Sounds similar to IM Vichy. Thats seen a couple where it was near 40. Non wetsuit swim and an exposed bike/run. The locals were sitting in their front gardens spraying people with hose pipes at one.
Vichy 2017, my first IM, non wetsuit, I think 34-35 degrees
edit, just checked Vichy Avg temp on run was 32, max 36 (I started run at 2:30 and finished around 7pm)
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Haven’t done it, and haven’t planned any more road races at the moment, but if the pre-pandemic field can be replicated it should be fast. And a single lap so no lapping back markers near the end.
What track are you doing? I periodically think I would like to run on a track again, but really not sure my calves could take it anymore.
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I joined Swindon Harriers and train with them on a Tuesday. They are part of Southern Counties Veterans League - Western Division. There are only 4 fixtures, with a mixture of events for each one. Last one was slightly slim pickings with a 200m, 800m & 2000m walk. This one I’m spoilt for choice with 100m, 400m, 1500m & 5000m.
Using powerof10 I have found a number of open meets I could enter. Other than that I’ve found it quite clunky, you almost need to know the clubs who have tracks/host events and look on their sites. I find looking at people on powerof10 who I know do track stuff gives me an idea of what events are out there (assuming they run the same stuff most years).
Swindon host a few Friday evening 3000m races starting in November which are pretty good.
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I wasn’t planning on the 5k, driving to Calne and back for an 18min run doesn’t appeal too much.
I got asked a few times last night about joining a couple of clubs but the above isn’t really selling to me!
You are looking at it wrong. You drive to Calne because it will only be a 16min run for you, not 18min! Just look at how far TT guys will travel to race on a fast 10ml course!
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I was about to type the same thing!
Look how far the elite sprinters travel to run for 10 and 20 seconds
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I’m not sure if that was aimed at my comments?!
There are a few benefits I see from the club I’ve joined, which is an athletics club based out of a track:
- The weekly track training sessions only open to club members. I’d never work that hard by myself.
- They are a member of the Oxon XC league, you get free entry to each race (5 races)
- Club pays for entry into the National XC champs
- The track league fixtures are also all free. There is a vets league for the 35+, and then the standard league open to anyone (slightly higher standard).
The above probably doesn’t apply to many pure running clubs.
Some other perks:
Some races have team prizes.
Then there is the ‘social’ side. The pure running club I’m a member of has much more of that.
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We have a few district level runners take part and it has been close, last year I had to run 27:20 for the 8km. It’s now an open event so the field will be even bigger. I might Marshall instead and go out as undefeated
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A swim race. I say race, who can race for 3.8K swimming? Certainly not me. Think that is the furthest I have ever swam, and happy to beat my predicted finish time by nearly 5 minutes. Might be able to get under 35min at Cotswold afterall.
2 laps around the lake, a chaotic rolling start where they just counted down and everyone piled into the water. As a result the first few hundred metres was pretty hectic, until it settled down and I was able to find some feet. Just cruised around the first lap, occasionally passing tale end swimmers from the 1.9K event which disrupted the groups I was trying to draft. And despite trying to dog-leg around the shallows, plenty of people were walking to the far turn buoy.
The field had thinned out by lap 2, so less feet to follow. Water was a balmy 22C and it was certainly warm. My calves kept threatening to cramp so I couldn’t kick at all. About half way around the lap a women in a swimsuit comes cruising past me, with a very strong kick. So I tuck into her draft for as long as I can, but lose her feet as she walks through the shallows. Final turn and a notice people are starting to speed up! Not me, my pace stays the same and lose a few places up to the exit and over the timing mat.
3.8K. 67:54 official time. 65th out of 163. Winner did 45:36, and she beat the 1st man by 3 minutes! In fact 3 of the top 4 were women.
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The Celtman is today. Conditions look tough on the west coast… windy and cool. I’m glad I’m not doing it this year. Not sure if any TT’ers are racing?
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Nice paddling! Where was the race, Lake 86?
Did you see you picked some prize money for team win at the sizzler? 
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Comfortably on form to go sub-35 at Cotswold
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Thanks. This was at Lake 32, so pretty much the Cotswold tri course.
Got a message this morning about the team prize. Surprising as we didn’t have our fast guys running. I wouldn’t be in the team if they were!
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Great for midge suppression, but awful for the exposed bike sections.
was that organised by VOTWO? we did a 3.8km swim there many years ago organised by them
It’s a local company called Active Sports Events. They do tri and run events too.
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Catching up on the group messages, seems the swim turned epic. I’ll be in the ballot again for 2023. Next year the conditions will be better
I might pop in my name too. Or not. The Celtman is an awesome race but it gives me a slight sense of dread. Mainly the swim.
The mountain route was closed so must have been very windy.
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