Ill Concieved Plans Poorly executed

Crawley Late Summer Tri

We were promised a 600-meter swim in a fifty-meter pool but when we arrived a sign on the door proclaimed "the pool is broken, the swim will now be 400 meters". I'm not sure how you break a pool but some one had done it. Team East Grinstead gathered in a corner to watch the swimmers set off and wait to be called. For some reason known only to the organisers the exit from the pool was far away from the door so the route to transition was around the pool, usually to a chorus of "Don't run" from the marshals. Strange that being told not to run in transition, a unique feature of this race some would say. Our little group was right by the swim exit noting how unflattering wet tri-suits are to the anatomy.

I was quite pleased with my swim, as always my aim was to catch the person in front and seeing as we were being started off at 10 second intervals that didn't prove to be too hard a task, I even managed to reel in a few others as well. If only I could do the same on the bike and the run I'd stand a chance of doing well.

Who reads race instructions? I scanned them, obviously, to glean useful information like when to turn up and when it starts, but small details like the actual route of the bike course and other such trivia gets scant attention. I noticed something about an underpass but thought I would rely on my usual "Zen Navigation" method of following somebody who looks like they know where they are going or failing that the marshals and the signs. I came a bit unstuck this time as Tracy was in front and didn't know where she was going, which is probably why I ended up hauling my bike over a barrier and running down an embankment to regain the proper course. Apparently I wasn't the only one to do this. I'm not sure where Tracy went but she overtook me halfway round the course and I suspect that she had put in a few more miles than strictly necessary. Once on the right route the bike course proved too be as inspiring as only a dual carriageway can be. On the plus side though owning to the small time intervals at the swim start there were plenty of people on the road to pass the time of day with.

I was quite looking forward to the run though Tilgate Park and it didn't disappoint. There is nothing like a bit of trail running to get the heart pumping and the legs turning to jelly. The inclusion on a massive hill didn't help, but being passed by Martin who was having a "bad patch" was quite odd (Funny that; he's going though a bad patch and I was the one suffering, it's just not that fair is it). Somewhere near the end I heard this heavy panting behind me, better get over to the side fast runner coming I though just as Emily came streaming past. Make me feel a bit like a tortoise, with out the shell, and on two legs not four, and warm blooded, in fact I'm not sure which part of the tortoise I'm talking about at all.

The finish was on the running track behind K2, and it was nice to be applauded in by all the other EGTC members at the race, it really did feel good to be part of an active and well represented club all dressed in club colours