South Coast Tri - Triathlon

MovingAlong pirate

pirate

28/07/2011 at 16:04

Anybody else in this event? First tri of any description for me (doing the Sprint distance).

Am getting a bit paranoid about the sea swim - is it worth me trying to get to the sea this weekend / next weekend to get some prep in? Been doing quite a bit of lake swimming without too many problems so confident I'll do the distance if its a calm day.

fat buddha

28/07/2011 at 17:13

not decided yet if we can be arsed to do all the bike loops up and down the seafront - if they've resurfaced the road then we might as otherwise it gets bloody annoying having your teeth rattle. we might grab some late entries

we were in the sea last night - was lovely and calm but of course that might be different come race day and they have in the past cancelled the swim on safety grounds as it was too rough. if you can swim lake, you can swim sea, and it's always worth getting some prep in.

it's a good starter event (was my 1st tri many years ago) and also good for spectators if you have family coming.

MovingAlong pirate

pirate

28/07/2011 at 18:32

Thanks FB - hopefully see you there.

Guess I'll see what time I get up Saturday as to whether I drive to the seaside or not. Weather might influence the decision aswell!

exiled claret

29/07/2011 at 06:38

Sea can be quite different than lake, but as FB says if you can swim in a lake, you can swim in the sea. If it's relatively easy for you to get to the sea, then it might be a good idea to get some practice in this weekend. However if it's calm for the practice and lumpy for the real race then it won't have been any more help than the lake.

Whichever, it's a good idea to practice with different breathing patterns. I usually do bilateral breathing, but quite often practice doing one side only (on either side) in case it is too difficult to breathe on one side due to waves. I also practice doing longer breaks between breaths as occasionally you try to take a breath & get a mouthful of water, but you still need to carry on swimming.

MovingAlong pirate

pirate

29/07/2011 at 09:05

Cheers EC. Good advice - certainly more comfortable with breathing to one side, but have been forcing myself for the past couple of weeks to do some lengths to both sides. Hoping it won't require it, but should be able to get by breathing to the left if really required on race day.

Think I'll save the petrol money and head to the lake again this weekend and just pray for some good luck come race day.

Oh, and FB - if the road surface is bad then it might make it more relaxing for me - be like my commute into work.

thedrainman pirate

pirate

30/07/2011 at 10:11

Im in on this event, doing the Olympic distance with a fist swim in the sea, hoping that it gives me a taster of what Tenby IMW will be like.

thedrainman pirate

pirate

13/08/2011 at 20:45

South Coast Classic 1500 swim 40k Bike and 10k Run

This weekend took us off to the South Coast, no not Gay Pride but the South Coast Tri. Nice and early start getting on site at 8am, my wife and Son took part this week with some Marshalling, they only wanted the free sunglasses and goodie bag. No chip timing so I didn’t have to remember to put it on this week, timing was done by spotted entering in to a hand held device.

Start time was 9-30 so a quick walk down to look at the sea and noticed that the waves were so good should have been surfing. The waves were at least 4 ft high and the swim was cut down from 1500 to 750 so they said but I think it was only 500 meters.

The swim was very rough and some people got out on the first lap of 2, I saw the safety boats taking in several people and I managed to stop someone from sinking and came out of T1 with a 20m 25s. The bike was into a head wind down to the turn and wind behind on way back, with 12 laps it got quite boring but managed to get just under 1hr 20m. On to the run with 4 laps along the promenade with shooting pains in the foot and knee I put in a 1hr 06 I blame the head wind. Total times 2hr 46m.

Well organised with the exception of the stony beech, no matting to help you over the stone but plenty of help out the rough sea. I managed to get parked 10 meters from Transition. Would I do it again ? Yes going to do it next year and the family want to marshal again but I hope the sea is calm.

O.rangeCannon.... Extravalanza here I come! pirate

pirate

13/08/2011 at 22:09

nice

did his a couple of years ago and then stepped up to im ;-0

how was the road surface..... I lost filings last time

German roads are smoother!

Edited: 13/08/2011 at 22:11

thedrainman pirate

pirate

14/08/2011 at 10:07

There were a few pot holes but all in all was smooth, did this one for the sea swim ready for IMW next month but as the sea was mad didnt really get the swim I wanted

MovingAlong pirate

pirate

15/08/2011 at 09:18

Well done Mark.

I arrived ultra early after emailing the organisers to find out when the latest time was for me to register and rack my big for the Sprint at 11.45 - but got no reply, so thought I'd better be safe than sorry.

Not sure if this is the done pirate thing, but a write up of my side of the day is on my blog: http://serunner.wordpress.com/2011/08/14/seaford-sprint-triathlon-2011/

Well organised, but I suspect I won't be back next year - quite a distance for me to travel and whilst the course is ideal for a newbie (and so perfect for me this weekend), it wasn't the most inspiring.

I did see another Pirate on the course for the Sprint and gave them a shout - anyone know who it was?

Edited: 15/08/2011 at 09:19

fat buddha

15/08/2011 at 09:47

MA - that was my missus, Petal who did the sprint - came 9th female but didn't win the a/g which she is peed off about as she doesn't believe they timed her finish correctly, and the girl that supposedly beat her she never saw her in front of her!! and neither did I!

we were marshalling (Petal was until race time) at the point where you come up out of transition and onto the promenade - the crossing of the run and swim exits with all the barriers.

the swim at Seaford is always an intangible - a few years ago they canned the swims and it was purely duathlon - and the sprint on Saturday was looking that way but the sea did calm a "little" to allow the swim to go ahead. Petal is covered in bruises from all the pebbles and stone hits and being dumped on the beach by waves!

and - the sea was pan flat on Sunday morning!! that's how fickle conditions can be.

my plan was to do a long ride and meet P at the race but the weather was so shite I decided to marshall instead and do the ride Sunday - which I did after a great sea swim....

I like Seaford tri if you accept the sea is the sea, and the boring lapped bike as it's a great venue, always well supported and is very newbie friendly. if they offered chip timing it would be better though

MovingAlong pirate

pirate

15/08/2011 at 12:52

Petal was going well. I did start off trying to use her as a marker to try and catch up with, but after 2 laps I wasn't getting any closer and then I never really saw her again after that. And I've got bruises from those pebbles as well!

Highly recommend it for beginners - you're never really more than a mile from race HQ should anything major happen - just a shame about the sea being hit and miss!

Anyway... off to enter my next sprint...

thedrainman pirate

pirate

16/08/2011 at 15:34

Well done Greg, good blog. My feet are cut up from the beach and still salt water in my bag so wont forget it too soon. Looking forward to the sea in IMW (not).

My wife has decided to do a tri next year after marshalling this one, she cant swim so will be a big task for her. Did you see that very big black girl at the end, just shows anyone can do a tri if they want to.

MovingAlong pirate

pirate

16/08/2011 at 16:09

Yep - she was an inspiration to everyone.

Before the race my better half was getting caught up in the atmosphere and was talking about doing one. She hasn't mentioned it again since, but I might see if I can talk her into it!

Good luck at IMW!

fat buddha

16/08/2011 at 16:24

and that large black lady wasn't last btw - she was last but one. I stayed marshalling at the run until the bitter end to see them both in.

thedrainman pirate

pirate

17/08/2011 at 18:52

FB where were you on the course ? my wife was just past the tower and my son on the drinks

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