IronTarsh - 'Weekend Warrior': Post Race Report - Worthing Olympic Distance

We decided we would locate where our hotels were, and then go register but as registration didn’t open till 4pm, we decided to drive the bike course. @CarolineSmith00 was doing the sprint qualifying race for Europeans, so we did a recce of the #sprint course. As we drove the cycle course I started to get a little nervous, the long drag out was LONG! The return leg of the cycle however looked fast, so that was an added bonus.

We proceeded to registration, got out packs which included a lovely T-shirt. I would have to say one of the better ones.

As this was a club champs race for my Club, I started to see many of my fellow turbos arriving to register. I completed registration and then proceeded to check in to my hotel @The Burlington. The hotel was fine, room as decent enough for what is was required for…..keep my bike safe and provide me a decent nights sleep.

Dinner was had in the hotel with members from the @OneTriathlonRDS crew, they were qualifying for the Europeans. Nice bunch and as nice to meet new triathletes.

Unfortunately for me my sleep was terrible, I kept having strange dreams about the 1500m sea swim that was I too face the following day, my room was hot and there was no way of being able to open the window. I would have to say it was one of the worst sleeps I have ever had before a race. I was quite happy for the alarm to go off at 4am. I needed to have racked my bike and all gear prepped etc from 5am.

@CarolineSmith00, my chariot picked me up and we made our way down to transition. Both racking our bikes and prepping our gear. Merrily chatting to all the other competitors that were doing the same. Raw Energy Pursuits put on a good race. I did start to worry somewhat at 6.20am when there were still no buoys in the ocean marking the distance. However never fear when it was my turn they were all ready to go.

My mental state at this point, was lets get this show on the road. I had verbally told my fellow turbos that I was looking for a sub 4 hour time, however in my head I was saying ‘I need to do this in sub 3.30 hours’. I didn’t want to verbalise it as I would have put too much pressure on myself and I really wanted to manage my expectations I just do a good race. Keeping in mind this was a training race.

The gun went off and all the Olympic distance women swimmers were in the water and underway. As I was swimming one girl (bless) decided the sea was too rough for her, we called for help and then I carried on with my race. Being Aussie, I love the ocean and before I came to England, the ocean was the only place you did the swim, so it was nice to be back in it after so long but blimey crikey mate it was rough. I was last to come out of the water feeling quite belted by the ocean and in a time of 00:37:10. This for me is a PB for 1500m. (little happy dance)

Got into transition and decided that I was going to wear socks now as I was going to be doing a 10km run after and I wanted the comfort, was out of transition in 00:01:58 and on to the bike. A little bit too long but hey.

The bike is my strongest leg out of all disciplines and my coach @LizPinches (Number 1 age grouper in Europe) advised me before the race, do not hammer out as it is a long drag and you want to conserve energy for the return back to shore and the run. To this advice I listened. I knew this was 41km ride, in my head I though I should be able to do this in 01:45:00. The drag out was long and hilly but the return back to shore was fast and I love a good descent. I completed the bike course in 01:37:29, again very happy with that. (little happy dance).

My transition was much quicker second time round, I was in and out within 00:00:58.

On to the run I went……..by this time it was quite warm, there was no coverage on the run, simply out and back for 2 laps (10km). I was busting for a wee so I was finding the run most difficult. The run was quite good for motivation; this was due to the loop factor. I could do high fives with my fellow turbos. We also has our own little cheer group going on as we past the playground area of the promenade. Hearing the ‘Go Turbo’ or ‘Cmon Tarsh, give it some’ really did help me along. On my first loop back towards the start, I saw a bathroom…..I swear I had never needed to go to toilet so bad before in a race (basically I kept myself hydrated on the bike, just like my coach had told me too), I was most excited to relieve my bladder. Back onto the run I went and decided right I only have a lap and half to go, find my rhythm and complete this race already. That is exactly what I did, I passed our cheer group and began to remember what James Dunne from @KineticRevolution had said when I run, don’t sit, activate my glutes, high knees and run.

In true Tarsh style I left some kick in the tank for my sprint finish. I crossed the line to complete my first full sea based Olympic Distance. When the announcer stated my time, I swear to god I wanted to cry with sheer happiness.

Completed the distance in a total of 03:26:53 - massive happy dance

A few thanks to the following people @LizPinches for her constant encouragement and helping me get my training mojo back; @ThamesTurbo triathlon club for being the best club with best crew in (of course I am biased but it’s the truth) @Leekyboy77 for his constant encouragement on Twitter and showing me tough love J @T2Coaching for my continue Open Water lessons that assisted me with my sighting in the sea and finally @CarolineSmith00 for being my driver and also providing me encouragement before and after the race.

Since completing this race, I have now signed up for @VacheryTri on the 26^th August, I will be racing the Olympic Distance Road race. Check them out – www.vacherytriathlon.com I think there are still places and if you put REP in the promo box you will get a £5.00 discount on entry.

Post Race Report - Worthing Olympic Distance - Thames Turbo Club Champs race