Just a week after racing the Cotswold 113, I took part in the Eton Dorney standard tri (1500m swim, 40k bike and 10k run). This weekend was slightly different to normal. Instead of going with my parents as I usually would, I went with a couple of T3 team mates, which made it great fun.
We all knew that it would be a very flat and fast race. But the only thing that would make that hard would be the weather. Instead of the usual rain and cold, this race would be 30+ degrees and very very sunny. We racked our bikes and we were getting ready to race, when we heard that it was going to be a non wetsuit swim. We knew now it definitely would be a hot one.
Started off with a fairly poor swim. After the last couple of weeks of not swimming too well after falling off my bike, my shoulder injury wouldn’t hold up to well. It was especially hard without a wetsuit. But I still managed to get out the water in the top 15. Knowing my two T3 team mates Harry Palmer and Lizzie Rayner would be coming out of the water 1st and 2nd made the race very hard for me.
After a fairly quick transition, I was straight onto the bike and pushing it hard. It was 8 laps of the bike course and just as I came onto the route Harry had already done a whole lap. I tried to keep him in my sights but I had no chance! I managed to keep my head down and keep a fairly quick speed and kept that up throughout the bike managing to work my way up into 2nd place.
I got onto the run course and got into my race stride. Two very flat laps! Perfect! One negative it was heating up very quickly. 30+ degrees so my plan was to go through the water stations and just cool myself down. I went through 5k feeling okay but my pace was starting to drop and then I got overtaken. So I knew I just had to hold on now.
Fortunately, I came through the line in 3rd place. A great race really just a week after the 113. Very happy overall. Great day out for T3 as well with Harry taking the win and Lizzie winning the women’s race!
I would like to thank my sponsors, Smith Heath for their continued support in me, Infrastar for the amazing race and training kit that I get to wear and Veritable Solutions for all their support. Spinavita for keeping me in shape and able to race and also Chloe Witts for my ongoing sports therapy and recovery sessions. Finally my coach from T3, Mark Threlfall for all the coaching and support! It has made a massive impact on my triathlon and I couldn’t be more grateful to you all.
Please don’t hesitate to email me any questions or advice that you have for me, and follow me on Instagram and Facebook (see link at the bottom of my page) so we can go through our triathlon journeys together.
Email me on: ryan@ryancoombstriathlon.com
Ryan Coombs Triathlon 