6am, dawn rising. An eerie mist and stillness lies over the lake. Normally I am in a state of pre-race panic about now, but this time I felt unusually zen! I had had a terrific night's sleep in the Victoria Hotel, right next to the race start, I awoke 10 minutes before the alarm at 5:10am feeling fresh and raring to go. Soria and the ETU duathlons champs were my A race for the early part of the season, but once they were over, all focus shifted to this. I had been building towards it all summer, albeit it whilst enduring an unusually high (even by my standards) collection of coughs, colds and D & V bugs which kept punctuating my training schedule, but I guess nobody ever has a hiccup-free race build up.
I never look forward to the swim, but as I stood lakeside in the stillness of a crisp autumnal morning, I wasn't dreading it, which can only be positive! The start got delayed by 30 mins because the swim marker buoys had moved off course during the night and needed to be replaced; this was not ideal when you have timed your pre-race fuelling and toilet visits to perfection for a 7am start, but we all took advantage of the extra time for a quick cup of tea to keep us warm (provided by an aid station lake side - the catering on this event was simply unrivaled!) Due to waterlogging on the ground near the lake, we were stood in cold standing water for those 30 minutes and so my feet were already freezing cold and going numb by the time the swim even got underway! I had hoped for a swim time of around 40 mins, so exiting on 42 mins was down on what I'd have liked, but all the swim times were slow and I only lost 4 mins in the water on the lead ladies (I can often lose this over a 750m sprint tri, so 4 mins over 1900m wasn't too shabby!) and I came out in 6th place, so maybe it wasn't too disastrous and everyone was slower due to the cold. (9 degrees!!)
Neoprene Queen! Let no bit of flesh remain exposed to the cold!
Onto the bike and it took me a while to get settled and into a rhythm due to my feet being totally numb by this point. However, the forecast had drastically improved from the torrential downpours of the previous day and, taking extra time in T1 to put on a dry base-layer and cycling jersey, socks and gloves, meant that the rest of me was a nice temperature. I learnt many lessons from my flirtation with hypothermia at the Slateman last year, chief of these was that 3h30 mins on a bike if you are soaking wet and freezing cold is absolute torture. Above all, I wanted to enjoy the race and if that meant sacrificing a minute in T1 to ensure I was warm, then that's what I'd do. As it was, I had a comparatively swift T1 as I managed to overtake 3 ladies in transition and so went out onto the bike course as the 3rd lady.
The bike was a two lap route (29 miles each lap) around the Snowdon massif, heading out from Llanberis to Llanrug, up and over a cheeky climb (not the longest on the course, but the steepest in terms of gradient), down into Waunfawr, along down to Beddgelert, before starting the massive climb up through Pen-yr-Gwryd (Pen-Yr-Horrid, as I renamed it on lap two into a headwind!), to the top of the pass, then the long, fast descent down into Llanberis. Repeat. Seeing my friends Anne and Jim, and Anne's Mum, Jeanette, halfway up the long climb at Pen-Yr-Gwyrd on lap one was a massive boost. It was so lovely of them to come all that way to support me. They have become some of my best friends since joining N1 and it was great to have them there on the day to spur me on. I had already overtaken one of the ladies in front of me at this point and at the top of the pass a spectator told me that the first lady was only a minute in front. This possibly spurred me on to descend faster than my usual cautionary self would allow and I tried to get aero and make gains down the steep, windy, stone-wall lined descent: good job my Dad wasn't here to watch this part - he'd have been having a nervous breakdown. He has a 125cc motorbike he pootles about on and he never goes over 30mph on it or he says he gets a nose bleed! When I tell him I hit speeds of up to 40mph on my bike, he flips a lid!
I caught the first lady about 5 miles into the second lap, as we crested the hill out of Llanrug. There was a stunning view off to our right of Angelsey, which I pointed out to her, but she seemed more interested in trying to up her pace and come straight back past me. I figured if I'd reeled her in on lap 1, I must be cycling at a faster average pace, so I put the hammer down and put some daylight between us. Cautious that there was still a hell of a long way to go I kept telling myself: Do not get caught up in racing; if she comes back at you again, let her go and you can get her on the run. This isn't a sprint tri, it's your first time at the distance. Luckily for me, she didn't comeback and by the end of the bike leg I'd put 6 minutes into her and found myself with a decent lead starting the run.
Cycling through Waunfawr on both laps was very special. This is where I used to keep my horse, Arrie, (or Moonlight Dancer, to use her official papers name) when I lived in North Wales. Back then I was no where near as fit and healthy as I am now. I didn't really take great care of myself at university and used to struggle massively with the cold Welsh weather, particularly during its harsh winters. Rewind 10 years to 2007, and I was in fact in a hospital bed in Ysbtwy Gwynedd, having been buckerooed off Arrie for the humpteenth time, partially dislocating my shoulder, then being given cocodamol for the pain, and subsequently discovering I am in fact allergic to codeine and spending the next couple of weeks in hospital as they tried to stabilise my drastically low blood pressure. The whole episode left me weakened for some time and I would feel the cold even worse than usual. At this time, if you had told anyone who knew me that in ten years time I would be back here, swimming in a freezing cold lake, cycling around the mountain and then running up it, whilst being competitive at it, they would have laughed you out of town. I couldn't even ride when it was wet and cold as my body just shook with cold and then shut down. I was feeble. That thought wasn't lost on me as I cycled past the lane that led down to Arrie's stable. Two different decades, two very different lives. It made me a little bit proud to think how far I have come.
Matt, who was crewing for me, had the very thoughtful idea of putting some hand/feet warmers inside my run shoes before I got to T2, as he knew my feet were still numb and like blocks of ice after I told him as much when I flashed through race HQ at the end of the first bike lap. What a treat to put on warm run shoes; my feet were toastie in no time. A quick diversion into some bushes for a little wee I'd been needing for the past 20 miles on the bike and then I got into my running. The first 2 miles around Llyn Padarn are completely flat and allowed me to establish a rhythm. Matt ran these first two miles with me and was his usually calm self when I said, 'This stupid race ID bracelet is too tight on my wrist'. 'It's ok, you're doing ok'. 'I'm not doing ok: the circulation in my right hand is being severed'. (I do have a tendency towards the dramatics when I'm racing!). The remainder of the lake lap is undulating on wooded trails. I have run this loop countless times when living in Llanberis and knew every boulder underfoot that I skipped across.
Ok, 5.5 miles around the lake done, now just to finish it off with a little jaunt up and down Snowdon. I lose track of how many times I have run up Snowdon: in excess of 30. I used to venture up there regularly for a post-work, pre-dinner run when living with Moira in Llanberis. I have also done the Snowdon race 3 times. My Snowdon race PB being 1h 36mins.. it would take me a little longer today, 34 minutes longer.
As this was by a long way the longest endurance event I've done, I was worried about fuelling enough. I suffer quite badly from dramatic blood sugar drops and if this happens I feel faint and weak, so I was desperate to avoid this happening - so much so I probably ate too much (the whole bike section just felt like one continuous picnic!). Luckily I seem to have a robust constitution as I ate a whole manner of gels and isotonic products that I had never even tried in training (I know - rule number one right? But I simply cannot bear the things and it's only the competitivity of race day that will force me to consume them). Fortunately I didn't have any stomach or digestive problems at all.
As I set off up Snowdon, I had 2 young boys try to race me up the initial steep road section. 'Very impressive', I said, 'but you haven't just biked 58 miles around this mountain twice before this have you, ay'?! They soon ran out of steam!! I then saw Matt a quarter of the way up and he told me I had about 10 minutes on the next lady. I walked all the steeper sections and tried to bank time and run the more runable bits. At the steepest point, three quarters of the way up as you round Clogwyn and begin the hike up the steep scree slope, you are doubled over into the mountain, a Chinese lady appears out of the mist, sat down at the side of the path having a breather, she looked at me wheezing on past and said aghast, 'Oh my God! You must stop, take a rest. Come, sit down'. I replied, 'Rest! I can't rest, I'm in a race! ... I mean, I know it doesn't look like it, I'm going so slow right now'. It was quite funny and a welcome distraction from my calves which were screaming at this point and desperate for level terrain. I was very glad to get to the top, where a surprise was waiting for me in the shape of Jim Ephraums! He had summited via the Pyg track and was waiting for me at the summit cairn: I gave him the hugest hug before he spun me around and shouted after me, 'Go on! Down you go! You've got a mountain to descend'! The descent I had longed for was possibly even harder on the legs than going up. 6 days post-race and my quads were still burning and aching! Having gravity on my side helped though and I used it to assist me back down to the finish line, where Anne and her Mum, and also three of my best friends from my uni days were waiting for me. And, of course, my long-suffering husband, Matt.
This is a very low key event. There is no announcement, no fan fare as you cross the line, just the race director waiting to give you your medal and also the trophy for coming first lady (a piece of Welsh slate... I'd run over enough of the stuff, very fitting). In fact, 'informal and friendly' are the two words which most sum up this event. It is all very relaxed and supportive - you are allowed help in transitions from your crew; your crew can run with you or meet you at any point on the route, you rack your bike wherever you want, you take as long as you want in the transition tent, helping yourself to the huge array of food and drink on offer. Everyone who takes part in this event is on a journey together and the cameraderie is immense.
Cycling through Waunfawr on both laps was very special. This is where I used to keep my horse, Arrie, (or Moonlight Dancer, to use her official papers name) when I lived in North Wales. Back then I was no where near as fit and healthy as I am now. I didn't really take great care of myself at university and used to struggle massively with the cold Welsh weather, particularly during its harsh winters. Rewind 10 years to 2007, and I was in fact in a hospital bed in Ysbtwy Gwynedd, having been buckerooed off Arrie for the humpteenth time, partially dislocating my shoulder, then being given cocodamol for the pain, and subsequently discovering I am in fact allergic to codeine and spending the next couple of weeks in hospital as they tried to stabilise my drastically low blood pressure. The whole episode left me weakened for some time and I would feel the cold even worse than usual. At this time, if you had told anyone who knew me that in ten years time I would be back here, swimming in a freezing cold lake, cycling around the mountain and then running up it, whilst being competitive at it, they would have laughed you out of town. I couldn't even ride when it was wet and cold as my body just shook with cold and then shut down. I was feeble. That thought wasn't lost on me as I cycled past the lane that led down to Arrie's stable. Two different decades, two very different lives. It made me a little bit proud to think how far I have come.
Matt, who was crewing for me, had the very thoughtful idea of putting some hand/feet warmers inside my run shoes before I got to T2, as he knew my feet were still numb and like blocks of ice after I told him as much when I flashed through race HQ at the end of the first bike lap. What a treat to put on warm run shoes; my feet were toastie in no time. A quick diversion into some bushes for a little wee I'd been needing for the past 20 miles on the bike and then I got into my running. The first 2 miles around Llyn Padarn are completely flat and allowed me to establish a rhythm. Matt ran these first two miles with me and was his usually calm self when I said, 'This stupid race ID bracelet is too tight on my wrist'. 'It's ok, you're doing ok'. 'I'm not doing ok: the circulation in my right hand is being severed'. (I do have a tendency towards the dramatics when I'm racing!). The remainder of the lake lap is undulating on wooded trails. I have run this loop countless times when living in Llanberis and knew every boulder underfoot that I skipped across.
Ok, 5.5 miles around the lake done, now just to finish it off with a little jaunt up and down Snowdon. I lose track of how many times I have run up Snowdon: in excess of 30. I used to venture up there regularly for a post-work, pre-dinner run when living with Moira in Llanberis. I have also done the Snowdon race 3 times. My Snowdon race PB being 1h 36mins.. it would take me a little longer today, 34 minutes longer.
As this was by a long way the longest endurance event I've done, I was worried about fuelling enough. I suffer quite badly from dramatic blood sugar drops and if this happens I feel faint and weak, so I was desperate to avoid this happening - so much so I probably ate too much (the whole bike section just felt like one continuous picnic!). Luckily I seem to have a robust constitution as I ate a whole manner of gels and isotonic products that I had never even tried in training (I know - rule number one right? But I simply cannot bear the things and it's only the competitivity of race day that will force me to consume them). Fortunately I didn't have any stomach or digestive problems at all.
As I set off up Snowdon, I had 2 young boys try to race me up the initial steep road section. 'Very impressive', I said, 'but you haven't just biked 58 miles around this mountain twice before this have you, ay'?! They soon ran out of steam!! I then saw Matt a quarter of the way up and he told me I had about 10 minutes on the next lady. I walked all the steeper sections and tried to bank time and run the more runable bits. At the steepest point, three quarters of the way up as you round Clogwyn and begin the hike up the steep scree slope, you are doubled over into the mountain, a Chinese lady appears out of the mist, sat down at the side of the path having a breather, she looked at me wheezing on past and said aghast, 'Oh my God! You must stop, take a rest. Come, sit down'. I replied, 'Rest! I can't rest, I'm in a race! ... I mean, I know it doesn't look like it, I'm going so slow right now'. It was quite funny and a welcome distraction from my calves which were screaming at this point and desperate for level terrain. I was very glad to get to the top, where a surprise was waiting for me in the shape of Jim Ephraums! He had summited via the Pyg track and was waiting for me at the summit cairn: I gave him the hugest hug before he spun me around and shouted after me, 'Go on! Down you go! You've got a mountain to descend'! The descent I had longed for was possibly even harder on the legs than going up. 6 days post-race and my quads were still burning and aching! Having gravity on my side helped though and I used it to assist me back down to the finish line, where Anne and her Mum, and also three of my best friends from my uni days were waiting for me. And, of course, my long-suffering husband, Matt.
Thank you Mr. Massage-man for making my legs better so that I could walk away from the event and not need to be carried!
It must be highlighted that I did the shortest of 4 available distances on offer over the weekend. I did a half iron, which took me 7h15m of gruelling effort... there was also a full iron, a double iron and a triple iron, all starting together at 7:30am on Saturday. But whilst I was done by 3pm Saturday afternoon, the triple athletes were still going on Sunday.... on Monday.... and into Tuesday morning. They swam 11.8km, biked 350 miles and ran 78 miles (including Snowdon), continuously, just taking cat naps on some camp beds set up in the transition marquee here and there. The defining moment for me was on the Saturday night, when I went to bed aching, tired, but satisfied with a hard day's effort, turned out the lights in the bedroom in my friend's cottage in Llanberis that overlooks Snowdon, and saw the glowing lights of head torches making their way up the mountain at 10pm: the full Brutal iron athletes. The following night (Sunday night), the same thing again, but this time the double iron athletes, then on Monday night, the triple. Mind boggling just what the human body is capable of, if its owner also has the strength of mind and will to accompany it.
One week later, today in fact, and I had all but forgotten I had a place in the Killerton 10k. Possibly not the wisest post-Brutal recovery remedy, racing an off-road 10k with nearly 900ft of climb, but I had a free entry as I work at Killerton, so decided to just go and see.... and I managed to win it! My legs felt great. I have been working with Nigel Wilman at Honiton Physiotherapy and he has put me on a strength program for my weak lower left leg that is clearly working: no way would I have come off a 14.7 mile (with 3500ft of climb) run and been injury free enough to race again a week later prior to this. But now, it is definitely time for a rest. 2017, you've been truly amazing, bringing me podium places at every triathlon and duathlon I have entered, a silver medal in the European championships, and a win at my debut over the half iron distance. But that's a wrap for this year. Planning for 2018 is in progress now and in a few weeks I should be in a position to announce a few exciting developments that are taking shape. Check back here in a few weeks!
Thank yous to:
Nigel Wilman for getting my unruly left leg race ready.
Moira Tait and Sarah Thornton for the superb post-race hospitality (and prosecco!).
Glynis and Stef Kelly for the kind use of their lovely cosy cottage in the Brecon Beacons for a week of post-race relaxation.
Anne, Garry and Liz for lending me essential race kit (wetsuit, booties, waterproofs, etc).
Moira, Anne, Jim, Jeanette, Sian, Nigel for on course support and photography.
My friends at N1 Tri and Honiton Spinners for the company and motivation, especially on the long training rides.
My Mattie: for being there, not just during the race but throughout the whole build up to it. For not minding that we couldn't spend another Sunday together as I had to go out and do a 60 mile cycle instead. For being the best, most supportive husband ever..... even if your shamefully abysmal and frankly comic attempts to pronounce Welsh place names constitute grounds for divorce! I love you. x
One week later, today in fact, and I had all but forgotten I had a place in the Killerton 10k. Possibly not the wisest post-Brutal recovery remedy, racing an off-road 10k with nearly 900ft of climb, but I had a free entry as I work at Killerton, so decided to just go and see.... and I managed to win it! My legs felt great. I have been working with Nigel Wilman at Honiton Physiotherapy and he has put me on a strength program for my weak lower left leg that is clearly working: no way would I have come off a 14.7 mile (with 3500ft of climb) run and been injury free enough to race again a week later prior to this. But now, it is definitely time for a rest. 2017, you've been truly amazing, bringing me podium places at every triathlon and duathlon I have entered, a silver medal in the European championships, and a win at my debut over the half iron distance. But that's a wrap for this year. Planning for 2018 is in progress now and in a few weeks I should be in a position to announce a few exciting developments that are taking shape. Check back here in a few weeks!
Thank yous to:
Nigel Wilman for getting my unruly left leg race ready.
Moira Tait and Sarah Thornton for the superb post-race hospitality (and prosecco!).
Glynis and Stef Kelly for the kind use of their lovely cosy cottage in the Brecon Beacons for a week of post-race relaxation.
Anne, Garry and Liz for lending me essential race kit (wetsuit, booties, waterproofs, etc).
Moira, Anne, Jim, Jeanette, Sian, Nigel for on course support and photography.
My friends at N1 Tri and Honiton Spinners for the company and motivation, especially on the long training rides.
My Mattie: for being there, not just during the race but throughout the whole build up to it. For not minding that we couldn't spend another Sunday together as I had to go out and do a 60 mile cycle instead. For being the best, most supportive husband ever..... even if your shamefully abysmal and frankly comic attempts to pronounce Welsh place names constitute grounds for divorce! I love you. x
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