A welcoming club on the North West of Edinburgh
Solstice Triathlon 2014
By CoachKev | Published | No Comments
Pentlands Solstice Triathlon – Thurs 19th June 2014
A beautiful summer evening saw 11 of E#3’s members assembling for most (if not all) of our first attempt at what was voted ‘Event of the Year’ in 2013 by Triathlon Scotland. Swim of 750m in Thriepmuir reservoir, 15km mixed terrain bike loop then a 5km(+) flat run on trails/paths. Clearly this is the ‘before’ shot given the nervous smiles etc…
After race briefing and a caution from one of the medical team about not moving any injured cyclists from the course (!), the wetsuits were on and c80 competitors waded in for a mass start (waist deep).
Swim
Water felt almost ‘warm’ but the hooter went and the usual ‘washing machine’ effect was soon felt with the first few 100m’s being a scramble to find a clear bit of water to swim in without colliding with others – why is it you always think you are swimming straight and everyone else is squint! – didn’t work for me unfortunately but by the 2nd buoy it was thinining out and some ‘real’ swimming was possible on the way back to the beach exit – short run up to T1 with wetsuits coming off ok – judging by the T1 times!
Bike
Onto the mountain bike (‘cross’ bike for Iain) for a fast run along the side of the reservoir (good for passing people – Kirst/Susan..) before heading up into the Pentlands with a wicked early hill to engage the legs. Then onto some narrow downhill paths, stony in places with the odd shallow(ish) water crossing which caught out a few people (not E#3 athletes though who of course had diligently reccied the bike route in the weeks beforehand:-) Some fast tarmac sections after that before turning west (quickly into granny gear) and hitting the monster climb over the top (directly into the sun) back towards Thriepmuir. A great climb provided you don’t stop (or the rider in front does) as the gradient made it difficult to get going again – worth keeping a gap in front (unless like Graeme J you are tearing past anyone in your path!). Cresting the hill gives a stunning view towards the city (if you have the energy to appreciate it) and then a brilliant fast sweeping downhill cinder-type path descent all the way to T2.
Run
Opting not to change my trainers it was quickly out onto the run (getting worse than usual calf cramps?) which took us a mile out round the end of Thriepmuir reservoir before turning and doubling back on ourselves (which is great for seeing who is in front of you and how far ahead!) then running round Harlaw reservoir and back towards the finish line. I caught up with Gav just before 1 mile and managed to catch Iain at about the 3 mile marker before what seemd like a lot more than what should have been no more than 200m to the finish – seeng Sally about 50m in front of me but she was strong as ever and finished 1st for E#3. Well done!
An absolutely superb event and course all tackled with great enthusiasm by E#3, showing awesome support for each other as we all crossed the line. The excellent lamb burger laid on by the organisers tatsed so good. Reason enough to mark your calendar up for 2015.
This was my first sprint distance open water/off road tri and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
E#3Â results
10th Sally 1.17.58Â (fastest E#3 swim at 13.57)
11th Roy 1.18.06Â (fastest E#3 run at 19.52)
14th Iain 1.18.20
19th Gav 1.20.15
20th Graeme 1.20.25Â (fastest E#3 bike at 37.57)
35th Mark 1.25.04
37th Emma 1.25.20
54th Kirst 1.31.01
56th Sara 1.31.07
71st Susan 1.36.33
77th Andy 1.45.40
see link below for full results & photos…
