Race Review - Clacton Triathlon Sunday 8th September 2019

I've surprised myself in writing a race review about Clacton Triathlon, given that after racing the same event last year, I swore to myself once was enough.  

Why?  Simple, two-word answer.....The Swim.  As I've documented well through my posts before, I am not the best of swimmers although I have grown to really enjoy the swim aspect of the swim, bike, run challenge.  Last year I vowed to use Clacton as a 'prover' for this years race in Mallorca as both feature sea swims.  Ok, granted, there are a fair few differences to swimming in the North sea in early September and the bay of Alcudia in early May.  But essentially, the challenge of a sea swim, in my view, is mostly the same wherever you do it.  Firstly the unpredictable nature of what you might get on race day....it could be flat(ish), there could be a mild swell, there could be full on waves.  If it's that bad, you could even end up racing a duathlon, not a triathlon,  should the swim have to be cancelled.  Then for one-sided breathers like me, you can face the prospect of breathing into the swell and consuming unwanted mouthfuls of salt water.

By contrast, a lake swim brings an element of predictability.  And so it was that last year, I arrived at Clacton and had to endure the hardest swim I've ever done in any Triathlon I've started.  The unpredictability aspect had dealt this poor swimmer a tricky hand.  It's funny, when you are confronted with this scenario, you just seem to get on with it and that's what I did that time - but it wasn't pleasant.

Anyhow, this is a review of this years race, not a trip down memory lane from last year.  So after saying I'd not race here again...why did I end up on the start line?  A couple of drivers really.  I'd been forced to pull out of Outlaw 70.3 earlier in the year (see post on that) and so I wanted to do another race this year....and a couple of mates had entered and I always enjoy going to a race with friends, it just makes it more enjoyable.

And so he we were...the alarm calling me at 4.30 am on a Sunday.  I was going to race Clacton again.  Training hadn't been as good as I'd hoped.  I'd had some illness beforehand so missed the best part of a week and I'd just come back from an activity holiday the week before and was feeling the effects of that.  Still, I was trusting my 'bank' of fitness would see me through the day.

My mate Martin arrived at 5.20 to collect me and after loading up, off we went to Clacton.  It was a chilly morning and very dark.  As we drew closer it started to brighten up but it didn't feel much warmer as we parked up and headed for registration.  It was still early, so there was hope of a little warmth arriving before start time.

Race number located, I was into the tent to collect my race pack and have my race number marked on my arm with the worlds biggest sharpie ! It still hasn't washed off yet.  My race start time was around 8 am, in the second wave.

Next was bike racking and transition set up.  As a fairly small race, this is never a busy affair.  My trusty race check list ensured I was not missing anything I needed.  Bike racked and transition laid out, I was ready for the race briefing.

The race briefing kicked off with some bad news....this was to be the last running of the race after what would be 21 editions.  What a shame.  I was pleased I'd entered after all.  With the sun starting to rise I donned my wet-suit, wished Martin a safe race and made my way to the swim start.  It's about a 20 min slow walk to the start point.  This year we were swimming in the opposite direction to last year (still tide assisted) and as I made my way along the sea front, I was pleased to see the sea conditions were about perfect.  It was looking like the weather and conditions were perfect for racing.  We watched the first wave set off and I still marvel at how strong a tide can be as you watch swimmers being pushed toward the first bouy.   Then it was our turn.  Swim instructions relayed, we are allowed to get into the sea for a few warm up strokes, before coming back out to line up for our start.  And before you know it, I'm racing again at Clacton.  The swim was just glorious, really.  There was a slight swell but given the shore was to our left, the swell was coming from the right, so perfect for a left-side breather.  Everything was in my favour and it made such a difference. I would have quite happily swam twice the distance in those conditions.  Before I knew it, I was at the last turn bouy and turned toward shore and the swim exit.  

A quick glance at the watch showed the effect of the tide....28 mins for me for 1500m where I usually swim 37 mins for the same distance ! (my mates would swim sub 20 mins....but that shows where my swim is by comparison).  My jog to transition was a joy....I was thinking how much I had enjoyed the swim and how pleased I was with the swim time....this is how racing should feel.

Into transition and ready to hit the bike.  I'd decided to lay out a cycling top to put over my tri suit as I was worried about it being chilly.  I was glad I did as the zip on my tri suit busted before the swim start so I would have had to race with an open zipper - I know from reading the British Tri rules that you have to have forward facing zips done up as you cross the finish line.  Off on the bike, there is a short un-timed section so this allows for a quick drink to get rid of the taste of salt and to set yourself for the ride.  It was evident as soon as I hit the bike course that I was going to have to battle a headwind but I wasn't expecting it to be with me for such a long time.  There were sections without the wind and I was able to comfortably ride over 20mph but as soon as the wind came, I was down to 14mph averages.  It was exactly the same for the second lap.  This isn't a closed road race so there can be traffic issues in places, but in the main it isn't a big deal.  The marshals are great and will shout 'clear' on junctions so you know you can safely turn whilst still maintaining any speed you might have gathered.  A fairly uneventful bike was soon done and it was back into transition to prepare for the run.

This is where a tri suit and elastic laces come into play. Bike racked and helmet off, then bike shoes off and run shoes straight on, peak on, gel in my pocket, swig of drink and you are good to go.  The legs felt heavy but I assumed that would ease into the run.  It sort of did but I wasn't as comfortable as I'd like to be, or as quick as I feel I should be, over 10k.  I seem to struggle with what feels like the onset of cramps in my quads.  It never turns to full cramp, but feels like it is at least lingering there.  Not sure what this is, or what I do to prevent it....nutrition?  More bike miles in training? More brick sessions?  Anyone that's one to ponder over  during the winter work perhaps.  For now, the sun was shining, the run along the cliffs and then down onto the sea front was just lovely.  There was great support from people out for walks or those actually there to watch/support.  Who cares if your legs are aching, or you aren't running as quick as you'd like when its a lovely day like this.

I ticked off the miles and prepared for the sharp hill to get back from seafront to cliff top where the finish is.  There was a British Tri official at the top of the incline asking for zips to be done up as we approached the finish line.  I was glad I'd put that cycling top in transition now and had it available to wear.

I mustered that last bit from my legs to push it across the finish line and ducked my head to accept my medal.  Timing chip removed, job done. 

Another race completed and I was really happy with the time (ok, so the swim effort was assisted somewhat, but if I add that time back on to my overall time, I was still happy to be under 3 hours).  And my transitions were a lot better than usual so all in, a pretty decent (for me at least) way to sign off the last Tri race of my season.

I tracked down my mates and we did the standard post-race compare of times and shared our thoughts of the race and our own performance and maybe slipped in the odd reason for why we didn't do as well was we wanted to.

Its a real shame that this is the last  time this race will take place.  Its a great setting and location to race in and when the weather was like it was today, it is a really enjoyable mornings racing.  Maybe someone else will pick up the race and take it over?  It would be a shame to see it drop off the calendar forever.  But if it does, I'm glad to say I completed the last ever edition of it and helped to raise some money for local charities in the process.

So, season done now, I can start planning for next year soon...and looking for a new tri suit to race in !