St. Austell Running Club Index

St. Austell Running Club Cornwall

Penzance Sprint Triathlon, 10 April 2012 by Matt Nicholas

10th April marked an important occasion in my sporting life, it would be the day that I put months of preparation into a morning of swimming, cycling and running!

After a bleary eyed drive to Penzance, Stuart and I set our minds to realising how little time we had left to prepare our T1 and T2 zones before our swim start. Having done the race the previous year, Stuart seemed relatively calm about everything, being a tri-newbie I seemed to spend more time flapping and playing with my number belt than actually doing anything of much use.
Enter Mike Crane, my hero! Mike helped me out by calming me down and sorting out my race belt whilst I laid out my cycling and running gear for T1 and T2.

The next thing I remember was standing at the poolside with Stuart, Mike, Lisa, and Garry, waiting for our numbers to be called. As Lisa had earlier described me as ‘looking absolutely terrified’ she gave some words of encouragement, as did Stuart, and Garry offered some advice about how to handle each stage.
5,4,3,2,1...go! I was starting the 400m swim, remembering as much as I could from Richard’s coaching over the past few months I resisted the urge to start racing the faster swimmer sharing my lane and get on with it at my own pace.
After a fairly smooth T1 the 15.5 mile bike stage had begun (albeit in swimming shorts and a soggy cycling jersey!) As it was still quite early, the roads were very quiet and I felt rather professional zooming round the course, even meeting Marilyn halfway round!

After stomping my way through T2 in my cycling shoes, the run stage was the final straight in this sprint triathlon. After a tentative few steps (being cautious of ‘jelly legs’) I started trotting through the 4 miles that would take me to the end. Richard was there to support us, as well as taking snaps (he had also become an impromptu race marshal as some had not shown up). It was nice to see a familiar face after over an hour’s racing!

Fast forward to the awards ceremony, St Austell picked up silverware in the form of Lisa Player winning her age category and Stuart Nicholas for third male under 30! A great morning out, some of the most fun I’ve had racing, and something I plan to do again!

2nd October Wadebridge Triathlon -The Usual Suspects by Darren Stephens.

The final tri of the year was upon us and we could not have asked for better
weather, but hey we’re typical Brits so let’s moan about
it................ too damn hot, not a cloud in the sky and the sun
beat down cooking all and sundry. Unless of course you were a spectator
then it was a mighty fine day.
Gary, Lisa, Steve, Marilyn and I were
the St Austell triathletes there to do battle once again, readying
ourselves for the 400m swim, 15 mile bike and the 5 mile run. Gary and
Lisa with their matching his and hers bikes were the ones to catch,
Steve had his bike serviced and race prepped for the day and Marilyn
fought off the sniffles in preparation for another stalwart effort.

After a war and peace briefing, the bikes were finally racked and
goggles were donned we all reminded each other not to do a Richard and
ignore the float marker for your final two lengths.............and
remember there were other competitors who wanted to have a swim too.
But with Wadebridge having only four lanes in the pool the rolling
start was taking its toll and with 150 competitors to get through it
was going to take some time.
Well into the swim Gary emerged from the
pool and ran like a demon to T1 his tri suit zipped down the QES logo,
so that saved anymore embarrassing questions as to what the logo really
meant eh Gary!!!!!!! And any connection to the fading purple or as Lisa
describes it lavender colour of your suit.

Straight into the bike ride for us all, which took us out of the leisure centre and onto the
Atlantic Highway and a long and steady climb out to Winards Pearch
roundabout and the final bike leg home. Matt Grose was there with loads
of encouragement to keep us all going. The route back was easier a good
downhill pace with the warm wind behind helped somewhat as the sun
continued to beat down on us. Now back at the leisure centre it was a
quick in and out of transition and the 5 mile run which took us down
into Wadebridge town centre, past the chippy in the high street- just
what you need the smell of chips as the energy levels drop and along
the camel trail. 2.5 miles in it was a turnaround at the much welcome
water station and homeward bound we did go. A sunny day did bring the
bikers and strollers out on the trail who must have looked at all those
puffing and panting runners thinking.......WHY!
The final hill back to the leisure centre was a tough one but the thought of being close to
the finish was enough to keep us all going. So the final results were:

Gary 53rd place with 1hr 27.56 -SWIM 8.32 - T1 1.31 -BIKE 44.32 –T2- 1.13 -RUN 42.06
Lisa 58th place with 1hr 39.49 – SWIM 9.01 –T1 1.32 – BIKE 47.41 –T2 –RUN 40.16 (3RD Female in her class, well done Lisa)
Darren 64th place with 1hr 40.46 –SWIM 8.54 –T1-1.38 –BIKE 51.38 - T2- 1.02 –RUN 37.32
Steve 79th place with 1hr 50.59 – SWIM 9.62 -T1 1.59 – BIKE 55.42 –T2-1.27 - RUN 42.24
Marilyn 115th place with 2hrs 05.25- SWIM 12.00 –T1 1.50 – BIKE 1HR 01.37 –T2- 1.19 –RUN 48.38

Saturday 27th August - Big Woody by Lisa Wotton

Saturday morning dawned clear and bright, well the stars were out so I knew the rain from yesterday
had passed thanks goodness. At 4.30am Garry and I were headed for the race HQ and the bus to the
race start – lyrics of Bruno Mars singing ‘Its a beautiful night , looking for something dumb to do ......’
echoing in my head.

At 6.30 the swim was off, a fantastic quarry venue, crystal clear water and massive fish (all
swimming faster than me). Got into my swim fairly quickly and was quite disappointed when it
finished – at least until I looked at my time, 1.19 – was absolutely stunned not to say amazed.
Then up an 800m hill run to the bikes. After a fairly slow transition we were off down a long stretch
of flat to downhill road. This was to prove to be the only flat in the whole 112 miles. Believe me the
cycle made the North Cornwall Tour look flat! Anyway head down and legs spinning at least until
the first big hill, then it was head up and walking!

62 miles of uphill later and back to transition at HQ then off on the second lap – Bruno Mars was
now singing ‘ today I don’t feel like doing anything....’ Got a temporary second wind at that time –
only another 50 miles to go. The second wind lasted until 91 miles when I got to a junction and
realised there were no arrows and the marshalls had all gone home. Turned left down the hill, no
arrows, turned right up the hill, no arrows. By this time I had realised I was hopelessly lost! After
another 5 miles I decided to knock on the door of the nearest house to ask directions. Unfortunately
this house looked like something out of the Adams family and had threatening signs all over the
door, fortunately there was no one in!!!!

Managed to flag down a van, the nice driver told me ‘Coleford is in that direction but its miles away’.
And it was and all up bloody hill. Eventually got back to transition to find a search party had been
organised to go out and find me and Garry was in tears, so sociably I blubbed along with him. My
biggest fear at that time was that they would stop me going on the run but thankfully (I think) I was
allowed to carry on.

Not much to say about the run, a 3 mile out 3 mile back route all on trails done 4 times. Bit of a soul
destroyer having to run through the start 4 times! Met a lovely lady called Mina who has a huge
smile on her face all the way through. She helpfully told me at mile 2 that ‘we’re nearly finished’.
My reply is unprintable I’m afraid.

By mile 20 I was still running but the trail had got dark and it was difficult to keep my footing – yeah I
know, so what’s new? Back to the start again and directed onto the track for the final 10km or 25
laps! Quite eerie as by this time it was very dark and there were only 5 of us left. Garry at this stage
had decided to walk with me the last 10km – ok I was still running but he was walking faster! Mina
was behind me still smiling and chatting away nineteen to the dozen.

Then suddenly it was all over, the amazing feeling coming over the finish line is indescribable.
Thanks to the 3 marshalls who stayed around long enough to see me in especially the one who
handed me a cornetto as I came over the line. Waited for Mina to come in and was treated to the
biggest bear hug in the world.

What else can I say? It was a day full of highs and a few lows, Garry was an absolute star and I
couldn’t have done it without him. The marshalls were great although most had gone home by my
finish time. Got 3rd lady over all and 2nd in my age group (ok there were only 4 ladies but I’ll take it
whatever way I can).

I am an IRONMAN (woman? person? thing?) To hell with it – I am a Big Woody!!!!!!!!!!!!

Race Report – Hayle Middle Distance Triathlon aka Half Ironman

Saturday 22nd May dawned bright and early, too damn early and actually it wasn’t bright it was dark, as it was only 4/.30am.

Bikes, wetsuits, and running gear already loaded as well as a shed load of raisin bakes, sports drinks, gels, and bananas (James would have been proud) we headed nervously to Marazion

After racking our bikes and setting up the transition area we caught up with the other St Austell Triathletes, Andy Reynolds, Rob Coleman, Mike Quest, Matt Grose and Mark Crowle. Next thing we knew we are on the beach in too tight wetsuits along with 200 others. Garry had gone very quiet, which is never a good sign, and looked very sick. Can’t remember if it was a hooter, whistle or a shout but suddenly we were all surging towards the water and the race was on!!!

I duly panicked 10m into the swim and seriously thought about stopping at that point, the only thing that kept me in the water is thinking about the embarrassment of being asked how it went only to have to answer that I lasted 5 minutes. Meanwhile poor Garry was headed out towards the Scilly’s in a completely different direction to the rest of us, luckily he had his own safety kayak that kept herding him back in the right direction.

48 minutes later and my swim was over and it was out the water into the ‘dead zone’ to wait for Garry. He finished 2 minutes later but had obviously left his legs in the water as he was walking more sideways than forwards.

Next into transition and onto the bikes, we had decided to do the event together so headed off cheerily waving at James and his camera. The cheeriness lasted right up until the first hill (or about 3 minutes). 8 miles of almost steady climbing later and I realised that I couldn’t keep up with Garry and told him to go on. As he disappeared into the distance I breathed a sigh of relief and slowed down into my normal bike plod. Can’t remember much about the bike route except the first lap was horrendously hilly and the second was directly into a head wind. Was pleased to actually past 3 or 4 people, one of whom had decided 15 miles into the route that she’d had enough and was sat on the verge awaiting rescue.

Fifty odd miles later and it was back into transition and I headed out on the first lap of the run route, don’t know whose legs I was using but they definitely weren’t mine. Many thanks to the standard distance guys (including Mike Quest) who gave me a resounding cheer as I headed off. I tucked in with several exhausted looking athletes and was pleased to be able to keep up with them, I only found out later that they were on lap two and most were still going faster than me.

End of lap one (more hills) and the cruellest twist yet, had to run back into the transition field and out again to do the second lap! Ali Coleman and Kayleigh provided shouts of encouragement ie ‘only one lap to do’ – thanks guys.

I didn’t recognise the second lap as being the same as the first although apparently it was, maybe I was hallucinating by then mainly due to the lack of water on the run section or maybe it was just that my memory/navigation skills and practically zero. However after 13 miles of what I can only call ‘survival running’ I got to the finishing straight and my legs sprang into life to enable me to finish at least looking fairly strong. Lots of St Austell smiley faces at the end and Garry covered in salt looking shattered.

It was an interesting experience, not the best organisation in the world and it would have been nice if the organisers had actually noticed people finishing. Without the support of the diehard St Austell members we would have felt very isolated.

However, in order of finishing it was Andy Reynolds, Rob Cokeman, Garry Player, Mark Crowle, Matt Grose and coming in at the end ME!

Well done St Austell – we’re half ironmen!!!!!!