JLL property triathlon 2011

[Sylv]

Last week I took part with work in this event at Dorney Lake in Eton (Olympic rowing venue). I was a late addition to the team and so racing incognito under someone else’s name. We were a mixed relay team with a 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. The event was massive with almost 1,900 entrants altogether, including 300 relay teams, 150 of which mixed.

I went for the full-on setup for my bike leg with TT bike (incl. disc) and helmet and skinsuit. Had never been to Dorney which is a great venue with a clubhouse and bar at one end of the 2km long lake. It’s being used in lots of events, practically every day it seems at this time of year. Riding the bike to work in London in the rain in the morning proved a somewhat terrifying experience, due to the almost non-existent brakes. The weather thankfully improved come early afternoon but the wind was mad - began to think I was too with the disc and all.

Our swimmer guy got out of the water in 13.50, 18th in our wave (35th overall). The team with the first swimmer out were stood right next to us and they had almost a 2min lead, so I set out to try and make up some time and give us a buffer for the run. Course was flat around the lake with a couple small bridges to ride over. That was the windiest ride I’ve ever had. First part was fine with a tail-cross wind, then a short section into a block headwind across the width of the lake, and into the hardest part, 2km back straight with a 45 degrees cross wind. I kept being nearly blown off the bike. At times the gusts had me leaning at a sideways angle which must have been 10-15 degrees. My neck started hurting from the strain of keeping my head straight despite the wind blowing my aero helmet sideways. The wind was blowing sweat into my right eye (painful), and also inside the visor, so vision was somewhat reduced. I needed to see clear as there were hundreds of riders to pass left and right.

At times it felt desperately slow but looking at my heart rate (170bpm average) I know I could not have gone any harder. It was fun seeing the average speed creep up to over 41.5km/h on one side of the lake, then go down to around 40.5 on the other side. I came in in 30.14, a little over my goal of 30min but the distance was actually 20.6km. Passed the timing chip onto our runner, who was 3rd woman recently in a charity 5km we did. Once I’d got rid of the sting in my eye I went over to run one of the section to encourage her, which seemed to help lots. She came in in 21.11 (11th in wave, 35th overall), and although we had an inkling that this was good enough to secure us the win, we weren’t sure until the prize giving, some two hours (and a couple pints) later.

Helen Jenkins was there and after racing in the individual category (1.03.27, third overall!) distributed prizes – I was awestruck. We got 1st in our category (1.06.36, 3rd incl male relays, and 11th/1,200 times overall). I got the fastest bike split of all : )

[img]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4146/4977137940_317a01e7f2_b.jpg[/img]

[nick1smith]

Well done.

That looks superb

[Kasper]

I needed to see clear as there were hundreds of riders to pass left and right.

Sounds awesome dude, definately a lot easier than doing the whole event yourself, that Helen Jenkins must be a seriously good pro!

[kieran]

Well done! I did a mixed tri there years ago as well, organised by Human Race and the Metro Newspaper. I did the bike leg, for mine the wind was blowing you up the long right hand side (in your pic) and was then a headwind for the whole way back on the left, the speed yoyo'd the whole time, up to 30mph then down to about 15mph etc, reminded me of a race on one of those flat exposed air fields.

[Marcus]

Congratulations Sylv and great pic. is it yours?

[Sylv]

Not my photo no. Neither is this one : )

[img]http://www.propertytriathlon.com/en-GB/~/media/Microsites/Triathlon/Gallery%20Photos/2011/Full/56.ashx?20110720T1140155449[/img]

[Kasper]

Impressive - Couldn't they afford seperate trophys for the mens and womens events?