The Vitruvian Triathlon 2005

10th September 2005

By Rob Forrest (Durham Tri Club)

The Vitruvian Tri is held in and around the area of Rutland water near Oakham in Leicestershire. It’s a middle distance event comprising of a 1.9km swim, 85 km bike (shortened this year, new route) and a 21 km run.

The morning of the race we turned up at Rutland water at around 5 30am. It was quite warm considering it was like the black hole of Calcutta as there was no street lighting and the generator powering the lights around the transition area kept cutting out. We did the normal stuff, checked the bikes over, got everything else ready for the race, then at 6 15am we were all kicked out of the transition area and would not be allowed back in till the race was underway.

6 30am the race brief started and so did the rain and it would continue to pour down for the entire race, the race this year had 5 waves due to the large field all starting at 5min intervals, Brian M and myself were off in the second wave at 7 00am.

As the time drew closer I started to get a little nervous as the swim is not my best discipline. The hooter went and we were off for the first of the two laps. As you finish your first lap you have got to leave the water do a quick 50m run then plunge back in to the water for your second lap, I just took the swim steady as I felt I would do ok on the bike and run.

Out of the water and in for the first transition, on with my socks (very soggy) a quick gel bar then off for the first of two laps which would bring you back to the start line before you headed off on your second lap. The bike course was undulating with a few long hills but was a quick course, the only concern was that some of the roads were very busy especially with lorries and with the heavy rain it was not the ideal scenario.

As you enter the start point after the first lap you come into the drinks station where you could get bottles of water or energy drinks then it was back out on the second lap .The second lap went much the same as the first I kept a good tempo up and was passing lots of other competitors. (Quite a few with punctures)

In for the last transition, bike racked, another gel bar and off on the run with my soggy trainers and my trench foot, and then been forced bananas and gel bars on to your person at the first feed station, I find it hard enough to drink when I’m running without trying to chew food so I declined the offer.

The run course was out around the lake to a turn around point at 5km where you were given a rubber band and then you ran back to the start before you ran out to the turn around point again and were given another rubber band before you headed back for your last 5km.Ifelt quite good on the run for the first 15km but when I turned for the last time I started to struggle, calves turned to lead in a matter of minutes. I got a couple of blisters but I struggled on to the end and it is a big relief when you finish and get the T-shirt.

Once we had all finished the talk is of which Ironman are we doing!!!! Anybody who is sane (not Mick Charlton) should give this a go if you’re thinking of doing a full Ironman.

Results

115		Rob Forrest		Durham Tri Club		04.53.28
127		Jim Colledge		East Coast Tri Club		04.55.57
151		Brian McCready		Durham Tri Club		05.01.15
178		Stephen Gray		Durham Tri Club		05.07.42
262		Clive Hudson		East Coast Tri Club		05.23.13
371		Brian Dobson		Durham Tri Club		05.51.10
398		Jim Croft		East Coast Tri Club		06.01.46
440		Kenneth Johnson		East Coast Tri Club		06.43.58