A Day in the Lakes - Jenny Wilkie

A day in the Lakes triathlon (2k swim, 90km bike 21kn run)
Sunday 20th June
Swim 36.15
Bike 3.11
Run 1.57
Total 5.48.50
53rd overall 7th lady 3rd in AG

So we decided to make this one a family event. After the agony of the steelman last year I really wasn’t sure if I’d be in any state to be able to drive home afterwards. It was also nice to be able to get the kids and Steve involved and away and out for the weekend.
Saturday was spent packing organizing, new tyre on the bike (yeah I’m anal like that) re packing and re-packing again.

We arrived later than anticipated, and happily parked up right opposite Jonathan. Im not sure how happy Jonathan was with our kids chucking balls around the place but we managed to keep the ball under control. Went to register and saw all the “guys” in the tent. Sandra, Kay, Trisha, Paige were all there and we had a good old chat. Spent the evening sorting nutrition, organizing the bike, packing bags and popped down to the lake to check the swim out.

As you already know, sad as we are, we looked at the nutritional value of jelly babies VS cliff blocks. I quickly re-arranged my nutritopn and added cliff blocks in place of the jelly babies.

Morning came. Torin had slept awkwardly, thought he’d broken his neck. It was all drama!! Juggling kids as well as trying to set up was a very different experience, but I really want them to be involved. I really want them to tell me they want to have a try too!! (It’s not happening!)

Quick briefing , 1 pre-race gel and we walked down to the lake. There was no organization this time so we all lined up and crossed the carpet a couple of secs apart. Water was so warm. It was clean!! (Made me realise how grim the tees is!!) The bouys were bloomin miles away! Two large rectangles. I managed to stay out of trouble. Pretty simple and a great start for me as I was third lady out of the water
Out onto the bike I got stuck behind a car!!! The car was rolling behind a couple of holiday makers out for a Sunday cycle. What else do you do but overtake in my impatience. A three mile road and then we were out onto the main route. Two big laps and a little lap. Well. What can I say. I know I’m pants on a bike but I was the person that everyone mush have had in their sights to catch up to and overtake. All the time I was just constantly being overtaken. So bloomin demoralizing. I’m used to being overtaken on the bike. But however hard I try I just can’t seem to get that power to even keep up with the overtakers. I watch each person who comes past, try to see if they’re Male of Female and try and keep up with the ladies (at a legal distance) for as long as I can. That’s about 3 minutes. Mind you some of the wonmen I have to double check if they’re male of female. The man shave their legs and the women are just so stocky and powerful. The outward section of the route was hillier and more suited to me. The return leg was much flatter and straighter.

It was a lovely route out to shap and back. In one of the villages there was a smiley face if you were doing under 30, and I assume a sad face if you were over 30. Despite my best efforts I got 3 smiley faces!! I was expecting Jonathan to pass me at some point. I thought it would have been on the second loop but I made it back to transition without even seeing him. (Nutrition 1 pack of cliff gels, 400ml tailwind, bit of water and half a rawvelo bar)

I’d set my running pack up unsure as to whether I would want to use it or not. I decided to grab it as it was starting to get a bit warm. Great transition (less than 2 mins) even without the lock laces and I was out on the run.

I was feeling great!! The steelman is the only other half I’ve done, and so I have little to go on. I clearly remember on the steelman wondering how on earth I was going to walk let alone run a half marathon. This time my legs felt so fresh. I was delighted!!! So delighted also because Seren was running close by cheering me on. It was just fabulous to have her there. Only problem was I’d left the caravan site without a loo stop.

Back out onto the road. I spotted Jonathan coming in. Wehay!! Great to see him. That gave me a boost. It didn’t last long though because I was desperate for a wee. I passed one guy happily peeing away behind a bush. Oh to be a man. I knew the route was up to the top of the fells so I needed to stop pretty soon. I found a perfect little cover. What a relief!! I didn’t care who saw me!! Definite problems of using liquid nutrition on an endurance race!!

As we continued up the road it turned into a track and a steep hill. I watched the guys ahead. They were all running!! Bloomin idiots I thought. I know what Andy would do. He’d walk!! So I took a gel and let the guys pass me. I walk ran up the rest of the hill. Back to jogging as the incline decreased and passed a few of the guys who’d killed themselves up the hill. At 4km in I found my legs and shortly after I felt the gel kick in. It was a real lightbulb moment. I couldn’t believe it, it was like I’d never even done the bike and swim. Overtook a few more folks and got settled in behind a great guy who had a great pace for me to follow. We were passing plenty of folks at this point. One woman who’d flown past me on the hill was throwing up and groaning by a wall. A little further along the single track we cam across the drinks station. The guy in front stopped to collect his drink. I was relieved I’d chosen to take my backpack. I wasn’t ready to stop.

Another short sharp uphill to a photographer and the most wonderful picture perfect valley… and another hill!!! I looked at the hill and had a little cry inside. Ah well. Everyone else will feel the same and I’m actually quite ok at hills… so up I plodded. Passed a few more folks before heading down penguin style into the next valley. A dull road out and back certainly sapped energy. Back over the valley and back to the drinks station meant that we were about 6km from the finish. This part was all along the road. I’m so glad I chose my road shoes over trail shoes.

I carried on passing folks in the last 5km and felt really good all the way to the finish. Plenty of water. Very dilute tailwind and three gels used for this section.
​
I was so relieved to be allowed to stop as I crossed the line, but this time I wasn’t in agony like I had been in other endurance races of this length. I’d definitely pushed hard but the endurance training is certainly working. Even today my legs feel fine. After the steelman I could barely walk!! It’s a relief to feel that I will be able to complete Wales this year (please don’t cancel it!!) I’m disappointed with my bike, but I’m not giving in.