Firstly excuse my spelling and grammar I was never any good at English at school so i will just brain shit as i type and hopefully you will get the general gist of what i am waffling on about.
Pre race day:
I entered the Olympic distance in preparation for my middle distance (half iron) tri in October.
Going to pickup my race pack the evening before race day gave me a good chance to have a good reccy. I found it all a bit confusing as most of the info was in Spanish and my Spanish is fairly limited to ordering a beer and a kebab. I joined a very long queue for my numbers and chip which is fairly normal in Spain they take for ever to do anything, I then joined another longish queue to collect my free race back and t-shirt and usual sponsors advertising shite. They were offering a free print your number on your tech tee but again another long queue i opted out of this one.
I then spotted my race number didn't match my bike/helmet stickers so has to go and join the queue again, with that now sorted it was time for a beer and a big pizza! But first I had spotted the sea swim start/finish which was made of scaffolding over rocks straight into the sea. I actually preferred this from a beach start as there was no sand involved.
Race Day:
I woke at 7am i'd slept fairly well, kettle on for a nice cup of tea and a bowl of porridge oats with Greek yogurt, raisins and honey.
I had all my kit ready to go out of the door for 07:30am so i packed the car and set off, i was a little worried about parking as this was a closed road event but they didnt close until 08:30am so I was straight through. I also managed to bag a parking space right near transition, winner winner chicken dinner.
Kit out of the car and made my way to transition it was busy with yes you guessed it another long queue which is pretty normal for any triathlon racking session.
I got the front and security asked for ID, disaster!!! i didn't have my photo ID, stress stress stress, i would have to go back to my car and get my drivers licence which is a legal requirement to carry in your car at all times or a nasty fine. So start trotting off to the car then BOOM! my gym card is a photo ID and had it in my bag, they accepted it and I was in! I found my number and began placing my items out in the weird OCD way that triathletes do.
I was ready! I walked out of transition eating a banana a little pre-race boost and went to hand my bag in at the secure bag tent.
I needed a pre-race wee as i had been guzzling high 5 energy water, again you guessed it a long queue for the porta-loos, I used my brain and thought I will just go in the sea whist I warm up and adjust my goggles.
I put my supplied swim cap on and tore it with my nail so it didnt cover my ear, oh well too late not it stayed on so that was the main thing, I did my business and had a little swim to warm up.
They called us out of the water ready for the 1st wave I was the 2nd wave at 09:05am.
Swim: 1 Lap 1500m Time: 32m:33s
And there off! the 1st wave have gone so we move up get into the water and swim to the start point. I start the Garmin and the horn blows!!! Im always very cautious on the sea swim starts im a bit of a fanny and dont like to get into the big gangs and get punched and kicked and swam over, I sort of hold back a little and let the rush go ahead I think ill catch them on the bike anyway. So anyway I start swimming and following the crowd doing my sighting just to make sure im on track and judging by my Garmin I swam a pretty slow but straight swim which is unusual for me as I normally go off to the left a lot.
In the 1st 100M I took a big gulp of sea water which wasnt pleasant. I hadn't really trained a lot for the swim, ok 2 times in the last 4 months so I needed to do a little breast stroke now and again, I did have the odd clash with other athletes but nothing major. Its so nice to get on the home straight with the exit in sight which is where I start thinking about transition which was made easier by being a non-wetsuit race.
And there off! the 1st wave have gone so we move up get into the water and swim to the start point. I start the Garmin and the horn blows!!! Im always very cautious on the sea swim starts im a bit of a fanny and dont like to get into the big gangs and get punched and kicked and swam over, I sort of hold back a little and let the rush go ahead I think ill catch them on the bike anyway. So anyway I start swimming and following the crowd doing my sighting just to make sure im on track and judging by my Garmin I swam a pretty slow but straight swim which is unusual for me as I normally go off to the left a lot.
In the 1st 100M I took a big gulp of sea water which wasnt pleasant. I hadn't really trained a lot for the swim, ok 2 times in the last 4 months so I needed to do a little breast stroke now and again, I did have the odd clash with other athletes but nothing major. Its so nice to get on the home straight with the exit in sight which is where I start thinking about transition which was made easier by being a non-wetsuit race. 
T1: Time: 2m:46s
As I came out of the sea there was the welcome fresh water showers to run through, I like to stop and have a proper rinse so I dont get that horrible tight salty feeling on my skin. No wetsuit to take off which is the stressful part for me. Two energy gels into the back pockets race number on helmet on and bike shoes on and off I go for the bike segment.
Bike: 4 Laps 40km Time: 1h:00m:19s
Ok the bike is my strongest discipline, this was a draft legal race so first job is to find a good peloton to get on the back of. I got on the back of a couple of small groups but were way too slow for me and then on the other side of the road I spotted a big gang of about 30 going at pace so I stuck with my current gang and let the fast one catch us, this was only half a lap in, as they passed us I pulled out and tucked onto the back and they were quick! It was perfect pace for me, the guy on front in a type of skin suit and he had the build of a good cyclist.
Know one was giving there turn on the front as you should I felt really sorry for the lad he must of been blowing out his arse! So I pushed up and took my turn and put the hammer down, I thought at least it gives him a bit of rest and then he can push on again and might prompt someone else to take a go but no everyone was selfish bastards!
T2: Time: 1m:20s
Bike racked helmet off shoes off trainers on, 2 more gels into my back pockets race number to front position and im off for the run.
Run: 10k Time: 48m:54s
I felt strong with plenty in the tank heading off to the run, my tapering and eating kebabs and pizza had obviously worked!
It was a 2 lap run and had a few water stations which was needed as once out on the run the sun and heat hit me like a freight train! Booom it was sooooo hot, every water station i went through I did an Alistair Brownlee and sipped a bit and poured the rest over me to cool off. I always like to find a pacer to run with, once im happy with the pace I will stick with them until the end which I did, the guy was quite a large guy he must of been fit to carry that weight and that made me think I can t let this guy drop me, it was a mental thing as it got hotter and hotter. As I approached the finish line which is always a good feeling I saw the wife cheering me on, I was quicker than what I had told her so she didnt have the camera ready for the finish line shot. When I crossed the line I didnt have anything left in the tank unless that was the heat that took it our of me. I had to sit on the floor as I felt faint.
As I approached the finish line which is always a good feeling I saw the wife cheering me on, I was quicker than what I had told her so she didnt have the camera ready for the finish line shot. When I crossed the line I didnt have anything left in the tank unless that was the heat that took it our of me. I had to sit on the floor as I felt faint.
I just needed to drink and eat something asap! I got water and some watermelon then I spotted they were pouring free beer! My energy came back to me very quickly as I trotted over for a beer.
Total Chipped Time: 2h:25m:23s
Perspective times:
Winner 1h:55m
Wooden Spoon 3h:12m:16s
Conclusion:
I would say thats a fairly respectable time, I havent trained as much as I liked with hardly any swim training and it being too hot to train properly (excuses yes I know)
I have a sprint tri on the 18th September which be some fun then onto my first middle distance triathlon 1900m swim, 90km bike, 21 km run on the16th October which will close my 2016 season. Then I need to look at achieving my goal of a full Ironman distance next year.
I hope you have enjoyed reading my experience of this triathlon and hope it helps anyone getting into triathlon tell a story of how the day can go for you.
Thanks for reading
Chris Birkett
As I came out of the sea there was the welcome fresh water showers to run through, I like to stop and have a proper rinse so I dont get that horrible tight salty feeling on my skin. No wetsuit to take off which is the stressful part for me. Two energy gels into the back pockets race number on helmet on and bike shoes on and off I go for the bike segment.
Bike: 4 Laps 40km Time: 1h:00m:19s
Ok the bike is my strongest discipline, this was a draft legal race so first job is to find a good peloton to get on the back of. I got on the back of a couple of small groups but were way too slow for me and then on the other side of the road I spotted a big gang of about 30 going at pace so I stuck with my current gang and let the fast one catch us, this was only half a lap in, as they passed us I pulled out and tucked onto the back and they were quick! It was perfect pace for me, the guy on front in a type of skin suit and he had the build of a good cyclist.
Know one was giving there turn on the front as you should I felt really sorry for the lad he must of been blowing out his arse! So I pushed up and took my turn and put the hammer down, I thought at least it gives him a bit of rest and then he can push on again and might prompt someone else to take a go but no everyone was selfish bastards!
A bit further on I took another go on the front as I could see he was getting tired. On the 3rd lap a very near miss for me, I was about 6th guy back and spotted a large pot hold at the very last minute and swerved, the guys behind me didnt manage to escape and boooom! big crash! I looked back and it looked nasty. Pheww! I pressed on but as we crossed the transition junction 99% of the group peeled off back to T2, they had been the 1st wave of the swim, It was just me and another guy who had been near the front but he had been one of the selfish ones tucking behind this poor guy, I didnt hold much hope of a quick last lap but then he stepped up! He got in front of me and pushed hard, awesome! I couldn't believe it, so for the last 10km we took it in turn on the front until we entered T2.
T2: Time: 1m:20s
Bike racked helmet off shoes off trainers on, 2 more gels into my back pockets race number to front position and im off for the run.
Run: 10k Time: 48m:54s
I felt strong with plenty in the tank heading off to the run, my tapering and eating kebabs and pizza had obviously worked!
It was a 2 lap run and had a few water stations which was needed as once out on the run the sun and heat hit me like a freight train! Booom it was sooooo hot, every water station i went through I did an Alistair Brownlee and sipped a bit and poured the rest over me to cool off. I always like to find a pacer to run with, once im happy with the pace I will stick with them until the end which I did, the guy was quite a large guy he must of been fit to carry that weight and that made me think I can t let this guy drop me, it was a mental thing as it got hotter and hotter. As I approached the finish line which is always a good feeling I saw the wife cheering me on, I was quicker than what I had told her so she didnt have the camera ready for the finish line shot. When I crossed the line I didnt have anything left in the tank unless that was the heat that took it our of me. I had to sit on the floor as I felt faint.
As I approached the finish line which is always a good feeling I saw the wife cheering me on, I was quicker than what I had told her so she didnt have the camera ready for the finish line shot. When I crossed the line I didnt have anything left in the tank unless that was the heat that took it our of me. I had to sit on the floor as I felt faint.
I just needed to drink and eat something asap! I got water and some watermelon then I spotted they were pouring free beer! My energy came back to me very quickly as I trotted over for a beer.
Total Chipped Time: 2h:25m:23s
Perspective times:
Winner 1h:55m
Wooden Spoon 3h:12m:16s
Conclusion:
I would say thats a fairly respectable time, I havent trained as much as I liked with hardly any swim training and it being too hot to train properly (excuses yes I know)
I have a sprint tri on the 18th September which be some fun then onto my first middle distance triathlon 1900m swim, 90km bike, 21 km run on the16th October which will close my 2016 season. Then I need to look at achieving my goal of a full Ironman distance next year.
I hope you have enjoyed reading my experience of this triathlon and hope it helps anyone getting into triathlon tell a story of how the day can go for you.
Thanks for reading
Chris Birkett
