Andrew Woodroffe. Scottish Triathlete. : Marazion Middle Distance.

Marazion Middle Distance. 19th May
Swim cancelled due to Sea temperatures (Run, cycle, Run event)
First run. 4km (15:24)
Bike. 70km (2:29)
Second run. 19km.(1:39)

Finish time, 4:09
Position 9th overall 6th in Category

My second race of the season and second competitive triathlon was Marazion middle distance. This was going to be the toughest event i had ever competed in and has been what my training has focused on so far. From the start of the year i had been very nervous about the distances especially the 19km run, a distance which i had never ran previously to the event.

Unfortunately a week before the event the 1900m planned swim was cancelled due to the rules and the water being too cold! However it was swiftly replaced with a 4km run. I was unsure of this but it seemed to suit me on the day.

On arrival at the race i became rather nervous and felt almost embarrassed i was the only one without all the fancy kit and the only bike sitting in transition that was not a triathlon specific or TT bike. This threw my head a bit and put some doubt in my mind. However i just tried to think about my own race and how hard i had been training. It seems silly but things like that can throw me.

The run started as a mass run, everyone starting on the line. Immediately a few people shot off i however just let them go and set my own pace with 2 other guys, however they dropped on the first very steep hill. I then just ran alone at a strong pace and was quick into transition.

Once on the bike i was feeling strong, as there wasn't a cold sea swim my muscles were warm and i was dry this felt good and meant i pushed the pace a bit harder. The bike course was relatively flat with a few very steep descents and also a couple of steep ascents. At the start of the bike course i was drawn into a small battle with another guy who would attack then drop back and so on, i didnt feel like this was a problem so just upped the pace and held him. On the first steep descent i was a bit worried, someone had taken a big fall and was off his bike on the ground. I am at the best of times not the most confident descender so this threw me a bit. It meant people would overtake me on downhills however i would quite easily take over on the uphills. A stronger point of mine is climbing. I felt in control in the cycle and my bike stayed strong, i just got down on my TT bars, had a couple of carb gells (Torq) and dug deep. My average speed was 31.3km/h a pace i was comfortable with and one which i pushed harder on the flats.

Into T2 my legs were starting to hurt and my feet cold (race began at a cold 7am) I quickly changed shoes and grabbed a drink which i then threw away later (something i regretted). The run was a very tough course. It starts on a tough climb and then the rest is all uphill downhill and very long straight roads. It was a serious mind game and i had to control my thoughts and focus. I just set a steady pace i could run on and dug deep. I overtook a couple of people on the run and also had a couple of people overtake me, i would try and hold them but in the end drop back, i knew 18km was a long run so had to control it. Once i was on the second lap i was on my own, no one in front or behind that i could see. I sat taller and ran a little quicker. With about 4km to go i spotted someone in front and set my goal to beat them. With 2km to go i overtook and then went for the the final stretch. I was definitely hurting by this point. My thighs burned and calves were stiff but i knew i was close to the finish.

Crossing the line was a sense of relief and achievement I had completed my first major goal of the year and even better i had finished 9th. Top ten was never in my goals but truly pleasing. It made my worries of other peoples kit etc all seem rather stupid. At the end of the day it is about how much work the individual puts in and how hard he pushes on the day.