BLENHEIM TRIATHLON 2009

June 8th, 2009 by Gavin

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I just finished my run on Saturday afternoon and was stretching and checking out some of the Vintage cars that were parked outside of the Heythrop Park Hotel. 2 old pensioner magnets who looked liked extras from ‘the last of Summer Wine’ rocked up beside me with some fat cigars

“you wouldn’t happen to have a light Squire ? ”

“not on me chaps” I replied

Standing in a muddy pair of Saucony’s, rain jacket and leggings we chatted for a bit before I headed inside and out of the rain. A ride and a smoke in their 1924 Rolls Royce did seem appealing at the time but I was racing in Blenheim Palace the next morning

THE WEEK THAT WAS :

After coming home from Triathy it started like any other week . . . on Monday

Monday: 5k swim long aerobic intervals / 3hr bike ride with a cake stop ! / 50mins easy running on the trails

Tuesday: 4k swim, 100′s off 1.15 and 1.20 / 2.15 bike with some TT and a chain gang / bit of a headache and bed

Wednesday: Run Run Run . . . just short of a marathon

Thursday: 3k swim, max sprints / Bike 2.10 with threshold intervals / 12k run off the bike

Friday: 4k swim with 4×300 descending / easy 90mins bike / packing up for Blenheim

Saturday: Travel to London / drive to Woodstock / chat 2 old guys about cars and smokes

Sunday:

Sat in my car in a muddy field wondering why people were setting bikes up and pinning numbers on 2hrs before the race / said a prayer for the rain to stop / racked my bike / did a jog / rubbered up / hugged James Cotton to try and stay warm / jumped in the water on the left and wondered why everyone was on the right ? / wished the kayaker would get a life / had clear water for 500m and was alone on the left / cursed the TV motor boat for making waves /met some traffic at the turn bouy / some muppet swam all over me for 200m / settled into the lead pack after 5k on the bike / felt a bit cold / sometimes drafted off the motorbike (!) / entered T2 at the front / couldn’t get my shoes on quickly and couldn’t feel my feet ! / ran on stumps for 3k / watched Maccers battle it out up ahead / drifted in 5th, 35seconds down on Stuart Hayes.

I did not feel that rested going in but I still took some positives away from the race. At the same time that I need to keep my training up I also need to race more – it was only my second competitive run off the bike since August.

I was pleased for my flatemate David McNamee in 4th – although gutted at the same time ! – at the end of the day part of his winnings pays my mortgage ! Hopefully he continues to show his true fitness again and again in the months to come.

IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD:

DAN HUGO WON HIS FIRST INTERNATIONAL XTERRA …… VIRTUAL HIGH 5 !

Catch up on the rest of the triathlonteam members and find their stories from the weekend on triathlonteam.org - there was races in Switzerland, America and my in my beloved Shire.