Richard Allen 10th in Bermuda- Race report
This was my first race back in action after a 2 year period of retirement and total rest. With 2 months of light training and 2 months or fairly normal training under my belt I just wanted to test myself to see if it really was going to be realistic making a full comeback. I knew before the race I was not in great shape, of course not with only a few months of training. But I would know what I needed to do over the winter to be back at the top.
Bermuda was a perfect race because of it’s timing and because some of the very best athletes in the World would be racing. This included Ironman World champion Chris McCormack, the US Champion Matt Reed and the Australian Simon Thompson who has a top 8 Olympic Games finish under his belt. On top of this the entire US Olympic squad were on the start line peppered with a few top Germans.
The race was Olympic distance and none drafting. Unusually it was a point to point race where they drop you at the swim start off the back of a ferry, you swim in to shore, bike the length of Bermuda and then run around the town to finish.
My swim start was excellent and for the first 400m I was in 3rd place with French swim star Benjamin Sanson (15min for 1500m pb!) leading. At 400m Sanson picked up the pace and broke clear. This spread the field out a bit and I really struggled. I dropped back to the back of the main pack and just sat in there. Not a bad swim although I was aiming to be slightly nearer the front.
The bike was hilly and on winding roads. Now this is when it became difficult. Because of issues with getting a bike built up in time for the race I did not have my own bike and had to borrow one off the race director the night before. I had not ridden this bike before the race and it looked in very shabby condition. Setting out on the bike I felt really good but something was not right. After a few miles I realized the saddle was loose and just moving around. This made the whole bike uncomfortable as I kept having to move the saddle back to position with my hands. I managed to bike well but I would have been much stronger on a better bike. I was really just happy to at least be racing. I was passed by I few of the strong bikers during the latter stages but was pleased I had survived. However I thought this too soon as in the last 50m of the bike as I began to lift my leg over to dismount I somersaulted over the handle bars and crashed heavily into the barriers. I thought at the time I had just been stupid and tripped myself up or something. After the race I was told that my front wheel had wedged in a grate and just stopped the bike instantly. Anyway, I was a bit bashed up but ok so and continued swiftly on my way.
Now I was really not expecting too much on the run as I have been injured and have only done a limited amount of easy running. However I set off and felt very comfortable. I would not say I was on fire but I was running strong. It was a very hilly run which seemed to make it go quickly. The first lap I pace myself a bit expecting the worst. But on the 2nd and last lap I started to pick it up a bit and passed 2 guys. I actually could have run a fair bit quicker but just did not expect to feel good. I finished feeling pretty fresh but then I am very out of practise.
So all in all I was really pleased. I came 10th. I had coped with having to borrow a bike, a saddle coming loose and a crash. I just picked myself up and got on with it. I was solid in swim, bike and run and know that with a few more good months behind me I can make it back to the top. I was surprised to finish so close to some really awesome athletes having done so little training.
