Dave's race:
The swim was a beach start and what a great atmosphere. Piped music, good crowds and the sun shining. The water was calmer than the athletes heartrates (well mine anyway) and with the water at 20C it was our choice whether we chose to wear a wetsuit or not.
I was taking every advantage my strong swim gives me and was particularly glad I had chosen to wear mine as the wind would have made it quite chilly standing around. I had a good start. Into the water and clear of the pack after 4 or 5 strokes.
I'd clocked the fact that there was some cross shore current hitting the first wave and allowed for that as I aimed for the turning point. Opposite correction on the return to shore and I emerged from the water 3rd in my wave and 2nd in my age group.
Probably the longest distance transition I've ever encountered (400m) went by in a flash and it was onto the bike and straight out into that wind! The bike leg was out of town and onto a rising dual carriageway heading north. With the combination of the climb and the headwind it made it tough going.
I hit the turn in around 22 minutes but there had to be some payback. Sure enough, it only took 14 minutes to cover the 10k back into town, but it would later be clear I had lost too much time on the outbound leg. Through T2 and out onto the dusty, gravely run.
I was pleased with my run. My best time for an open 5k is 20:01 and I managed to run 20:59 in the hot, windy conditions at the end of a tough Tri. Bodes well for future races. I had also avoided being blown up!
No word of a lie, but when Neil and I ran the course at the beginning of the week, we took a wrong turn and ended up on a track running through a mine field!
Comedy moment of the race came on the finish line though. Having been handed a full size Union Jack by Neil as I entered the finish area, I tried to unfurl it before I crossed the line. I was trying to do this as I ran into the headwind and about 5 yards from the line it caught the wind and completely covered my face. I have a very unique finishing photo as a result. Result: 11th in my age group with a finishing time of 1:12:25. Not too shabby, but my bike time was two minutes down on what it should have been in the conditions and just fifteen seconds would have got me the top ten finish I was hoping for. Doh!
Neil's race:
I'll admit to being pretty nervous in the build up to this race. After a brief look at the competition, against my better judgement I was confident of a good result and a little voice in the corner of my mind kept wandering what if... I resolved to leave everything out on the course and not to go home wondering what could have been.
A strong swim had me out with the lead pack with what turned out to be a fast time over a long course and I forced myself to sprint into transition to where my bike waited. My lungs and legs were screaming already by this point but I had promised myself to push through it so jumped onto the bike and into the wind I went.
Keeping down in the aero position to stay out of the very strong headwind helped me gain a place on the bike and coming back with the tailwind made everyone feel like Fabian Cancellara.
No one caught me on the bike so I knew I was highly placed so it was mine to lose on the run. I was petrified of losing it to a faster runner so just went for it.
It was a warm and windy run but with endless opportunities to see who was coming up on you from behind I pushed hard. With nothing else left in my legs I rounded the last turn, grabbed a union jack and crossed the line to hear the commentator cry "Neil Candler, 30-34 age group european championship bronze medal...".
I went nuts!
It was a tough race but I gave it everything and I'm elated to have it pay off with my first international medal.
Honorable mentions:
To our support team, Sue and Anna. Thank you for keeping us sane in the buildup to the event and for cheering us on throughout the race. We had cowbells ringing as we went past, flags waving and lots of encouragement and screaming as we suffered during the event.
Patience and understanding are obviously virtues for you both as you suffered nearly as much listening to Neil and me talking about Triathlon for 5 days!