After feeling that I didn’t make the most of last year’s race at Monikie Country Park, I came back this year to improve on my race and finally get a famous post-race burger off the barbecue. The fact that it is such a good race, one of the Triathlon Scotland National Championships and one my club championship events didn’t hurt either!

Race-day

Travelling by myself to this one meant I was actually on time for once! Easily had enough time for packet pick-up, body marking and setting up transition. Even had enough time to chat to the Technical Officials and Triathlon Scotland staff at the event.

Swim – 750m, 15:21

Around 30s down on last year, but swimming a little further off course. That meant my swim speed/fitness was similar, so clearly I need to work on my sighting and keeping on course. I’m pretty sure I need a new wetsuit too – think this one might be constraining my shoulders a little. Yet another item on the wishlist…

T1 – 2:28

Can’t remember anything going spectacularly wrong here. 43s faster than the previous year, so more than overcame the swim deficit and entered the bike slightly up on the previous year.

Bike – 21km, 46:30

The most important thing about the cycle section this year was that I didn’t nearly crash during it!

This meant that despite coming in 1 minute and 15 seconds down on my 2016 time, I felt like I was doing a lot better, and I entered the run feeling a lot more positive. It’s really funny how my perception could be altered like this.

The biggest downside to the bike course was the lack of on-site parking meant cars were parked on both sides of the course around the entrance to the park. Mix this inconsiderate parking with local traffic and we had quite a bit of congestion in this area. I chose to hang back but I did see some dangerous cycling going on here. I hope the race organisers can find some overflow parking nearby or better marshal this area as competitors are arriving next year.

T2 – 50s

Fast and smooth, can’t say fairer than that.

Run – 24:51

So this is where it really paid off to be in a better frame of mind this year. Compared with last year’s effort of 27:23, this was an easy place to gain minutes, mostly through being in the right mental state.

The course itself is 1 and a half laps of the two reservoirs that formed the swim course. It’s off-road but grassy rather than muddy and as you would expect from a club race – brilliantly marshalled.

Finish – 01:30:07

Position: 181/259
No Garmin Connect (and I wish Strava would handle multipart events more elegantly).
Official Results

Overall just slightly faster than last year, but with a much better feeling at the end of it.

And despite the weather’s best efforts, this year we did manage to get a BBQ going and get a burger at the end of the race, along with some wonderful cakes and sandwiches. M3 Triathlon Club’s hospitality is second to none!