Ironman Mark

I enjoyed this morning’s race, although the heavy down poor at the end spoiled the celebrations!

I had done it last year, enjoyed it and so knew what to expect.

Swim: 12:11 (18 seconds slower than last year, 4th percentile).  I started at the front on the shortest direct line and went hard for the first 75m or so.  I then drafted behind someone to the first buoy but was just pipped into third by someone who overtook me.  I stayed in third until the first corner when someone started swimming by my hips.  I took the turn easy and waited a bit and so followed on his feet.  However, he decided to swim too far to the right so after 30m or so I took the direct route.  Just after we turned to head back, he caught me up again and I decided to ease off a little and draft off him again.

On the run from the lake to T1 I overtook him easily and so came into T1 in third in my age group.

T1: 1:13 (7 seconds quicker – 18th percentile).  This went well, other than I hadn’t unclipped my helmet when I left it on the bike.  No socks, shoes not on the bike.

Bike: 32:53 (14 seconds slower – 15th percentile).  I overtook someone on the long run out and then was overtaking for the whole of the ride.  Four people (I think) overtook me on the bike but I got one of those on the run back into T2.  It was quite windy and rained a bit towards the end.  AP=224W, NP=226W, Av HR=165bpm so a very consistent ride (last year AP was the same but NP was 1W higher).  Actual riding time was 22 seconds slower so I must have run 8s faster!  I think the wind made the difference on the bike.

I got held up once at a roundabout and then lost a little time going the right way around a mini-roundabout.  The people ahead were cutting the corner and I’d heard of people being disqualified for breaking the Highway Code so I did the right thing and lost a little time.  When I looked round, there was a drafting motorbike right behind me so if they were being strict, I made the right decision.

Bike was pretty comfortable but I was a little fidgety on the seat.

I am surprised that the power was exactly the same.  I guess that means I have caught up a bit after taking most of the winter off the bike!

T2: 0:59 (7 seconds quicker – 45th percentile): Elastic laces made the difference!  But I fluffed trying to unclip my helmet.

Run: 20:07 (11 seconds slower -15th percentile): Out of T2, the hardcore surface felt really rough and it didn’t feel like I was going very fast!  It got better and after 600m or so I was feeling pretty fast.  The bit behind the lake went well and Ian from the Tri Club run past me.   I tried to keep up with him but couldn’t and after a bit I felt like I was going to get a stitch.  I eased off a little and it went away within 30s or so.  I worked very hard on the last lap!

I was surprised that I wasn’t as quick as last year.  Last year I wasn’t very run fit but who knows.  I think I was probably a little heavier this year and that may have made the difference.  Perhaps there is a lesson in that!

It was raining quite a bit by now but once I crossed the finish line it poured down big time!  The Basingstoke lot had a chat for a bit and then went and got dry-ish.  Then Fee had a great idea and sent a text around to meet up for a drink at the hotel near the race.  A hot chocolate has never tasted so good.

Overall: 1:07:24 (30 slower than last year).  I was 41st overall and that’s 8th percentile.  Not bad.  But it would be nice to get a bit quicker next year:  1 minute quicker would have gained me 7 places.  2 minutes would have given me 24th (and just beaten Ian).