Race Report - Bala Middle Distance 3rd June
2000m swim, 78K bike, 20K run
Thought we would try a different race for the first one of 2007- we picked a good one. This is an excellently organised race in the most beautiful scenery of Snowdonia National Park. It's the smallest race we have done at 400 competitors and very friendly and relaxed (unless you are a drafter). Definately one to do again- and it had a very civilised start of 9.30am. The weather forecast for the race was heavy rain which was a little worrying especially over the moors where there was no shelter at all, however race morning arrived cloudy but dry.
The swim was in Lake Bala which is very cold and the water very black. There were just 2 waves but as the lake is so big and the course out and back there was no problem with crowding. Transition is right on the lakeside so very short and would have been quick if I hadn't messed around putting on a bike jacket and drying my legs like a wuss.
Most of the climbing on the bike was in the first 10 miles to get up on the moors and I think I took it too hard as I had a migraine after an hour (tunnel vision and pins and needles is a little scary down a long 10% decent). However after taking it easy and eating I recovered and felt better. The rest of the course was flat if not slightly downhill so that made for a fast ride back to T2.
Managed a quick T2 and out on the run which sounded as though it followed the lake shore out and back but in actual fact was a never ending series of hills, the last one before the turnaround being particularly nasty and I had to resort to powerwalking (being faster than people running up and using less energy). I lost my bail out gel from my back pocket but kept it together to make it back in 5h 30m which was well into the top half of the ladies which I was very pleased with.
Jim managed a superb time of 4h 45m and 98th overall, despite losing half a front tooth eating a Powergel (don't ask how!) and posted excellent bike and run splits. Nice to know the training is paying off.
posted by Lisa on 6th June, 2007