Nigel Gaskin

With just under a week to go until I participate in the 70.3 World Ironman Championships. I find myself lying on the beautiful Burleigh Beach, Gold Coast, Australia, reflecting on the last few months of my training and racing. 

So have I done enough to be competitive against the best in the world? 

Since my last blog, 'A twelve month journey to Down Under!', the last few months have just flown by. 

Having finished the Staffordshire 70.3 Ironman event and qualifying to race here in Australia on 4th September, my main goal was to focus my training for this event. 

I discussed in my last blog about the injuries I had with my heels during the lead up to the Staffordshire 70.3 event. Therefore, I knew before I could progress any further I'd need some treatment to help repair any damage I had to my heels. I contacted Lisa at Altered Images, Bromsgrove m.facebook.com/AlteredImagesB⁠… 

On my first visit to see Lisa, she diagnosed that I was suffering with plantar fasciitis and knew I needed treatment urgently. During that appointment I received acupuncture in my calves, heels and the arches of my feet. Before I left, Lisa then applied a bright blue tape, which she stretched up the back of my calves, helping to strengthen my arches. I've since continued to have treatment with Lisa on a weekly basis before travelling to Australia. 

Two weeks after racing at the Staffordshire 70.3 I travelled to Châteauroux, France with my brother, Chris. We were both representing GB in the European Aquathlon Championships.

The race consisted of a 1km open water (non wetsuit) swim and a 5km road run. 

This was the first time I had pushed myself on the run since receiving treatment with Lisa. I was amazed how well the treatment had worked. I exited the water as 2nd fastest in the 35-39 age group and ran the 5km in 17:25.

I finished 3rd overall in the 35-39 age group and 2nd fastest GB athlete. 

The following day my brother and I, again representing GB, raced in the International de Châteauroux Grand Prix des Nations Triathlon. The race was held at the same venue as the European Aquathlon however a bike leg was added. The race consisted of a 750m open water swim a 22km draft legal bike ride and a 5km mixed terrain run.

Having exited the water in 9th position I found myself racing with the lead pack of cyclists. I managed to stay at the back of the peloton for the first lap, but their speed proved too much for my tired legs, I then found myself being picked up by the chasing peloton. I remained with this group of cyclists until we reached transition 2.

Having run the day before, I was unsure how my heels would manage with another fast 5km run. However I felt no pain and therefore kept increasing my pace. I finished my run in a respectable time of 17:42, 10th fastest run of the day.

I was pleased to have finished as the fastest GB athlete and 2nd fastest in my 35-39 age group, 19th overall. 

Two weeks later I headed to Upton-Upon-Severn where I joined up with two good training mates Alex and Sam. I had been asked by Alex to race for their triathlon team, TRiKS as part of their relay team. I took on the challenge of swimming 1500m upstream, in the River Severn.

Thankfully wetsuits were mandatory, unlike the ruling at France two weeks earlier where the water temperature was a bath like 25 degrees Celsius. The water in the River Severn was a mere 17 degrees Celsius at best. 

Considering I had just finished a night shift at work and had only managed to grab a few hours sleep before travelling to Upton-Upon-Severn, I felt satisfied to be leading the race. I held 1st position right up to the last 200m where I was overtaken by two other swimmers. Having exited the swim in 3rd position I had a long run to T2 where I then handed over to Alex. 

With great performances from Alex and Sam on their bike and run legs, it meant we finished 2nd overall and 1st in our category.

Before heading out to Australia in August I had one more race on my calendar to look forward to; the Jenson Button Triathlon, Derby on Sunday 17th July.

We arrived on the Saturday afternoon and headed over to Markeaton Park where the race would be held on the Sunday. The weather was fantastic, not a cloud in the sky. The temperature was in the high twenties.  The location and the weather were looking good for race day.

Race morning had arrived. I found myself getting up early and preparing for the short ride to Markeaton Park to get ready for the morning eliminator race, which had numerous waves throughout the morning. I was racing in the first wave of the day. A 200m swim, 10k bike and 2.5k run. The top 50 finishers would then race in the Grand Final in the afternoon. 

With the water temperature in Markeaton Lake being above 14 degrees Celsius and the swim only 200m I could see no benefits to racing in a wetsuit. 

I exited the water in the top group of athletes. Taking advantage in T1 of not having to remove a wetsuit, I overtook many athletes, quickly mounted my bike and headed out onto the bike course.

I finished the race with a super quick 2.5k run and was the 3rd to finish in my wave. 

The results were published later that morning. I had recorded the 14th fastest time overall in the eliminator race and was through to the Grand Final. 

After lazing around in the sunshine for most of the afternoon, the time had finally come for the start of the Grand Final. I found myself lined up,  getting ready to jump into Markeaton Lake. I again chose to go without the wetsuit, having confidence in my ashmei trisuit following my successful qualification in the eliminator race. 

The distances had now doubled, but still, a 400m swim meant it would only be a few minutes in the water. Jenson Button was one of the last to join the start line. I knew this was going to be a fast race. There were some really quick athletes amongst this group; most of whom were teenagers all lined up next to me, also wanting to get the best possible start. In the back of mind I knew it was going to be a difficult task to beat these athletes but I would make sure they had to work hard to beat me. 

The starter sounded the horn. There was a mass explosion of water as the athletes grappled for space. Being in the lead pack of swimmers was difficult, I was struggling to swim amongst all the flapping arms and legs that were around me. I battled through as best as I could; this was one of the hardest and fastest open water swims I'd ever raced in. 

The swim exit was in sight. I could see many athletes in front of me; not the start I had hoped for but I knew I'd make up time in T1 not having to battle with the removal of a wetsuit.  As I entered T1 I could see Jenson Button's TT bike was still on the rack near to my TT bike, this gave me a boost of confidence. There were a few other athletes just leaving T1, running out to the mount line with their bikes.  I had a quick transition, I knew I had gained valuable time on some other athletes who had entered T1 before me. 

The bike route was now two laps of the course. It was fast flowing, some sharp bends and some undulating hills. There were areas around the town where lack of concentration could cause some nasty accidents. I got off to a great start, I could see the leaders just up in front and I focussed on catching these athletes. Not far into my first lap of the course I could sense there was another athlete catching me. I looked to my right and saw Jenson Button by my side. With a smug grin on his face he just powered past like I wasn't moving! Shortly after, a few other of his team mates including Jano Soto also overtook me. 

I managed to stay within 30 seconds of Jenson and his team mates throughout the rest of the bike leg. The lead pack were out of sight. I now knew this race was all about catching Jenson Button. As I entered T2 Jenson Button, Jano Soto and a few other athletes were all exiting T2 and starting their run.  

Catching Jenson on the run was going to be no easy task as he's a great all round athlete but I was so determined, I gave it my all. The run was two laps of Markeaton Park. I quickly caught up with Jano Soto and a couple of other athletes. I could now see Jenson in the distance. There were no other athletes in between us. I was on my second lap, I hadn't got much time left to catch him. I could see he was checking over his shoulder, each time he did I was that little bit nearer. As we entered the wooded area for the final time I caught up with Jenson as we climbed up the hill. I ran alongside him and he acknowledged me by saying "Great running". I could see the finish line ahead, I now found myself checking over my shoulder, waiting for Jenson to react.

With a final push towards the finish line I had managed to distance myself 11 seconds further ahead of Jenson. I crossed the finish line and waited to congratulate Jenson. As he crossed over the line we paused and then gave each other a celebratory man hug! 

What a great race! I finished 14th overall and was the third fastest in the 30-39 age group.