Euan Lees

The Way We Were

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:15:00 GMT

Not exactly a race report, but as our thoughts turn to Windsor, this was something discussed on a recent bike ride. I thought you might like the picture. Windsor 1998 was my first olympic-distance race and first open-water triathlon. I had, as you can see, only some of the gear and about the same amount of idea.

These were the days before aero helmets and aero drinking systems. Tri bars and clipless pedals were quite common but too advanced for me. Oakleys were the height of tri fashion and designed to cover half of your entire head. Most importantly, Speedo were still making tri gear, much of it day-glo, and for a retired swimmer the obvious kit choice was to stick on a vest which matched your skimpy trunks.

All I can remember about the race was that I hated the swim, and have never been so happy to stop doing something I was supposed to be good at and start doing something I wasn't. Very old people with shopping baskets on their way home from Tesco cycled past me with ease, but at least no-one was beating me up and I could breathe OK.

I'm proud to note that the picture also demonstrates great cornering technique with inside foot down, still using the small chain ring despite being on a flat course.

Running ... well, running was probably OK in those days but hardly anything to write home about.

End result: 2:26:33 and 208th place, with a 27:27 swim, 1:18:40 bike and 40:26 run.
10 years on? 2:05:19, with a 23:47 swim, 1:04:51 bike and 36:40 run. Finishing position approximately 207 places better ;-)

The message is: train hard, progress steadily and improvements will come. Both in your racing and your fashion sense!

National Aquathlon Champs 2008

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:06:00 GMT

The National Aquathlon Champs at Milton Keynes is an event I also raced last year, sneaking gold in M30-34 despite a reduced training programme, but finishing some way behind overall winner Andy Tarry (TFN 2XU, M35-39 age group). This year I was confident of a stronger race, though having moved up to Tarry's age group I knew another gold would be difficult. The 750m swim start saw all 70 male athletes strung out in one long row, leading to more than the usual amount of congestion and fighting once the gun went. Things only settled at about half-way, and I got out of the water in a satisfactory 10 minutes, generally unscathed and roughly 16th place overall.

Wetsuit off, shoes on and out on a two-lap 5.5km run. Not much to say - no time for pacing or finesse, just go as hard as you can until the finish line arrives. I overtook a couple of people per kilometre, though I think they were all in other age groups. Finished in 29:36, once again behind Andy Tarry (27:05!) and a clutch of 18-24-year-olds, thus taking silver in M35-39 (would have won M25-29 or M30-34 if just a bit younger!) Delighted with the medal and with taking some good scalps in those younger age groups. Then watched Ful-On Tri's Kerry Anley (36:23) and Sarah Yates (36:47) take bronze in F35-39 and F30-34 respectively, behind an excellent overall win for Lucy Bowen of Thames Turbo (F25-29, 32:24).

Hawaii Ironman Report

Thu, 30 Nov 2006 02:49:00 GMT

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