and then to liverpool

After what happened at bala i fancied a shorter race to enjoy...and i love the race at liverpool....my first attempt at Triathlon was the supersprint here and thats where i started on this road that i've now been on over 2 years...

Where: Queens Dock, Liverpool
When: 26th June 2011
Organiser: Liverpool triathlon on behalf of WTC
Distance(s): 1500m Lake swim, 40km bike and 10km run
Marshalling: excellent
Facilities: a few portaloos - hotel and arena toilets and showers
Technical: OW swim with the jellyfish , 4 lap closed roads bike ride ...pretty flat, 2 lap run

Cat decided to enter us at this race as she felt she might need the confidence boost of doing a 1 mile competitive swim before her half IM at cowman next weekend...i'm really glad she did as its a brilliant race really well organised and in a great city.
we decided we'd see how the race was going then see if we stay together ...depending on how far behind she was after the swim etc...in the end though it proved to be her waiting for me..our friend Sarah was racing with us too..here's how it went.

Preperation wasn't brilliant for me...i did a 36 mile bike ride in horrendous conditions on saturday.....then had a 'few' watching glastonbury on saturday night.....hahaha...oops....only a OD...be reet
Race morning came and the 'few' had a nasty effect causing big time AD.....also didnt feel hungry but managed about half a bagel in transition and this was all going to come back to haunt me later in the day.
9.30 and we made our way to the dock to get in the crystal clear sparkling blue water of the River Mersey ...big wave....everybody commenting that it wasnt too cold but it tasted disgusting...i gave cat and sarah some words of encouragement as both were worried about the swim and we were off.
As usual i decided the middle of the pack was where i should be so set off and got amongst it.....a total Biff-Fest at the first bouy where it was very narrow...i had this huge bloke in front of me who would swim a couple of strokes, then panic a bit (it seemed) and stop/BS....but i couldnt get past him cause there were too many other people....i actually shouted 'just keep swimming' which seemed to spur him on and we all then got through...round the second bouy and it all then spaced out and i got into my stride and got to work...i held my place in the pack once it spaced out, passing a couple of people maybe but not being passed much.....going under the bridge there were a lot of jellyfish ...i'm a total wuss when it comes to things like this so i just shut my eyes...hoped i wouldnt touch one and kept swimming.
Then coming to the end i got another BSer righ in front of me....and just as i stretched out my right arm to enter the water...he kicked OUCH...right shoulder fooked again.....anyway kept going round the corner and out of the water in about 33....its about 200m on rough ground the the timing matt...i tried to just run it but had to stop..pull on my little wet shoe things (which dont go on easy wet) then get to the matt at 35.06.
just as i got to the row where my bike was.....i see cat...running towards the timing matt...WTF?...she totally nailed the swim and came across the matt 14 seconds after me.....if you knew what she was like last year with swimming you'd know this was an incredible swim for her and she was absolutely beaming...BRILLIANT.
so out onto the bike...we actually left T1 together having a little chat about the swim...couple of marshalls shouted 'oi...no time to chat..this is a race you know...hahaha'...i started to run and promptly nearly broke my neck tripping on my ice skates...erm..bike shoes.
got to the mount line and got on...set off....hang on...where is Cat?? turnes out her chain had come off right in front of everybody...
Bike was pretty uneventful for me....its not really flat but doesnt have hills...if you know what i mean..always either up a bit or down a bit....coming back from the turnaround there was a strong headwind which made 20mph a struggle...and it was rough too...so gave my back a bit of jip. i took on a gel at about 8 miles which gave me stomach ache....so i was a little reluctant to have another but then about 16 miles it had passed so i took on a different flavour...which went down ok but again i was later to find out 2 wasnt enough.
On the last lap, coming back from the turnaround i saw cat going in the other direction...just a few minutes behind so i decided to slow down on this lap and then wait in T2 so we could do the run together (i'm taking nothing away from cat here...she would have caught me on the run...just telling you what i decided at the time) my bike time was 1.22.28...not bad at all as i didnt hammer it.
in T2 i got changed from BCTTT cycle top to TL running top put on my trainers and had a drink...saw cat coming towards the matt and gave her a shout to help her find our rack in the usual chaos. she had oil all over her face, it was so funny...had to wipe her face for her then we was off to start the run.
by this time it was getting warm so we just took an easy jog..took on a bit of water and had a bit of a giggle....both of us got a bit of a stitch so had a little walk for it to clear...then ran to the next water station, took on a bit more and cat tried one of the energy bars (she was hungry) which she promptly spat out...

just past the turn point cat had another walk where i then convinced her to run to the aid station...lol....that was my downfall...as from then on she got her stride on and felt better while i slowly started to BONK.....i felt it coming and by the start of the second lap i was flagging big time.....This was not too bad a thing cause it made Cat take the run easy with a view to her race this coming weekend...but i was really struggling and knew i needed something.....i got a gel when we finally made the aid station...it was horrible but i had to have it...round the turnaround....walk a bit , try and run a bit...MAKE cat stay with me...she had to take it easy but i didnt want her to beat me by too much did i..... so i promised her i'd let her cross the line first..lol...
past the aid station for the last time and then i started to feel better and we managed to get going again...over the timing matt and it was banging hot by this time so i was glad it was coming to an end...we went into the finish chute where cat got going.....i was going to sprint past her over the line but i dont want to get divorced ....so in we came with me two seconds behind her for a 3.18 finish....both wearing Team Laws kit and smiling.
Sarah by the way came in at 2.50....a fantastic result for her first OD
Once again this was a brilliant race...its really well organised, really well marshalled and the scouse people are brilliant....really supportive both spectators and marshals and always smiling and so chatty.
If i have one negative aspect to find (apart from the jellyfish) its that they didnt really mark the 5150 thing very much...they had a pro race...and the finish had 5i50 series plastered over it but the medal was the same as the previous two years and i think they could have made it a bit more special...especially given the £74 entry fee.

today i'm absolutley fine...little tired but i not in any pain which has to mean my training is working...even though i'm not really getting faster..i'm obviously getting fitter.
will i do it again?? yeah....i think i'll always do this Race...it was my first ever Tri 2 years ago...my first ever OD last year and a brilliant event where everybody is welcome

Next race is Ironman.....the fear is well and truly knocking on my door now and i cant wait for it to be over....i just hope it ends the right way this time