Max Roberts is new to the sport and to MVH this season. Read his account of his first triathlon race at East Leake below. It is a useful commentary for other “newbies” which outlines the mental preparation and application required to make this sport a success: the so called 4th discipline (transition) and the race-craft & pacing clearly playing a big part come race day. Thanks for sharing, Max! Some of our more experienced members could learn from your preparation!
Are you new to the sport? Links below for training tips and links to our MVH club races
Training and Racing links
MVH – A guide for novice members
MVH – Novice Championship Course Descriptions
Active.com Top tips for Triathlon
Last but not least, get to a training session and talk to our experienced members and coaches. You can learn from every single member of the club and the open water venue is a great place for a chin wag….. and open water season is just around the corner.
East Leake Race Results and Report
Alongside Max were experienced triathletes Lynn Nesbitt and Mick Skivington, both coming back from lengthy injuries. Lynn is a BTF coach & MVH coach and has competed for GB at age group level. Mick is a Referee and a former GB Age Group World Champion! Not bad company for your first race, Max! You can pick ’em. Just goes to show the diversity of MVH and that the club’s members support & celebrate the efforts and results of ALL our members. So let us know what you are entering this year and send us your photos and reports. There will be support at many local races so if you are new to the club, give us a wave before you start so we can cheer you to the line. Good Luck!
East Leake Triathlon:
400 metre Swim 20 kilometre Cycle 5 kilometre Run
Mick Skivington: 1.12.39
Max Roberts: 1.27.16
Lynn Nesbitt: 1.31.39
Right, Max’s report as promised……
I joined MVH a couple of months ago as a complete “newbie” to the sport of triathlon. My first tri was the first sprint distance event at East Leake on Easter Sunday 27th March 2016. I was very much looking forward to the event and the evening before I checked that my bike was okay and laid out my kit. I kept rechecking that I had all the right kit for the three disciplines as only a novice would!
On arrival at East Leake, having lost an hours sleep due to British Summer starting my nerves started to kick in. Especially as it was a bitterly cold and very windy morning!
I arrived in plenty of time for registration, collecting my race number and a timing chip which I had to strap to my ankle, which was all new to me. Then it was back to the car to collect my bike to take to the transition area placing it on the rack where my race number was marked. Then I laid out my kit for the bike and run on a towel in front of my bike. My helmet was the last item placed as this was the first thing to be put on when arriving back from the swim as it kept going round in my head that the rules stated that you must put on your helmet before you touch the bike.
There was a quick race briefing going over all the do’s and don’ts for the race. The bit that sounded a bit tricky to me as a newbie was the mounting the bike after crossing the Mounting Line and then dismounting on the return, actually in the race it all worked out OK as there are marshals shouting instructions as you approach.
It was then time to make my way to the pool, which was a new experience in itself, walking 150 metres in just my MVH tri suit with goggles in hand in the freezing cold!
Luckily it was warm in the leisure centre, with 5 minutes to my start time I made my way to the pool side where a Marshall checked off competitor’s names and race numbers. Then it was time to jump into the pool, there was no time to be nervous as after a quick 5,4,3,2,1 GO! It was into the 400 metre swim. I’d drilled it into my head not to go out to fast as there was a long way to go. There were no lane marshals so it was down to me to count off the lengths and the 16 lengths were soon done. As I touched the wall I quickly jumped out and headed through the door and ran back to the transition area having previously memorised where my bike was positioned. My heart was pounding now and I didn’t seem to notice the cold and that I was dripping wet!
Remember, helmet on first! I did my best to stay calm as I put on my kit ready for the bike leg, less haste and more speed! It all seemed to go well and I was soon peddling away down the first part of the course. I was still breathing heavy from the swim and I made a conscious effort to get my breathing under control and settle into a rhythm on the bike.
I’d been told that the course was a fairly flat one, thank goodness as at this point 20k seemed an awfully long way as it took a few minutes to get my legs working properly after the swim. Luckily it was quite a way before the first incline and my legs were working okay now. I must admit I was slightly taken by surprise how quick most of the other competitors were on a bike! Although I did manage to pass 2-3 people. The bike ride did seem to fly by and it was soon over. I had to make sure I unclipped and jumped off the bike at the dismount line, another thing to learn. Then it was a run back into the transition and racked the bike back in its marked place.
It was helmet and cycling jacket off quickly and running trainers on, remembering to move my race belt and number from my back around to the front, again all new to me!
The 5k run was over a 3 lap course, for the first 5-10 minutes of the run my legs just didn’t feel as though they belonged to me, they just wouldn’t respond! They came back and I was able to start to lengthen my stride and get in to my normal run rhythm. Then before I knew it the 3 lap run was almost over and I was sprinting hard (well it felt like it!) for the finishing line.
It was all over and I felt very tired but exhilarated. I can’t wait for the next race.
The key take-a way’s that I learnt as a newbie was to stay calm in transition and focus on your own race not on other competitors!
