ROC England - How Many Transitions!

As I entered T3 (I know what’s that!!) I felt both legs begin to cramp. Oh no!

The bike back to Windermere was going to be tough and it was now raining in the typical Lake District fashion (torrential).

How on earth did I end up doing this!

The build-up to this race was not really planned. I started with the team (Sellars Elite Coaching) in May. As for many 2020 had provided its challenges. As an intensive care doctor triathlon and training had taken a back step.

In January 2021 I contracted COVID 19 (again). Thankfully I did not become seriously unwell but I did struggle with headaches on any form of exertion for a number of months.

What this enabled was a period of reflection and I realised that I needed consistency and a focus if I was going to achieve my goals.

After a bit of research there was, for me, one clear stand out coach who could give the balance of this consistency with individual focus and that was Paul.

This season was meant to be about building back my running form and a sub 3 hour Manchester marathon in October. However, a little outing at a local sprint tri reinvigorated the racing bug.

I wanted a challenge and so with 3 weeks to the event start I entered ROC England. The ROC is unusual in that it involves a swim, bike, run, bike and then another RUN. One of the runs is also up and down Scafell Pike.

Paul showed how adaptable he can be as a coach hastily adding in some bike, run, bike sessions and I quickly realised how much this format destroys your legs…

With some trepidation race day came. Far too quickly (that’s what happens when you sign up at the last moment…)

I made my way up to the Lakes for 0600. We live close and visit fairly often but I can still forget how beautiful it is. The YMCA on the edge of Lake Windermere makes a fantastic race start and it certainly looked the part with the start/ finish line lit up, race commentator and the swim buoys stretching out into the lake.

After dropping off my run kit to be taken up to the foot of Scafell pike T2/ T3 I prepared for the swim. A 1500m affair. Fantastic clear water and not even cold. I managed to find some feet, lose them when I went slightly off course and then pick up speed on my own to stumble out in just under 27 mins.

A run up to T1 then the bike. A fast initial section on the A590 trying to stay aero and then a turn off onto the road up to Coniston along the lake. This is a beautiful bit of road. Relatively smooth, undulating and quiet. I realised at this point that for me this race was about enjoying the experience. After a bit of a climb out of Coniston we arrived on the winding road into Langdale. A beautiful road framed by the mountains which we would soon be running up. The first bike section 45 km was completed in 1 hour 27. A few competitors passing me in the last 5 km gave some extra motivation for the run.

T2, banana gulped down, fell shoes on and a charge across a river in the first km. Fast out along the trails winding up to the foot of the climb.

Scafell Pike is a brute though. A mass of rock with steep inclines of stone steps. The weather was typically foul and visibility was down to metres but thankfully I had been up the week before and knew (kind of) what was in store.

A few places made up then across the strewn rocks near the summit, incredibly slippy in the damp before the final 100m scramble up to the summit.

The descent was fun. Stimulated by seeing a few competitors just ahead I tried to find the ability to run downhill and half fell down the mountain into 5th. Getting carried away I pushed onwards and completely down the wrong path!

Running through the gloom slipping into virgin bog I came across some walkers. A quick chat, mistake realised and then a turn around and back up the hill.

Now a few places back but still enjoying myself, legs starting to burn after 19 km, down the mountain and into T3. Legs cramping, onto the bike.

Immediate pain and cramping with any attempt to get aero so I sat up and just tried to turn the pedals. By this point it was torrential rain. Internal decision making decided that I should prioritise staying upright and finish. Watching a couple of competitors from the mountain come back past was difficult but despite the rain I was still racing in a fabulous part of the world.

45 km on the bike and back to T4. One athlete exiting transition. Quick change into my second pair of running shoes to go for the overtake and a charge round the short 1 km trails to the finish.

Across the line, tired, stiff but delighted to have finished.

Would I recommend this race? Absolutely. It pushed me hard in a different way. I learnt a lot; nutrition needs optimisation and I still need to learn how to ride a bike fast.

Most importantly though this is an amazing part of the world and it’s a pleasure to race in it.