Aberfeldy race day

Some funnies on distance on the big day: Swim: 2km (officially 1.9km), in 38'37" - very pleasing, in combat conditions, and a very chilly Loch Tay (12 deg C). Employed what can only politely be called autonomous heating in the loch - highly recommended!

Weather ok, but a bit of rain whilst swimming, so damp cycling gear. A quick gel in T1, then another on the bike as it was rubbing my leg. T1 about 5 minutes

Bike: 90.87km (officially 90km) in 3 hours 23'01" - average speed a very pleasing 26.9, especially with around 800m of ascent. Loved loved loved the ride down from the summit to Aberfeldy, watching the average speed recover everything I'd lost on the climb from Loch Rannoch. On the bike, drank two bottles of energy drink, ate half a banana and took on another water which I didn't touch, plus a total of 4 or five energy gels.

T2 - nicely organised with a handler to take the bike away. Time for a big swig of energy drink, and a quick gel. By the end of the bike leg, the sun was well out, and warming up. T2 around 3 1/2 minutes.

Run: 20.16km (officially 21.1km) in 2hr13'36"- average speed 6'38"/km with the first 2 km running at sub 6 minute kms, then run/walk/run, with lots of internal bargaining (you can walk up this bit if you run down the far side, or walk 50m then run 200m). Lots of aid stations, where I took on water and small amounts of energy drinks, and ate three gels en route.

Total time 6 hours 24' 20 seconds, 241st out of around 280, and 16th supervet out of 21. But comfortably beat my target of 412 minutes - mostly due to a better run than expected, although the bike beat my target by 7 minutes too.

Longish, hillyish bike

70km - Lord's Throat, Keig, Bridge of Alford, Mossat, Kildrummy, Glenkindie, Muir of Fowlis, Tough, Cluny, home. 1,100m of ascent, average speed 26.2km/hr (26.5km/hr moving). Quite pleasing, and the gels and fluids worked well. Good practice for Aberfeldy

What a weekend!

Blazing hot weather - 25 degrees plus, and a rehearsal for the Aberfeldy bike, (plus an additional leg from Aberfeldy back to Kenmore). 100.2 km at an average moving speed of 23.4km/hr. Could have been quicker as the back half of the loch leg, and quite a bit after that was holding back to keep Mike in view. Realistic target for race day: 25-27.5km/hr Then a short swim with the seals in Newburgh, just 800m, but first open water of the year.