After a really tough week of training (thanks DrJ!), and a bit of a late night out with some mates for our monthly outing for a few steaks I got up and headed down to Deepcut for the race. I’d learnt a lot about kit in the previous race so I felt well prepared but unexpectedly nervous, I guess after my rather pleasing result at the Wildman meant I had a greater level of expectation on myself.
I lined up on the start line, conveniently next to my Berkshire Tri Squad clubmate Andy Sole, and said a brief hello but didn't allow myself to get swamped this time and off we went! The first 2km of the run were a nice warm up, largely downhill on fire road, before a sharp right and a nice hurdle the organisers had set up (which I’m sure grew over the course of the race) we then headed into a section that I can only describe of 2km of hill reps - brutal! (see profile below!!)
I kept a steady rhythm up the hills and picked my way through the field and eventually back to the start line and onto the second lap, I was keeping a good pace, and in line with the plan* my heart rate was nicely above 170bpm throughout.
*i.e. save nothing for the rest of the race!!
Coming into T1 I got ready for the bike by putting my gloves back on, and in an effort not to overheat took my arm warmers off and buff in hand as it was a fair bit warmer than the last race. Into T1 I got my shoes on as fast a possible, helmet on and off I went.
The bike course was a different loop to the run course, and apart from a couple of small issues (i.e. falling off going uphill while adjusting my Garmin, taking a dodgy line on a long descent the first lap and having to stop to put my bottle back in the cage) I was overtaken by a less people than last time, and got more comfortable throughout the bike and went about a minute faster each lap even having the confidence to catch a bit of air on some of the downhills on the final lap.
Coming into T2 I’d (re)overtaken a couple of people in the last few hundred meters on the bike so I knew time was off the essence, I figured I must be in the top 15 but was a bit shocked by how empty transition looked!
I’d kept well hydrated on the bike so skipped the aid station and headed off with pretty wooden legs in run 2, I had a bit of a stumble where there was a sharp downhill and I went over on my ankle but it wasn't too bad and I quickly forgot about it. I could hear someone behind me, but focussed on my form and had my caffeine gel, I got to the hurdle which by now required a giant leap rather than a small step and at the start of the first climb my pursuer drew along side, I was half thinking that it would be ok if I lost a place as I’d probably gain another one back from the person I could see ahead but that I’d rather beat them both! As we went up and down the hills I could see the effect of all the hill training I do as I pulled away from my pursuer and closed and eventually overtook my quarry. At the sign saying 1km to go I could still hear my pursuer behind me so kept a hard pace, not wanting to go too far into the red just in case I’d forgotten a tricky last bit, and once I was onto the last bit of uphill I threw caution to the wind and gave it everything up the hill and down the finishing straight and across the finish line.
I finished 8th overall, 12.5 minutes down on the winner, which I’m very pleased with, there’s less I can put my finger on to go faster this time, but I guess more training is the key!
I’ll definitely do the final race in the series, they’ve been great fun so far, and I’d like to see if I can get into the top 10 for the series.
