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Ripon Standard (National Championships) 1/7/17

PostPosted: 03 Jul 2017 08:11
by jonathon.e
Oh the plans of mice and men.

Limited racing this year, none last year, and my first open water swim in over two years, not a great foundation. I wasn't going to bother any of the podium position chasers, or ruin someone's chances of an AG place in the GB team, just have a day out racing.
Ripon is a great race, although of all the distances I find the Standard/Olympic the hardest. Over the years it has grown from a club run event NYP Tri, to the National Standard distance championships run by a race company. freebird events.
The bike route has changed, this was the fourth different route, the run route has changed a couple of times, and the swim has become a more accurately measured course.

A nicely timed start of 1pm on a Saturday afternoon, so no getting up at stupid o'clock, the downside is the increase of traffic on the roads. A small queue at registration, huge transition area, about twenty stalls at the expo, selling not very much. Campsite available at race venue. The pre race information informed that there would be a £3 car park charge, all monies going to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. A bit of a queue getting into the car park due to the various car occupants not having the £3 ready to hand.

Swim:
Wave starts, 7 minutes apart, 9 waves, my wave was wave 7.
The cunning plan was to start at the back, swim on the outer swim line, and relax. Worse swim ever, weeds galore, so had to constantly keep my arms shallow so no deep pull. At one stage I had one arm and both legs tangled in the weeds, took over 600m before getting into the relaxed swim. About 1000m in I heard a shout, stopped looked up, saw another swimmer in a not too happy position, she had another swimmer with her and a canoeist by her side, so I carried on. Eventually out of the water but not in a good frame of mind.

T1:
Nothing to write home about, sedate would be the opportune word.

Bike:

Pretty much an out and back route, alongside the A1. A number of roundabouts, all marshalled, traffic was slowed, but still a couple of motorists to watch out for. A good still breeze, side/tail on the way out, side/head on the return.
The roads were not the widest. A lack of consideration by riders, poor riding skills may have lead to one rider getting taken away in an ambulance. Just because you are in a race, it doesn't exclude you from correct road use procedure. Failure to hold their line, not glancing behind as they overtake. But what took the biscuit, as I approached the accident site, ambulance in situ, blue lights in, draft marshal instructing riders to keep left so you would pass the ambulance on the right, keeping one side of the road open, slowed down to a couple of mph, unclip, until one rider decided they were exempt, overtook the stationary riders/cars on the right, despite the marshaller shouting keep left, blocked the traffic on the other side of the road. TBH, I would not want to be in a team with a competitor that inconsiderate to others if they got chosen to represent their Age Group. When the race is down to seconds, his inconsiderate riding probably screwed up a number of competitors chances, wanker!!!!!!!
His race number was slightly distorted, but I could narrow it down to four, but lack of video evidence and all that.

T2:
As sedate as T1

Run:
A mix of roads, paths and canal towpath. Great support from the householders along the route, aid stations every 1.5 miles. Ran between 150-160bpm to maintain an even pace, walked twice for 100 yards due to muscle niggles.

A great race, there are always some idiots who are selfish, that's life, but there are morons who are out to cause damage through selfishness.

Re: Ripon Standard (National Championships) 1/7/17

PostPosted: 04 Jul 2017 08:02
by Jack Hughes
Well done! Always good to get out and do it. I imagine.

Re: Ripon Standard (National Championships) 1/7/17

PostPosted: 04 Jul 2017 08:06
by Jack Hughes
Oh, and did Ms Minchin say "Aren't you that guy off the telly?"

Re: Ripon Standard (National Championships) 1/7/17

PostPosted: 04 Jul 2017 13:10
by jonathon.e
Jack Hughes wrote:Oh, and did Ms Minchin say "Aren't you that guy off the telly?"


Sadly no, not even ' aren't you the guy with the dinosaur ', you would have thought she would have recognised me after three years :-()
I did feel sorry for her, she was trying to qualify for GB AG place, and she kept having to acknowledge people saying hello, prior to the start, while getting into race mode. She may have had a slow bike due to being caught up with the accident as well, but that's racing I suppose. :-(

Re: Ripon Standard (National Championships) 1/7/17

PostPosted: 04 Jul 2017 19:35
by Jimba
Well done Jon, nice to see someone still racing!

Re: Ripon Standard (National Championships) 1/7/17

PostPosted: 05 Jul 2017 07:14
by jonathon.e
Jimba wrote:Well done Jon, nice to see someone still racing!


Thanks Jimba, Hope your running is going well.

Re: Ripon Standard (National Championships) 1/7/17

PostPosted: 05 Jul 2017 18:25
by Jimba
jonathon.e wrote:
Jimba wrote:Well done Jon, nice to see someone still racing!


Thanks Jimba, Hope your running is going well.


Dipped a bit over the last month with an annoying niggle, but hopefully nearly clear of that. Thinking about going onto Strava to get some free analysis and coaching from the West Yorkshire area!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Re: Ripon Standard (National Championships) 1/7/17

PostPosted: 05 Jul 2017 19:03
by jonathon.e
Jimba wrote:
jonathon.e wrote:
Jimba wrote:Well done Jon, nice to see someone still racing!


Thanks Jimba, Hope your running is going well.


Dipped a bit over the last month with an annoying niggle, but hopefully nearly clear of that. Thinking about going onto Strava to get some free analysis and coaching from the West Yorkshire area!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk


Good idea, I am sure The Good Witch of the North will be able to cast some runes in the right direction :D

Re: Ripon Standard (National Championships) 1/7/17

PostPosted: 08 Jul 2017 12:45
by Kevy427
jonathon.e wrote:Good idea, I am sure The Good Witch of the North will be able to cast some runes in the right direction :D

Or even throw an Eccles cake in your general direction

Well done on your continued eventing. Can't remember the last time I attempted to 'race' :oops: