The Lakesman 2018

Normally I thank people at the end of my post but this is quite a long one and I’m sure some people wont get to the end so I’m putting this first!

Thanks to Amanda for her remote support, work meant that she has been unable to get to either of the Lakesman events.

Thanks to Andy and Nicky, Dave and Jennie for all the support over the weekend and for keeping Amanda updated of how I was getting on.

Thanks to Marie, Phil and all the team behind putting on such a wonderful event.

Thanks to all the teams marshalling and manning the feed stations.

Thanks to Jamie the race ref, more about him later!

Anyway on to the actual event!

In 2016 I took part in the first Lakesman long distance triathlon and really enjoyed the experience, the fact that I managed a PB by some 30 minutes may have had something to do with it.

The main reason however was the way that it was organised and how the team putting the event on were keen to put the Athletes at the heart of everything they did, I have taken part in a few other brand of long distance tri and I can honestly say that the Lakesman is definitely the best.

Last year I wasn’t doing any long distance triathlon but still trekked up to Keswick from Sussex to volunteer to be part of the event. Whilst up there the half was discussed and I decided that I would like to take part in that this year.

I duly entered the half and was all gearing up for it as part of my challenges for my 50^th year for the Rockinghorse appeal (More about that here). Then I thought with all that I was doing I should be quite fit by the time the event came around and so after a chat with Chrissie Wellington at her book signing where I asked if she thought I should do the full or the half, I contacted Marie and Phil to ask about stepping up. Unfortunately they said it was no problem and soon it was sorted, I was in the full!!

I had to work on the Thursday evening before the weekend, which turned out to be a blessing in that it meant that I stayed further north than going home so my trip up on the Friday was shorter and I arrived in Keswick just before the registration opened.

Being there early meant that registration was quick and soon I was back at my lodging for the weekend and settled in. The evening was spent with Andy and Nicky who live locally, Dave and Jennie arriving with Mac a bit later having had a long drive from Sussex, which made me even more pleased about my travel arrangements.

Saturday morning was spent watching rugby and generally pottering about for the morning before heading over to Keswick to rack the bikes and attend the briefing, before heading back to the Kings to catch the end of the England rugby game, I think this was the only time that I wished the briefing was longer !

The briefing was short to the point and gave athletes the chance to ask any questions that they wanted, unlike some other briefings that I have been to that seemed to go on for ever and not actually give you any information!

After dinner Saturday night arrangements were made for the following morning, I was doing the full with Dave and Nicky doing the half. This meant I had to be up and out earlier as the Full was scheduled to start at 6am with the Half at 7.15.

I got to bed and set 4 alarms as I was scared that I would not wake up and unlike the last time my friends were not going at the same time so wouldn’t be phoning me to check I was up. As it happened the first alarm got me up and out so the others were not required.

I arrived at Transition around 5am and added my bottles and bars to my bike before heading in to the tent to sort my kit out and change into my wetsuit.

Nerves were really starting to kick in now, more so than any other triathlon I have done, actually most of the challenges I have taken on as part of my year fundraising have left me feeling more nervous than other events I have done.

I wandered down to the lake and then back to transition before heading off down to the lake again and then back to transition! On one of these walks Dave and Jennie appeared with Mac to wish me luck and see me off.

Soon after it was actually time to get into the water and I joined the train of athletes heading down the carpet into Derwent Water, it seemed a bit cold but was actually quite warm for a lake in England. As I headed further out in to the water I noticed I was still wearing my wedding ring, I never swim in open water with it on as it get quite loose in a swimming pool let alone a lake. I headed back out of the lake against the flow of athletes hoping I could see Dave or Jennie to ask them to look after it. As I headed up the slope the marshals were asking what the problem was and that there was only a minute to go before the start. I explained that I could wear my ring swimming and they took it off me bagged it and noted my number, then I was back into the lake and heading out to the start buoys hearing the countdown from 10 to the start, then the hooter went and we were off!

The swim seems to go on for ever, each time I saw an orange buoy in the distance I thought that was the turn but no there was another one further on! Eventually I did get to the final buoy and turned to head back towards the finish. Again it seemed to take forever to see the final buoys and the last stretch into the finish but once again it did come and I was pulled up to my feet by one of the marshals to a cheer from Andy. As I staggered up the slope he asked if I was ok, my reply was something along the lines of “well you know”

As I passed the table I reclaimed my ring and set off up to the transition tent, passing the bag with my ring in to Jennie to look after rather than try to open the bag to retrieve it. Thanks Jen!

Back at the tent and time to change into my cycling kit, transition is not a quick aspect for me, I think I need time to get over my dizziness from the swim and get everything sorted so I feel comfortable on the bike. As I was sitting on one of the chairs putting my shoes on I glanced up in time to see Nicky running out of the tent past me, having started about an hour after me she was out of T1 before me, which was no more than I expected.

Out on the bike and things felt ok, I wasn’t struggling as I have in previous events and soon felt in a good place. The miles passed and soon the first feed station came into view, a quick change of bottle and a power bar and I carried on.

The course was shared between the full and the half with the split happening just after the first feed station, as promised in the briefing it was hard to miss the signs showing which way you should go depending on which event you were doing!

The coast road at the top of the course is great, flat and fast but then you turn to come back down and the wind is against you and there are some bumps in the road to content with before you switch back to do the loop again going up the coast road at quite a pace but the route back is waiting for you!

I pushed on willing Keswick to come back in to view so that I could get off the bike, I had had enough by now!

Back into transition and time to change into my run kit, it was quite busy in transition and it took me a while to realise that not everyone there was trying to get changed quickly, ah the half athletes had finished and were getting in to their going home kit! This is probably the only aspect that I would suggest is looked at to be changed for next year. I am sure that Marie, Phil and the team will look at it as each year they have taken on board comments and made improvements.

Exiting the tent Andy was there with a camera cheering me on, he would have to wait a little while as I ducked in to one of the porta loos. Coming out he was there with Jennie and camera to video me starting my run. A quick “are you alright” with a “yes fine” response and I was off around the course.

Once again the marshals and feed station volunteers were amazing full of support and encouragement.

The run course was slightly different than 2 years ago and although the “Highway to Hell” was still part of it there was another out and back section to break it up.

One run down the highway to hell I was met by a shout of Go on Andy as I came to the bottom before the out and back, Nicky was on the side of the road cheering us on and taking photos. It gave me such a boost and kept me on track.

On my penultimate lap I came across Jamie the race ref who gave some encouragement and also asking if my name was Andy, not sure what gave him that idea?

One more lap to go as I passed the finish area to head round again Dave and Jennie were there to cheer me round, again a much needed boost.

On this final lap I again encountered Jamie who gave me some encouragement, noting to his fellow official that he wasn’t even sure my name was Andy. I asked him what gave him that idea? A high five and a thanks for what he had put into the event.

On the last time up the highway to hell I came across Anthony who was doing his 149^th iron distance triathlon, I had also taken part in the event that was his 100th!, another high five and we continued on our runs.

My Garmin’s battery had died so I had no idea what pace I was running at and also how long I had been going, only a rough idea based on time of day. On passing the feed station they told me it was not even 3 miles to the finish.

I had gone into this event hoping to get close to 14 hours, my PB was at Lakesman 2016 of 14:20:48. At this point in the race I convinced myself that I was not going to get near 14 hours but if I could keep going I may scrape a PB.

As I came round the final corner and past the final feed station, slowing a bit to thank them for all that they had done I continued on to the finish, somehow managing to up my pace from a shuffle to a run!

Dave, Jennie and Nicky were all there to cheer me home and on turning down the finish straight the clock was on 14hrs 01 minutes. I was ecstatic to have got so close to 14 hrs my official time being 14:01:46 an amazing 19 minutes off my PB.

After I had recovered enough I managed to get to the food tent and down some food and water before heading off to get my kit and bike to return to the car, luckily Nicky had parked in the same car park so wheeled by bike back so I just had to carry my bags!

All I had to do now was get back to my bed and collapse!!

Once again as I can never say it enough Thanks to everyone who made this event what it is and supported me through the lead up to it and through the event itself.