Here we are at the end of the 2010 triathlon season and we finish with an acclaimed and brilliant event. It is brilliant for several reasons: it is well managed and organised; plenty of helpers and marshals; the best triathlon goody bag in the country; age group prizes [ a cup and a prize] up to 70+ which benefited two of our veteran members. The cycle and the run are tough which adds to the high level of achievement each competitor experiences.
Four Bromley Veterans competed: Claire Clarke, Les Humphrey, Helen James and myself. This was the 50th triathlon that Les has done - what a terrific achievement!
I can only describe the race from my own perspective and the event began at 7.25am with a 400m swim in Sevenoaks leisure centre pool. Then a short sprint out of the pool and onto the bike [as usual I shamefully took far too long in transition] The cycle course was 16 miles around the undulating country roads of Kent and it was almost a continuous up and down with very little flat. One interesting fact was that mileage markers indicated just how far you had pedalled until finally there was a wonderful bright yellow poster which stated 400m to go!
Rack your bike and off on the 8k [5mile run]. Any Bromley vet who has completed the Sevenoaks cross country will recognise this next bit. Up the car park to Webb’s alley - a steep and rough path downhill to the gate into Knole Park. The park run is tough with lots of uphills, just the thing to test you after a tough cycle! Fortunately the weather stayed fair and calm. The finish was an exhausting slog up Webb’s alley to the finish where everyone had their photos taken. Competitors were continually being photographed – even the transition from pool to bike. All of mine show a very worried face!
Helen James had a particularly exciting race. Helen was featured in the local Sevenoaks paper as the oldest woman competitor – 75 – and she won the female ultra vet 70+ cup and prize in an excellent time [see below]. Les won the male ultra vet 70+ prize and was pleased to finish without incident this time [no punctures, didn’t get lost] and he also cycled and ran strongly. Claire, being somewhat younger, whizzed round in a superbly swift time.
An excellent event, roll on next April for the next Sevenoaks Triathlon.
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Swim
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T1
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Cycle
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T2
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Run
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Finish
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Claire Clarke
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8.01
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1.05
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53.32
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0.51
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41.51
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1.45.50
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Les Humphrey
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10.14
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2.48
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1.01.01
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1.06
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55.47
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2.10.59
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Maureen Farish
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11.07
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4.12
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1.27.12
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1.53
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1.05.32
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2.49.59
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Helen James
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11.38
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2.45
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1.19.25
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1.10
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1.06.42
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2.41.43
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