PACTRACs Roger Canham competed in the Abu Dhabi
International Long Triathlon on Saturday over the distances of:
swim 3,000 metres in the sea.
bike 125 miles.
run 12.5 miles.
http://www.premiertiming.com/live/adit2011/
The temperature was 103F.
Result:
Swim 51:18
T1 3:24
Bike 5:44:33
T2 3:10
Run 1:24:30
Finish Time 8:06:55
Roger finished 2nd in his Age Group and 10th Age Grouper overall.
Roger writes:
"What an amazing venue; the beach of a hotel that cost $3bn to
build and a star studded line up of the world’s best long distance pro
athletes. I selected this race to test out my biking ahead of my Ironman St
George in May. I viewed it essentially as a long bike with a bit of
a swim and run thrown in which is exactly how it turned out.
The swim was great; two laps of a 1500m loop off the hotel beach,
non-wetsuit for the Pros but optional for the age groupers and I,
like most, needing all the help I can get opted for the wetsuit. We set
off in waves of about 150 so it was pretty civilised compared to an
Ironman race, but the downside was that there were very few friendly feet to
draft. It ended up being a 3k Time Trial for me, with a sprint along
a beach half way round - quite fun really.
Onto the bike and off into the desert; 25 miles out to the Yas Marina
Grand Prix circuit. It was a hot and windy bike Time Trial up the
motorway to the circuit but it was worth it. I cycled round with a
grin a mile wide as I pretended to be racing round, forgetting I
still had 100miles of cycling left I should have perhaps ridden a little
more conservatively. On the way back into the city we had the wind
blasting sand onto our backs rather than into our faces as we sped to the
turnaround for the second lap.
By now the field was beginning to thin out as I counted just a
handful of riders ahead of me; I could now start to work through
them. Quickly I passed a couple but then ahead of me was a shimmering empty
expanse of tarmac with not a rider in sight and this is how it remained
pretty well for the remaining 75 miles. It was no longer a race; it was
a lesson in mental conditioning and battling dehydration and mineral
depletion. Over the course of the bike I consumed over 10 litres of
fluid, 15 salt capsules and 20+ gels which just about kept me
rolling but the midday sun was unforgiving. By the time I hit T2 my
quads had all but locked up with cramp as the fatigue and conditions took
their toll despite my best efforts to stay in shape. To start the run
with your legs already toasted does not auger well for a day out running
round the local marina!
I broke into what can best be described as a hobble-come-run, as I
set off to complete the final, and my favourite, discipline. As each
mile ticked by, I fought to keep running with the bizarre incentive
that the quicker I ran the sooner the pain would stop! I had planned to run
a fast sub 80min 12.5 miles, but it turned into a battle of survival
and in hindsight, a useful lesson in toughing it out. The last 1.5
miles seemed to go on forever as the sun beat down but at last I came to
the finish line; there was no triumphant flourish as I crossed, just
an ugly stumble and stagger then medics buzzing round to check I wasn’t
going to melt on the spot.
I quickly found some shade, a bucket of ice and a pizza, then things
started to look up. A pretty tough day at the office; now for
Ironman St George in Utah, USA, in May."
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We also have 11 members competing at Rutland Water in the Dambuster
Duathlon on Saturday.
Distances are:
Run 6 miles.
bike 26 miles.
Run 3 miles.
This is a World Championship (Spain) Qualifier.