a 4:30AM driven down to Bristol to pick his young lady up and made it to Windsor just before us. Great support - Thanks Martin and I just hope you break your Tri virginity ASAP.

With plenty of time before the start I racked my bike and decided to chance the portable toilets onsite. I have to admit that this was a most unpleasant experience and it was as much as I could do not to be sick! I made the mistake of chancing it in bar foot. .... Not recommended.

Soon enough it was time to jump in the Thames and start the swim. This year it seemed to be murkier than ever and I wasn't looking forward to it. However, for the first time at Windsor I actually enjoyed the Swim. I did manage to walk 150-220m of it be hugging the far bank. perhaps it shouldn't be allowed but i was walking through the water faster than people were swimming. Bizarre. I reached the turn around bouy in good time and then got in the middle of the river and coasted down to the swim exit, trying to keeping my stroke long and relaxed.

After 28mins I was out of the water fighting to get out of my wetsuit and running to transition. T1 was uneventful and slow - i must get quicker here.

Out on the bike (my favourite discipline) I inititally felt some tightness in both of my hamstrings and at the time I wondered whether I had over done it when training with Martin over Cleeve Hill on Thursday. However, I soon got over it and got into a good rythm. On the bike to pass the time I play a sort of Cycling/Golf game where I count the number of people that overtake me againt the number I overtake. In the end I ended up at +2, a good result considering all the sexy carbon bike all around me. During the bike section as in all sections I felt myself thinking about how Marucs was getting on. My view at that point was that he would have been quicker in the swim, but by the time i got to drift road we would be level. Despite the temptation i decided to try and keep a bit back for the run as in previous years I had stuggled. I finished the bike in 1:16 - 2 minutes up on previous years which I was please with, this was despite being sent the wrong way by a policeman where I guess I lost 10 seconds or so.

T2 was a quick affair with my throwing my bike onto the rack and putting my shoes and visor on. I have learnt recently - particually on training runs with Marcus that I am not good when starting the run at a qucik pace, I need to build my heart rate up gradullay so i took it fairly easy until the start of the castle hill. I was feeling good but was expecting the wall to hit at any time. it didn't and I just felt myslef getting stronger and stronger, I can't explain why or how but it just felt that i could run forever. That's not to say that my heart was not jumping out of my chest as I crossed the finish line. I had put everything I had into it and finished in a very pleasing time of 2:28:54 a PB by almost 10mins and completley unexpected.

So next it's onto London and If I know Marcus he will be going all out to beat me once again. I wonder if we would both be as fast if we didnt have this competition between us!!