After the disappointment of the Swiss Inferno Triathlon getting cancelled in August, I was looking for another race to focus my training on. I always find it difficult to keep training at a decent level without a challenge on the horizon.
The ROC events have been on my radar for a while now. If you enjoy mountain running, definitely check them out. The race format is simple: a 1.5k swim in Lake Windermere, ride to the base of Scafell Pike, run/hike up and down, ride back to the start and finish with a short 1k run. Sounds doable, right?
So, last Saturday (7 Sept’24) race day dawned with a beautiful morning, blue skies and calm conditions – with the added bonus of a leisurely 8am start!
The gun went off, and we were away with a short run down to the lake before hitting the stony beach – definitely not pleasant on your feet. A few dolphin dives later, and I was into the swim proper. The swim start is always one of the most stressful parts of any race. You hope you won’t get battered by other swimmers and that everyone respects each other’s space. Fortunately, this was one of those swims where everything just ‘clicked’. I managed to find a perfect pair of feet reasonably early on and stuck with them the whole way. Love it when that happens! Makes the swim so much easier. Bonus: I came out of the water in 3rd place.
After a short run up to T1 – wetsuit off, number belt and helmet on – I was off for the 46k ride to the base of Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain. I’d driven and ridden part of the course the day before, which I highly recommend if you’ve got the time. It’s not just about route familiarity – it’s about safety, especially on narrow, and busy, country lanes. No one wants to bomb around a corner into a full-blown traffic standoff because cars can’t/won’t pass each other.
Anyways, back to the bike. The plan was to ride conservatively to T2, saving plenty for the run/hike. I tend to race on feel, but with an eye on the power meter to keep me in check. The bike course is rolling, with a few kicker climbs. I had a pretty uneventful ride out, with only one guy (the eventual winner) passing me. I rolled into T2 in 4th.
The run/hike up Scafell is 18k with 1150m of vertical gain, and it’s definitely more technical than I’d expected. The first 2.5k is relatively flat and on a gravel trail, but after that, it’s all stone steps or rough tracks until you hit the boulders – massive rocks you have to carefully pick your way over. I wasn’t expecting that! After that, it’s the final push up to the summit, a mix of loose shingle and boulders depending on your line. Once you reach the top, you retrace your steps back down which is for sure worse than the way up if you’re not conditioned for it. I definitely wasn’t!
You have to be fully self sufficient on the run, carrying your own water, nutrition and warm clothing. Thankfully the weather was perfect – warm, clear skies and amazing views. Too bad I was in the middle of a race and I couldn’t fully take it all in. Take your eye off the trails in those conditions and you are definitely going over!
As expected, I lost a few places on the way up, but kept a solid effort running where I could and hiking the steeper sections. I also felt decent on the downhill sections until I rolled my right ankle! It wasn’t the first time, so I knew how to manage it – a few painkillers and keep going, albeit a bit more gingerly. Still, 5 or 6 athletes passed me on the descent, and I hit T2 in around 12th place.
As I was running down, I could feel the inside of my quads starting to tweak. Downhill running is a real quad killer. Unsurprisingly, by the time I was back on the bike, they went into full spasm. With lots of trial and error over the years, I’ve found what works for me when cramps hit: elete™ Electrolyte salt solution (disgusting but effective) and trying to relax my mind and body as much as possible. Easier said than done, I know…. but it works for me… most of the time! It’s funny how you can go from thinking, “How am I going to finish?” to, “How fast can I go?”. I wasn’t expecting to see anyone on the ride back, but I was determined to put down a solid effort. With the tailwind helping, I managed to pass a few athletes who’d overtaken me on the run. I rolled back into T1 in 6th!
I had a bit of a tussle with a lad during the last few kilometres of the bike, knowing I’d need a minute on him to hold him off in the final 1k run. It didn’t happen. He came out of T1 right on my heels and passed me, dropping me back to 7th by the time we crossed the finish line. To my surprise, I felt ok on the final 1k run – I genuinely thought I’d be walking it.
Happy with 7th overall and 1st in the Over 50s category. I should’ve stuck around for the prize – £50 for my category win. Ah well, next time
Nutrition Stats:
- Swim: 1 gel 10 mins before race start
- Bike: 8 gels, 1.5l water
- Run: 6 gels, carried 1.5l water but only drunk 1l
- elete™ Electrolyte water 4-5 squirts
Reflections
Would I do this again? Yes, probably. I’m seriously thinking about doing the ROC Scotland in a couple of weeks. A mix of gravel riding and running up (and down) Ben Nevis! We’ll see how the motivation holds up over the next week. I do love Scotland, so any excuse really! And I will definitely sign up for the ROC Wales next year.
All in all, I think the ROC series is different and refreshing – great events at a fair price compared to other events (no names mentioned).
See you at the races.
Coach Damo