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Middle reportWell no real need for a race report on this epic event, there is soooo much hype about it that I thought that I would leave it all to the competitors to do the writing.If you took part send in your book of words, if you didn't you missed a Classic, shame on you!
If you are looking for a well organized, friendly middle distance race to round off your season, you won’t do better than the Bustinskin Middle Distance race, held at the impressive Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy –home of the sailing events in the 2012 London Olympics – in Dorset. If you are looking for a personal best, however, you might be better to consider Ironman 70.3 in Disneyworld, Florida. Dorset is hilly. Really hilly.
At 7 am (the local council wanted things wrapped up early apparently) a couple of hundred bleary eyed competitors jumped into the sheltered waters of the Sailing Academy for a 1.2 mile swim, as the sun appeared over the horizon in a cloudless sky. Chris Goodfellow of Team Spiuk, swimming for one of the relay teams, lead the way out of the water in just over 28 minutes, closely followed by Lee Pester. Out onto the bike and the competitors were faced with the prospect of a 55 mile course with a profile like an ECG, through chocolate box villages and some of the most stunning countryside the south west has to offer. Ben Thompson of BMC Racing put in the bike performance of the day with an incredible 2 hours 19 minutes for the relay team. John Rollason of Plymouth Tri followed up a solid swim with a 2hours 39 minute bike to take the honours in the individual bike leg. By now the sun was warming up the early morning chill with still not a cloud to be seen. The run leg started with a deceptive 1 mile flat section around the harbour before arriving at the bottom of a climb known locally as ”Heart Attack Hill”, a 400m almost vertical off road ascent onto Portland Bill complete with oxygen brandishing paramedics at the top. After that the competitors were treated to a lung bursting, leg burning fell run. This was compensated by quite stunning scenery along the coastal path past Portland Bill lighthouse, and plenty of rather surprised wildlife (including, to great dismay, a wasp’s nest that successive runner succeeded only in further irritating).
The final cruelty came as runners descended off the Bill to discover that the last 2 miles took them past the finish on another out and back loop. Alex Frost of the Team Frost relay team cracked the tape in an impressive run time of 1h38 minutes with the team completing the race in 4hours 30 minutes overall. First home of the main competitors was Steve Janse in just under 5 hours, closely followed by Peter Wilby with a quite outstanding 1hour 35 minute run. John Rollason rounded out the podium after his outstanding bike ride, in 5 hours 10 minutes.
The marshalling,
organization, signposting and goodie bags were all first rate and this race
comes very highly recommended. It is tough enough to offer a challenge to even
the most grizzled ironman veteran and equally – because of the scenery and
difficulty - presents a fantastic team event challenge for those not up for
doing the whole thing solo.
Alex
Frost Hello Mark I hope you have recovered from a full on triathlon organising weekend. Thank you so much for putting on such a great event yesterday. It was the most beautiful most gruelling and challenging event I have ever done. Just brilliant. The organsation was excellent, the marshalls very friendly and helpful. The marking on the coastal path were done by someone who cared. There was no way of getting lost! The views on the bike and run course were breathtaking. I bet this event will be a classic 'you haven't lived until you did this' event on the end of season middle distance calendar. If I can make one suggestion for improvement, please put out a further set of markers on the swim course as it was hard to sight, especially for us older participants with diminishing eyesight! Thanks again, see you next year Beate Serpentine Running Club
Hi
Mark,
Just a quick word of thanks
for organising such a great event yesterday. The atmosphere was superb, venue
excellent and the race so well organised and run, thank you for all your hard
work and please pass on my thanks to those who helped with the organsisation
along with all the marshall who did a stirling job, and to have the results same
day, top draw.
I look forward to meeting you
and racing again in the future.
Best Regards
Steve
Hodgetts
I know that in issue 237, 220 listed the '20 triathlons to do before you die' but having completed the inaugural Bustinskin Middle Distance Triathlon yesterday I have another suggestion for a feature. How about listing the top twenty scenic triathlons. I have been competing in triathlons for the last 13 seasons in events throughout the UK, Europe and beyond yet reckon this race on the Dorset Jurassic Coast is about the best when it comes to spectacular scenery. The race start and HQ was at the National Sailing Academy in Portland the venue for the Olympic sailing events in 2012. At 7am we lined up on the slip way for a mass swim start as the red sun emerged from the horizon over the magnificent Dorset Coast. The water was crystal clear, warm and flat(the only part of the course that was). The bike course commenced with a challenging ascent of the hill up through Fortuneswell to Portland Heights and then an undulating ride out to the lighthouse at Portland Bill offering almost a 360 degree view of the glistening sea before circling the island and descending down onto the Chesil causeway. The route then headed out to Portesham and the quiet, winding and yes very hilly Dorset country roads. This is Thomas Hardy country worthy of a visit at any time but in my view best appreciated on a bike with the only sounds coming from the whirring of a drive chain and sheep munching on grass in the surrounding fields. These lanes eventually lead to the coast road at Burton Bradstock. The route returned to Portland via Swyre Hill and Abbotsbury giving spectacular views of Chesil Beach and Portland in the process. I can't think of any other triathlon where you get a view of T2 when you are still 15 miles away from it. By the time I reached T2 the sailing academy was dotted with the brightly coloured sails of windsurfers and yachts. Despite my by now weary legs I was still able to appreciate this colourful sight. If the start of the bike section was challenging then the start of the run was brutal involving a long steep descent up a footpath past the castle onto Portland. I struggled up the hill knowing that on reaching the summit I would enjoy sea views for the remainder of the race. The rest of the course followed the coastal footpath that encircles the island. Much of the path consists of scree and rocks and I am sure I wasn't the only competitor who almost paid the price for admiring the views by stumbling and slipping on a rock or two. The final descent off Portland involved a precipitous path down onto the Chesil Beach causeway. From then on it was a straight out to the Ferry Bridge before crossing under the road and running back along the harbour-side to the finish. For a triathlete not interested in the scenery I would still recommend this race. All of the competitors I spoke to at the finish considered it to be the the hardest middle distance course they had encountered yet everyone seemed to enjoy the event. Maybe because of the Olympic quality facilities, good weather, slick organisation, good humoured marshals and officials and decent goody bag. In my view triathlon doesn't get better than this. If it does perhaps other 220 readers could let me know. Dave Pratten Mark Just a huge thank you to you, your team and marshalls for the great time at the middle distance Tri. As always, brilliantly organised, no fannying around at registration, just a quick pick up of an envelope with everything required to race, including the race chip. The course was well signed and you must give the marshalls happy pills :0). As always, a really tough but friendly and enjoyable event. The venue and route was just excellent. Many thanks. Mike.
Hi Mark,
Thanks again for organising a great, very tough triathlon. I'm very glad to
have done the first in what I hope will be a long running event. I think the
crew did a great job considering its the first time this event has run and there
were no obvious teething problems. Very slick.
Cheers
Hywel (Slowest T1 and T2 of the day, I shouldn't have had that 2nd cup of
tea:)
Hi Mark,
I note that your facebook page has crashed. Floods
of knackered triathletes I suspect !
Thanks again for an epic race. Great course, well
organized, even perfect weather laid on too !
Cheers,
Phil
just wanted to thank you mark for putting on another extremely well organised, well planned event. It was the toughest event I have completed so far in my two seasons of triathlon, but I knew what I was letting myself in for! Saying that the route you planned was stunning, and as much as it hurt at times, you couldnt help but appreciate where you were! Much much better than shooting up and down a dual carriage way, or running loops around the town! The venue was great, and you manage to create a fantastic environment. On top of this you get the results out accurately and very quickly, you dont have to wait around for hours for the prizes, which I might say are thought about and very generous. Thanks again, looking forward to doing more of your events!! Fran Bungay Hi Mark, Just wanted to say a huge thanks to yourself and all the organisers and marshalls etc....what a fantastic event, really well organised, beautiful course and fantastic atmosphere! This is my frst season of triathlon, and out of the 8 races I have managed to fit in since I started in June this year, this has by far been the best!! My first ever middle distance experience too...you sure weren't telling porkies when you said it was a tough run! See you next year!!!! Thanks Again... Sharon :) A large 'posse' headed down to Weymouth Sailing Academy on Sunday morning for the Bustinskin Middle Distance. Representing fantastic value at £65 for a Half Ironman distance race. Many of the club 'put one in the bank' by volunteering to marshall. Mark from Bustinskin passed on his thanks to John Makin, Jackie England, Clare Martin and family, Matty Allum and Matt Baker for marshalling, this Bustinskin first Middle Distance race. Having initially intended to race, I was aware of the route having cycled most of it and run the Portland Half Marathon earlier this year, I Knew it was to be a very tough event. Ironman 70.3 at Wimbleball is globally renowned as the toughest race of its kind at this distance. I can honestly say it has now been beaten into 2nd place by Weymouth!! The Sailing Academy was a splendid secure and safe venue for HQ, transition and swim and at the slightly delayed start time of 7am approx 80 athletes began the swim in the flat sheltered waters just off the Portland/Weymouth Causeway. Seven of the entry list were from the wizards. Chris Fendt was first to exit the swim but also first to withdraw - we believe to save himself for an event later this week. Stew Palmer followed up his Ironman and Langport performances by being next out of the swim in 39:49, followed by Rob Martin, new to the club, in only his 2nd event. Justine out in 41:50 was followed by Donna and Phil England within 4 seconds of each other into T1. Karen Allum continued to improve in open water entering T1 at 48:03. The bike leg went up onto Portland for a loop to Portland Bill, before heading back down along the Causeway. The route then took in the coast road to Portesham before heading inland on an anti-clockwise single lap, returning to the coast road at Burton Bradstock and back to Weymouth. The climbs in this area keep coming thick and fast and a strong easterly wind was gonna ensure no respite on the return run along the coast road. Being stationed on the bike course I could see the efforts of all and the club members settled in for the long haul. The bike course certainly shook the form book!! Some of the pages falling out. In the race amongst the Wizards, Phil entered T2 first, having been out cycling in his neighbourhood, followed by Karen, who excelled on the tough course, followed by Rob Martin, who having joined us at Thursday' swim, was convinced by me that this would be a good 2nd race after Langport last week !!! Donna and Justine entered T2 together, followed by Stew Palmer. Then onto a gentle 13.1 mile run........ For those of you who know Portland the climb from the Sailing Academy appears tough enough but add to that the steep rocky climbs in and out of the quarries that scar the coastal path, and you get the picture that the run is not for the faint hearted particularly on very tired legs. The final sting being the hill decent to within touching distance of the finish, only to then have to run along the causeway to Weymouth and back. Phil maintained his stranglehold on the bragging rights, on this his strongest discipline finishing strongly in 6hr 15:10. Rob Martin ran strongly to finish in a superb 6hr 45:14, in what he claims to be only his second triathlon(no pressure, but we now expect great things Rob!!) First Wessex lady and 3rd in category was Karen Allum in an impressive Ironman tempting 6hr 51:13. Donna and Justine ran the entire run section together, with Justine' back screaming enough, and Donna' thighs giving up the ghost to finish in 6hr 57:33 which placed Donna 1st in category. Stew Palmer was final wizard finisher, adding to his superb list of 09 results in 8hr 13:27. In his own words "That was a very, very hard race". Very well done to all. Steve Wessex Wizards
Comments from the pro's at www.tritalk.co.uk
I really enjoyed this event. The scenery and
race organisation were both fantastic. Thought the swim felt a bit long
but enjoyed seeing the bottom all the way around (and the crabs running
around on the bottom). The bike was incredibly scenic although haven't
checked max speed yet. Decided to come off aero bars and brake for the
corner down the steep hill - call me old fashioned if you want!
TC managed a conversation on his own as he power walked away from me up to the prison. The cliffs and views down to the Bill were great and then a cooling headwind back to the mainland. The out and back surprised a few that hadn't studied the course. Steeno put on a good race and I would recommend this one to anyone who likes it hard rather than fast. And to finish, the biggest piece of hot lasagne I have ever had! Race results can be found here: http://www.fullonsport.co.uk/fos/ResultFullScreen.php?eventId=12 Well done to the team at BustinSkin M Told ya he does a cracker of a race. Now don't go telling anyone else about the other tris he does. We'll keep this one eh?  ladies and gentleman we have an absolutely classic race here. it was great there was a huge TT turnout and bandwagon at ADITL but for me this is the ADITL of the south, and i dont get it why there was no TT buzz about this race. tough sh1t for all you lot who missed it as we'll never get weather like that again. whoo hoo - i was 7th 
 . and 3rd best run
I really wanted to be doing ElbaMan IM dist in Italy but Portland 1/2 in brilliant sunshine was the next best thing. swim was NOT cold, bike was great other than too many traffic lights through Chickerell/Wyke Regis and could have been hillier for me actually. the run is getting towards Helvellyn Tri proportions as an absolute adventure. wot a spectacle. i know i rode an honest bike distance too, my one man conversation up first till with tsh was expressing my doubts at one crucial point on the course where for sure some competitors have unwittingly missed a crucial turn off that was signed and marshalled out of character with the rest of the course at that point. All over with now, what did every one think of it then? "Interesting" Run out to the lighthouse I thought, I liked it myself, beats running around a car park, but I haven't got much to compare it with as it was my 1st Middle distance. (& 1/2 Marathon) |
