Sun City Tri

(Through the eyes of Elliot)

Well the day started good with a good warm up run for me (Elliot), Rob and Jeff then it was down to the start.

Well what am I going to do today, feel good done some good run speed work since the last race and it’s a bit windy so the bike leg will be the key to today.  So off we went, a good fast start before we get to where it gets tight,”got to get to the single track in the front 10” I thought to myself so I would not get stuck behind anyone. Well I did and had a good first leg run came into T1 in about 9^th I think.

But now for where my race starts (for those of you who don’t know me the bike is my strongest leg by far) 8 people to pass and about a minute and a half to the leader, time to see what damage I can do. The first half a mile is flat then it goes up for about a mile passed 3 people by the time I got to the to the top and I had passed someone in T1 so only 4 to get now as I turned out of the forest drive it was straight into a headwind and I can see the 4 lads in front of me that I have to catch.  I got one after about a mile and now the road turned left with a bit of side tail wind and a little climb for about 200 yards.  Its time for the big gears to start and gaining ground on the next rider and the leader was starting to pull away from them. Got to the next junction where my 2 supporters were marshalling “go on you can catch them” (Thanks Kerry & Amanda) but by then I knew I could. The next stretch of road is very fast and I knew it was time for the “RED MIST” and to go for it.  I had to be leading going into T2 because the lads in front are much faster runners than me.  I Started to wined it up, getting settled down and now I’m going some 53-12 and no more gears “knew I should of put my 11 tooth on the back” I thought to myself.   Spinning my legs like crazy and now I’ve caught the leader and pulling away this is now looking good.  “BLOODY HELL” was that a marshall? Was I supposed to turn there? I’m sure he was getting a pie out the van! I’ll see if the next lad comes around the corner……… nope “SHIT” better turn round then. Well back on track now I’m back on the right course but now I’m back to 5^th place can’t see the leaders but the lads behind are not that far behind time to get my head down again.  Coming out of Hamsterley village and I can see the 4^th place lad about 2 minutes “can I catch him” I thought, well let’s give it a go.  Coming up to the forest drive and I have made some time up on him and I’ve got the fast decent back to the transition “COME ON” Red mist is back.  Now I’m on the decent tucked in and going for it passed the ambulance flying “BANG” or “shit I don’t believe this”! I’d hit a pothole and blew my front tyre ( I  thought I’d blew both front and back) well I’m still on so it’s time to call it a day some one does not want me to finish this race today. Hang on the tyre is still on the rim “ah stuff it if it comes off then I’ll stop” it’s only a mile to transition.  So I limped to T2 well sort of limped a 20mph limp.

Into T2 and out onto the run got caught by 3 of the lads behind and that was it had a ok run as well felt good, a bit peed off but what can you expect. Over the finish line and what a race talk about highs and lows but I never gave up and we took the team prize 1^st male team over the 3 race series and I got 3^rd male over the series which I would not of got if I had not finished.

SO THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS NEVER EVER GIVE UP YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR CAPABLE OF SO JUST DO IT!!