Rookie’s Guide to SUPBIKERUN | Part 3

BIKE

The bike ride is the longest part of the event, and as such, the section I found most challenging. This challenge was increased by the heinous inclines that kept popping up when least expected. The course was beautiful, and I did stop a couple of times to take in the stunning views en route.

Initially it curved around the lakeside, with some technical single track elements, which were really good fun. Then we cycled through a river. No kidding I thought it was going to come up to my armpits, but fortunately made it through to the other side just with soggy feet. Then came my first dismount for hyperventilation and pushing my bike up a hill. Fortunately the bike course, as with the SUP course, had a naturally staggered start, so for most of the trail I was well within my own space and there was nobody on the single track section needing to overtake me (and shock horror nobody ahead of me that I needed to get past!!) However on the uphills when I was not so quietly dying there was plenty space for the strong-thighed to overtake me, and I’m happy I didn’t have to hold anybody else up. The course continued through a mixture of gentle up and downs and killer up and downs.

Back on my bike I had to have a bit of a pep talk with my legs. “Come on leggies, you can do it”

Half way round was the feed station. Having seen the facebook post advertising the sweet selection at this point, I won’t pretend that this wasn’t the part of the weekend I had been looking forward to most. And I was not disappointed. Having just made it up a fairly long hill, I must have looked how I felt as the kindest man and two lovely girls took my bike from me and handed me bananas, jelly beans and water (which I quickly swapped for more jelly beans). I would really like to thank these wonderful people for their encouragement at this stage, as I think those lovely girls, angels in disguise, force feeding me jaffa cakes and kind words, were the driving force behind me finishing the course. I didn’t want to spend too long chatting and giggling and munching, so was quickly on my way again flagging but somewhat refueled. About five minutes later I wished I hadn’t turned down my angels’ offer of extra jaffa cakes to go in my bag, however was well prepared for this eventuality and had to have a break on the side of the trail for a couple of penguins. Highly recommended. Back on my bike I had to have a bit of a pep talk with my legs. “Come on leggies, you can do it” was my encouragement to my thighs, which was kindly repeated to them by a competitor cycling past me who had overheard me chatting to my limbs.

The second half of the trail had some great fun single track downhill sections, which I think is where I picked up a but of time on the bike section, having realised I have small, slightly inadequate thighs for the uphills, but balls the size of coconuts for the downhills. Only the sight of runners walking up the mega bike downhills wiped the grin off my face when I realised what was to come!!

Here was when the team spirit and supportiveness of all the competitors really shone through, with endless encouragement uttered between entrants.

I have to mention the final hill of the trail, only a few kilometres before finishing. It was a real challenge. But, head on my handlebars, pushing my bike up the hill, still hyperventilating as per the entire course, I felt satisfied that I had come this far, and determined to make it the last few km. This was helped enormously by the fact that the last few km of the bike trail doubled up as a section of the running trail, with the runners going in the opposite direction. Here was when the team spirit and supportiveness of all the competitors really shone through, with endless encouragement uttered between entrants. For me this really made the event what it was, and drove home the ethos of it being something people do for themselves, not against other people. When you needed encouragement most, it was right there, from strangers running in the opposite direction, but united in our struggle against that bloody massive hill only metres from the end… the camaraderie was really touching.

Helpful hints:

• When eating your penguins on the sidelines, it saves time if you don’t read the jokes on the back there and then, but instead save the wrappers for later.
• PLEASE take your wrappers home with you – I saw several wrappers from the delicious goodies handed out in our packs strewn across the course. There is no need to litter; sports bras, shorts and socks all make satisfactory temporary litter bins.
• Do take water and food with you, as even though there is a feed station half way round, you need to keep hydrated and fuelled the rest of the way. It’s a long trail to be on without sustenance.
• Don’t worry if you have to push your bike up the worst of the hills, I saw lots of people (even those in fancy lycra kit) doing it 😉

RUN

This time I had mastered my transition and with soggy feet set off for the final stretch.
If you read the first of the Rookies Guide to SUPBIKERUN, you might remember how much of a challenge the running section was going to be for me. However, surprisingly this was my best bit. And because it was the last section, I felt happy to pour the absolute last of my energy into it. Aside from the mega hill to climb back up, which I had to walk, I kept a good running pace throughout and… I overtook the person I had been unable to overtake on my SUP! (not that it is a competition).
Bright red, sweaty, exhausted but completely and utterly chuffed to bits, with words of encouragement from the stewards at the end of the course, I crossed the finish line, greeted by the wonderful SUPBIKERUN team with drinks, food and my very own medal.

Helpful hints:

• I had terrible cramp in my thighs during the run, and I think it was due to my electrolytes, (magnesium usually being the culprit) being depleted by the SUP and BIKE. An electrolyte solution rather than water might have helped here, and you could leave some with your stuff in the bike transition zone for between the sections if you don’t want to take it with you.

This event gave me such a great sense of achievement, and whatever your reason for entering, whether like me you’re new to this, or you’re a seasoned triathlete, I hope you enjoy(ed) the events as much as I enjoyed this one. Thank you to the organisers and all my fellow entrants for making the atmosphere on the day and the camaraderie the defining factor in this event. I think we’re onto something special here, and let’s keep it that way. It was this friendliness and encouragement that would make me want to enter the next couple this year too. So I may see you there! In the words of Bill and Ted – “Be excellent to each other. Dudes.”

Words by : Caroline Major.

To find out more about SUPBIKERUN and the other events planned for this year check out their website here. And incase you missed Caroline’s previous ‘Rookie’s Guide to SUPBIKERUN’ articles you can read them here; Part 1 and Part 2.