Brynsiencyn Time Trial a la Marc Jenkins.

The weekly time trials organised by Clwb Rasio Mona are varied and a good test of your time trialling prowess, and as they are the same few over the season, you can see if you are improving.
The Brynsiencyn time trial is an 8 mile out and back course, with a few bumps, but not too many. Your start position depends on what time you arrive , and as I'd made an early start fom my house about 11 miles away, to be in time for the 7pm start, I was number 4. I noticed after I'd paid that my front tyre was flat, but a quick re inflation with a track pump, and all seemed ok!!

The race started at 7, with me going off at 4 minutes past the hour. After the good warm up, my ride, I thought, was really good.

I travelled the 4 miles to the turn around point, and made my way back to the finish. After about 5 miles, I noticed that the front of my bike had dropped slightly, to my amazement, I had a puncture, I should have known earlier really, from the flat tyre at the start. Off I came, and as I had no spare tube nor puncture repair kit, I started to run the rest of the 3 miles. Marc Jenkins came to mind, when in the 2004 Olympics, he carried his bike for 2kMfollowing a collision, and although he didn't get a medal, he still finished, what a hero. After about 1.5 miles, my father arrived in the T5 Transporter, after one of the other triathletes, Arthur Connell had alerted him to my plight.

British Aquathlon Championships, Hyde Park, London.

The 7th race of the Dextro Energy ITU World Championships came to London on the weekend of August 6-7. As part of the weekend, the British Aquathlon Championships were also held.

I travelled to London the day before, the roads were quite quiet, and the journey was uneventful, apart from the sat nav taking us in the wrong direction as we approached the big City.

The big day arrived, and it was an early start, as I wanted to see the womens' elite race, which started at 8.30, and also register for my race and pick up my number and timing chip. The day was sunny, but it was still early as the triathletes walked through transition to the pontoon start. It was a non wetsuit swim, so the girls looked very cold, trying to keep warm, in either sponsored jackets or just towels.
A really good race, which saw Helen Jenkins take the win. Some race photos can be seen on SportpicturesCymru. After the race, it was back to the hotel to have some rest and something to eat. My race started at 6pm, so it was quite a long day.

I made my way back to Hyde Park at about 3.30, this time on the bus, as the taxi was very expensive earlier in the day. As we arrived the age groupers were competing in their race. All kinds of bikes were on show, from bikes with shopping baskets on the front, to some really nice time trial bikes with disk wheels.

I met up with Rich Brady, Welsh Triathlons performance coach before the race, along with other members of the team. Rich strongly suggested that I use a wetsuit for the swim, as this would give me some benefit against the non wetsuit swimmers. By this time it was quite hot, and the water temperature had risen to above 22 degrees, which meant a compulsory non wetsuit swim for all the competitors.

We all lined up on the pontoon, eagerly awaiting the race start.

The hooter went and off we went. I had a good start in the swim, but soon lost the lead pack, as someone pulled me back by my feet. I think I may have kicked him after that, as he soon let go!! I came out of the water, after a 750m swim in 23rd place and in a time of 11:37, before running to transition to put on my Inov 8 233 road shoes. I had a really good transition, completing it in 1:08, 11th fastest, only 3 seconds behind the fastest T1 time.

So, time for the 5k run around the Serpentine, two laps of 2.5kM. I finished the 1st lap in a time of 8:43. I pushed the second and last lap, and came home in a time of 8:03, a huge negative split. I even managed to have a sprint finish with Rory Atkins. My total 5kM run time of 16:50, and a total aquathlon time of 29:34.
Race results can be seen here, with race photos here. A really interesting innovation can be seen here, where some clever software replays your race, taking information from the timing chip.

Dolgellau 5

The annual Dolgellau 5 mile race took place on Saturday. Race started at 1.30pm, so no rush, but starting early enough to have a look at the course, register and warm up. These local races are great as they are a good test but also a good social event as everybody seems to know each other.

As the field congregated at the start line, Tim Davies, 2010 British Fell Running Champion, also lined up. The gun went off, and Tim sped up the first steep hill, using his superior mountain strength to gain a good lead by the time he reached the first mile. By this time I was in 6th position.

I was wearing my Inov 8 Road x 233's for the first time, making the transition from the 255's. The 233's are lighter, and I felt comfortable running in them.

Another steep hill, before the course levelled off and then headed down hill until I reached around 5.5k, and then it levelled off to the finish. By this time, I'd gained one position, and was up to 5th, but with 3 seconds behind the 4th runner. The course then followed the A470, until it turned left following the road into Dolgellau. Turning right, the course went under the main road, before going over the river and joining the cycle path to the finish. By this time, I was up to 4th, with Alex Lanz, the junior runner from Meirionydd Running Club in 3rd.

400m to go, which seemed like a lot longer. There was no time to catch up and get 3rd place, so I settled for 4th, in a time of 29:44. The 233’s coped really well, and I’ll be definitely be using them again.

Race pictures can be seen on SportpicturesCymru.