Jurassic Coast Triathlon plus thoughts on next year

 Firstly, Those of you who were brave enough to compete in the inaugral Jurassic Coast Triathlon might be interested to know that I have measured the bike and run routes.  The bike was 26.7km and the run exactly 7km.  I had hoped to measure the run beforehand and put out km markers but was prevented from doing so by the atrocious weather.  Judging from Andy Ballard's swim time, the swim was a long 1000m, but I'll need access to GPS to confirm.  I'm currently in the process of carrying out a risk assessment with a view to holding a BTA sanctioned event in September next year.  It should be possible to ammend the course slightly to achieve the exact distances of 1000m swim, 30km bike and 8km run to establish a new race distance: the "Inbetweenie Distance Triathlon".  Great for those wanting so step up from sprint distance, but still unsure of competing at Olympic distance.

Finally. Here is an excellent write up by Andy Ballard on hist thoughts on the race 

Jurassic Coast Triathlon
Originally uploaded by Southampton Tri Club.

The inaugral Jurassic Coast triathlon was organised by club member John Baddeley and run on Sunday 3rd September.
A highly select group of athletes turned out for the race, representing all of the important age groups and genders. The events began the evening prior to competing with a three or four course meal at John's family guesthouse amid race-day discussions, banter and speculation of the potential for disaster faced by Darryl Marcus-Hanks in swapping his running shoes for in-line skates the following day. Bellies full of Thai green curry, spaghetti bolognese and excess dessert, the race contenders retired to the upstairs rooms ready for the next morning's early start.

The next morning's dawn heralded the weather worse than any had feared. With a thick fog lying over all of Portland bill and Weymouth harbour and winds up to 50 mph, the race start was democratically delayed 1.5 hours in the hope that the fog would lift. Despite the condensed startline of 6 competitors, there was an official timer, an experienced kayaker, a motorcyclist and transition security. The motorcyclist brought news of high winds and continuing fog on Portland, but given the immense strength and experience of the competitors, it was decided to press on through the conditions.

The swim start was in the highly suitable Newtons Cove area, protected from the fierce South West winds and swell by Portland Bill and the eastern wall of Weymouth Harbour. The cove is generally clear, allowing views of the flora-rich sea bottom for most of the triangular swim course. The course was chosen for it's safety and the great advantage of a home straight at 10 metres and parallel to the promenade. Although on the gusty sunday morning of our event, spectators numbered 2 (but with a strong canine proportion), the future races will undoubtedly attract hordes of screaming fans, rock stars and bikini clad women to perch on the promenade watching the race unfolding in the clear waters beneath their eyes. The real race started after the course was finally agreed by everyone to not included a land buoy (Linda's sensitive feet), and to finish on the convenient steps out of the water. In reminiscence of his glory days, your humble narrator nostalgically begun swimming on the count of 5-to-go, under the delusion that he would just manage to escape the turmoil of a mass start behind. Such turmoil did not unfold, but at least half of the field were distracted by the sight of bottle-nosed dolphins surfing the bow wave of a swift moving Marcus-Hanks. The swim evolved as expected, the best efforts coming from Linda and Darryl who elected to make a wetsuitless september swim, and the competitors made the uphill run to a grassy transition area before heading towards the main road to Portland Bill. It was the causeway, alongside Chesil Beach, where the greatest gusts made themselves known, only the most experienced managing to guide their steeds with tri-bars, and JB rejoicing in his decision to take off his disc wheel at the last moment. By the time the bulky hill up Portland had been taken (having already passed the future Olympic sailing venue and accommodation), the cycle route had sorted out the places. Linda was managing to stick with Darryl, who was starting to lose out to Kevin Royle, who was making a good attack on the climb. Some way ahead of him was Ian *** a sailing instructor and triathlete of some years training, who has been enjoying and faring very well in his first season of races. Ahead of him by a minute or so was Andy Ballard, who by some fortune had discovered his own position and velocity to be surprisingly similar to that of race leader John Baddeley who had announced just 1 hour previously that the race was to be draft legal.

The bike continued, a battle for everyone especially on the southern point of the Bill, the wind coming straight from the Atlantic offering spectacular views of swell and a solid headwind to fight against. The return trip was much quicker, calling more for nerves than muscles as the steeo descent onto the causeway had to be undertaken with gusty winds, thick fog and increasing traffic. With the weather just starting to clear however, the competitors returned to transition with positions relatively settled. The biggest feature of the run being Darryl stunning the Weymouth dog walkers and pedestrians by storming up and down the disused railway route in speedos and a vest, ski-poling himself along in a pair of huge-wheeled inline skates. Kevin Royle put in a quick run as expected, demonstrating that it is possible to run both your own business and yourself, whilst John held on to the decreasing gap between him and Andy to take the first victory in the history of the race. He will surely be challenged next year by Ian, who had a slightly poorer swim than expected due to a shoulder-popping windsurfing session the day before. A little more strength on the bike and his natural swim and run talent will surely take him to podium finishes.

Somewhat predictably for good old blighty, as soon as the final competitors, Darryl and Linda, arrived together at the finish, the remaining fog blew off from Portland Bill and Weymouthh harbour, offering spectacular views of the Jurassic Coast and the raging Atlantic swell. The event was finished by a fried brunch, unimaginably tasty thanks to the perfect combination of tiredness, deservedness and hunger.

The organisers and competitors thanks go to the generous assistance of the marshals, Ross, James, Claire and Laura.

It was extremely satisfying to see a potential organiser, gripped by the feeling that his locality could make an excellent race, pressing on to make it a reality. Hopefully John Baddeley's Jurassic Coast Triathlon will make an entry in the BTA calendar next season, and all the ingredients are present to make it an unmissable late season competition.