Andy reports from Bala Middle 2008

This was to be my first middle distance triathlon and I had little idea what to expect or how I would do.

My 'A' race this year is Ironman UK and as Boothy has said although I primarily just want to finish just like everyone else I have got a time in mind. The reason for doing Bala was to see if my full distance target is at all realistic. I figured if I could do a tough 1/2 in around 5-30 to 6 then 12 to 12-30 for a full (with 2+ months training still to go) should be achievable.

The day before

Graham arrived in his TRI-Mobile around Saturday midday having already collected Martin. Just room for one more bike on top, and after squeezing my race wheels, tribag and tribox and me inside we were off.

We got to the Travellodge in Oswestry in good time so dropped the bikes off and headed for Bala.

The roads from Oswestry to Bala take you through some pretty good hills and Martin seemed to be looking a bit grey but when you think the hills are only going to get worse it seems to level off a bit. I guess the area is on a bit of a plateau and the its the surounding river valleys that give you the shakes if you know your on a bike the next day.

After a minor detour which happened to be along part of the run route we found the leisure centre and registered and picked up the goody bag (Oh, what wondrous gifts would we find ). Expecting the normal bike bottle (why do they ever put these in goody bags - does anyone reading this ever think 'Ooo just what I needed another bike bottle !) I was pleasently surprised to find we got a Bala 2008 Middle towel. Not had a towel before so that was nice.

Back into the Tri-Mobile for a recky of the bike route. I have to say I didnt think it looked too bad. After the Chippo in Riccione no UK hill was going to phase me too much and although we reached about 1300 feet above sea level which gave a climb of around 7-800 feet out of Bala it was over 10 miles so not too bad. After the climb out it was mainly rolling up down hills and I didnt think it was that dissimilar to a typical ride out around MK apart from better roads and scenary and not so many cars.

The only scary bit was the descent down to the turn around point or more correctly the looking back up the descent to the turn around point and thinking that after going 25 miles you get this 3-4 mile fast descent only to get to the bottom and have to climb back up it. On its own probably not that bad but from a confidence point of view I thought it might feel a bt soul destroying on the day.

Anyway we turned round and headed back to Bala, found a pub with a strange looking kid outside playing a banjo, avoided any eye contact with the locals and ordered up 3 triathlon specials! (and 3 portions of chips too - yum).

After dinner Martin cleaned out the local shop for local people with 'snacks' for the evening and we were soon back at the hotel and getting ready for the next days adventure.

Judgement Day

The first wave was off at 9-30 so no need to rush if it wasnt for the fact that Oswestry is 45 minutes away from Bala so according to Grahams military precision plan it was up at 6 so we would not be rushed when we got there.

Unusually for me I slept right through to the alarm. I think this confirmed the lack of apprehension I was feeling about the race. I was going to be strict with myself and was not going to race or chase Graham, I was going to stick rigidly to my nutrition plan and I was not going to race this like a one off race. This was a test for IronMan UK (and the Cowman) and I was going to do it along the pace I might do for a full IronMan (especially the run) so no heroics.

I felt remarkably relaxed even when I got in the water for the start and I think only needed to pee twice when normally I get into double figures.

The horn was sounded and I was off. I avoided my normal frantic few minutes of thrashing and once everthing had settled down and the washing machine thinned out a bit I found a pair of feet going just the right pace and settled into their wake. The owner of the feet seemed to be sighting pretty well as each time I checked we were on target and it was only as we rounded the bouy for the home straight that I lost him in the mess and had to go my own way.

I didnt really find a good tow (or toe ) on the way back but by then I was well into my stroke and felt really good. I really felt I would have happy doing another 30 minutes or so. Soon got near the bank and saw lots of people standing up and hobbling over the stony bottom of the lake. Sod that I thought and shallowed my stroke and got at least another ten or so meters closer to the pontoon before I had to standup and walk.

Now one of my constant annoyances is dizzyness after the swim. So, the fact I had to rack at the furthest point away from the swim exit suddenly went through my mind as I pictured my self falling and crashing through all the racked bikes 3 or 4 times before I got to my bike. In reality as I had to look up to run I think it gave my brain time to sort itself out and although I felt a little wobbly as long as I kept looking up I was fine.

I took it easy and as I put my shoes on I could see Graham just pulling his bike off the rack. I left transition with Graham about 15-20 seconds ahead. Before I had gone a 100 meters I passed Graham, not because of my god like cycling ability but because he was faffing around for some reason (later found out he dropped his Garmin ). Wizzed out of the town through the marshalled and policed junctions with the traffic all stopped for us and was soon starting the climb out of the town.

I felt good and was coping with the climbing ok when I changed gear and my chain came off. Damn. Hopped off and put it back on and carried on. After another hill I heard Graham coming along beside me. Damn. Firstly I was annoyed he'd caught me so soon (even if it was because my chain came off) but secondly it meant the red mist monster was about to rear its head. I had said I didnt want to get in to a race with Graham because I thought we'd both end up going 'off plan' and chasing each other into the ground. Ok for sprints and standards but not in my first middle. We were together for 2 or 3 miles, me ahead then Graham then me etc.. when lucky for me, on a hill, my chain came off again. Double damn.

I think in retrospect this was a good thing as Graham went off into the distance and once I'd got going again I just settled into my plan again and concentrated on keeping my heart rate down.

Rest of the ride was uneventful. Had to grind a bit on the hills on the way back and wished I'd had a 12-25 instead of the 12-23 I fitted as I much prefer to spin up the hills than push big gears but nothing too bad. The descent into Bala was a scream and I flashed by loads on non tribikes. It must really pee you off when your nearly spinning out on a down hill and some arse on a P3C goes by 2-3 mph faster and the're not even peddling.

Just a 100 meters before the left turn into transition a red VW golf pulled alongside me on my right and started indicating left. I could see marshalls and police waving at it to go straight on but it kept creeping over and started pushing me into the kerb. I could only see one result if this kept going on so I reminded it I was there by banging on its left side rear quarter panel. If its close enough for me to hit it then its too close. This seemed to wake the numpty driving it up and they moved away and I sailed through in to transition.

Quick change of footware and and a drink and off on the run.

I could feel my left quad twitching a bit and my left buttock was twinging for some reason but after the first mile all settled down and I felt ok apart from the bloated stomach!

I had stuck to my nutrition plan exactly and had taken guidance from 'the Internets' so I was pretty sure I was about right and didnt eat or drink to much. I'd eaten about 250 calories per hour and I guess about 2.25 litres of fluid over the ride. Really don't know why this was because it didnt feel good at all.

I did the first 2-3 miles in around 8:20 miles which was a bit quick so I concentrated on keeping my heart rate down and pacing myself to around 9 minute miles. As the ups and down started with the emphasis on the UP I didnt have to try to keep the pace down and my legs started feeling the ups more and more.

My second vehicular encounter now took place. I heard a car behind me on the single track road the run was on and assumed it would wait until clear to pass. I was tight to the right of the road with only nettles and bushes to my side when before I knew it i saw the bonnet come along side me and then the wing mirror hit my elbow . Now it was only going walking pace so more of a tap than a thump so as the open driver window came alongside I had a polite conversation with the driver and questioned his intelligence and his parentage a couple of times. His response was that we should all run on the same side of the road then he wouldnt have to squeeze by. Just why he couldnt wait 30 seconds I don't know but then he was gone and all I could see on the Landrover type car he was driving was a Park Ranger sticker. Really you would think he'd know better. Maybe he likes squashing ramblers and runners were just a treat for him.

With a sod of a kick up in the last mile of the outward half I was really starting to doubt whether I would make the time I had hoped for and I was mighty relieved when I got to the turn around point and once going down could see and feel  just how UP the up was. Fortunatly my stomach had finally settled down to feeling nearly normal as well.

On the way back down I sustained my first injury. When I'd passed Jevon and then Graham coming down as I was going up we hi fived. As I was going down I passed Martin on the way up and we did the same, except Martin did a full on South African Rugby Team type hi five that nearly dislocated my shoulder. Owwww! Took my mind of my legs for the next couple of miles though.

Until this point I hadn't walked at all but on the way back there were still several short climbs to do and I found myself 'jogging' so slowly that I thought I could walk as fast and with less energy so I did. So for the run down to the lake I 'power' walked the steeper bits and kept around 8:15 minute mile pace for the rest. Once down to the flat around the lake I picked it up a bit and came in to the finish, Graham and Jevon yelling encouragement and the announcer stating 'a strong finish from 231 Andy Jones' (bet he said that to everyone)

Fantastic Four

After we all finished we re-fueled with Rego and other mystical products and paddled in the lake to let the muscles recover a bit.

Everyone was pleased with their performance. Jevon going under 5 hours, Graham well under 5:15 (with his bad back as well, although pointy helmet assisted ) and Martin only just outside 5:30 but very pleased considering his concerns before the race and his belief that he is not a natural athelete (just speed and strength work on the bike, thats all thats needed).

Me, I am very pleased. The swim felt easy, the bike was tough but I kept within myself and didnt attack the climbs and blow up, and although the run felt tough it IS a tough run and I kept to my overall pace aim. 5:18 was a good half an hour quicker than I had thought I might do so its hard not to be pleased.

The organisation was fine, the weather great, scenary lovely and it makes a huge difference doing events with your mates and seeing them all happy with their performance as well.

Those of you who were going to do this and didn't missed a really great day and for now at least only we four from TeamMK who did it can say that Bala is one of the toughest middle distance races but we did it when it was reallly tough!

The Day After

Feel crap. Not from muscles or excercise related stuff but from being an arse. I must make sure that I remember in future that a TriSuit does not cover your shoulders as much as a bike top and on a sunny day the result is painful!

Andy