Race Reports: Two Years Later … So Much Faster!

Race Reports: Two Years Later … So Much Faster!

Many of our athletes like to do some of the same races each year so they can measure their progress and see how far they have come.

Take Elliot for example. How much can you really improve on a sprint triathlon?

How does 36 minutes sound?

Let’s read the story of his latest performance at the West Lancs Sprint Triathlon …

West Lancs Sprint Triathlon – Race Report

This is where my triathlon journey started 2 years ago and my 3rd time here now.

I woke up on race day like it was Christmas morning. How lucky am I to experience race days like this?! Nothing comes close to this feeling. How lucky is anyone who races and gets to experience a race day in any sport?

I had felt tired the week before – and had worked around 90 hours – but I looked at my watch and it gave me a training readiness score of 100. With this confidence booster, I gave myself permission to go all out.

Driving to the event with Laura and Erin I felt a strange calmness. I kept thinking to myself how much I was going to enjoy my day.

I racked my bike in transition and got myself poolside ready to go and during the race briefing I felt the rush of adrenaline, excitement and the urge to run away into safety (again). I’m familiar with this feeling now so I embraced it and channeled it into my race.

Swim

The official counted me down.

3, 2, 1 … go!

Again I felt lucky. I thought to myself this is what it’s like to feel truly alive, this is race day joy and it’s very powerful. I’d recommend everyone who reads this to push themselves and sign up for something you think you can’t do. Guaranteed this journey will change you.

Starting off I felt smooth but strong. I caught the first swimmer quickly and tapped his feet – but he decided not to let me past. “No problem” I thought, “I’m saving myself for the bike anyways”.

Pressing stop on my watch … 7minutes 47seconds. Wow! A new PB, down from 8:06.

Bike

T1 felt good – no drama – in and out quickly.

I knew I had to go out hard so I did. I pushed all the way round, not afraid to hit 180bpm heart rate. I used the hill sections to have a quick drink and get my gels in – didn’t pedal down the hills but got in aero position to save energy for the run. Looking back, I think I’ll pedal harder next time as I only reached 25mph and I know I can get over 30mph if I go for it.

Looking at my power meter during the ride and all the stats looked good.

Into T2 … and another PB on the bike (around 6 minutes quicker than the same race in April).

Run

T2 no drama again. Heart rate high but everything under control.

Into the run I was a little worried as I hadn’t run for around three weeks due to leg soreness. I had also recently had my first deep sports massage – which hurt more than anything I’d been through before!

“I’m going to aim for 10 minute miles and not stop” I thought. I knew this would be hard and I’d never done it before in a triathlon. Wow the pain on the first lap was real, no lower leg pain though so I was happy with that, but my upper legs were bursting and it was a struggle.

I started to see Laura and Erin and all the Swim Squad cheering me on so this helped.

Lap 2 and I was in agony but knew I had to keep pushing and endure the pain for a decent time. I ran up the hill by the stairs section which reminded me of hell. My whole body was now screaming, “I hate running” I thought.

Before I got to the top of the hill, I had decided I was going to have 10 or 15 seconds walk break at the top – “this would be lovely” I thought – and was really looking forward to it. Then suddenly, out of the blue, maybe 5 seconds into my walk I spotted Gary’s wife, Julie, who seemed to jump out the bush shouting my name! I thought “Oh no, I’ve been caught walking. Run, Elliot, run!” I started running for my life, past the Swim Squad supporters again and managed to give Erin a high 5. I continued onto the track and into the finish line … with a run PB! The MC was calling “Elliot Burke says anything is possible” which I have on video!

Great race , so much pain but worth it for the joy at the end.

Around 36 minutes quicker than my first time here.

Race Reports: Two Years Later … So Much Faster!

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