It’s fair to say the Waveney super-sprint organised by my own club Tri-Anglia is one of my favourites. It’s great because it’s so accessible for those new to triathlon yet remains a good early season workout for the more experienced athlete. Held in the suffolk town of Bungay over a 400m pool swim, 20km rural bike course and a hilly 3.2km run it’s a good little tester.

As Guide Matt Ellis was keen to take the course record from another local athlete, Pro Ironman competitor Joe Skipper, he would be racing solo. I thought i’d do the same (carefully) just to go through the routine of doing a triathlon early season and get in a high quality training session. It would however be a case of safety-first for both of us as we would be racing the following week in Japan – essential in order to gain points for European Championships qualification.

I never really extended myself too much, but put in a solid enough effort throughout. I felt comfortable in the swim. T1 went well too. The bike was a bit more tricky as it’s quite a technical course around small twisty lanes, but I know the course well. The rain was coming down heavily making the roads a bit flooded in places, so extra care was needed as it really would have been silly to take risks with bigger fish to fry the following week and moving forward through the season as a whole.

In T2 I got cramp putting my left run shoe on…maybe because I was actually quite cold after the wet bike ride. Normally I’d just try to run it off, but playing it safe once again, I chose to sit down for a minute or two in transition and let it pass (confusing the officials I think!). Once out on the run course I actually felt good and pushed on a little more than I had been. My own timing suggested a run split of 13:10 and my fastest ever at this event.

Over-all it was a great (if a little damp) workout. I could have gone faster (especially if I hadn’t sat on my backside for so long – not conducive to fast times I suspect!). I finished about 1 minute down on last year in 17th spot. Matt got his arse kicked by Joe in the end who got a late entry, also being sensible, but still finishing 2nd boding well.

Thanks to all the marshall’s and Organiser Jim Keeble, especially given the horrible weather conditions. Thanks also to Tri-Anglia’s Vince Butler for squeezing him, me, two bikes, kit and a small child into his car to save me an hour or so soaking on my bike riding home:-)

Also spare a thought for Jill – she was out and about too around Thetford forest for the Ride for Life, fundraising over £200 for East Anglian Children’s Hospices. She was accompanied on a 5km run (which turned into 5 miles – oops!) and 10 mile off road bike ride by Richard Green PT. From what Richard tells me Jill did a great job despite continue knee trouble!

Iain