Confidence was high despite not much in the way of training going on in the 3 week hiatus, I now knew the schedule and how things worked which took off a little pressure plus this route was slightly longer so no direct comparison to be made. As this is my first year regardless of my time they are all new PB's - and everyone loves getting a PB!!!
After the 1st Tri I decided to not do too much in between for risk of injury as I was not having anymore physio until after St Annes. I tried a few runs trying to vary my training including some small hill work and back on the trail terrain, by the third outing the knee had started to get sore again so I gave the running up. Only squeezing 1 bike session into the 3 weeks may have been a bit of a blunder as I now know I definitely need work in this area, so that just left the pool and again only 3 session over the break. Mostly doing splits training using the pull buoy I decided it had been a while since I had done any distance and with the prospect of changing Tri distances thought I'd chuck in a long set, gladly I managed to swim 1000m in 24min which roughly extrapolates to the 40min miles I had swam previously.
Anyway, regardless of what training I had or hadn't done the weekend was now upon us and after a quick recce rideout on the Saturday raceday was looming. Another early start to get there in plenty of time and before you knew it I was at the waters edge taped, tattooed & ready to roll!Managing to avoid the whiteline fever of the last race I set off on the swim at a decent steady pace and felt good, the 2 guys in front were well and gone and the guy behind wasn't going to catch so there was no pressure and I just did my own thing. With 2 laps left I'd almost caught the guy behind to lap him and as we both touched the wall at the end of my set he still had 2 lengths to do. Jumping out of the pool a brief glance of the watch said 8:30 - pretty good time for me even compared to training swims.
A quick dart around the building and into transition, frantically trying to get a shirt and shoes and everything else on before heading out for the 3 lap bike leg.
Out on to the closed road and cycling felt easy, well easy enough to get my legs going anyway. Arriving at the first turn point feeling relatively optimistic and heading back towards the pool and beyond, only this time it was different - very different! Now into the wind wind my legs felt like lead and it took everything in me to keep pushing. Reaching the next turn point which felt like forever away I was now heading toward the end of lap 1 with the wind at my heels and the cycling feeling easy again. Around 15mins a lap I knew I had to push through the wind and make the most of the tail wind on the return, finishing the 12 mile cycle in around 44mins I was fairly chuffed what with the conditions.
With a children's race at this event Team Penguin was 9 strong, myself, Jonathan, Steve, Ian, Suzi, Evie, Eva, Bethan and Niamh.
Having watched the last senior penguin home the children's race wasn't far off and boy was there some cheering to be done from the Seniors and cheerleaders (whom now have an official song and dance routine!)
With entrants in the T1 and T2 events there was plenty left to do still running around from transition to bike route to the finish. All 4 Penguin chicks came over the line with smiles on their faces. Team Penguin now look to September for the 3rd race in this series at Fleetwood - although there is talk of the Capernwray mid-week series open swim Tri's too!!
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| Team Penguin & Cheerleaders!! |
