Avenger 70.3 - first ever! 4th. Great day.

The day starts with an early wake up call, 4.15am! Not cool. I need to eat around 2.30-3 hours before the race starts, and I am due in the water for 7.30am so I have to eat around 4.30-5am, very early for most on a Sunday, but I have come to expect these things now in the world of multi-sport. Breakfast is done and time to get myself ready and load the car. Run through a quick check list; bike, helmet, wet suit, tri suit, cycle shoes, trainers, race belt, gels and drinks.

The venue for the race is only a short drive away, so that is brill and allows me to arrive 90 mins before the race was due to start so I am calm and not nervous at all.

Warm up, race briefing about the course and away we go, first middle distance (70.3 or half iron, can take many a name):

• 2,100m swim (slightly longer than the normal 1,900m)
• 56 mile bike (90k)
• 13.1 mile run (20k run)

The swim starts at a much steadier pace than I expected, and to be honest with what was yet to come for the day it was fine with me. I didn’t know what to expect and I was very happy with the way it went. I am not the best swimmer and didn’t really know where I can out of the swim, it was around 20-25th I think. I was able to take a few places with a quick transition onto the bike.

T1 – wetsuit off fast and shoes on, off we go.

The bike starts well. Recently I have had some fuelling issues on the bike. The first 30 miles are strong, and then boom, legs went a little. It wasn’t due to fuelling with gels and electrolytes but due to lack of water, just plain water to keep the body ticking over. This was a huge lesson learnt moving forwards with racing and something I will not get wrong again. After picking up some water from the feed station I was them able to kick start myself back into the race and motor on again.

The bike legs were affected a little bit with this and that was
annoying as I probably lost between 3-6 mins with the lack of power which was not cool. I passed 7-8 people on the bike leg and was only caught by one, so all in all a solid move up in the race and gained some solid positions. 56 miles done and I was looking forward to getting off the bike and get running, only a half marathon to go.

T2 – feet out, roll through, rack bike, trainers on, grab gels and off
we run.

The run started well and I settle in quickly, I grabbed two gels and planned on sipping them every so often through the run and this worked well. This was only the second half marathon I have ever ran and didn’t know how I was going to go or last.

The pace was good and I was running with another dude from the race, although after 5k he burnt out and I left him. I was making ground on everyone and catching quite a lot of people. I caught three places within the first 2 or 4 laps and my pace and form felt strong, although I was fighting the onset of cramp in my left hamstring for the whole of the run...it thankfully didn’t kick in but it really wanted to! Arrrrr so close!

I was running strong and actually really enjoying it, I was catching people slowly and onto my final lap where I passed another two people. At the time I didn’t know but I was actually in 4th, and with
a kilometre to go I could see someone else in my race I gave it a lot, probably not everything which I do now regret. Especially as it would have meant a podium position but I did try hard to catch him and he certainly would not have expected anyone to come from behind this late in the race. I was 5 seconds behind him as he crossed the line, I'm a little gutted about that, but still very happy with 4th in my first ever 70.3!

It was a great day and I learnt a lot about myself and racing longer distances. I feel it suits me much more due to the less frantic swim, and the longer legs in the two disciplines I am stronger in.

 
So all in all a very good day and very happy with the way it went, room for improvement. But not for a little rest as the past 8 weeks have been hard work. But great fun!