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Splish, splash I took a bath - Guildford Aquathlon 2013
Mar1820131:48 p.m.
Hello,
Well this is embarrassing, no posts since June
Sorry!My excuse is that running and racing have all taken a back seat, with no major races over the winter period and just the weekly training - it didn't really seem blog worthy. I did do another triathlon in September and this one was longer than sprint distance, which I really enjoyed. I kind of feel like this is now my forte. Although another marathon will always be on the cards.
So anyway, spring is upon us and I wanted something to train for and also use as preparation for the two triathlons I have entered already for the summer. Enter Guildford Aquathlon - 800 metre swim in their Olympic size swimming pool in Surrey Sports Park and then a 5k run around the fields near by.
I have been doing a lot of fitness recently in a bid to get in shape for the summer and have been doing an online fitness bootcamp, so lots of cardio and conditioning and healthy eating. I was feeling pretty positive for Sunday's race - not overly confident as I had not done much specific training but fit and ready to give my all.
That was until I turned up got registered, dumped my clothes in the transition area and then went over to the pool to wait for the start. I was surrounded by people who must have had 3% body fat between them all - loads of guys in speedos, three big groups of triathlon clubs - one of which was Kings College London triathlon club, all in matching kit obviously. What on earth are they doing? They're students, its 8:00 am on a Sunday why are they not in bed or have their heads down loos from the previous night excesses?
The only excesses they seem to have is shiny kit and a rather energetic warm up routine which was scaring the bejeezers out of me.
Anyway, feeling rather schoolgirl in my Sweaty Betty tri suit (I knew I should have gone with a more serious brand) I got in the water at my time slot and pushed off to begin my 16 lengths.
The swim was OK - it took a while to get into a rhythmn, always seems to in a race and I struggle with the adrenaline to get into a steady breath. But I knew I would eventually so ploughed on and after 4 lengths started to get in a rhythmn and felt like I was getting faster and smoother. The girl who went off 15 seconds before me, was about 1 50 metre length ahead of me after 2 lengths. She was insanely fast. After a couple of lengths I got overtaken by a chap in a Kings College tri suit, after a couple more, I got overtaken again and again. Darn it! Come on now, pick up the pace and make your mark here. Final four lengths and I kicked up a gear. I felt my cheeks getting hot and my breathing more intense but I had a good rhythmn and no-one was overtaking me -woohoo. Last length I really went for it and pictured Ariel from the Little Mermaid.
Out of the pool and run outside to the transition area, pouring rain - brilliant. Put on trainers, pull on long sleeved top and t-shirt. Go go go!
And slow down a bit as first up is a muddy hill. Stop breathing so loudly. Overtake one young lady going up the hill. Start to ascend further into some woods - oh my goodness it is a mud bath. Short uphill mud climb, one guy falls over in front of me "Haha - poor him" Oof, I've just done the same. Great, now covered in mud. And not in a Spring break way.
Press on - overtake a man running - first time I've done that in ages! Get overtaken by lots of whippersnapper Kings College lads in trisuits - see one guy running the whole thing in Speedos - put it away chap its Guildford not Hawaii, its 4 degrees and pouring with rain.
Have forgotten to start my watch in the transition panic and have no idea how long I've been running for. The whole hills/mud situation which I was not expecting has thrown my pace off completely and I only get in a rhythmn and striding out after seeing the 4km marker. Have a feeling that after doing quite a lot of running training recently this is the slowest 5k I've ever done whilst feeling quite good and fit. WTF??
Decide mentally to never to an off road race again, where any mud could be a factor. Oof, slip over and fall over again. Nearly lose a trainer. Get helped up by an old guy wearing speedos, a cap and a long sleeved fleece - try depserately to not look at his groin.
Finish line in sight and woohoo I'm over the line.
Get my time of 48:00 minutes later in the day but no breakdown as of yet - I reckon I was probably 11:30 minutes for the swim, 2 minutes in transition and 34 minutes for the run - rather embarrassing. But I finished and as my first race of the season a not bad effort.
Already looking forward to going to a triathlon or aquahtlon which will be not quite as serious later on in May. I had a very fun time in Guildford and its set me up with some good goals for the rest of the season:
1. Get faster at swimming
2. Get faster at running
3. Stay clear of mud
4. Do some more hill training and maybe gate crash a Kings College London Triathlon Club training session.
Happy running! xxx
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Comments (7)
Firefly123 'Ha ha! What a great blog and humorous account of your race. I take my hat off to you running after swimming and in the cold too. Well done for finishing.x' added 18th Mar 2013
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libbylaird 'The conditions yesterday were horrible........I'm surprised you didn't see an Ark on your way round! Well done in such adverse weather and a great race report. Students; well that lot yesterday are a new breed!' added 18th Mar 2013
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leils 'Well done, you! I went to KCL (many years ago) and was definitelty a stay in bed/head down the loo person - no shiny tri tracksuit for me!!!' added 18th Mar 2013
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DaveCH 'Had an inane grin on my face reading this! Great write up.' added 18th Mar 2013
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esp4 'Brilliant- I can totally imagine the old boy and his speedos...!!' added 18th Mar 2013
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Johnf 'I thought you had emigrated. Very funny blog. Well done for getting out there on a rubbish weather day.' added 18th Mar 2013
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crooxi 'Enjoyed reading that - more, please!' added 19th Mar 2013
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