middle distance reports 2010
Ok so you may have read the reports from last year,
"it's hard" "it's hilly" "it's a must do event" etc, etc...
but did it happen in 2010?
Read on to find out;
Mark
Only just recovered enough to be able to coherently send an email !
Seriously, many thanks for organising a great race. This was my first Middle distance event which seems to have been the case with a number of people I was crawling along with. I think the key ingredients are a good venue, being well organised in a very relaxed enjoyable way but in particular having really helpful & encouraging Marshalls. You seem to be able to encourage the very best to give you a hand and they really do deserve some praise & thanks. Having marshalled at local Cross country events I know what it is like to be stuck for some time in one spot but they all seemed pleased to be there on Sunday & offer a few words of encouragement ( usually in my case “do you need an ambulance” !)
A great way to get fit for the key Bustinskin event of the year the Santa Dash. That pudding has no chance this year !
Thanks again for putting on a great event.
Best wishes
Paul Rogers
Hello again Mark,
I have just been reading the race reports from those competitors who did finish and I would like to add something:
Do not underestimate this course, residual fitness will NOT carry you through. Leave your aero bars and helmets behind you will not need them, you will however need food, thighs and mental strength! And if all else fails the cold clear water as the sun rises and stunning scenery will make it all worthwhile! I also think that the marshals and event organisers have been hand picked from the very top of the lovely tree with plenty of hugs for everyone! A 'must do' race for anyone's calendar... except mine! :-)
Adel.
Hi Mark,
Thanks for putting on such a great race on Sunday - it was a great experience. I generally do flat fast courses so to finish some 2 hours slower than my best time for this distance and still very happy gives an idea of the extent of it!
When I was sitting on the grass verge half way up Verne Hill within 10 minutes of starting the bike I really wondered if I had bitten off more than I could chew - I probably had but I reminded myself that this was an end of season jolly (Yes, I was questionining my own sanity). Finishing, enjoying and getting the well earned Bustinskin hoody were the name of the day.
You are a great team with great organisation, even before the race began you put me in contact with Andy from Mud, Sweat and Gears when I discovered a hole in my tyre wall the evening before the race! Not only did Andy show up with the right tyres - in the right colour (even though I hadn't told him what that was!) but he went the extra mile to actually put the tyre on for me while I faffed around in transition - Thanks Andy.
The marshalls were great, I liked the two sitting on the bike course with a whistle at a left turn that I would have missed if they hadn't woken me up! I took more time to get to know the marshalls on the run - particularly at the top of Verne Hill....again.
I have enjoyed reading everyone elses report and think there will be many memories coming back for some time from this race. As myself and two friends from Brighton spoke after the race I had to laugh as we almost competed for the "silly award" I fell over on the run but took the oportunity for a lie down, I fell over twice said my friend - well I rode into a bush on the bike, said her daughter - no competition - she won hands down!
Thanks again - you might just have inspired me to get out and do some training on hills :-)
Morning Mark,
Great event. Mate you do so much for endurance sport, a proper unsung hero. A bloody sadistic one though!
Can't really say much more about your tri than what's already been said. Fantastic marshalls and organisation. Huge thanks to all involved. Just an awesome day. And no laps on any of the legs is such a godsend. But what a bitch of a race. Adopting my usual triathlon strategy of competely neglecting the bike, after all it's just to get me from the swim to the run, turned out to be particularly ill-advised. Three hours and forty minutes of hell. Barely enough power in my legs to get up those monster hills and barely enough cahoonas to cope with the terrifying descents I have never been so happy to get off that instrument of torture. The situation definitely improved after. You gave me a bit of banter in T2 and then I headed out to that great run course, even if my legs were pretty shot by then. Just stunning views all around the bill. I do love that coastal path!
Keep up the amazing work. I think I shall target one of your aquathlons next year - although I might need to work on my sea swimming technique in case that wind puts in another appearance. And I'm spreading the good word at my running club about your Tri. Definitely be back next year!
Cheers again dude.
Graham
Pain is weakness that remains in my body!
Ey Mark :-)
First of all a big big big thank you for the organisation of the middle distance race! Besides being extremely lucky with the weather, the volunteers and organisation made it an all in all awesome and challenging day! Not going to say that I loved it, cause that would mean that I’d be lying cause with all respect buddy, but where on earth did you got the idea to create a 13.1 mile run from hell?? Did you have a look on the terrain map around Portland dotting every hill-path you could find?
No but seriously, a bumpy, salt swim in crystal clear water to start off with in the freezing cold in the morning, followed by a cold, windy, hilly ride that really pushed most of us already to the end, lovely man! It’s hard to explain what the ride is like to people who haven’t done the course, but the fact that you can’t keep the momentum going over the course is so hard to explain. Than the ‘run’ what can hardly be called a run. It was more a half marathon adventure race! Steps, stairs, gravel, stones, rocks, boulders, sand, gaps, oh and a bit of tarmac… All in all an extremely challenging adventure run if you ask me! I’m glad I finished in just over 7 hours (07:01:13) and I’d like to scream that I’ll be back next year, but at this point my legs are telling me different!
Thanks again for the amazing experience and for anybody else who’s reading this: IF you’re looking for a NEW challenge to step outside your comfort zone, SIGN UP FOR 2011!!!! You will regret it!
Cheers,
Patrick [No. 79]
BUSTINSKIN MIDDLE DISTANCE RACE, WEYMOUTH/PORTLAND, DORSET, 26 SEPTEMBER 2010
Race Report from Team Bustinskin
Triathlon is fundamentally a solo sport and it can be a bit isolating at times. So every year, my brother in law Ben Thompson, me (Alex Frost) and our long time partner in crime Chris "the diesel engine" Goodfellow try to find a race that we can do together as a relay. Ben is an elite category cyclist for Orbea For Goodness Shakes but is away racing from March to August, and also suffers from an inability to swim without armbands. Chris is a sub 9 hour ironman who keeps organising long distance races within a week of any relay race I find, which limits even his capacity to do much the week before/after an ironman. This season I have been guiding a blind triathlete around British and World Paratriathlon Championships - and a half ironman in Antwerp from which he qualified for Kona - so have done almost no solo triathlons myself.
So the option of the three of us doing a team event was limited. A relay seemed like a great idea; Chris can swim 1.9kms with no serious effect on his taper, Ben can ride a bike (because that's all he can do) and I get the run leg, which is usually the strongest of my legs, despite now being a Vet (old fart).
Fortunately the Bustinskin middle distance race falls at an excellent time of year. My season is now essentially over following a silver medal in Budapest, Chris has Challenge Barcelona in a few days, and Ben finally has no bunch racing until next March. We completed the race this time last year as a relay and were sufficiently impressed by the organisation, the scenery and the weather to want to do it again. Mark agreed that we could do so, under the Team Bustinskin banner.
Getting up at sparrow's fart on Sunday was a shock almost as large as the sight of frost glistening on the roof of the car. Man it was cold. A biting northerly wind was giving a decidedly autumnal feel to the air. We arrived at the venue by 06.15 where it was still dark, and set up transition. One of the real pluses of this race is that the organisation is efficient but low key; no lengthy queues for registration etc. The venue itself is fantastic; it is the location for the 2012 Olympic sailing and the facilities (warm showers, lots of toilets, a decent cafe serving toast and fry ups) are excellent.
I remember last year thinking "sooner Chris than me" as the harbour around Portland Bill started to appear from the dark. The northerly wind was whipping the sea into quite a chop, with the waves all blowing directly towards the shore from which Chris would launch himself. Finally the race briefing was concluded and the sun started to appear. It was clear already that, despite the 20 knot northerly, it was going to be a lovely sunny day. Mark's ability to organise a great race is matched only by his ability to order up wall to wall sunshine (it was the same last year), and after the monsoon conditions in Budapest this was really welcome.
The sun in late September does not make much of an impact on the air temperature for quite a time. There were a lot of REALLY cold looking triathletes standing on the slip ramp waiting for the gun, including one very brave soul in a shortie wetsuit. Here's Chris's take on the swim:
Lining up at the start it is hard not to appreciate the setting. Sun rise over Portland is always a legendary view. Once the gun had gone off it became evident very quickly that this was going to be a hard swim. The strong wind made it tough going and the waves were really smacking you in the face. This caused my goggles to constantly leak and made it very hard to get into a rhythm and to sight the buoys. The bike and run sections of this event are amazingly hard and you would have thought that you could not make the swim tough. Mark excelled himself this year; this may be the first triathlon in the UK where all three events were hilly: the weather conditions actually managed to make even the swim a challenge in its own right. I loved every second of it though and managed come out of the water the with two other guys in the first pack :) Some of the swimmers behind were not so lucky; I think quite a lot of people were sick and I am not surprised.
Into T1 and after a sprint to the bike Alex swapped the chip from my ankle onto Ben's and he was away. Here's his views of the bike leg:
It's true what they say; time has a funny way of changing your perspective. Standing alone in the transition area watching Chris bash through the waves I could only remember how much I'd enjoyed the stage last year. That rose tinted view of the race soon changed as I set off and quickly faced the first of many hills! That familiar sense of suffering and burning legs soon returned and I remembered why this is such a unique and challenging course. I found myself round the first section over Portland Bill and heading back past transition pretty quickly only to be greeted by a block head wind that was to be my nemesis for about the next 20 miles. All was going well as I wound my way through the fast country lanes as I began the top loop of the course. I love this part and really had my head down giving it full gas. Suddenly there was a strange rubbing and clattering from the back of the bike; my back brake had fallen off. With the prospect of Abbotsbury hill to look forward to I didn't fancy going on with just a front brake. It took a few goes and I lost 15 minutes trying to fix it, but I managed to limp my way back to hand the chip to Alex - couldn't let him off his little stroll up a cliff face! This a legendary course and for a cyclist a great way to end the season - loved it! Thanks very much to Mark for a great event and organising one extra little hill and a 30 mile block head wind just to make it that bit more challenging.
Chris's excellent swim had given us a slender lead as Ben limped back into transition. I had no idea how far ahead we were but having run the course last year I knew what was in store so set off with the tail wind across the bay towards Heartbreak Hill as fast as I could. A 5 minute mile took me to the tunnel where the suffering started; my heart rate hit 187 bpm towards the top of the mile long climb. One of the biggest challenges of the run leg is not so much the hills as the very rough terrain under foot. Several times I landed awkwardly on lumps of Portland Stone sticking out of the ground. Finally I was at the top by the prison and as I dropped slightly onto the coastal path on the lee of the peninsula, the wind that had plagued us all day died away. As the wind dropped, the temperature rose and for the first time that day I was actually hot.
Portland Bill on a sunny morning is one of the most stunning places in the British Isles. I think Mark sometimes gets a bit blase about it but for us grockles it never ceases to impress. I have to say that I am glad the weather was fine, though; running along a rocky narrow footpath in the rain would be extremely challenging.
The lighthouse is exactly half way. Just as last year, and despite me even having mentioned it to Mark beforehand, the water and energy drink station was surprised to see me and seemed quite bemused at my urgent requests for water. After a few wasted seconds I was sent off "round the lighthouse" but without any signposts I was soon headed off in the wrong direction. At last I was back on track and headed towards the peninsula again, but not before a horrible 3 mile drag up hill and into the wind.
It's then a steep drop off the Bill and onto the main road past the finish. Mile 11 took forever as I still struggled with the headwind. At the turn point a mile from the finish, I headed back only to see the first solo competitor heading towards me at a rate of knots. In the end I finished a couple of minutes ahead of him which, on a course that tough, is an amazing achievement for him.
Is it the toughest middle distance race in the UK? In the conditions we had, I would say definitely yes; the run leg in particular is much tougher than Wimbleball and the swim too. Would I recommend it? Without hesitation. It is a fantastically well organised race amongst some of the most beautiful and challenging scenery in England.
Cheers
Mark,
Thanks to you and team for your efforts at the weekend, the event was great fun and despite thinking it would never end, looking back very enjoyable indeed. Also what a showcase for such a beautiful part of the country.
I have my first Ironman in 60 days and think Sunday was perfect preparation as now feel doubling the distance on the flat should be no problem :) Onwards...
Well done again and i'll be back for sure,
Best regards,
JAmes
Firstly just wanted to thank you, along with everyone else it seems, for a great event. Also many thanks to the marshalls who gave up their Sundays for us all, great encouragement, lots of help, smiling and trying to keep warm!
It was my first Middle Distance race, and I'm encouraged by those who reckon it was tougher than IMUK!!! As usual I went backwards, exiting the swim 31st and finishing 130 something, and would recommend some serious hill training for those new recruits! Spectacular course, and I loved and hated every second of it in equal measure! Wouldn't have wanted it any other way, and think this is a race that everyone should try at least once!
An amazing middle distance baptism of fire, a great buzz around the whole event, and won't be forgetting it in a hurry! Think you can make it tougher next year??!!!
Cheers, Neil
Bustinskin Middle Distance Weymouth, UK 26/09/2010
After completing the 1.9km swim, I finished more than half the 90 km bike course before climbing in the van. The hills were more than I could do this time, and I threw in the towel after cycling 55 km. The long climbs were so tough for me that I walked some of them. The screaming down hills were unnerving. I reached a maximum speed of 55 km/hr several times.
What did me in finally however was the road traffic -too many speeding cars and caravans-plus a healthy fear of the very steep descent that awaited me near the end of the ride - 17 percent downhill, ending in a curve to the left. I stopped racing when I had had enough. (My friend Judy quipped, She who fights and runs away lives to fight another day.)
Before riding on a course like this again, I will have better bike handling skills and hill training. Navigating the course was made more difficult by the traffic traveling on the left side of the road. Sometimes I had to come to a complete stop at intersections because I just couldn't predict from which direction the cars would be coming.
The good news is that I did the whole 1.9 km swim and enjoyed it. I was not last out of the water. There were five behind me. I was really cold all day, even with the coat I borrowed. The wind chill factor put the air temperature at freezing (32 degrees F).
Clothes, equipment, nutrition all were good. I was nauseous on the end of the bike ride. But I feel really proud of my effort, particularly because I DID NOT vomit. Other competitors' race reports proclaim the course as amongst the most difficult ever. blah blah blah. They vomited. In the water, on the bike and on the run too.
I feel a mixture of pride and disappointment. However, reading other race reports, this course is considered among the most difficult in the world, and I give myself high marks for the willingness to take it on. The views of the Isle of Portland were memorable, and I did my very best on a tough course under tough conditions.
At the bed & breakfast I met a couple other competitors, which was simply great. Of the three of us, only one finished the whole course. I met a lot of other nice people during the day. There was another woman my age who climbed in the truck with me. She was very nice. And I followed the progress of a third woman who completed the bike course, but missed the time cut off for starting the run by three minutes. And a woman collapsed and lost consciousness on the run. She did not eat during the race and apparently ended up hypoglycemic.
My family also had a great time. The race was located at the Olympic Sailing Center in Weymouth. They rented a boat on Sunday while I was racing. And afterwards we visited a real pirate cemetery. On the way home, we stopped at Stonehenge. The ferry from Holland to Harwick was great - and the chunnel a very interesting & efficient way to travel home. I particularly liked having a celebratory meal in Calais - French beef stew with chocolate crepes for dessert! In all, a great weekend and a tough race to finish the season.
Bustinskin Middle Distance Tri, Weymouth, Dorset. - 28 September 2010
If you want a race to test yourself at the end of the season, try this one says Matt Honey....
The day started at 4am for us with a 45min drive to Weymouth from where we were staying. As we went through Corfe Castle I heard a 'ping' and the car external temp gauge read 4C. Ouch! Exiting the car in the ample free car parking we immediately started to shiver and noticed the growing north westerly - head on across the infamous Chesil Beach causeway (and bike and run route). The 1.9km swim in Weymouth harbour started at 7am as the light was coming up. Despite an initial headache (and watch that filled with water within moments - the fatal result of trying to change the battery the night before myself) the water appeared to warm up as we moved away from the standing start on the slipway. Sighting started to prove difficult though with the head on wind on the c.900m outward leg - every time you lifted your head you got a wonderful mouthful of water and heavy spray! The return leg was easier and made up for it thankfully. Exciting up the slipway and into transition was decision time - more clothing or hope that the sun comes up quickly. I opted for the latter and went straight out on the bike (ex wetsuit ;-)).
The first km was flat but then, after two hairpins I was into the first proper climb up to the fort - c.400ft at, I estimate, 20%. Tough, but a good way to warm up! Thereafter it was out to the far southerly tip of Portland Bill before returning, into the wind now, back across Portland, the aforementioned causeway and into the hills behind Weymouth in an anti clockwise loop. This was a testing 93km bike course, punctuated with everything that the countryside can throw at you, including country lanes, main roads, steep uphill sections, fast descents, mud on the road and above all, some stunning views, especially the one looking back over Chesil Beach. By the last 20km my thighs were burning and even though the wind was now behind me, the undulating return to T2 was telling. One great positive was a chap cycling past me (he must have been at least half my age ;-)) commenting that 'you guys at Ful-On Tri get everywhere don't you!'
After T2 there is another c.1km flat before you came to a straight up hill, once again returning to the fort on Portland Bill. The run was exceptional, although it is very much more of an 'adventure run' than a standard half marathon, with huge views east and west along the dramatic coastline. We took a clockwise route around Portland Bill following the the very edge of the land along the coastal path. It was rough tracks through bushes, up and down carved out stone steps, scrambling through ex quarries, bracing runs across grassy cliff tops and culminating in a resolve shattering last 3km run past the finish, out across the causeway (into the wind again) before a dead turn and steeplechase like path back to the finish at the Sailing Club.
c.200 people took part and the weather, other than the wind and the initial cold, was perfect - sun and speeding white clouds. The winner did it in a stunning 4.57.26. I managed a 46th position overall (6th in M40-49) in 6.23.21.
So if you fancy a challenge at the end of next season, to get you warmed up for some winter adventure racing, you now know where to find it!
Superb race,a legend in the making,easliy as hard as Ironman.
Brutal, relentless and loved every minute.......I think!
Sam Wait
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Earlier this year Karl Alexander reported for us on his race at Ironman UK, where a fourth place in his age group wasn't quite enough to secure the Kona spot he was looking for (it might next year!).
So, rather than Kona Karl headed off to Weymouth for the BustinSkin Middle Distance Triathlon, and despite pre-race doubts and a terrible journey, found a race that "I cannot fault it at all!" to end his 2010 season.
Full results from the event are HERE.
After the disappointment of narrowly failing to qualify for Kona at IMUK this year, I decided to have a bash at the BustinSkin Middle Distance Triathlon in Weymouth, Dorset. A close friend of mine had participated last year claiming it was much harder than Wimbleball, an odd statement since he hasn't actually done Wimbleball!
For this event, my race crew had an additional member, in the shape of my 22 month old daughter, so packing the car became a puzzle worthy of the Krypton Factor, but once the boot and been forced shut we hit the road heading for Weymouth. The decision to bring my daughter was almost immediately regretted as within two miles of leaving home, she began to cry which lasted pretty much the entire journey, despite attempts of bribery with various confectionery she was determined and relentless.
By the time we arrived in Weymouth, my mood was terrible, and only served to reinforce the thoughts I'd had earlier in the week of sacking the race all together and ending my season then and there. But since we'd driven all the way here, I'd may as well give it a bash!
Registration
The BustinSkin Team were very slick, considering the unholy hour of 0515 and within moments, I'd been handed my race numbers and timing chip and went back to the car to try and keep warm before setting up and racking my bike. The early morning temperatures and wind blowing in off the sea combined with my complete lack of any natural insulation meant I wanted to leave it as late as possible before heading down to transition, so leaving it to the absolute last minute, I wheeled my bike down just in time for the race brief delivered by Race 'Guvnor' Mark.
The Swim - 31m27s (5th)
A 1.2 mile sea swim which started on the slip way was my first ever experience of starting out of the water, and one I will take some getting used too! Within seconds of the klaxon sounding, I'd been kicked in the face twice and I hadn't even made it to the water!!
After the initial frenzy and every one was swimming at their own pace everything settled down. I found myself in clear water a few meters off of the leaders and settled into my rhythm which due to the waves was impossible and I actually began to feel nauseous which I wasn't sure was due to sea sickness or because of the vast amounts of sea water I'd inhaled.
At the turn around point things became a lot easier with the tide pushing us back to shore and after a solid swim, I exited the water and headed for T1.
The Bike - 3h03m30s (10th)
Within a mile of the bike start the theme for the day has been set; hills, lots and lots of hills and at 58 miles in length the bike course is one to be taken seriously. On the first climb, I could feel all was not well with my lower back and I must have changed position from seated to standing twenty times to try and climb in comfort. The pain in my back worsened the further I rode and I was simply not able to power over the pedals like usual, the demons from the week before returned and I had every intention of climbing off once back at T2. My slow(ish) bike spilt reinforced that all was not as it should be.
The course is incredibly scenic with views, that if you had any, would take your breath away, but since you're normally climbing or racing down the other side you can't really take them all in, that said, the coastal road on the return overlooking the sea is awesome.
Arriving back at T2, I was told I was in seventh place overall so I decided I wouldn't abandon, I would harden up and complete the race.
The Run - 1h37m18s (4th)
Heading left out of T2 it became immediately apparent where this was heading, the same gruelling hill that had started the bike would be starting the run course albeit from a different angle, and up a public footpath but still the same steep, quad crushing, lung busting hill!
Over the top was the first of the aid stations which offered much needed water, before picking up the coastal footpath. Whilst the event was very well marshalled, there we're a few times on the course that were difficult to navigate as the markers had either been pinched or had blown away, but a slowing of the pace to locate them soon puts you back on track. The coastal path itself is again very scenic with spectacular views, but at times can be very difficult underfoot and anyone wearing racing flats would be in for a rough day.
Coming off of the footpath briefly and onto a road, I could see the athletes in 6th, 5th and 4th just ahead, which meant that I had run down a fairly sizeable gap in only a few miles, not getting carried away, the three were soon behind me. From this point I caught up to the second place finisher and we ran shoulder to shoulder for a large percentage of the run until on the final downhill he put in a strong effort and opened a gap. I wasn't prepared to risk injury by following him and took it steady, upping the pace once I hit the bottom, the final race for home took us, rather cruelly, straight past the race venue to a turnaround point before heading for home.
As I crossed the line after 5h15m14s, I was relieved that it was over, the race is fantastically hard. As hard as Wimbleball? I think so, it's relentless hills on both the bike and the run make it hard to find a good tempo, so you are working hard from the off.
After I'd been handed the very cool black race finishers hoodie and drinking a few energy drinks I fetched my bike from transition and headed over to the car, it was here that I learned from my partner, Helen, that I'd finished third as the first finisher was the athlete running the final leg for a team!
So, after a week of negative thoughts and severe back pain during the race, I'd actually finished on the podium. Needless to say I was pretty stoked with an excellent end of season result.
If you're thinking of heading down to Weymouth in 2011 for The BustinSkin Middle Distance Triathlon, don't delay sign up and get down there! This Tri is not for the feint of heart but it does come with bragging rights, it's fantastically well organised by a friendly, experienced team and I cannot fault it at all! (and no I don't work for BustinSkin!)
Hi Mark, Thanks for another great event, good value for money with plenty of goodies and really great Marshals. What away to end the session. Having done last years race, the changes to the cycle route did up the challenge slightly along with the constant wind. But I am sure you could make it just a bit tougher if you really tried!!! Looking-forward to 2011 already, Phil
Hi Mark, Just wanted to drop an email to say thanks for yesterday. It was just the challenge I was looking for to end my season. Cheers,Sophie Coleman
Mark, Thank you for and excellent - if a little demanding event. I think whoever designed the run course needs psychiatric help - The marshals were outstanding - enthusiastic to the end for those of us at the far end of the field ! I have done Wimbleball 3 times - allegedly the hardest 70.3 on the circuit - compared to yesterday the wimbleball course looks like a billiard table ! Yours, Martin Longley
Hi Mark, Thanks to all at Bustinskin for putting on a good well organised race, having also completed Wimbleball this year the Bustinskin Middle Distance is right up there with regards to its brutality on both the bike and run course and the swim was definitely harder than any lake swim with the choppy conditions plus the added challenge of having the sun rise whilst in the water, having to site where you are going with both goggles misting up and the glare from the sun! Although feeling quite delirious come the end of the race I am glad to have competed in and finished what has perhaps been the most challenging course I have raced on to date, my only slight complaint were that some of the arrows directing you where to go on the run route could have been better, however this would not stop me from entering again, although I don't know whether I would want the punishment of this course 2 years in a row! But if anyone is looking for a big challenge I will definitely recommend this race as one to put on their to do list, never mind setting a time or getting a placing just finishing it is a huge achievement!!! Cheers Sam Pociecha
Hi Mark, Just a quick e-mail to say thanks for staging yesterday's race.
After last year's Bustinskin Middle Distance triathlon I said that it was the toughest and most scenic triathlon I had ever done in my 15 years of competing in the UK, Europe and beyond. It was an accolade that lasted only a year because yesterday's race was even tougher and even more scenic (I think I'll take the car next time I visit Hardy's monument). As with all Bustinskin events the organisation was first rate, the marshalls were helpful, courteous and humorous. The race memento hooded sweatshirt is great and useful, I only wish I had been wearing one at 6am when the temperatre in Portland was only 6 degrees!. Post race there was a real buzz in the changing rooms as exhausted experienced long distance triathletes all commented on the challenge and quality of the race. I know that you have had a tough week dealing with roadworks and bureaucracy but hope that it will not prevent you staging the race next year. You have created an iconic race don't let it die. How many extra hills will you add next year? Cheers.
Dave Pratten
Dear Mark
This is my first season back after a break of 20 years. I've done events run by 'just racing', 'human race', 'big cow' and a couple of one off organisers. I think your organisation of yesterday's event was the best of the lot by some margin: what I really noticed was that the needs of the competitors were put first and no corners cut with lots of attention to the small details. Your marshals were first class: knowledgeable, friendly and 'awake'. The meal voucher was really appreciated. What a great venue: I might have to take up sailing. Thanks for a great day out.
Mark Tudor.
Mark, Thanks very much for a very well organised and highly enjoyable event. It was certainly tough as promised however the stunning setting and the encouraging marshals helped. I'll certainly be interested in doing it next year – hopefully a bit faster now I know what to expect!
Jennifer Shaw
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Most Brutal UK Middle Distance Triathlon on our Doorstep Yesterday morning at 7.00am Weymouth event team Bustinskin ran their largest triathlon ever from the WPNSA. Their middle distance event is fast gaining the reputation as the most challenging in the UK, with the 1.9km swim starting right in front of our UK centre. The cycle is then a brutal 58miles, taking in the hills of Portland before heading towards Bridport via Hardy's Hill. It's then a half marathon of coastal routes around Portland again. Many finishers yesterday were saying this 'half Ironman' is tougher than the actual UK Ironman in Bolton. Any takers for next year? For info and results, visit Bustinskin's website. Pic: Kevin Greenslade.
News Posted - 27/09/10 |
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Managed to finish the "course designed by the devil himself " yesterday, ; - )
I just wanted to say thank you to and your team for such a well organised event.
Really appreciated!
Thank you.
Regards
James Bennett
Thanks for the event (even if I didn't complete)
Just wanted to point out to you that whilst the marshals jackets are very visible, their arms are not. So it was not always easy to see where they were pointing. Thanks everso much to all the marshals and helpers who were all really friendly and encouraging
Hi Mark, I just wanted to express my thanks to you and the BustinSkin team for putting on a great event yesterday.
The marshals were all great, friendly and helpful. It was a tough event, made tougher by the wind (which was relentless!)and temperature, I felt for the marshals who were out there all day in the same conditions with smiles on their faces. I know they do it for nothing, so please pass on my thanks to all who helped out.
I will be recommending the event to other "mad" triathletes, as we have to be mad to dive into the freezing sea at 7am on a bitterly cold morning!
Kind regards, Phil.
PS Hope you get on the 5 toughest Trialthons list this year, as it's by far the toughest event I have d one!
Thanks for a great day – really enjoyed despite the extremely punishing bike leg (note to self – do more hill training next time) - I thought the organisation of the event and the venue were superb – signing was pretty good for the bike over such a long course – I thought the run could have been better marked in the quarry part of the run as took a wrong turn and added 15 mins to my time going back on myself when I reached a dead end !
Andrew Roberts
What can I say - the BEST race I have ever done
Brutal
Beautiful
Fun
All at the same time
The wind was a killer - straight in your face for the first half of the swim meant that a lot of salt water went straight down my throat. Enough to make some people puke
The first hill on the bike course - dear God, people were pushing their bikes up within 1 mile of starting the ride!
Did anyone actually run up that first hill to the prison on the Bill?
This is a race that I urge everyone else to do - forget your flat PB courses, this is a real hard day at the office and tests every inch of you. The scenery is stunning, the organisation is outstanding and the experience is about the best value for money you can get
Oh yea, and Bustinskinman - top job mate, I was the TTer who chatted with you after the race and promised you a good write up - hope this is OK
I think my time was 7:03 but I know that people were still finishing nearly 2 hours after me and some missed the bike cut off. That tells you how hard this race is
If I don't do IM Wales I will defo be back next year (there is a rumour about putting in an extra hill ). But even then I might do it anyway
I would also like to give a special mention to the guy who opened up the staff bogs for me and two other guys prior to the race. He didn't have to do it but he saw our need and went the extra mile - its the little things that count.
ps the staff bogs are NOT to be entered if you have a delicate disposition
--
Marcus Shepherd (aka Veggieboy on TriTalk)
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My ( probably far too long ) report comes at this race from the view of a novice to middle distance. I had been into tri since last October so only a year of training - 3 sprints to my name, a short duathlon, and 2 weeks ago a flat half mara. Before this I had done nothing fitness wise for years and smoked until the October. ( I started jogging to stop the cravings for smoking).
The Swim
This was the most concerning part of the course to me before the day - I ocassionally struggle to keep calm in swims, and even in the lake I swim in each week, I often battle with myself to buck up as I tend to take so long to settle in. Despite that I have been surfing for the last year, I have not actually swam in the sea before so didn't know what to expect. I must say, I didn't think it was particularly cold and though I swallowed a lot of water ( and like MrChopsaloty, was sick) I enjoyed the swim. I expected to be last if I am honest as I have no technique, but was pleasantly suprised to look up and see people behind me. I did find the sighting difficult and decided to stick with a pack and hope they knew the way. Got out of the water feeling good. 45.33 mins
The Bike
I spent 10 mins in transition getting dried off and ready for the bike. It didn't feel this long but it was. I struggled from the outset to settle my stomach. I can only think that it was the water I had swallowed, but I found it difficult to take much fluid on. My stomach got worse and at one point it was too uncomfortable to get out of the saddle to go up a hill. I kept sipping at water but knew that I would need gels and energy bars to survive this. I sweat a lot, so during training rides I usually get through a litre an hour with salt tabs and 2 gels. The battle with the stomach continued throughout but in honesty my legs felt ok and I didn't seem to be struggling with energy. I got an energy bar down me and managed about 2 gels and a litre and a half of fluid. The route itself was a stunner and organisers obviously like to see grown men in pain. There are nothing but hills on this course, and they all seem to go up.......
I rode with Veggieboy on and off for a while - on was usually on the downhills or slightly undulating, off was while he went up the hills with what appeared to be relative ease. He was saying he didn't know if he would complete due to foot problems from his recent L2B, so good to see he did. I lost veggieboy on Abbotsbury hill. I have to say I struggled on this hill; it seemed to go on forever and for the first time on the ride, though my stomach felt better, I felt I did not have a lot of energy. This wasn't gradual, but sudden. I had some jelly babies as I was still nervous to have a lot else in case the stomach started again. The views from this area were fantastic and it was an inspiring place to ride. I live in the fens, so no hills for many miles, and for me this is a real treat to ride with that backdrop. I settled after the descent and relative flat run into Portland ( despite the last climb when I realised how little I actually had left in my legs ) I started to dwell on the fact that I hadn't taken half the amount of fluids or foods that I should have done in preparation for the run. 3hr 53
The Run
I was Ok until I got to the tunnel at the bottom of verne hill. I started to walk up the hill and felt so drained. I started cramping at the top and walked to the aid station. It was the first time that I had started to think about not being able to finish. I stretched for a few minutes and tipped water over myself, got my head together and walked to the top of the hill. After a gel and more drink I started running, legs felt OK and I tagged onto 2 others. We subsequently went off course and ended up in a quarry. After getting back on track I ended up running OK for a few miles and started to feel good again. I enjoyed this period and loved the trails and the scenery. I was very hot but could drink OK and took on gels. I wished I had taken sunglasses or cap at this point.
Up to the Bill I felt good and had my head up, confident of finishing, thinking I had struggled over the worse of my problems. Not so. I very suddenly became tired after leaving the Bill and had to walk the grass hill bit. I tried to run but found it too difficult to go more than a few hundred meters at a time. I continued like this till about mile 8 when the wheels fell off. I was stumbling, feeling like I could possibly faint, started to shake. It was an awkward mile walk for me struggling with myself and my body closing down. I became so hungry that I ate all I had left ( an energy bar,2 gels and a load of jelly babies ) After what seemed an age of walking I began to run again. I got to the descent off Portland still not good, tipped water over me. I saw the finish and just wanted it all to be over. I started to cramp coming up towards the sailing academy but luckily this held off and I ran it home. 2hr 38
All in all 7 hr 31.
I wasn't out for a time. I knew it would be tough. It was.
I hadn't done enough training I realise now, and what I had done was probably wrong. My nutrition plan was not 'tried and tested' as such.
I was worried the days before the event that I had taken on more than I was ready for and in all honesty if I had known how tough it was before entering, I may have decided on a flatter course or at least a few olympics.
Truth is, I wouldn't change the day for the world. The organisation was top notch, marshalls were spot on, other competitors were encouraging, and the course itself was stunning. There was even sunshine.
Would I do it again? If I was asked yesterday after finishing I would have said no. Today, of course I would. Would I recommend this to other newbies like me? I don't see why not. It was (for me anyway) brutally tough because of all the factors- nutrition, lack of hill experience, heat etc. Well done to the finishers and tough luck to the boys on here who had to pull out. Well done to the organisers who seemed like no nonsense people, if not slightly sadistic............
Rancid (TriTalk)
Hello Mark and team
Thank you for a fantastic weekend, you and all of your team and marshalls were always cheerful and helpful, absolutely great atmosphere.
I would normally race with my wife Maria, however she is building up to Clearwater 70.3 in November so this time was my cheer leader and support crew , having both done Wimbleball this year and Helvellyn a couple of weeks ago we both agreed this triathlon ranks up there with the hardest, throw in the temperature and Northly wind it certainly was challenge enough.
Absolutely fantastic cycle route and run route, I will definately keep this one in mind for next year, I have already passed the word in our club the North Devon Triathletes, so maybe expect a few more of us next year!
Many thanks
Andy Hindle
Hi Mark,
Thanks for a great race yesterday. I say 'great' now, 24 hrs after finishing it, but some of the phrases going through my mind at the time were definitely less complimentary! It was my first Middle Distance triathlon- yes, stupid me for picking such a brutal, torturous, monster of an event as my first one :-) The question 'Are you a completer or a competitor' made sense as I struggled through the bike course, and then had to head out on the half-marathon run at the same time as the leading lady was just crossing the finishing line in front of me in Transition!
We had arrived on Saturday (the day before the race) and drove round some of the bike route, so I could familiarise myself with it. The first hill we came to I compared to one I've done in training and I told my partner 'ah, that's ok, then', but then there was another hill, and another, and a bigger one, and one with a terrifying descent, and then a whole series of hills and by this stage I was a bit quieter in the passenger seat thinking 'oh God, what have I let myself in for'!
The sight of the sun rising from the water at 7am the next morning was awesome and I kind of enjoyed the swim (my first sea swim), despite the waves crashing onto me (usually when I opened my mouth to breathe!) and not really being sure where I was heading. The salt water and rubbing of my wetsuit on the back of my neck as I turned my head to breathe soon gave me painful chafing that would be sunburnt later too! But on the bright side, at least we had the tide pushing us back in towards transition. And incredibly, I seemed to be around the middle of the pack exiting up the slipway, with plenty more swimmers in the water behind me. Ah, sweet false confidence...
The bike route was unbelievably punishing, especially the first hill. I rounded the corner, looked up and thought 'No, surely you can't get up THAT on a bike'. Dotted up the incline were what looked like waxwork statues of cyclists frozen in different positions they were going so slowly! I passed one guy puking off to the side and thoroughly sympathised with him. Breathing so hard I was practically hyperventilating I forced myself to keep pushing one pedal after another as I knew if I stopped I wouldn't be able to start again the hill was so steep. I'd told myself it would be too embarrassing to have to walk my bike up any hills- but on this one I did come close! And was it my imagination or did the Hardy Monument seem to get higher and higher with each turn in the road leading up to it?
The best thing about the run was the bit where you finally see the Sailing Academy down below you, and Chesil Beach, after miles of gruelling hills, flights of rugged cliff steps, narrow rabbit paths and loose ground underfoot. Like coming home after years in the wilderness!
I'd like to say a BIG thank you to all the organisers, marshals and supporters. Even If I did finish way down the list of competitors, they made me feel special just for pushing on and completing it. Thanks especially to the guys at the water station at the lighthouse, who helped me fill up my Camelbak. Without that I'm sure I would have been delirious and dehydrated and still wandering around the coastal path somewhere!
Will I do it again next year? Or any year ever again? Let me get over the flashbacks before I can answer that one!
Cheers again,
Judy
Hi Mark,
just a note to thank you and the team for a great event yesterday at the Middle Distance. Well organized, amusing commentary, beautiful scenery and a sunny day - what more could you ask for? Well, a flat swim, a flat ride and a flat run would be good! Oh, and turn the wind machine off too!
Seriously, I had a great day (although shocked by my slow times - you did say no PB's!) It's a good job I did Bolton IMUK before this event otherwise I would have doubted my ability to finish! Believe me, your event was much harder than IMUK.
See you next year...
All the best,
Martin (always smiling, according to you!) Hill [No. 100]
Hi Mark just wanted to drop you a line regarding yesterday’s Middle distance tri.
This was a superbly run event, unbelievable scenery and a cracking autumn day!
As this was only my second tri, (your classic two weeks ago being the first) I wasn’t sure what to expect either of the event or how I would cope with the extra distances. It was 7:20 hours of physical pain that by the run became a slow roasting in hell. But I loved every minute of it!
After a surprisingly warm sea swim, the cycle route against the wind was extremely draining. However the ride back towards Weymouth on the coast road provided stunning views and an all-important glimpse of the final goal along the Chesil beach at Portland.
Running around the cliffs at Portland I felt more like an escaped convict, fighting my way between bramble lined rocky descents only to find it became worse after each corner. The refresh stop at Portland Bill gave me new hope of success and a Gel lunch, and as I painfully jogged around the cliffs on the west side of Portland I was treated to even more stunning views of the route that I had completed on the bike.
Finally seeing the finish flags gave me reason to quicken my pace hoping to keep my time to under 7 hours, but alas I had failed to realise that we had to once more run the distance of the causeway and back. I think this last leg broke many peoples spirits.
I loved this event, and hope to be back to do it all again next year.
Best Regards
Will Adams (cousin of mother of knee high)
Firstly many thanks to everyone involved in putting on the triathlon - it was a great experience from start to finish.
This was only my second ever tri after competing in the Hayle Olympic distance tri last year.
My aim was to raise money for Help for Heroes and I have raised about £1045 so far, the reason for my choice of charity was that I have worked in Iraq and Afghanistan for the last three and a half years for a company providing infrastructure and service support to the British Military and wanted to show my appreciation to those men and women who have been injured.
I was in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan until the 11th Sept so all my preparation and training was undertaken in the gym on the bike and treadmill - NO SWIMMING practice at all! Since getting home on leave I managed two runs, two bike rides and two swim sessions in my local pool. On the whole I'm well chuffed with my time - I could have put in more training in the gym, but nothing can replicate the bike and run course of the Bustinskin Middle distance Tri which is one of a kind!!!
On the odd occasion when I did look up while on the bike (usually when going downhill) and during the run (read cramp induced walk) the views were fantastic - definitely one of the best locations for any event.
I would say that I'll be there next year - but I might try and find a less challenging (i.e. flat) Ironman distance tri to have a go at!!! I'll be flying back out to Afghan on about the 1st Oct and I just hope my legs feel a little better by then :-)
Again many thanks to all.
DAVID WALSH (Number 235)
Mark,
This is my first year of triathlons, and my first ever half iron man so I had nothing to compare it to. I'm glad everyone else is saying it was hard. The devil may have designed the course, but the scenery could only have been God's. Loved it. Pain is still leaving the body, but I'll be back next year, and again after that. I've got a marathon in a couple of weeks, it'll be like a walk in the park. Thanks to all your volunteers and staff. They were so cheery given that they had to stand their and watch mad people for over 12 hours!
THANKS
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant guys, well planned, well organised and tough as old boots!!! already canvasing to get a few more guys interested for next year. see you there.
Thanks again
Jamie Redler (race number 186)
Mark
Just a fantastic race. Hard, so very hard, particularly with that icy Northly head wind for both swim and bike.. Your marshalls are just fantastic. I cant thank them enough, they make an excellent, well run event, quite special with their enthusiasm, motivation and appalause.
The lovely ladies there at Registration, which took about 10 seconds, were still there some 7-8hours later smiling and handing out the goodies. The music was excellent as always. As my feet were so cold I couldnt get my running shoes on, so the Gap band "oops upside yer head"
is requested next time as I roll around on the floor trying to get some life into my frost bitten feet and force my trainers on!!! Yep, the course has been designed by the devil himself, and some say the Devil is ginger!!!
Mike O
Hi Mr Bustinskin....
Just a note to say top work for yesterday’s race, I loved it! For me this was my first Middle Distance Tri, and I did OK. 4th Place for my age group, and 27th Overall. Fantastic stuff.
I have to say I enjoyed the whole event, especially the bike course. I drove the course the day before, and I have to say I was a little worried! I had done quite a bit of hill training before this event, but I didn’t expect it to be quite like that! Even my wife was a little worried about it, and she was watching!
Having said that, I took the mind-set of just getting round and pacing myself. It paid off! big time! Especially when I caught a large number of people at the 45mile stage that where totally blown out! I had tons left in the tank, felt great. And the views just helped even more at that stage! Amazing views all round the course. I was also pleased to see the Volvo driving around with the bike racks picking up broken bikes and people, and helping with the odd puncture. Very reassuring on such a long difficult “out and back” bike course. It’s a long way to walk if you did get stuck! My wife in fact help someone as she was driving round the bike course looking for me. Gave them a lift back.
Off the bike into the run, legs felt fresh and I was away! Running is my strong point so I was hoping to make up some more places, and I did when I got to the first hill. I ran up that (not very fast mind you) and must of taken 20 places on that hill… J And just continued from there. I have to say the last mile or two was very tough, especially when you have to run past the finish line….
All in all I managed a top 10 run time, 4th for my category and 27th overall…. I’m hooked into middle distance now!!!
Regards
Paul (aka jazz625 on tritalk)
