A welcoming club on the North West of Edinburgh
Ely Middle Distance
By CoachKev | Published | No Comments
While most of those doing a longer course were in Aberfeldy Dave was down in Ely
It was an early start for the Ely Monster middle distance triathlon on Sunday walking to the transition area with a torch at 5am to start setting up.
We set off on the swim along the Great Ouse river in two waves of 150 athletes dodging the swans, the bridge pillars and the river boats moored up at the marina. We swam against the flow crashing around some due to the numbers of swimmers and the width of the river for 1500m of the 1900m turning around the Monster marker buoy before being helped out up the slip way and jogging to transition.
Being based in the Fens I wasn’t expecting any hills for the cycle but the lack of hills was compensated for by the relentless wind that seemed to only be on your back for 8km of the two 42km laps. The rain started half way round the first lap making the loop through town to the transition area quite treacherous.
The run course had a 4km leg out to a figure of eight course passing through the grounds of Ely Cathedral 8-times which meant 8 times up the only hill in Ely! The event was held at the same time as a Standard distance triathlon with a further 300 competitors which made the run course quite busy but helped motivation by picking up back markers. Will let me know that I was lapping in 18-mins after 4hrs 40min with one lap to go, at 4hrs 55min I figured I could just sneak inside 5hrs and the arrival of Will to yet again shout at me helped secure a sub 5hr time.
The finish line was well received as was the water, the sit down and the shiny Monster medal. A thoroughly enjoyable 4hrs 40mins (finish time 4hrs 58mins).
