Lakesman Triathlon 2022
Lakesman is an iron distance or full distance triathlon, not an Ironman, as Ironman is a corporate name.
In 2017 Billy and I entered The Lakesman triathlon. It was a small affair but very athlete centred and family friendly, since then we have entered as soon as entries open. We lost 2020 to Ci9 restrictions, but we have competed every year possible since. The Lakesman organisers Marie and Phil like to reward loyalty and since 2019 everyone who has done each race since 2016 and 2017 have had a little extra in our registration bags, a t shirt for 3, a notebook and prosseco for 4 and this year, because we were to start our fifth, we got Prosecco and a buff.
We registered on Friday as the rain fell, we collected our packs and enjoyed our time window shopping in Keswick and enjoying good food and coffee.
On Saturday, the rain had stopped, as I was nervous of the swim, because it would be the furthest I had swum since Lakesman 2021 and I am getting less ansd less tolerant of the cold. I went for a dip in Derwentwater, I was in the shallows and the water did not seem too cold, but I was only in for 10 mins ish, but it eased some nerves.
We spent most of the morning eating and meeting friends who were racing too. In the afternoon we took our bikes and bags to the main carpark by tht Theatre by the Lake in preparation for the morning. We then went to the rugby club for race briefing.
Every year one of the highlights of the weekend is the Budgie Smuggler Run. Starting by the lake, people in budgie smuglers and other assorted bathing wear run from the lake to the finish line blowing kazoos. Each year the amount of Budgie Smugglers grows, as does the crowd. This year the finish line had moved to the rugby club instead of the carparkCarpark, so the runners had a slightly longer run.
The alarm went off at 4 am on Sunday, the sky was just getting light. We had bananas and flapjack for breakfast, put on our trisuits and wetsuits and headed to the transition area. It was not warm, it was overcast and breezy. We readied our bikes and queued for the portable loos.
The half Lakesmen were called forward for the swim, they were going at 6 am and the full at 6:20, or as soon as the halfs had got well underway.
Swim section 2.4 miles
I was nervous and stresses, I’d hardly slept and was worried about the swim and about the bike cut off times. All too soon it was time to get in the water. We had a choice of mass start or rolling start. I had chosen the deepwater mass start because that would give me a little time to acclimatise, rather than the rolling start where you walk in and swim straight away. The water was chilly and the breeze was ruffling the surface under grey skies. The surrounding mountain tops were shrouded in early morning mist. I took time to gather my wits and the countdown was on, we were off, the start of a long race. 2.4 mile swim which was 2 laps around the island. I struggled to get going, head filled with self doubt, soon I was almost alone, I swam front crawl with my head up for a while, did a little breast stroke, front crawl, head in, head out, the water was rough I could see I was making progress slowly, steadily. At the first yellow turn buoy I kept wide and headed for the next orange buoy, it seemed out of place with the yellow turn buoy in the distance. As I got closer I realised it was a canoeist not a buoy and set off for the yellow buoy. The water was rough and cold on this section, smashing me in the face, I fought panic, trying to stay calm, breast stroking, swimming crawl with my head up. Finally I could turn and the walter was calmer, I was starting to settle in to swimming front crawl with fewer breaks. On the next turn started the second lap, I was more relaxed and started to catch other swimmers, I still struggled through the rough section, it was cold, I was cold but 3/4 the way through. I was settled in now and my calf wanted to cramp, I relaxed my leg as much as I could, I thought I hd got away with it, but as I tried to stand to exit the swim, cramp sent pain though my calf, and quad, The man helpig swimmers out of the water, supported me as the cramp passed, He helped me to the shore and I set off on the long run to transition, mainly on carpet, which was wet from others exiting the swim. I did not think I had done a great time but I saw it was 1 hour 32, slower than usual but not by much.
I was really cold an put on a cycling shirt and waterproof jacket for the bike, I noticed blood on the floor. I had cut my big toe. The transition volunteer went to get a first aider and she kindly dressed my toe then raised concerns because I was shivering, she was worried I was too cold to go out, I was wrapped in a foil blanket and soon warmed up, the medic cleared me to go and I went before they could change their mind. Transition had taken too long.
Bike section 112 miles
It was chilly on the bike, but windy so I was working hard and started to dry out and feel warm. It felt strange on the bike section, a bit like a training ride as I saw not many cyclists, normally there is a constant stream of cyclists chasing and passing each other, but being much later out onto the route than in previous years the riders were more strung out. The wind didn’t let up and the long section from Egremont to Silloth was slow, I was struggling to keep a 14 mph average, I stripped my raincoat off at 50 miles and that helped a bit as it was acting like a parachute. I was warm enough now with a light jacket over my tri suit. Entering the loop there was a slight advantage over the wind but as I got further from the coast the wind dropped, making the second loop from Allenby to Silloth seem even tougher after getting used to the lack of wind. I had been glad to enter the second loop as I knew I was at the back of the pack and travelling slower than previous years, I had dreaded being sent straight back and not being allowed to do the loop. I was equally pleased to get off the loop and head for Aspartria and Cockermouth, there were more rolling hills but the majority of the route, being inland was quicker, I was building my average mph but it was too late in the ride to make much difference now. I just needed to get out on the run before 16:10. I had no idea of the time as I didn’t have time on my watch face. I just rode as hard as I could back to Keswick. As I racked my bike I saw that I had taken 7 hours 50 minutes on the bike. My fuzzy tired mind knew I was still too close to the 10 hour from the start cut off.
I changed into my trainers, grabbed my gels, went to the loo and dashed for the run route. Phew!! Made it, I had at least 7 hours now to complete the run section.
Run section 26.2 miles.
The route started the same as previous years, going along the back of Hope Park to the rugby club, through the rugby club like last year, collect band 1 and then on the traditional route along the Cumbrian Way, and on to High Hill, affectionately named the Highway to Hell, up round, down, towards the church, back up and round, then the big change to the route. Because of works to a building on the old route we now had to go back onto the Cumbrian Way, retracing our steps, through the rugby club and then the Steps of Doom. Work our way back to transition and start again. Repeat 4 more times. I ran the first 2 and ran/walked the rest. I felt sick from the third lap and only took on water from then. I liked the new route, It was good to have so many opportunities to see club mates and friends on all the out and back sections, but not those Steps of Doom which felt as if some one added a step each lap. The last lap was a relief, collecting the fifth band and thanking the volunteers on route. The course was now quite empty, lonely in places as athletes finished and their supporters left with them. The last time into the rugby club was amazing, the support that was left was awesome, I found the strength to run and as the organisers always say “finish like your winning”. I was surprised and pleased to see the time, as I had felt much slower than that.
I was very pleased to finish my fifth full Lakesman in 15 hours 20 minutes and 11 seconds, a week after the White Horse 29 mile trail race and 3 weeks after the Hardmoors 110. I am finally beginning to feel confident in my endurance capabilities again.
I have entered again for 2023, but for the half distance to save myself the swim stress.
The signal in Keswick is a bit hit and miss so the recorded distances on my watch are not exact, plus there are the transition distances to take into account.
