Four months ago when Joel suggested, with such enthusiasm, we enter Craggy Island Triathlon, organised by Durty Events, I was tempted by the new challenge it would present. Mike, Jim and Nick were in. Helen, Willie, Graeme and I merrily took of some of the last remaining places and then didn’t give it too much thought, despite at the time never having done any open water swimming before or even owning wet suits.
Then six weeks to go, panic! Joel biked us over the Pentlands to Threipmuir a couple of times and gave us the confidence to discover what an enjoyable and invigorating experience open water swimming is.
Race weekend arrived and I wasn’t the only one feeling very nervous about the swim. Triathlon involves much faffing with all the kit that has to be taken, so it was with relief that we met up at Win’s caravan in Lochearnhead on Saturday night to chill. Willie had his reputation of being a champion swimmer to live up to, and so swim tactics were discussed. It would be a deep water start so he decided to get to the front and use his swim prowess to go hell for leather out on the swim. It paid off, first Carnethy out of the water! Joel was planning to do well too but Helen, Graeme and I just wanted to survive.
Race day : the sun was trying to shine, Carnethy mood was good. Early morning small ferries and boats took us with our bikes from Oban to the stunning island of Kererra, where we would bike and run. We registered on the island, faffed in the transition area, wriggled into our wetsuits and then took ferry back to the mainland to the swim start. The distance of the swim didn’t scare me as much as how cold the sea felt,13 degrees, brrr! Joel had told us how clear the water would be and after the initial shock of the cold water it was great to look down at the sea bottom.
Lots of thrashing and splashing as the start hooter went but I felt very calm. I really started to enjoy myself and this seemed so much easier than the dark, choppy Pentland waters Joel had put me through. Sighting also wasn’t an issue as I all I had to do was follow all the blue hats in front. It was an amazing feeling to reach the jetty on the island and run into transition. I felt a bit frustrated that I found it hard to pass slower riders on the start of the spectacular mtb course, my own fault for being a relatively slow swimmer, but then I decided to relax as I didn’t want to take risks and fall off, plus it meant I could enjoy the views, the sun and the whole experience. Perhaps my relaxed biking left me lots of energy for the last hill run leg? I certainly passed people on the run and felt good, up to the castle and then back down to the finish.
Great results from all, Nick in style coming 2nd and I was 3rd fem vet. It’s always exhilarating to go outside your comfort zone and survive. The proportions of the race course legs, swim 550m, 14km MTB, 8km run were favourable for the weaker swimmer and stronger biker and runner but maybe that is a general rule in triathlon? We are all enthused to carry on and do some more adventure triathlons. The best part is Mike mentioned getting some Carnethy trisuits for the club! Any takers?
Kathy Henly
Posn | Team | Cat | Time | Swim | tran 1 | Cycle | Trans 2 | Run | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Graeme | Neagle | Fusion | MS | 1:22:39 | 0:08:10 | 0:01:04 | 0:41:47 | ||
2 | Nick | Williamson | Carnethy | MS | 1:29:50 | 0:12:34 | 0:01:06 | 0:33:31 | 0:00:43 | 0:41:56 |
3 | Samuel | Black | SAMS | MS | 1:31:43 | 0:09:48 | 0:02:50 | 0:33:57 | 0:01:02 | 0:44:06 |
9 | James | Hardie | Carnethy | MS | 1:37:12 | 0:12:19 | 0:01:51 | 0:38:20 | 0:00:33 | 0:44:09 |
15 | Mike | Lynch | Carnethy | MV | 1:39:57 | 0:16:19 | 0:02:02 | 0:35:58 | 0:02:14 | 0:43:24 |
22 | Graeme | Dunbar | Carnethy | MV | 1:43:13 | 0:15:22 | 0:01:58 | 0:39:35 | 0:01:10 | 0:45:08 |
33 | Joel | Sylvester | Carnethy | MV | 1:47:18 | 0:12:42 | 0:01:54 | 0:39:25 | 0:01:04 | 0:52:13 |
42 | Willie | Gibson | Carnethy | MSV | 1:53:01 | 0:11:03 | 0:02:26 | 0:40:19 | 0:00:36 | 0:58:37 |
76 | Kathy | Henly | Carnethy | FV | 2:01:34 | 0:16:42 | 0:02:08 | 0:48:24 | 0:00:46 | 0:53:34 |
98 | Helen | Wise | Carnethy | FS | 2:08:21 | 0:16:25 | 0:04:42 | 0:46:44 | 0:00:55 | 0:59:35 |