South Coastal Tri
4th July
2015

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Official Results

  1.5k Swim 40k Cycle 10k Run Total
David Elliot 52.20 1.08.16 45.46 2.46.22
 
Set out today to learn something new and certainly did that.
 
Booked the South Coast Tri to experience a competitive sea swim as have not swam in the sea since I was a child and never in competition. After a pleasant enough say in Newhaven overnight and a quick recce of the course on the Friday night followed by fish and chips on the seafront, I woke and was rearing to go. 

Registration was painless the only minor blot was that the shop was out of Body Glide which I was nearly out of. Bike racked and ready I wandered back to the van to put on some P20 sunblock and let it dry before seaming myself with the remaining Glide(just enough). Fought with the wetsuit and was about ready to go.

The early morning mist had pretty much burnt off and me and 90 odd other stood for the prerace briefing. The previous day the sea was mill pond flat and the wind was low day we where in for something...different. Swimming out to the start the water was warm but in the briefing we where warned about a current and you had the work to not to get pushed back at the start. Also the rollers where coming in thick and fast between 5-10 feets. NOT a lake swim.

Hooter was sounded and we where off. Trying not to set off too fast as I have in my previous 2 races but I needn't have worried today was all about fighting the sea not myself. Felt at first was swimming well but soon the roller got bigger and felt like I getting dropped again and again getting smashed in the face and chest. Also the taste of salt was starting the build up in my nose and mouth and started to burn. Lost confidence and really not enjoy it I found myself swimming head up and eventually even dropping to breaststroke to keep my head out of the water. the turn couldn't come too soon but the final buoy didn't seem to be getting any closer but in the end I got there. Seriously though about pulling out as I saw several people walk clear of the water at this point.

The turning point was also for me the turning point of the swim. Now going with the current I started to feel like I was flying and had a chance to work out how to deal with the rolling sea. Focusing on maintaining stoke and driving though the waves rather then get inundated by them. The turn back against the current was on me again so it was time to set to work again. This was much better trying to move with the water and driving forward while still hard my pace was not the crawl of the 1st lap. The other encouraging thing was I started overtaking people. Focusing on making the turn it seem to come fairly quickly and I was swept up current to the triangular buoy that marked to turn for home. 50m to shore and the swim was over. Thank God but alot learned. 52.40 was official time but that included T1. Think it was about 50.28 least according to my Garmin. 

T1 was that bad! Getting better at this, small amount of fiddling with my helmet but otherwise out in good time on the the multi lapped bike leg.

12 Laps up and down the sea front with a hair pin at each end was and interesting affair. Flat as you like and not point in tracking you over takes as I was lapping people on a regular basis only 1 person overtook me and I had a good back and forth with with a Chap from ETC(Eton Tri Club I think) how was on a relay team but in the end I broke him. Great practice for tight turns with all those hair pins by the 6/7 lap I was taking them like a pro! Lap 12 rolled around fast enough and into T2. 1.08 14sec Not bad.
T2 was ok 1.14 but was a long run to the rack no problems here in fact all good.

By now was getting hot and set out on the 4 laps of run leg still felt strong though the heat and the pure length of the swim leg slowed me down. Held my final effort for the final 1/2 lap(just over 1.3 km) and over took quite a few people though no idea where they where in relation to me. Kicked for home and then forgot to stop my watch (again) so ran for about 4 minutes before I realized. Official time 45.46 though this included T2 so closer to 44.30.

Overall time 2.46 22sec and 15 male (of 86) was ok with all the problems I had on the swim. Glad I did this and learn a huge amount about sea swimming and the conditions where very bad in the water so it was in at the deep end. Feel a lot more prepared for Weymouth now but would like to get out and swim in the sea again as i feel I could do with more experience.