Scottish National Standard Distance Champs
Knockburn triathlon has to be one of the best races on the Scottish calendar. Purpose-built facilities, guaranteed nice weather, and friends who live nearby to stay with. They are also a fab support crew. This year was no exception. Having travelled up on the Saturday in intermittent rain showers, I was sceptical however, about the organisers guarantees of nice weather. Luckily they seem to have a very good relationship with the weather man and it only started raining as I got in the car to drive home.
The swim was a little colder than I remember it, but conditions were fine and my shiny new 2XU Propel Pro wetsuit meant I knocked off a fair bit of time from last year. Still plenty of room for improvement as I exited the water in 9th (thanks to my pal Leia for vital race info).
I still hadn’t decided if I was going to run, given that I’d only done 2*5k runs outside in the last week. These were both jog/walking and hadn’t run in the preceding 3 months thanks to an annoying fibula stress fracture, so I just threw everything I had at the bike. Knockburn has a great bike course, fast, rolling and windy! I was aware of overtaking a few ladies but wasn’t sure where I was, luckily Leia was paying attention and informed me I was in the lead by the time I’d entered T2. I had no idea how fast or far as I was going, but the Saucony Kinvara 10’s proved a great shoe choice in the dry conditions.
Leg choice not great, as they were both aching considerably. I was keeping an eye on where Jen & Kirsty were, as they looked to be trying far less than I, and moving far faster. Luckily there was just enough in the tank to hold them off, finishing 1st female and 9th overall. Thanks to Fin for battering me into shape, Sandi Lyall (FASIC) for sorting the leg issue and Jim Aitken for sorting me out with the AlterG.
