After continual harassing and prodding, Nick and Kenny have finally coughed up some words of wisdom after their experience of the Lakesman awe while ago. This was an even where we had 4 folk from the club taking part, Mr and Mrs Coates-Roberts (Kenny and Nick) as well as Richard Barber and Stewart Anderson. This was the second time that Kenny and Nick had taken on this challenge and were hoping for a good showing this year in what would prove to be very challenging, very non-typical British weather!
Words from Nick –
Nick had been hoping to smash his PB on this course this year but knew it was going to be a challenge when they woke at 3am and it was already 19degC. A scorcher was on the cards! Overcast and light drizzle would have been preferred, or maybe some snow! Anyway, a swim PB of 1:15 and a bike PB of 6:24 got him off to a great start to the day, although he knew he was being a bit enthusiastic on the bike and at mile 85 forced himself to slow down as still a long way to go on the run. After leaving T2 he knew that a PB was well within his grasp but by now the temp was heading towards 30degC so any hope of smashing it was unlikely. Unfortunately as the day heated up and peaked at 32degC the hope of a PB faded and was out of reach and a mental battle began to finish. Nick took the hose down at every mile and still managed a very respectable time of 13:53. Nick was really happy to have finished and it was a huge mental effort to keep going once the PB had gone after such a great start to the race. A massive effort and a massive well done.
Richard Barber was completing his first ever long distance race and absolutely smashed it coming in at 12:52. A phenomenal effort in really tough race conditions. Stewart Anderson completed in 13:29, another great result.
Words from Nick –
A year ago I stated I was stupid to do the Lakesman with just enough training to get round. Fast forward another year and i’m now a stone heavier, only junk miles in my bike legs and not near enough miles in my run legs and here I am stood at the start of this year’s lakesman with Nick, Richard and my old class mate Darren. I’m soooo looking forward to this, oh and as an added bonus it’s going to be the hottest day of the year!! YAY!! Off I go on the nice little swim round the big square route in the Derwent. I checked my time at the furthest point and garmin said 1.4miles 47mins to which I thought I might pb the swim but as usual I go into lah lah land and come out of water 1.30 Off now on the bike, lesson learnt from last year not to go too hard too early, my main aim for the bike was to finish it without crying so it’s a nice easy pace and i get to Egremont 10mins down from last year and the same at halfway point. I turn at Silloth and woohoo I’m still riding in TT/hoods position and not on arm rest’s. This route has a little loop and up until now I’ve had company around me most of the way but as I turn off to do the loop it’s solitary for the next 4/5 miles with no other cyclist’s. I start wondering am if I am last and what’s happend to everyone then off I go back into lah lah land again. Thankfully someone passes me waking me up!! I get to 2nd last feed station to sit on the throne thinking of how much pain I was last year when I was here unfortunately as I set off the wheels started falling off and still 30miles to go my neck and back ached then feet started burning. I pour a full bottle of water over then at the last feed station trying to cool them off. Once again I’m crying on the (insert expletive) bike as I enter Keswick 7.35hrs with last 30 miles of hell.
My trainers feel like slippers after having bike shoes on it’s just a shame that I run like they’re diver’s boots but as always I try run slow and steady walking the feed stations. My plan seems to be working I see Nick and Richard at same point 1st 2 laps of the 5 lap coarse. I’m sipping some form of liquid every feed station and cooling myself down with sponges or hoses where ever available but the heat is horrendous. I’m near end of 2nd lap and I’m gone, fk me I’ve still got over 15miles to go so on I plod walk more with every mile. At one point I was running (plodding) and a bloke walked passed me I stopped laugh and said to the bloke what’s the point. Lap 4 and I’d taken on too much water and so very kindly watered some flowers with the contents of my stomach. I was now running 40/50 steps walking 20, last lap a couple of friends decided to keep me company so that was my excuse to walk for a couple of miles with me eventually finishing run 6.27hrs. I’ve got to say this is a very friendly event, as with most events the feed stations are brilliant both on bike and run always encouraging everyone to keep going even the race marshal was walking the route encouraging us (although the cheeky b’stard said he’d just saw my twin but I’m better looking than Nick).
The organizers using common sense allowing you to take special needs from family on route and bringing in extra cooling stations for the heat. This is very much a feel of a family type triathlon. Would recommend this race to all although is killed me twice now! I finished in 15.54hrs, 10 mins slower than last year but lesson learnt… maybe… You must be stupid to do an Ironman with as little training as I’ve done. When will I ever learn!!
