The 1st Race : Preparation

The Brick

The 2013 Blenheim super sprint triathlon was rapidly approaching. While I was training I had done some research on preparation and what to expect for my 1^st race. All of the articles I read in magazines or on the internet suggested doing a bike to run ‘brick’ training session at least once before the race. So 2 weeks before I decided to do a brick of the approximate race distance (13.2 km bike and 3.1km run). Finding a time when I could do a pool swim before the cycling had proved impossible. Before setting off I setup my bike to run transition in my back yard with my trainers ready and somewhere to rack my bike. I set off on the bike at my intended race pace and enjoyed a trouble free ride. Returning home I dismounted racked the bike and got my trainers on. This is where the pain started. As I started running my legs felt very heavy, it was like running in deep mud. By the time got half way round my legs felt more free and I was able to run the rest of the way in relative comfort. The brick was done and I was ready.

Pre race cycling brick GPS track

Pre race running brick GPS track

The Day Before The Race

I had booked in to the Travelodge at a service station about 10 miles from Blenheim where some of the others I was doing the race with were staying for the night before the race. At lunchtime I packed the car up with everything I needed for the race (double and triple checking nothing had been forgotten). I had an easy drive from West Yorkshire down to Oxfordshire and arrived in good time. By the time I had checked in I was ready for food. We ate at a nearby Italian restaurant so pre-race pasta was the order of the day washed down by 1 beer (no matter how temping more were). I was back in my room for 10pm. I knew I didn’t have to be up to early as my wave was not until after lunch. I didn’t want to late as  some of the lads were in the first wave of the day and I wanted to cheer them on. Also I fancied having a good look around the site before my wave. Sleep didn’t come easily as my nerves about want was to come the next day built up but I got a good 7 hours in the end.

Blenheim 2013 Triathlon Transition In The Palace Main Courtryard

Race Day

I woke before my alarm was due to go off and couldn’t drop off again so got up. I had 2 porridge pots with dried fruit for breakfast which I had brought with me. After getting dressed and picking up a light lunch from the service station I packed the car back up and setoff for Blenheim. I got there in time to see the last of my mates in transition 1. It was a highlight of the day as he fell over taking his wetsuit off and nearly broke the no nudity in transition rule! By the time I had eaten and they had finished my wave start was getting closer. I got my trisuit on (not easy in a portable toilet) and racked my bike. I found a good spot in transition that I could easily identify. I setup my bike and laid out my other gear in front of it. Lastly I struggled into my wetsuit and grabbed my goggles. It was time to make my way to the race start for the swim briefing. The nice man doing the briefing told us a story about the biggest pike in the lake to ease any pre-swim nerves and we were ushered into the water. There I was bobbing up and down at the start line of my first triathlon it was now or never! 

Blenheim Triathlon 2013 Swim Briefing