This week saw the first of a three race series hosted by Tewkesbury Triathlon Club with four of our members racing. Adey Cole kindly wrote up the following report from the day, thanks Adey!
Introduced by the organisers as the first multisport event of the year in the South west, and also the first official multi event of the season (for me) kicked off on Sunday 12/02/23 in the first of the 3 Tewkesbury Aquathon race series.
An early start to be at registration for 0800 hours, Katie Keates , Lee Phillips, Katie Topp and myself signed in, got branded by the event staff with our numbers and then waited for the race brief. One of the benefits of getting there early was being able to cherry pick what turned out to be the best spots in transition, which was located along the side of the building directly before the run course and being able to use the local architecture to help me easily identify my kit.
For me personally this stood to be a brief test of my winter swim training, but also as one of a few events that I’m using as training events for the main event in June.
Katie T (5), Myself (9), Katie K (15) and Lee (16) were all starting within 10 minutes of each other in a well organised pool session. Into the water and one by one we were set off. I can only comment for myself on the swim, but I knew I needed a steady pace that I could increase towards the end. Which is all well and good until I caught the other swimmer in my lane at around the 200-250 m mark which really disturbed my rhythm, something I never really regained afterwards despite my best efforts.
I was thankful to see the board go in at the final 50m knowing no matter what it was nearly done . Final 50m swam and then out the pool.
Handed back the swim cap to the Marshall with a quick glance back into the pool to see both Katie K and Lee smashing out their swimming over the short distance.. Katie T by this point was somewhere on the run course.
Although it was mild out for a February Sunday morning, nothing quite reminds you about it being winter when coming out of the warm pool straight outside to the cold.
No faffing – shoes on and onto the run course.
Described as a multi terrain flat 5k – out and back. To be fair it was exactly that. Chris Basnett had given us a semi heads up in relation to the ground conditions, but I think we avoided all together the area that we were warned about.
Not really knowing what to expect running straight from swimming , I just tried to switch off and focus on decent technique and pace and to keep an eye out for people in front to use them as the next target. An out and back course took us from the council offices, through the woodlands onto Lower Lode Lane, to the old ferry crossing and then into farmer’s fields pretty much to an oak tree in the middle to turn around and go back . The ground was decent and firm so no real hazards to worry about.
People started to appear in front of me when I entered the field, so targets were set and I started trying to eat into the distance between us.
Just before I reached the turn around Katie T was on her return leg. A bit of encouragement between the pair of us and the run continued. On my return leg, knowing your teammates kit proved a great spotter as firstly Lee approached followed shortly afterwards by Katie K. High 5s dished out as we ran past each other. Pleasantries out the way, back to the task at hand, catch the people in front. Back through the field onto lower lode lane, getting papped by the course photographers whilst displaying club colours (as always) , thanking Marshalls and eating into the distance. Just prior to going back into the woods to enter the council offices fields I caught my first marker, and into the woods I caught a glimpse of Katie T.
Onto the field, thanking more marshalls, the finishing line was in sight.One final push to the end saw me claw back some yards to Katie T. In true “Ryan Green style”, some words of encouragement to Katie T saw her step up a gear for the last 100yards, a great solid finish.
Quick breather and walk across to the entrance of the field gave an opportunity to encourage both Lee and Katie K back in who weren’t that far behind.
Final placings – myself 41 -36:47, Lee 42- 36:51 , Katie T -57 -40:32 and Katie K 58- 40:38. Some tight team racing.
All in all a friendly event , well Marshalled and sign posted which was for the price an absolute steal. Recommended for the next event on the 5/03/23.
