Swanage Classic Triathlon

[simon Lythgoe]

Anyone else doing the Swanage Classic this weekend?
[url]http://www.conceptsport.co.uk/events.php?pid=1122[/url]

[simon Lythgoe]

I Loved the Swanage Classic this weekend, I highly recommend it as a Tri.

A short race report:
The swim across the bay is beautiful and very sheltered as a sea swim - there's some unnecessary messing around climbing over the harbour wall at the turn , but you can forgive that. I came out of the swim about half way back in my wave, exiting the water at 28 mins by my watch. T1 is long with a run along the sea front up Sandpit Field to collect the bike. The bike is a challenging ride with a good few lumps but still definitely a TT bike course. I felt strong all the way only slowing on one of the longer drags where the one person to pass me did so. I then spent the rest of the ride hunting him down before finally passing him a few miles outside Swanage near Corf Castle. Not being passed on the bike can mean two things.... you've had a good bike, or you swim so slow that the only people who swam slower also can't ride. Heading into T2 can be a bit hairy as the roads aren't closed and the one-way system back in can cause issues, thankfully not for me. The run is... well, f*@%ing hard! it heads out of town on a gradual road climb before heading straight up the front of Ballard Down, to say this is steep is like saying 'Gaddafi is a bit of a git', I didn't see a single person running, although there were a few crawling! Then it's a very picturesque run to 'Old Harry Rocks' with the views across Poole and Sandbanks and then back down through the town to the finish. I latched myself to a few faster runners and kept my pace high (for me). I thought I was going really well following a guy with a No.'1' on his leg only to be disappointed when I saw the number on his arm and realised the '25' in front of the '1' had just rubbed off.

My spilts were: 00:31:06 00:00:50 01:07:57 00:00:44 00:44:27 02:25:03 - a PB on a course that didn't deserve it. 54th overall and satisfying 22nd on the bike leg.

The race was one of the nicest I've done and well organised for such a small one. If you haven't been to Swanage I highly recommend the place. My wife and kids also had a great time which is always a bonus and should guarantee a return visit next year:-)