On Saturday I raced ETONMAN 70.3 as a training day for IM Bolton. I had completed 100k surrey hill cycle and an 18k run 2 days before so wasn’t what you would call race rested.
I planned that if I buckled at least I was only 1.5k away from transition at any point – one benefit of doing many laps!
The swim went smoothly. I got in to the groove (and space) quite quickly and cruised the distance without trying to race it coming out of the water and T1 2nd in age group and 11th overall.
I started carefully on the bike, not sure how my legs would hold out after Surrey Hills on the Wednesday, and built in to a consistent near 34kph average for the 10 lap 90K. I entered transition 2nd in age group and 16th overall but took my time to put calf guards on and hydrate as I had run out of fluid on lap 9 of the bike. I exited T2 21st overall and 3rd in age group.
The run started well at a steady 5.50/k as my hopeful best was a 2 hour finish. At 15k my sever lack of run training manifested. My first run over 6k this year was at Belvoir Castle Olympic on the 16th May so had increased distances without having time to consolidate. At 15k I fell to pieces and had to stop and stretch several times. By the last 2.5k I was hobbling along at 7.00/k – just.
I finished the run in 2.22 which was such a disappointment.
I finished the race in 5.46 and 10th in age group
….Great work Simon.
