‘On Sunday morning at 7am, along with at approx 1000 others I was led with fellow Viceroys Phil Sumner and Tony Marshall down to the water’s edge of Wimbleball Lake for the mass start of Exmoor 70.3UK……..talk about feeling like a lamb being led to slaughter!
At 0715 the claxon sounded and off we went. I made sure I was at the back and allowed the initial melee to die down and then off I went. It was,as a lot of people have described, like a washing machine…not that I have been inside a washing machine! I got punched in the face but remarkably stayed calm, continued to steadily count to 4, breathe, sight , touch my thigh ,make sure that my hand entered the water by my head and get round without stopping in an impressive ( for me !! ) 51.12. I was delighted to say the absolute least as the one discipline I really feared I had succeeded … I only learnt to swim front crawl a year ago!
So, swimming bit done and dusted, out and up a steep hill for 400m and into T1. The first part of the bike is up hill (no surprises there ! ) The course is 2 laps, so after the 1st lap you know what is coming and can prepare to dig deep. When they say it’s a hilly course they aren’t joking….however what goes up must come down (so I kept reminding myself !) I was feeling happy and confident and momentarily allowed myself to believe that I was going to complete the 56 miles within the allowed time. The local support was great and loads of encouragement given.
As I approached mile 43, travelling fairly swiftly downhill towards a left hand bend with an immediate uphill I changed gears in anticipation . I went round the corner and came out of my saddle to get maximum benefit and I am not entirely sure what happened but somehow managed to fall off – fortunately onto a grass verge. When I remounted my bike I discovered that my chain was well and truly screwed…it wouldn’t budge one way or the other. A marshall came to my aid, couldn’t fix it, so called for the support crew to be summoned .
In the meantime the marshall, me and eventually a member of the public were all frantically trying to sort my chain out, while I became hysterical and sobbed about missing cut off times. Eventually some 10 + minutes later the chain was freed (no thanks to the support crew….a no show ) and off I went again to complete the last 13 miles. I realised at this point that it would be touch and go as to whether I would make the cut off, but I cycled like a woman possessed giving it my all, but sadly missed it by 5 mins which meant that I was not allowed to continue. My chip was removed and I was told to go and re rack my bike….I felt a bit like a naughty child !!
To say I am disappointed, frustrated, fed up is an understatement – but I will get over it . Despite the outcome it was a fab weekend and a fantastic experience – one I would definitely recommend and repeat . Very very well done to Phil and Tony who both completed it in respectable times……and all that is left to say is roll on the next one !! ‘
As raced and reported by Debbie Stewart
