andygates

Feels like I've come a long way since New Year when a phone call met a drunk me and "why not do a triathlon?" was just a jokey excuse to pretend to be training... Cotswold was my fourth race, all this year, and is the last of my season. You can tell from the fact that I'm calling it a season, I'll be back for more next year!

Anyone would think that the 5:30am wakeup call (schnell! eat then snooze! transition opens at 6:00!) was sick enough on its own without having to go and run a race... but up super-early we all were, shovelling bananas and all-bran bars down before zombieing through setting up our pitches. Transition was sealed off before the start, first indication that the organisation was going to be tight and controlly - which worked a treat.

Cotswold Tri is held in the Cotswold Water pPrk, a whole bunch of flooded gravel pits given over to boating and adventure sports. Last time I was down here it was in a longship! Warm lakes, cold air: the water steamed like a hot tub. The start was delayed by 45 minutes as we hoped for the mist to clear, before the organisers decided to cut the swim to about half-length in order to make it navigable.

The viz was bonkers, I made it 50m and every time the wind got up, it just encouraged the lake to make more mist! The lineup along the shore looked like a miniature version of the start of the Escape From Alcatraz, very evocative. I was quite happy with the short swim, though I just about found my rhythm as I found the righthand bank (gravel)... and a buoy boat (hard)... and the exit chute (muddy). Need to work on sighting, perhaps?

Bike was great. The course is a flat 20k loop, and it was morning-cool so I could really open up without overheating. It was well-signed and very well marshalled, no problems, keep turning left and eating up the guys who ate me in the water; the body count of 14 means I owe my bike an Ace of Spades sticker (don't ask). Having the elite youths (?) hammer past all rattlydisk was a bit startling though There was bit of drafting going on out there too... and the start was foggy enough that a couple of athletes had lights!

The run around the lake was pretty, but I mistimed it; took it easy on lap one planning to open up on lap two; lap two I just got a bit tired and lost my tempo until one of Exeter's mob yelled at me in the final stretch. I am Pavlov's dog... Tempo running is where my training needs to be.

Overall a lovely event, great venue, nice routes, good craic in the campsite the night before with tri vets swapping war stories. Definitely recommended as a nice one to do.

I got 260th overall (out of 350), 40th in age group G (35-40) out of 53, chuffed to bits with that as it's a competitive group. Feels like I'm creeping up the field out of fun-runner and into leisure athlete, which was pretty much my goal for the year.

Swim 09:12 - in the tail but not off the back of it. Down with the breast strokers but not calling for the safety boat. Plenty of work to do over the winter though!

Bike 38:32 - it felt faster, was holding a bit much in reserve maybe? I expected the ride to run for longer. Still, a workmanlike performance.

Run 23:19 - better than it felt, neat.

Overall 01:11:04, which is uncomparable to anything ever because of the ad hoc swim. A nice way to end the tri season.

Race pics - https://s62.photobucket.com/albums/h9...wold_tri_2006/

Jaybird

Andy,
I just spent 5 minutes reading the story and 15 trying to decipher half of what you said. Time to teach you American English! Now I know how you must feel reading our slang. What's up with the Ace of Spades sticker?

Great story and pics, too.
Jay

andygates

I'm a slow swimmer, very slow - but reasonable on the bike. The result is that I catch a bunch of my wave once I get out of the water. As I passed #4 or so, I had a chat with the bike: "Get me thirteen and I'll get you a present!" "Ace of spades!" - this from a bike which insisted on being called Meatloaf, so the bar is set pretty low It's not really a huge achievement but it gives me something to keep aiming at - catch the next guy, and the next guy... makes the ride a lot of fun.

rplong

Are you #392? Nice Chops dude. A season is a season no matter how many races. Get ready to pump it up for next year. Just think how much better you will do next year having the experience.

not2fast

I have the opposite effect. I am a strong swimmer and biker, but very slow runner. In the race I did 2 weeks ago, I was catching the wave in front of me on the swim (I am a Clyde, so we started last) I was the first Clyde out of the water. I caught a few more on the bike, but only to watch them pass me back on the run.

Doing a race in Orlando, FL this weekend. Hope to make it to the podium, but that just depends on how quickly I can make it through the run.

TysonB

Andy,

Nice report. I can't imagine a nicer place to tri than in the Cotswold. Would love to come do one there with you some day.

Unlike you, I am a fast swimmer comparitively for my age. I get out of the water with the fast guys and then spend the rest of the race getting passed. Oh well. It builds character and humility, even though I have a bit of a competitive streak that my lovely wife has spent 35 years trying to moderate! At least you get to pass people during the race!

Tyson
Cushing, Oklahoma