Outlaw Half – Bowood House
There had been much anticipation and excitement that a considerable number of the 38 competing Tuffs at the Costswold Classic would become ‘half ironman’s’ or 70.3’ers in July so to be robbed of the swim proved a major disappointment. Some decided that they had to put the record straight quite quickly and so word went around that Outlaw Bowood was the place to sign up. Bowood House is set in 4,000 acres close to Chippenham south of the M4 with the event covering one lap around the circumference of the lake before the one lap ride around the Wiltshire countryside with views of the white horses carved into the hills. Back into the estate for the three lap traffic free run around the Bowood estate. Well done to all the Tuffs over what proved to be an undulating course. Simon Thistlethwaite was first Tuff home in 5:47. Jon Babbage was next in 5:59. Nick Bolding finished just ahead of Clare Worgan & Sue Neilson completed our Tuff quintet. We have two reports; first from Clare Worgan followed up with Nick’s thoughts on the day:-
“A fantastic event, with some lovely Tuffs. The Outlaw half fell on what would have been my daughters 5th birthday so felt perfect challenge for me to to take on in her memory. The swim was delayed again because of fog, I didn’t mind as it gave me extra time for nervous faffing. The sun was shining, the lake was warm and tranquil so very different to the sea at Littlehampton! It was my first 1.9km lake swim and I quite enjoyed it. The bike leg was tough, some big climbs but very beautiful so lots of pretty distractions along the way. I figured if I just stuck to the nutrition plan and kept pushing I’d get there. The run was the same, lots of hills but a beautiful location. I ran a lot in Arundel over winter so felt better prepared for the run but it certainly wasn’t easy! The finish line was emotional, I’m very pleased with my times, I feel like I did Alice proud. It was wonderful to share the weekend with a great bunch of Tuffs, there were some tears and lots of laughs – we all did so well, I’m proud of us 😁”
Clare
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“It’s been a long road to Bowood… I’d booked Outlaw Half Nottingham in October 2019, the event itself was scheduled for May 2020, then I changed to the new Outlaw Event – Bowood – as it was nearer and scheduled for June 2020 so I had more time to train… then Covid happened and Bowood 2020 was postponed to September 2021. In the meantime I ended up joining the massive Tuff contingent at Cotswold Classic in July 2021 only to have the swim cancelled due to a misty lake…
So nearly 2 years after booking what was supposed to be my first middle-distance tri and already having had one event turn into a killer ‘brick’ session, waking up to another misty morning gave me something of a sinking feeling…
Fortunately, it burned off and we only had a half hour delay… so my 8:05 start would be a leisurely 8:35 – except as I wandered down to the holding area for the swim a marshal spotted my blue swim hat & called me in to the queue. It was when I spotted Jon (Babbage) & Simon behind me that I knew something was amiss… slower swimmers were starting later & I’m definitely a slower swimmer! Turns out there was a ‘mixed hat’ slow wave I should have been in but, too late to back out now!
Swim start was from a pontoon so having thoroughly prepared for my first ever dive start (I watched one video on YouTube) I leapt off the edge, tucked my head between my arms and hoped for the best… surfacing with my goggles still in place I figured I’d ‘nailed it’ and started swimming. Goggle-fogging was an issue having not had a chance to get into the water & do the usual ‘spit & rinse’ but a quick bit of treading water and that was sorted.
Lake was a lovely temperature, and I just concentrated on not swimming into the reeds as the tail-enders of my wave passed my… then the wave behind… and the one after that – I’m so slow that as the exit ramp hove into view I was being passed by the frontrunners from the 3rd wave after the one I was in! No matter, I was bang on my predicted time and feeling good as I faced the uphill run to T1 (hills were going to become a recurring theme in this race).
Spotted by Mrs B as I hit the grass <wave> and then a quick T1 and run out of the ‘bike exit’, then run a bit more… and a bit more – how far is it to the mount line!? Finally get there & spot Clare a little way back from it suffering a ‘technical’ – her sunglasses lenses were covered in sun cream. Nothing I could do to assist so I was off and away.
The ride was… fun – no, really! It was stunning… rolling farmland, Silbury Hill, Avebury Circle, sweeping sections… sure, there were a few steep climbs and a gnarly ‘no tri bars!’ descent that had a competitor in the hedge halfway down (they were chatting to a motorcycle marshal, so were OK) but I’d do that route ‘for fun’ as a leisure ride. The best bit was the last kilometre or so on the private road in Bowood house grounds – slight downhill on smooth tarmac with no traffic and glorious swooping curves.
Off the bike, run back to T2, down a gel and out onto the run course. I’d looked at the course and seen there was some ‘gradient’ but I was NOT prepared for the climbs… in addition, it was now midday and getting warm. I decided early on I’d walk the climbs and run/jog the rest. It was still tough, really tough – legs felt OK but some stomach discomfort (possibly a reaction to ingesting a degree of lake water) and heat was an issue. 3 laps, head down and push on. Toward the end of the lap at the top of a climb there were a couple of female marshals who were cheering on everyone & cracking jokes – this was a real lift.
To be fair, on the run course ALL the marshals and spectators were brilliantly supportive – in fact the whole day, the support was great.
Anyway, lap 2… feeling it now, just keep plodding on, past the ‘hilltop ladies’ again, up the climb toward the split point “Left for another lap, right for the finish!” – left it was but for the last time. Really suffering now, tried taking on water, electrolytes, flat coke, nothing was helping. When I slowed for the hills I started getting pins & needles in my lips, arms and legs and kinda ‘wobbly’… I was starting to wonder if I was physically capable of completing the course… then it was past the hilltop duo again, down the hill, past the lake, up the climb parallel to the swim exit & this time it “Right for the finish”… into the chute – big cheer from a (disgustingly fresh-looking) Jon & also Mrs B & there it was the glorious hoop that signalled the end to my suffering! I couldn’t make it a sprint finish but I managed to make it look like I was enjoying myself!
After hobbling back to our motorhome for a quick shower, 2 recovery shakes and a lie down I regained the ability to speak coherently and move like I was only 90, rather than 190! Back to the race village to meet up with the other Tuffs – Jon B, Simon, Clare & Sue for a bit of banter and some post-race photos. (inc main banner shot)
All in all, a tough course but a really well organised event (though food was scarce as 5 of the 10 catering vans that were supposed to be there had cancelled) and not too far away. Fantastic to have the support of other Tuffs (as always) and I’m really pleased have finally ‘ticked the box’ for a middle-distance tri… just leaves the long-course I guess…!!!
Nick
