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T-Shirt |
Despite vivid recollections of my last outings to windswept
Wattisham I decided to give it a go again this year. Forecast wasn’t brilliant
for later on in the day but if all went according to plan, I’d be safely in a
tent with a cup of tea and a burger when the bad weather arrived.
The sun was out and fooled by the transition area being in
the lea of the Physical & Recreational Training Centre and out of the wind
I set up and began to feel hopeful that the Met Office had, once again, got the
forecast wrong and that I was in for a nice, warm and calm event.
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Nice and Sunny |
Briefing was over at 12:30, first swimmer scheduled for
13:01 and I was off at 14:42 – so loads of time to relax and mentally prepare.
I almost sound like I know what I was doing.
Watched the first few swimmers set off then outside to watch
the T1 activities and was treated to the most casual transition I have ever
seen. Watched by 30 or so spectators this guy comes out of the pool and calmly
walks to his bike. He then starts to gently towel himself down like he was at a
beach and had just got out of the sea. The similarities didn’t end there – once
dry he wrapped the towel around his waist and proceeded to wriggle out of his
shorts, one handed, just like you would at the beach. Then on went the cycle shorts in the
same careful way – top marks for not letting the wind flap the towel and expose
his tackle. On goes a nice cycling top then a sit down on the grass to dry his
feet properly, bit of the old talc, before pulling on socks and finally some
cycle shoes. Sorted. Must have taken over five minutes. Walked out of T1 to a
round of applause. Epic.
Now time to go get ready and implement the “just smash it”
plan for this year. The two spaces in front of me were empty so I had a free
pool in front of me. 14:42 and off we go. Steam up and down the first 4 lengths
far too fast and have to hang on for the remaining 8 and extremely glad to see
the final length stretch out in front of me – complete with single old guy pool
side spectator clearly visible on every other stroke as I gulped in air – smiling
at me – bit weird.
Out we get in one jump in a plume of water and run outside
with water pouring off me like Poseidon rising from the deep. Helmet on – shoes
on – glasses on – GO and over the T1 mat and off in 6:30 – so far so good.
Got out of the lea of the building and then it hit me. Wind whistling
round the buildings like a trailer for Twister – well that’s what it felt like.
Out to the south of the airfield against the wind then turned north round the perimeter
with a little tail wind – this ain’t so bad after all. Then across and point
down the runway into proper wind. Must have been 30mph & gusting so much more
that I was honestly almost blown to a standstill. 7-8 mins later got to the other
end, turned round and it all goes quiet, and warm and very fast – guessing close
to 40mph – fantastic J.
Still sticking to the “just smash it” plan and keep my head down and grind out
a series of headwind/tailwind encounters ready to unleash my secret weapon –
running legs - in T2.
This is where I had made a small error in judgement.
Actually my running legs are the same as my cycling legs which are now
completely done in. I transition with no real issues and go over the mats in
48:22 for the bike leg. I’m sure the blood will replace the lactic acid at some
stage so bide my time and wait. And wait. And wait. Clearly I’m not about to
spring into gazelle mode and it’s about hanging on. Which I do and knock out a
22:17 5K – pah.
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Where have my legs gone - why don't they work! |
Still – Wattisham=Windy and it’s never going to be anything
else. Always underestimated. Always brilliantly organised.
Total time 1:17:35 – 6.5 mins slower than 2010 and 1.5 mins
slower than 2008. But it was very windy – honest.
Cracking write up Maysty.
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