0600 1st July found me stood up to my neck in diluted Duck poo with 1000 Outlaws waiting for the hooter sound, 1000 pairs of feet had done a wonderful job of stirring up the sediment on the bottom of the ditch that is Holme Pierrepont National water sports centre and the resulting smell was so pungent as to make the temperature of the water a mere inconvenience. 1 , 2 , 3 and were off in the usual frenzy of arms, legs, gouging, kicks and punches that is a mass start in Triathlon.
Looking at the ditch the day before it had looked an awfully long way to the Orange marker at the turn point and so it proved to be and the smell of Duck poo was ever present, it was almost impossible to see the feet of the swimmer ahead through the green soup AKA water. Eventually I reached the turn and the long slog back to the other end of the ditch began, I wasn't swimming well and knew I was slow finally exiting the water in 1-30, the day could only get better. T1 took nearly 8 minutes as I attempted to weather proof this Dubai acclimatised body to the 12C air temperature, folks were sprinting out of transition with just a tri suit on, I had 3 layers, arm warmers, buff and beanie and was cold all day.
The cycle was pretty uneventful, the Northern loop which we rode first had a fair bit of traffic and the only hill of note which was in all honesty more of a pimple than a hill. I was passing folks all the time and the sheer number of Pirates both racing and supporting was truly inspiring and a welcome reminder that no one looks good in Yellow and Black lycra. By the time we reached the Southern loop the wind had picked up and some of the sections were hard but in general I was feeling pretty good. The Pirate feed station was a total Aaaaaaaaaargh fest and a real boost. On the second lap as I passed yet another Pirate this one said I'm Grant better known to you lot as MrZ. We had a quick chat before I pushed on, it was about now that the horizontal rain started, lovely. A final 5K over a speed hump infested drive and back into T2 in 6 hours 5 minutes. I was happy enough with that given the wind and that I was frozen for 6 hours. Three minutes later I was wearing trainers and apparently a runner though I'm not sure my legs agreed.
So just a marathon to run then, simples I've done over 40 of them before so what can go wrong? Straight out and around the lake / ditch, after 3 or 4 K mrZ came trotting by never to be caught again! I learnt at IM Austria last year that going out too hard was a recipe for disaster so I stayed in my ultra shuffle of around 6 min/K and shuffled on. The course was 4 laps of the ditch and 3 out and back legs to City hall along the Trent. The out and back legs were a great way top meet Pirates, though my supply of Go Pirates or Aaaargh was starting to run out. Unlike Austria I never stopped shuffling though it did get slower and eventually I entered the finish shoot in 4 - 38 my slowest ever marathon! Total time 12 hours 25 minutes and 31 seconds, 381st , almost identical to my IM Austria time.
Another IM done and for me the last one, there are other challenges to face and as long as I do the training don't have any mechanical issues on the bike or get injured I know that I can pretty well trot them out at will. It also confirmed what I already knew I'm better at the shorter distances. It was a fun day made better by all the Pirates around the course, can't say I'm as impressed by the UK road surfaces or the UK summer!
