wellington triathlon – simon spitz adds to his tally…
Not content with his seven golds at the 1972 Olympics, Mark Spitz decided to enter the AXLR8 (Accelerate apparently) Wellington Sprint Triathlon earlier today in search of one more medal for the trophy cabinet but to avoid the media spotlight he entered under the pseudonym, Simon ‘Spitz’ Smith.
So there we are standing by the side of the pool, Simon wearing the same ‘budgie smugglers’ he wore back in the day and claiming that he’s not been in the water for over two years. I casually explain that obviously I’ll go off first and he’s to ensure we don’t collide when I’m coming back at him. Why, Simon, if you can hold onto my pace then the drafting effect is the same as on the bike. Can’t you just see how it’s going to unfold? By the end of the first length he’s stolen the lead, by the second I’m eating his wake and by the fourth he’s completely dropped me! And he really hasn’t been in the water for over two years. Honestly.
Mercifully, I only had to endure it for eight lengths (200m) and then it was all-change and onto the bikes for another strange distance of 18km around the flat roads of Crowthorne, Finchampstead, Wokingham and back. Thankfully, I’d stolen the lead back off Simon in transition and knew if I put the hammer down, shouldn’t see him again, until perhaps the run. And I thought I was doing just that until a fully ‘aero’d up’ guy on a Felt TT machine flew past me at such a speed to remind me of the fact that I’m really a bit of a donkey on two wheels.
Thirty-five minutes later I’m out on the 5km run and expecting Simon to pull up on my shoulder anytime soon. But never, upon pain of death, ever look back. The terrain is ‘The Look Out’ off-road and it’s wet, muddy and a bit slippery, though I have to admit I love it. The finish looms ahead and Lanzarote Mike cheers me on for a sprint finish, which hopefully sees me complete the event in under the hour, though I’ll wait for the exact formal time before cracking open the bubbly stuff. As usual I’ve no idea of the time as I always forget to start my watch until I’m half-way round!
Simon ‘Spitz’ Smith strolls in five minutes later and claims the swim took it out of him. Yeah. Reet. Simon ‘Chancer’ Davy had completed it earlier in the morning and came in with a PB of around 70 mins. Considering he has only just started swimming I know exactly who he should be seeking some stroke advice from and it ain’t no ginga midget!
Definitive finishing times:
Carl – 58.35 (6.04/32.38/19.53)
Simon Smith – 64.45 (6.31/37.08/21.06)
Simon Davy – 66.09 (6.36/34.34/24.59)
