KingstonWheelers.com

[Andy Leath]

Dear all,

Firstly thanks to everyone that kindly gave me advice regarding training and execution - especially Maryka (your nutrition advice was perfect).

So, after a long build up it was race day on Sunday and it all went off better than expected! I wont bore everyone with an essay but this is how it went:

1.9k Swim - The swim is split over two lakes so half way through you get out and run over a footbridge and then into a second lake. Great for spectators but i'm a pants swimmer so rhythm is everything so stopping half way was a bit of pain! 42mins followed by a shocking 5 min T1

90k Bike - Awesome bike course. You roll out of St Polten onto 18k of closed motorway. First 30k is flat until a short climb then another flat 30k before a long and fairly steep 10k climb. Last 20k into town was rolling and everyone was hammering it - the best fun ive had on a bike. 2hrs 39mins followed by a slightly less shocking 4min T2 (massive panic when I couldnt find my run bag)

20k Run - Same as any other triathlon run, whatever the distance, just painful. For me, managed a decent pace and didnt drop much off my usually half marathon time. Running through and finishing in a packed stadium was awesome and aid stations were fantastic. 1hr 40mins

I would have been made up with a 5:30 before so to get 5:12 was awesome. You may pay a premium but M dot races are fantastic events - i cant wait until my next 70.3 in August.

Whether ive got the legs for the full Ironman is another question!! I do know that I wont be satisfied until ive done one though.

Cheers,

Andy

[JimLey]

Good result, and it sounds like good execution, from your split time on the tracker I'd wondered if you'd faded at the end of the bike, but I guess it was just the course changing!

How come you only did 20km on the run rather than the usual Half Marathon?

[maryka]

Well done, Andy! 70.3 or Half Ironman imo is the best distance triathlon to train for and race. Long enough that pacing, nutrition and smart racing counts for something rather than just pure speed; short enough that training for it doesn't kill you.

But I highly recommend doing an Ironman someday, there's something quite special about finishing your first. Ironman Germany is awesome as the roads are completely closed so you get the full TdF effect on the climbs. The Germans/Swiss/Austrians really know how to put on a good race.
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[Andy Leath]

Cheers all!

Jim - sorry mate typo - it was a full half marathon.

I liked the distance - i was hanging on towards the end of the run but thats because its a distance you can attack a bit.

I think for me the full ironman would be about survival!!! Though i'm seriously thinking Ironman Switzerland for 2010!!

[Andy Leath]

Though i'm seriously thinking Ironman Switzerland for 2010!! - still dizzy - i mean 2011!!