I knew the Llandudno Olympic Tri course had a tough reputation with a bike circuit around the Great Orme so before i entered i had a test run of the bike course the day before the cheshire cat to decide if i would go for the sprint or the olympic. The bike was tough , particularly the final climb, and the run also hilly, but in for a penny in for a pound i went for the olympic figuring i would be fitter come july.
As the day got closer and with a few events under my belt it didn't seem so daunting, until Andy introduced me to his mate Paul at Boundary who described the inaugural event last year as tougher than the Bala Middle distance, and that was before changing the run to take in the little Orme- gulp!
We had decided to make it a long weekend and it gave me another chance to reccee the bike course on the saturday. The bike and run looked just as tough as back in March but at least the sea was calmish and no sign of the basking shark that had been hogging the swim course all week.
Sunday dawned dull and grey with a gale force wind blowing right down the seafront that we would have to swim into. There was quite a chop on the water and ravenous purple jellyfish of table top proportions- ok i am exaggerating a bit but they were big.
Thankfully the rain held off and i got set up in T1 and made my way to the swim briefing and entry at the end of the prom.
We were counted in and the water was much colder than i expected and we bobbed around like corks waiting for the start. The chop made it difficult to sight and race guidance said stick close to shore to get the benefits of the tide bouncing back from the Little Orme but that seemed longer to me so i went for the more direct line across the bay so picked my spot and went for it. First 200m were tough taking on some water and feeling uneasy in the swell but gradually i got into a good rhythm and apart for mistaking the second to last buoy as the last one i made it home in a time of 24.09 which was good enough for 19th overall.
T1 was a disaster though as i lost my bearings and took far longer to get out than was needed and forgot to put my glasses on to boot. The bike went surprisingly well. As Paul suggested i spun up 1st time around and any thoughts of having to walk the last hill disappeared as each of the 4 laps passed The descent was fantastic and i grew in confidence and pace each time round but i could have done with my glasses as by now the sun had come out. Bike was 1.23.15.
Into T2 and cheering crowds - glasses on this time before out onto the run with heavy legs which struggled to get beyond plodding pace. This was particularly apparent on the climb up the Little Orme for about a km at 1.75-2.75km. There was a steep drop down the Orme and then a steady downhill to the turnaround point. Then back up the steady incline to the foot of the Little Orme where i had decided to walk the steepest 200m on the basis that it was probably as quick with a fast walk as a run. From the top of the Little Orme it was all downhill or flat for the last 2.5km and i had made it in a time of 50.40 and 2.42.07 altogether which was about 80th overall and 6th in category.
The day after it transpired i had picked up a drafting 2min penalty which was one of only 2 in the whole race so in best Jim Cox tradition i appealed, as i can only think i got done for being in the 7m no entry zone whilst climbing or descending, but i wasn't going to stop pedalling if someone came past me. Hopefully it will be overturned as i thought it a bit harsh as everyone else was doing the same.
Definitely my toughest event yet, loads of spectators cheering you on (thanks to jane and El)really enjoyable and a must do again for next year. Best in my Category was 2.31 something for Paul's mate Stuart and best overall a staggering 2.03 something. Presentations were at the town hall with a buffet thrown in and the biggest cheer of the event was for Stuart from his and Paul's supporting army of campers.
Author - Pete 'the fish' Openshaw
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