2nd Half Challenge Barcelona – Maresme. Gareths Report!!

So the other half of Team ATHelite has now submitted his Race Report. Another great performance proves that Gareth can do ENDURANCE as we all suspected. Gareth seemed to cruise through all the training with apparent relaxed ease & even managed to adopt a completely new nutrition strategy just hours before the race. Well done Gareth - never was a cold beer more deserved!.......

My day began with a lovely ham roll at 6.30 . I decided to use a more professional approach to nutrition as this was a relatively long event so no red bull and mars bars. I bought a high 5 race pack in the expo and read all the instructions (though i ignored some). So 500ml of some form of energy drink with caffeine was my pre race fluid - had to be drunk slowly 60-90 mins pre race . Got myself into transition to check the bike was still there and put my 1500ml of energy drink on the bike. I had 4 High 5 gels with caffeine (2 citrus and 2 berry) and a powerbar chocolate thing in the bag ready to go .

Off to put wetsuit on . I will remember to put bodyglide on the back of my neck next time! then to the beach - the smell of fear was in the air and the sea was baltic !

I was off in the semi old man heat - nice pink hat - and after the first 50 yards had my goggles off and eyes full of sea , this is not good when you hate getting water in your eyes at the best of times . The swell was not much but enough to make it fun . Or so i thought ! got past the first second and third turns in a reasonable time but never really got into a rhythm . Then it all went pear shaped . The tide/ waves were pushing me into the beach and i mistakenly sighted on the first turn buoy for ages and only realised this when i noticed no one around me and a man shouting from a boat and blowing a whistle ! so swim course adjusted and then things got a bit better . Got to say though the only bit were i could sight properly was going into the beach . Need to get better . Got out of the sea in a small bunch and ran (only one in bunch doing so) into T1 . This went reasonably well apart from missing a few areas with the suncream . Got to the bike for the fun bit ! Lovely bike course nice tail breeze on the way out and a great view of the sea on the way back . The aim of this section was to stay at or around evens and try to deliver myself to T2 in a state of adequate fluid/calorie balance to run . So 1 bottle/ lap and 1 gel at every turn seemed to do that . I shouted encouragement to GA as i passed him (in opposite direction ) but he was in the zone !The powerbar got chucked as i had a de ja vu moment - coughing and spluttering with powerbar in my lungs - And then into T2 . Got the shoes on and my essential cap - i am so glad i wore this . The start of the run was through the bike zone but i did not see GA . Off i went and i would say the first 2.5 k were never ending . Strategy here was 1 gel every 5k and a bottle of water . i now know what a hrm strap is for - it holds gels very well . It was boiling on the run but my legs felt ok so i pushed on as well as i could, pouring water in my hat and down my back to cool me - this was brilliant and probably what got me through the run . I saw GA and high 5 ved at around 7 k but shortly after this i had to do a bit of walking - salt in eye v nippy. The run was progressing well and i found a guy to pace me for the middle 10k which was great but he disappeared at one of the aid stations . The crowd were brilliant and all the competitors were supporting each other - i dont know what venga means but it certainly gets you going ! I next saw GA at @14k and he was digging in and running strong .The finish was BRILLIANT loads of clapping and shouting , even managed a "sprint " finish ! Got the medal , t shirt etc ( had to have a large no XL ) and went to get fluid - coke ,water, LA beer with lime and LA beer. A ham sandwich and all was well . GA came over the line and had enough energy to try on his t shirt for size! I gave him a seat, coke, water and a ham roll and all was well with team ATHelite .

Rehydration was with beer wine baileys and then more beer. I did sleep very well !

Would i do it again ? dont know . would i do a full challenge YES but Mrs J not keen ! This is a great fast course and i would recommend it to you all.