Race Report: The Vitrivian Half IM 2010

This weekend Kevin Harding, Nick Austin and I, made the trip up to Rutland water for the 2010 Vitruvian.

The distances were just under half IM distance:

• 1.9km Swim
• 85km Cycle
• 22.5km Run

The photo here was taken after the race and gives a clue as to who finished first.

It was an early start at 4am to get ready and head over to the start of the race. I prepared with my usual chunk of "magic cake" and Kevin scoffed down a few boxes of cereral.

The race started on time with multiple waves over the lake course. It was foggy which made the navigation interesting. Kevin and Nick both had good swims and I felt pretty good, starting at the front of my wave and more of less finishing in the front group.

The roads on this course were really excellent. I took a gamble racing with my disk wheel on a course that is usually very windy - however right choice was made, and over the distance felt comfortable and passed a large number of cyclists in earlier waves. Kev and Nick both felt same way. Certainly its a fast course with only a couple of hills to slow you down.

I hit the run in second place for my age group which was great. I passed Kevin and Nick almost finishing their first lap.

I guess we all do triathlons where you dont feel great. Going out was hampered with major cramps in the shins which required me to stop a few times, and I also suffered with a dodgy stomach that meant I had to walk at a number of times on the run. It made the run a real test just to keep going - the second lap being particularly hard. Still I did not want to DNF so kept going.

Kev in particularly seems to have got his running together and actually looked like he was trying for once in a race. Kev and Nick opted for the romantic "lets finish together" - so while there is a timing difference, I believe they tied.

With both of them beating me today, I think putting up with them both enjoying every minute of the post race discussion and how I should now consider retiring from racing, was actually worse than the run I endured. Still credit to them both for a great race.

Comments

[Peter Jordan]

Just remember that you will be at the main event next July doing a proper race while the new Dads will be at home changing nappies!

[Kelvin Storey]

Well done guys - some nice close times. Nice comment PJ!! lol

[Marius Kwint]

Great results gents: sorry to learn of your difficult run after such a strong bike, David, but nice to see some club solidarity in placing.

[Andrea Reynolds]

Well done!!! You three did not race, you flew through the course.

[Julian McCarthy]

Sounds like a great race - well done. Of course Dave you shouldn't forget the age difference - can they really keep that standard up for another 10 or 15 years?