Last Sunday I took part in the Roade Sprint Triathlon. This race was the last race of this year training camp in UK. I used this race also as a preparation for the national Championships next Sunday. I felt great and managed a fantastic 5th place overall and another age group win in a time of 55.34, which is a new PB by 2mins
Before this race I had 2 other races. On September 12, I took part in the 3rd race of the blue seventy series, The derby sprint triathlon which consisted of a 400m swim pool, 20km bike around the towns of derby and etwall and an off road 5km hilly run. I started with a very good swim, covering the 400m in 5.35. However I did a mistake as I went out too fast in the first 100m and really suffered in the last bit of the swim.
The bike was a very tough undulating course with many twists and turns which really slowed me down against the other athletes who knew the course much better than me. At one point Ii had to stop for a few seconds because I was blocked by 2 cars. However I managed to cover the 20km in 30.37. I started the run at a fast pace but since the course was off road with steep hills, I could not go for a very fast run split. However I pushed hard on the hills as I really like them. I covered the 5km in 18.20 with a finishing time of 57.30 placing 16th overall and 3rd in my age group. Thanks to this result, at the moment I am 3rd overall in the blue seventy series classification.
On the 22nd of September, I took part in the Hinckley 5km race, organised by the Hinckley running club. The race consisted of 2 undulating laps around the town centre so could not go for a personal best. I went out a bit too fast in the first kilometre so slowed down a bit. I tried to stay among the top 10 and keeping a fast pace. I did the first 2.5k in 8.22, so i realized that a PB was difficult, so I pushed to go under the 17mins.3 runners came past me and managed to stay with them till the finish. The finish was set at the top of a very steep hill so in the last 300m I launched an attack and manage to emerge out from the group finishing in a brilliant 8th place in a time of 17.02.
After the race, I realised that I was racing among very fast runners as the winning time was 14.58 and 2nd and 3rd did around 15.40. These are really fast times on such a hilly course especially the finishing hill which killed my legs completely.
Back to roade tri, the weather was very cold and it was very windy. I had a great swim covering the 414m pool swim in 5.30 (around 5.15/5.20 for 400m). Out of the pool, it was really cold and this affected me a bit on the bike as I could not warm up and this hampered a bit my performance. The bike consisted of another 2 undulating laps around the town of roade. It was very windy and cold and i could not get into my rhythm. However I registered a good time in such tough conditions of 31.17 registering the 4th best bike split of the day.
Then went out for the 2 lap 4.5km run and finally it was completely flat so I could go for a fast time. I was happy with this and so i really pushed till the end. Was feeling strong and my pace was getting faster and faster. I managed to cover the distance in 16.00 (around 17.40 for 5km). I pushed till the end which earned me the 2nd age group win of the year here in UK.
After such a good performance i am really looking forward for next Sunday’s race. An important race which brings the 2010 season to an end. I hope everything goes well and that my 2010 season ends with a great happy ending.
Will keep you updated.
Keith
No comments:
Post a Comment