Race Reports 2011
(2010 Race
Reports)
August 6th - British Junior Aquathlon championships, Hyde Park.
750m lake swim, 5k run.
25th overall, Time 00:30:07
I enjoy the
British Aquathlon Champs in Hyde Park as every year it’s a dive start, which is
a nice change from the usual deep water start. Non- wetsuit races are not my
favourite, but it’s nice to swim in warm water for a change. Unfortunately the
serpentine is far from clean, when you dive in at the start, you can taste and
smell the water, and believe me, it’s not pleasant..
My swim went quite well, I managed to avoid the fist fight at the first buoy and
got on the back of the second group. Our group exited the water with a 12 second
lead over the next group. Transition was simple, just a race belt and running
shoes to put on, no faffing around trying to get the wetsuit over the timing
chip.
My run was the best I’ve had all season, the first 2.5km lap I set out at a
reasonable pace and as the distance increased I upped the pace. I felt quite
strong out on the run, it was also great to hear your name being shouted out by
the spectators (the advantage of having it on your tri-suit).
Overall I was pleased with my race, especially the run. My coach was also happy,
which means everyone’s happy.
Next Race, Cymer off road Triathlon, August 13th.
“Grin When You Win”
Kieran
July 6th Welsh Midweek triathlon series – Race 2
750m lake swim,
16k bike 5k run.
9th overall, time 01:01:58
I’ve not had the
best of preparations for this race, just 3 days ago I raced the Junior super
series race at Porthcawl.
Anyone watching would have thought I had a good swim as I was first out of the
water, despite this I was unhappy, something just didn’t feel right.
Transition was quick and I was soon out on the bike course. The bike felt good
and to my surprise I got into a good rhythm, returning into transition with cold
hands and in 3rd place. This is when my problems started.
As mentioned in my previous report of Rheola, the run is HILLY. I think if the
tour de France decided to hold a stage there, you could easily have a K.O.M
competition. With the effects of Sunday’s race still in my legs I set out on the
run. Very quickly my legs decided they’d done enough and gave out on me. It was
a horrible feeling and it wasn’t helped by the rain that had fallen on previous
days making the run course heavy under foot. Crossing the line in 9th place, I
promised myself no more midweek racing after a big race on the weekend.
With one race left in the series my goal is to have a fast one and to try and
podium.
Next race, British Junior Aquathlon championships, Hyde Park, London, Saturday 6th August.
“Grin When You Win”
Kieran
July 3rd Porthcawl Junior Super Series triathlon
400m sea swim,
10km bike, 2.5 run
20th Junior, time 00:32:11.
Normally for a Super Series race I have to stay overnight some where, so when I
found out there would be a race held in Porthcawl, I was rather excited as it
would mean I could sleep in my own bed, and only travel 40 minutes down the M4.
The weather was beautiful, warm and sunny (just another typical summer’s day in
South Wales!!!). I’d say it’s the best I’ve felt racing all season. On the swim
I was in the second pack, climbing over people instead of them climbing over me.
I got out the water and into a good bike group with two fellow Welsh squad
athletes. For once I actually stayed with the pack for the race, and I didn’t
just manage to hang on, I was taking my turn on the front at some points of it.
Despite the unhealthy amount of crashes my group managed to stay upright even
with some lockups in the pack. I think 5 athletes were sent to hospital because
of crashes that day.
I timed my run well and increased the pace as the km went up. I was passed by a
few people but held good pace. With 40meters to go I found myself in a sprint
with 5 other athletes, as I have no fast twitch muscles I lost the sprint, but
gave everything and finished only a few meters behind.
Overall I was very pleased with this result which also got me some much needed
super series points.
Next race, Welsh mid-week triathlon series - race 2, Rheola estate, Wednesday 6th July.
“Grin When You Win”
Kieran
750m lake swim, 20k bike, 5k run
12th overall, time 01:08:07
With temperatures in the mid to high 20’s and no wind or shade the race was
going to be tough.
My 1st mistake of the day was not wearing my wetsuit (they were optional due to
the high water temperature), most of the other athletes chose to wear theirs (I
was hoping that any time I’d lose on the swim, I’d make back up on the faster
transition). I knew a good start to the swim would be essential, so I got myself
into a good position, unfortunately as soon as the swim started I was elbowed in
the face and my goggles were dislodged, I quickly put them back in place and set
off again only now I was well and truly at the back of the field. The gamble not
to wear my wetsuit didn’t pay off, my transition was quicker, but it didn’t make
up for the time I’d lost on the swim.
The bike
was going ok until about 21/2 laps in, when I was dropped
by the group. The group didn’t seem to want to work together, people kept trying
to split the group up by attacking then slowing down and so on, which was a bit
daft considering we should have been concentrating on closing the gap to the
lead group. Due to the heat and being dropped by the group (cycling on my own
for over a lap) I tired quickly and lost almost all concentration, I missed the
transition entrance by 5 – 6 metres and had to turn around and go back.
I
suffered on the run due to the heat and because I was exhausted, but managed to
keep going, I was really glad to see the finish line.
Overall I was
disappointed with my performance, I made the wrong
decision about not wearing the wetsuit, then the problem with my goggles and to
cap it off an inexcusable mistake of missing the entrance to T2 – not good and
I’ll make sure that it doesn’t happen again!
Next race, Porthcawl super series triathlon, Sunday 3rd July.
“Grin When You Win “
Kieran
June 18th Mumbles Mile Triathlon (Short sprint)
750m sea swim, 21k
bike, 2.5k run
1st overall, time 01:02:18
Last year the
weather made the venue look like the French Riviera or the Côte d'Azur as it is
known in French. This year though, it looked like a typical South Wales Saturday
- rain, rain & more rain!
With 400 competitors starting in one wave, the first 100-200m of the swim would
have to be a sprint to avoid “haymakers” from the other competitors. I exited
the water in second place, despite a right arm full of water due to someone
unzipping my suit a bit. Going into transition I ran into the wrong line of
racking from where my bike was, bit of a school boy error, but luckily it didn’t
cost me much time as my bike was racked close to the end of the row.
For the entire bike leg I was leading the short sprint race. As I’m a small
build I can climb hills well, and due to the wet and slippery conditions I was
able to make time with some fast descents down some technical hills (I was
hoping the other athletes would be a bit nervous of the conditions and descend
with caution).
The run went really well for me, I pushed hard and felt fine, so I pushed
harder. This was a great relief, as my legs failed to carry me more than 200m a
week ago in Blenheim Palace. I crossed the line in first place finishing 7
minutes ahead of the 2nd place athlete. Overall a great race and I got a Mizuno
rucksack and free entry to another Tri and Enter event as well as a silver plate
for my efforts.
Next race, 17 -19 yr old high performance drafting triathlon, Eton, Sunday 26th June.
“Grin When You Win “
Kieran
June 5th Blenheim Palace Triathlon (Elite race)
750m lake swim, 20k bike, 5k run
66th overall, 41st junior, time 01:14:19
This year Blenheim palace triathlon would be my first elite race. Hopefully not
the last either. As always the best get to choose their starting position and it
was Tim Don who got the opportunity to get in first and pick the best starting
spot.
I had an ok –ish swim and made up some places on the 400m run from the lake to
transition. T1 went really well for me, I tried something new and it worked, I
had the 24th fastest T1 of the day out of a field of 85 males.
On the bike I got into a good group and stayed there for 1 ½ laps, then to be
dropped and almost immediately picked up by another group, which I stayed with
for the rest of the bike, taking my turn on the front and red lining most of the
way.
The run was great for the first 200m then my legs gave. I had given so much on
the bike I hit the wall very early on. I considering pulling out from the race
because I felt so terrible, I was even walking some parts of the run. To sum up
how bad my run was, a week later I ran a 17:47 for a 5km road race, in Blenheim
my time was just over 25 minutes. It’s all experience I suppose.
Next race, Mumbles Mile Triathlon, Saturday June 18th.
“Grin When You Win “
Kieran
May 22nd Llanelli Waterside Triathlon
500m dock swim, 17mile bike, 5k run
No position or times – race results null & void.
As I live only about half an hour’s drive from Llanelli I went down on Saturday afternoon to register and check out the bike course for any possible problems, this meant I wouldn’t have such an early start on Sunday morning.
Sunday was a very windy day, but at least the recent rain was holding off.
My swim went well, I exited the water first in my wave with the 2nd fastest swim
of the day. I was out onto the bike as the rest of the field were entering
transition.
The wind must have been bordering on gale force and wanted to show who was boss
right from the start as I nearly lost control of the bike at the mount line (I’d
made the mistake of using deep section rim wheels). I spent a lot longer than
usual with my feet out of my shoes, as I was fighting to control the front wheel
against the wind. The bike course takes you down to the first roundabout in
Kidwelly and back, the way down was murder due to the wind. On the way back,
with about 9 - 10km to go the wind died down and I was able to get down onto the
tri bars, take on some much needed Gatorade (as drinking was impossible with the
wind), and put the hammer down. It wasn’t long before the wind started up again,
as I knew it was going to get worse as I approached T2 I got my feet out of my
shoes in plenty of time.
Despite the wind my run went well, (that was apart from doing nearly double the
original distance). At the turn around point the marshal directed me onwards and
said that the run route had been changed to 1 lap. So I kept on going for what
seemed an age, I knew something was wrong as the marshal on the turnaround point
was the last I’d seen for some time. What seemed like miles from nowhere I
turned around and along with another competitor (who was to say the least, a
little bit annoyed) headed back to the finish line. Eventually there was a large
group of us jogging back with some complaining and very rudely voicing their
opinions. On a positive note, my legs were almost fresh going onto the run,
showing my run had got stronger. On a negative note, all results were null and
void.
The race organiser, Noelwyn looked absolutely devastated about what had happened, he’s a triathlete himself and looked close to tears when he apologised to the competitors after the event. Since the race I’ve heard people saying the event was a shambles and badly organised etc, etc, let’s get one thing straight – it wasn’t, one mistake from one marshal doesn’t make the entire event a shambles. Yes it’s annoying, yes it’s frustrating, but we’re all human and we all make mistakes, I’m sure the same mistake won’t happen next year!
Next race – Blenheim palace triathlon (elite race) June 5th.
“Grin When You Win”
Kieran
May 11th – Welsh midweek triathlon – Race 1
750m lake swim, 16km bike, 5km run
5th overall, time 00:57:45
Normally around January time I sit down and plan my races for the season.
I came across the Welsh midweek triathlon at Rheola estate the night before by
accident and as it allowed on the night entries, I decided to race it.
The swim went well, I exited the water in 2nd place and got into transition a
second behind the leader. The swim exit had no ramp just 2 small steps and two
marshal’s lifting people out of the water. There were a few teething problems,
like my wetsuit zip jamming and problems getting my wetsuit over my timing chip.
I should also add that on the run from the lake to transition a middle aged man
wearing a tracksuit kindly offered me a can of that Danish larger that’s
probably the best lager in the world
(obviously being under 18 I kindly refused).
Heading out on the bike course there was a head wind, luckily the wind wasn’t
swirling so the way back I was treated to a tail wind which helped me fly over
some short sharp hills. The entry to transition had a few pot holes and loose
stones so with the possibility of a puncture on my mind I cautiously rode up to
the dismount line at a cost of speed, luckily though it was a no over taking
zone, so I could have rode in at the same speed of someone on a mountain bike
riding down a canal path on a sunny afternoon and it wouldn’t have mattered.
With cold stingy feet I put my running legs on and set out onto the run. After
about 200m there was a steep hill, followed by a flat section with a dead turn
and then another hill. The run would have been an enjoyable run in the woods if
my legs weren’t tired from the bike. The course would make an excellent x
country course and was soft under foot with a mixture of woodland path, grass
and stoned path. Just after the first steep hill on the run course I noticed
another competitor closing the gap between us. Throughout that lap I increased
my speed until with 150m to go, he passed me and continued to accelerate. With
nothing left to give I crossed the line in 5th, a result I’m reasonably pleased
with.
I should also mention that fellow team mate Ross Simpson finished 2nd, so Tri UK
had a good outing with a podium and a 1st place junior.
Next race, Llanelli waterside Triathlon, Sunday May 22nd.
“Grin When You Win “
Kieran