wimbleball race report

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My usual prep for a race involves lying down and running through the race in my head, but every time I pictured the race, all I could think of was Louise making the 1hr swim cut off.  I always knew that if she made the swim her determination would get her through the rest. (More to follow).

Having raced at Wimbleball 3 times now Helen and I have the prep down to a fine art:

4:50 Alarm - Helen up kettle on and do my 5 weetabix

5:00 Helen shower

5:10 Helen back to pour tea whilst I finish breakfast in bed (she’s good to me)

5:55 Walk over to transition with an exceptionally calm daughter

6:10 Check mine and Louise’s tyres and look to meet up with everyone else.

6:35 Walk down to lake having recommended to most Salisbury triathletes to start from the left hand front buoy. Kiss Louise goodbye and get a big hug as she calmly tells me to leave her and do my own race.

6:50 One of the funniest and best triathlon experiences I have ever come across;  I reach the far left hand front buoy for the start and one by one nearly every competitor from Salisbury appears.  It ended up with me, Louise, Rosie, Ally, Clive, Chris, Tobes, Marie, Corrine, John and Seb all hanging from the buoy ropes ready to go.  (Re-union next year?) Another last kiss for Louise and we are off.

I intended on completing the first of the 3 legs quicker than the rest to avoid trouble and luckily had no problems whatsoever as we rounded the first buoy.  From the second buoy and for the rest of the race I drafted a slightly quicker swimmer and conserved energy for when I know I am going to really need it.  Out of the water slightly slower than usual but with plenty in reserve, I take it easy up the hill into T1 picturing where my T1 bag is (“where I left it” as I was told by a Marshall one year.)  The bike bites you in the ar%e straight away and I make a conscious effort to hold back for the first 4 miles uphill and try to stick to my plan of a negative split for the 2 loops. Despite racing the course 3 times nothing prepares your legs for the 2^nd round of hills particularly the long drag before Haddon Hill.  The main thing that motivates at that point is the support that you know is coming soon at Haddon Hill.  Salisbury Tri Club has more than embraced that spot; they have made it their own.  I even heard someone say as I approached it and there was an explosion of noise “he must from Salisbury then”.  I got the nod that Louise was going was out of the water so set about catching her on my second loop (I was worried she would run out of gels so was going to pass her 3 of mine) illegal I know but hey sue me later.  As I turn the corner towards the lake, I haven’t caught her, so with a big smile on my face I ram 2 of the gels down me, knowing she is well on the way to finishing.

As I descend towards the lake I carry out my traditional ablutions whilst hammering down the hill, at least this year there wasn’t a family walking uphill wondering why it was raining during bright sunshine!

Now onto the run, Rosie summed it up I believe “I was so concerned with the bike I forgot all about the run”.  13 miles of gravel, grass, mud, tarmac, puddles, thin paths, turns and hills.  What makes it such a memorable course is the support and at every corner there was always someone with words of encouragement just when it was needed.  My run went to plan in that I took the first lap easy (hr 165) 2^nd lap harder (hr 172) and the 3^rd lap with whatever was left which really was not a lot (hr 189).   As I ran down the chute I was at max effort but was actually running on the spot just pulling weird faces.  An embarrassing collapse over the line and another year complete with World Champs qualification in the bag for a 3^rd time.  (Not going to LA this year though as IM Regensburg already planned). 

MY DAY IS NOT FINISHED YET!!!!.  Having picked myself up I now stagger to transition to try and find Louise’s bike to see if she has been through T2 yet.  No bike on 571 rack yet ( 6 minutes until cut off).  I start to go into a panic and speak with the race referee in transition dropping hints like “she can run like the wind”.  He kindly informs me “2 minutes until cut off”.  I try to get to the dismount area but am stopped as other competitors come in.  The Marshall on the corner tells me that not all bikes have been racked correctly and says I can check if her red bag (T2 run bag) has gone yet.  As I start to run (a very strange fast walk really) towards the tent the Marshall declares 1 min until cut off ( I can feel myself welling up as I know Louise will be devastated to miss the cut off).  With 44 seconds to go the Marshall makes me turn sharply as he say’s “is this her”.  The feeling of relief was incredible and I run through T2 to let Helen know she is in and ready to come out on the run (Helen immediately bursts out crying with relief).  The rest is history.........she finishes running nearly all the way.

1. Thanks again to all that came down, I know you were there to support other people as well but it really makes a big difference.

Helen and I are entering next year’s race  tonight, just got to get Joe to do it know to have the whole family collection.  Meet you all at the left hand buoy next year

(UPDATED : 23/06/2011)

(UPDATED : 23/06/2011)

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Author: Shaun Benfield - 23 June 2011 10:00