END OF TERM BLOWOUT

There’s a long (and no so interesting) story about why we ended up in Sardinia, but as ever it started with COVID – enough said

We (me, Danny Bluff, my wife Ann and daughter Rachel) arrived on the island late on Thursday night after the obligatory 2 flights and hanging around in Milan airport. After watching the luggage loader seriously mishandle my bike when loading up, I was keen to get the Argon 18 back together to make sure all was well. That done and all was well, a sound nights sleep followed.

Whilst the ladies entertained themselves translating Italian food packaging in the local supermarket, me and Danny went for a bike course checkout. It’s a lumpy course 1000-1100 meters depending which Garmin you believe. The first climb was about 5km long and covered 300m and was finished by 15kms, so we sets about that – a steady 4km and then a kick at the top. Back down to test the brakes and a quick out and back on the last bit of the course – flat and fast (more to find a beach for the afternoon than anything else😊). Happy with the bike set ups, lunch and down to do some water testing. Not at the swim start as that belongs to the Forte Village which is totally off limits to anyone who hadn’t paid (crazy money) to stay there. We swam around an island – 1300m, crystal clear, gently undulating water – fish everywhere, but nothing big enough to eat us!

Saturday was race faff, with a short 6km check of the out and back run course which went straight passed our accommodation and out to the coast – lumpy but varied, so seemed ok. Then followed another afternoon wave watching on the beach – all nice and calm, clear and warm.

Race day started (with the usual soaked oats) at a relatively leisurely time – 6:30 alarm, 7:15 leave – Ann dropped us off at transition and returned the car to base (as the main road was closed as part of the run course). We did the usual transition faff and walked the 1.2 kms to the swim start.

The previous 2 days of calm seas had of course now changed into people-crushing waves – joy! The first 400m out to a right turn buoy was going to be tough! We positioned ourselves to the front of the 30-35 min start coral and the rolling start duly began at 09:00. We didn’t see Ann and Rachel, but they had managed to circumnavigate the Forte security and got to within 50m of the start (great effort!). As predicted the first 400m was tough – sighting was hard, strokes were missed as the waves did their best to send us back to the beach😀. The following 1500m were relatively uneventful, so long as you are happy being thrown about by relentless waves and currents!!

Out of the water in 35 mins was not great, but I was alive and that was a bonus (checking my AG results later, it was actually more respectable than I gave it credit for at the time!). Slogged up the 1.2km hill to T1 – no excuse for not having myself sorted for a quick change and off on the bike.

I knew what to expect from the first 15km, and ride the climb to power (280-310W) and it actually felt ok. The descent (all 5km of it) was technical, twisty, steep in places – some locals clearly knew how to descend it quickly – I let them go and went for the “reach the bottom in a respectable time still attached to my bike option”. The next 40k we thought should be the time to get some speed back….and it was – undulating but straight, good road surfaces – head down, 230W….crack on. This section was an out and back and the turn around point was in a village which also featured about 1km of the worst roads I have seen abroad. I hit one rut too hard and expected to hear some hissing tyres……but seemed to have got away with it. 51 km complete in 90 mins after the big climb – very happy! I shouted thanks to the bike mechanic station to keep the race gods happy and then 2kms later I felt my front wheel go and the rim on the road! Gutted, first race day puncture in 12 years. The good thing about GP5000s is that they don’t puncture (apparently), the bad thing is they are pigs to get on and off the rim! Trying to focus on doing it right first time (one tube and one gas canister) and ignoring the wiz of bikes going passed me – 6 mins later I’m rolling again

60-75km was a return to hill action – this time, short, sharp hills and tricky descents. Deciding that the 6 min rest was enough recovery to hit these hills a bit harder – 350W became the target for the 2-3 mins climbs. I felt far more nervous about popping another tube than I did about burning the matches – in truth, I just wanted to be running now!

The last section was flat and fast again, and we had either already ridden it or driven it to and from the beaches. Bike done in 2:45 including the stop – still 5 mins faster than I predicted with the elevation. NP 250W – on target, 270 grams of carbs consumed (via tailwind / PH 1500 and a Cliff Bar) on target!

Sharp T2 and out onto the run having a high 5 aqua gel as I run out of T2. 1 km on the run (which was 2 x 10km out and backs) I saw Danny coming towards me (Ann had already told me that he was doing fine and 2nd in his AG). He soon came passed me, making 3:30 KMs look stupidly relaxed whilst I’m settling into my 5:00 KM rhythm 😀. The aid stations were perfectly set at 2.5 kms, so I broke the run down into 8 x 2.5kms with a 10 second walk at the start of each aid station to either take a salt capsule of a gel along with water – in me and over me!

I was overtaken by about 10 people in the first KM and restricted the temptation to chase them…..they will come back later 😆 After the first aid station, there were only young kids on their second lap passing me which I fully expected. I saw Dan coming back on his final 5km and timings meant that the support team were at the finish line waiting for him when I hit the end of the first lap. This was the point that I would expect to get reliable AG position information – hey ho, just crack on and do what you can! Having run the course the day before, I knew the ups and downs and elected to try for an even 5:00 per KM rather than reflecting the terrain. It worked well – half way in 52 mins – spot on! On the second lap I continued the nutrition and pacing strategy and sure enough all of the guys that had rushed off were pulled back and over taken😂😂

The final 500m is a branch off the run course up a big hill and a to the red carpet – run done in 1:32 and 10th in my AG. On the first page on the IM tracker for the first time – little things make me very happy. Saw Dan, Rachel and Ann straight afterwards and found out Dan was 2nd in his AG, and 3rd overall – more proud dad time👌👌

That’s it for this year, and a great conclusion…..Mondays only challenge was to bag a slot at Challenge Roth next year – the ballot opens at 10:00 and usually sells out in under 30 secs. I’ve raced it before, but wanted a slot as Dan had one rolled over from COVID times. 10:00:09 – emailed confirmation- I’m in! Best start training…….oh yeh, it’s 2 weeks off first😀😀😀 – off to the beach (again)