So, up rolled Mr S. to collect me from base at 07:45 in his splendidly spacious camper-van-triathlon-taxi, and away we wended into the beautiful Borders to Selkirk.
Whilst we blathered away apprehensively (first time at the Standard/Olympic distance for either of us) there was an almost eerie quiet outside. What had become of the all too familiar winds of the rest of this week? The same westerlies that wore away at the hardy troupe out a-mustering on tuesday nights training sesh? Winds that would have made 24 miles on the bike just a wee bit irksome? Winds that showed no sign of abating even late last night? Well, Yo-Ho-Ho! but hadn't the weather just come up trumps again, as with our Galashiels outing a few weeks ago. Yes! Only a mild breeze and sunshine too! Sorted.
Triathlon is a bit of a kit-monkey's paradise. You need everything and then the energy drink to go with it. Matching colours are good. Accessorize to your heart's content. I actually took a bit more time to cast my eye around the transition area (where you hop from swim to bike, then bike to run) today and there were some serious cycles on show. Inverse snobbery came into play for me as I realised I had probably the most modestly priced machine there! Don't get intimidated. But, what did I care anyway. I had a new bit of kit in the form of a slinky all-in one tri-suit to see if I could shave off a few seconds rather than shaving off all the leg hair. Lycra from thigh to gizzard!
Bish-bash-bosh. Set up kit/listen to race briefing/get dressed up and it's ready for the off. With pool based swims the race is organised so that swimmers set off in waves. A pool full will go, with up to 6 per lane setting off with 5secs or so between each in the lane. Coloured swim hats let the time-keepers identify folk and they give you a tap on the noggin when you've 2 laps left to go. If you want to pass the person in front you tap their foot when you're right behind and they have to stop at the next end to let you through. You give a predicted swim time beforehand and the slower swimmers go away in the first wave with faster ones setting off either once earlier poolfulls are cleared or, in today's case, as and when a lane emptied. I was away in the second wave today and had a strong swim, bouyed up by the spanky new lycra. Quickest in my lane at least, if not of that wave as a whole, 1500metres in 25:10. In perspective todays fastest swimmer was a shade over 18 minutes! A spectator we spoke to later said it was like watching a minnow.
The cycle route was a major source of nervousness for this one. We already knew it had quite a hill, The Witchie Knowe at about half way. Perhaps there were some, enticed by the route description and the promise of lovely views from the top on a clear day, but I wasnt amongst their number. Fair-do's, the drop in the wind and the continuing sunshine (which cancelled out another worry, that of possibly getting freezing bloody cold in naught but soggy lycra!) made the whole thing look better but it was always going to be a tough ride. Anyway, roughly the route was Selkirk-Yarrow-Yarrow Feuss-back to Yarrow-over to Ettrickbridge via the Witchie Knowe-round the Bowhill Estate and back onto the Yarrow road-into Selkirk again. Neednt have worried too much. Yon hill weren't too bad for any of us toughened up on the Cheviot range, and the biking passed off almost without incident. I made a slight wrong turn at a junction but quickly realised and got back on course, unlike the one lad who managed to catch me on the bike leg. He went wrong at the same spot and reached a point of no return before he realised. I clocked 1hr 18:45 for the 24 miles wheeling and transited into the run feeling pretty good, no sign of 'bonking' (cycling term for hitting the wall, running out of steam or whatever) and into a fair clip.
Flat run course. Is there a word for flat in the Wooly vocabulary? An out-and back along the riverside path and some of the A7 and old A7 eastward from Selkirk. It was getting a bit warmer by now though and, after the turn, facing into the sun with just a smidge of a headwind was enough to turn the pressure cooker on somewhat for me. The rhythm broke down a little between about 4 and 5 or so miles, but, with the end in sight I got it together again and clocked 34:35 for the (supposed) 10k which turned out to be the second quickest run of the day and which I was OTM (Over The Moon) about. I hasten to add that I've never broken 35min for 10k before in any straightforward race, let alone after 24 miles on a bike, so I have to be sceptical of the distance!
End result pour moi was 2:20:51. 15th overall from 70. 5th Vet. I'd set a vague personal target of 2:20:00 for this distance and, considering the nature of this course, was happy with today, especially the run section. My chauffeur Mr. S had a good day too and we enjoyed the rest of the afternoon sunshine watching others, faces contorted with their exertions, coming in to finish. Now isn't that a perverse source of pleasure.
I can wholeheartedly recommend the tri as something else to have a pop at if you're into running. The extra motivation it has given me, not least with run training, is well worth it.
