After spending so long on the sidelines injured (around 18 months) and also told to give up running as “I’m not built for it”, it was safe to say I had my fair share of nerves going into this race. My first since Bala 2010.
My training prior to the event was going well; swimming and cycling were a level above where I was before. Running on the other hand was 99% done on the treadmill and mainly intervals of 1k to limit stress on my knee. My longest, continual run before Sunday was 3 miles...and that was done once. And I stepped in dog shit during that run.
Anyway, if you are thinking of doing Cosmeston, then I’d suggest investing in a decent alarm clock or a fistful of ProPlus. 4:20AM I got up. 4:20AM! I’m hazy on exactly what I did in the morning, but I know I haven’t been up that early, sober, in a LONG time.
Got to Cardiff at 6am, set up bike, doused myself in baby-oil and rubber’d myself up. If you’ve come to this blog via a Google search of ‘Dogging’, then you’re in for a huge disappointment.
In the water for 7am, an average 13min swim later (wetsuit too small?) and exited in 11th. Forgot about the shambles that is a transition, and struggled to get on the bike...a verge later, I was down the road and breathing out of my arse. Slowly ticking people off along the 20k, I counted 3 in front at the halfway mark. Passing the guy in 3rd before getting back to Cosmeston, I had no idea how I’d run off a good bike effort. A quick kudos to the bloke who was HAMMERED near the bike exit at 7:15am. I found out he fell face first onto the road and was escorted by the police and given a cell/bed for the morning. Champion.
Onto the run, I had what looked like maybe 30 seconds onto 4th. I was convinced that I’d be caught in the first 1k and was on the cusp of cramping in both calves. Thankfully, this eased and just got in a rhythm of running/looking behind. The gap was growing if anything and I was feeling comfortable ticking along and just wanting to finish without my knee blowing up. With 1k left and after a long straight, I could enjoy knowing that I was coming in at 3rd.
It’s the second time in racing that I’ve missed the finishing shute.
Over the moon to finish with no pain/swelling/discomfort and a bonus of having 3rd. A big confidence boost for the ETU Cross Champs in Holland and Tuska Tri (Welsh Sprint Championships).
Course record was also broken on the day by a 16yr old from London – the third Brownlee - maybe a claim to fame when he races in Rio 2016? He’s going places (just not the pub...).
750m Swim: 13:10
20k Bike: 32:37 - Strava
5k Run: 18:42
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| Lost arm to a swan... |
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| Enterting T2 |
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| T2...shoes still clipped in. Forgot about that... |
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| Luckily, he didn't get a photo of me doing a commando roll under the barrier as I missed the finishing shute... |
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| Finish. Clearly impressed the kid with my Dino hand... |
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| 3rd Place. He's not my Dad...nice jumper though. Check the girl who's clearly impressed. |
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