From Jeff Green…
Photo credit: Jumpy James Photography
I completed my first middle distance triathlon (Epicman) in 2021 – a roll-over from 2020 when it was supposed to have been part of my build-up to the Yorkshireman – an iron-distance triathlon. The latter event ended up being a permanent victim of COVID: the organising company went bankrupt! Not feeling quite ready for an ironman this year, I was on the look-out for a shorter alternative and ROC England seemed to fit the bill; a five-stage triathlon, starting from the same venue as the Epicman at the YMCA near Lakeside:
1. 1.5k swim in Lake Windermere
2. 45.5k cycle to the end of Langdale
3. 17.5k run to the summit of Scafell Pike and back
4. 45.5k cycle back to Windermere
5. 1k trail run to the finish line.
After a brief swim to test the waters (actually fairly warm ~17C?) I joined the rest of the relatively small field of just over 100 competitors at the start line, about 50m from the water’s edge. I’d never experienced a mass start run into open water before and was a little apprehensive of the rocks I’d just seen below the surface, but I got into the water and round the course unscathed in just under half an hour. So far, so good.
Seconds into first bike leg disaster nearly struck while struggling to open a gel. I veered off the road, narrowly avoided falling off, but squirted gel over the handle-bars instead of into my mouth and had to put up with sticky hands for the remainder of the ride!
The route followed fairly main roads, but once through Greenodd, it was a pleasant route through Torver, Coniston and past my parents’ old home in Skelwith Bridge before turning into Langdale. It was hard to keep a lid on the pace as slower swimmers – who were better cyclists – continued to zoom past me for most of the first hour.
Into T2, where our mountain bags and shoes were waiting, I quickly slapped on some sunscreen and headed out through Stool End Farm and up Mickleden, trying to claw back some of the places I’d lost on the ride, knowing that the mountain stage played to my strengths.
I’m sure I’ve been to the top of Scafell Pike before, but I’d forgotten quite how tough a climb it was – a relentless climb up to Angle Tarn, then boulder fields, scree and scrambling to the summit. I managed to maintain a steady pace on the way down, but was aware that my legs were tiring and started to wonder whether I’d have enough left for the return bike stage.
It was actually a relief to stop running and get back on the bike – at least until the start of the first hill! I must have paced it reasonably well as I think only 1 person came past me on this leg, but the 3 mile uphill drag from near Haverthwaite to Newby Bridge was murder. At least by this point, I was pretty certain of finishing and the last 1km trail run was mercifully short and shaded. I could definitely work on my cycling and transitions, but having been aiming for a total time of 6:30 to 6:45, I was pretty happy with my overall time of just under 6:22.
There are Wales and Scotland versions of the race involving – you guessed it – ascents of Snowdon and Ben Nevis. Entries still available for both events (Wales on Sat 3rd Sep and Scotland on Sat 8th Oct 2022).
(1 5:04:40 Iain Veitch U/A)
15 6:21:56 Jeff Green
100 finished