Last weekend, Newport & District Running Club’s Chas Bickford-Smith travelled to Spain to take part in the World Triathlon Championships. Here, he tells us about his experience, and his journey to get there, in his own words:
Well, that was quite an experience: being part of the GB team and racing against some of the best amateur triathletes in the World in the historical city of Pontevedra on the west coast of Spain. AND, amazingly, not coming last!
As always, I had travelled with my trusty supporters Liz and Josh (Chas’ wife and son).
This adventure started back in 2021. I was chatting with another competitor before the start of the Ellesmere triathlon. I questioned him on his GB Team hoody and he suggested I look at qualifying to gain a place in the World Champs in Spain in 2023.
So… I entered the two Olympic distance (1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run) qualifying races for 2022 and paid the British Triathlon fee to be considered if I came in top 3 in my age group at either qualifying race (Woodhall Spa and Ellesmere). Or maybe a roll down place for the other 8 places in my age group (14 in all).
Things didn’t start well in 2022; while out running along the canal with Newport & District Running club, I slipped and broke a couple of ribs. It took a few weeks to be able to run and swim again, and I was able to complete the Nottingham Half Ironman and was all set for the Stafford Half Ironman. Stafford didn’t end well; I crashed on the bike course and damaged my ribs on the other side – not broken but severely sprained – this was much worse than breaking them.
Again, no running or swimming, only gentle indoor bikes and then, later on, very painful runs. I did try to swim but managed only 4 very painful lengths and gave up… Woodhall Spa qualifier was fast approaching! Finally, I could cycle outside, run with a bit of pain and swim with a strange painful arm action. After a few weeks of this, I felt I could complete the first qualifier.
Woodhall Spa is north of Newcastle and a 4-hour drive which fitted in with the 4pm start (it is a wedding venue so the start was delayed to get the wedding guests out of the country park). I drove up on race day and then dosed up with Ibuprofen and, coated in numbing gel, I managed to get my wetsuit on – I guess the adrenaline kicked in, as I swam well and then went on to complete the race even having to cycle on the grass verge to avoid a flock of sheep that had taken over the road.
But nothing is straightforward – I had to come in the top 3 in my age group to guarantee a qualification place which in my state I felt was a long shot. Just as I was about to step over the finish line a bloke came past me. “That wasn’t great” I said, but he just shrugged and walked off. The official time showed him 2 seconds ahead of me. Amazingly, he was in my age group and he came 3rd… giving me 4th and no guaranteed qualification to race in Spain.
Fast forward to April 2023 – out of the blue I received an email from British Triathlon to say I had qualified – I can only think that the bloke decided not to go, so my 4th place became a 3rd for a GB Team place. I had already entered other longer races in 2023 so felt this race would fit in well. I did race the 2nd qualifier at Ellesmere in September but not well, my ribs just weren’t right and so my fitness just wasn’t there to compete.
With the offer of a GB team place I paid my race entry, booked flights for the three of us and bought the GB Team Triathlon suit, but accommodation was just not to be found in Pontevedra. We ended up staying a 40-minute drive away in Sanxenxo, along with a large number of GB and Australian competitors. Speaking to other competitors, they had booked accommodation before they knew they had qualified so I had no chance.
We arrived in Sanxenxo on Wednesday to race on Sunday. In that time, I had to register, take part in the opening ceremony in the parade of nations and get my bike into town and racked on Saturday. All this needed serious logistical co-ordination with not only the usual triathlon part but also buses and timings, as everything was so far away.
In registration it brought it home to me that this really was an international event, seeing competitors from all over the world: South and North America, China, Australia, New Zealand all over Europe – what an amazing thing to be part of. Many were wearing prestigious race t-shirts like the Hawaiian Ironman World Championships which made me question my legitimacy to be there. After registration we managed to fit in a guided walking tour round the old town which covered a lot of the triathlon run course which was handy.
On Thursday, the people of Pontevedra turned out for the parade of nations – the streets were full of clapping and cheering people. Josh got a place next to the GB team flag bearer and Liz was photographed which was put on the British Triathlon Facebook page. Friday was a rest day but I did go for a swim in the sea with another competitor.
Saturday started with a GB team briefing, explaining all rules and the rather convoluted transition. Then another trip into town (this time alone) with my bike to set up in transition and figure out the ins and outs and long runs from swim finish to bike. Liz and Josh were to get the next bus to meet me but were thrown off the bus being told it was just for triathletes so had to get a later one.
All done, met up with Liz and Josh and off for a tapas lunch (restaurant recommended by our walking tour guide) and to watch the professional under 23s race past as we ate. 5am Sunday came round and off for an early breakfast (these events rarely allow for a sleep in). Then to catch the bus into town. We arrived in transition as the sun was coming up with the needed warmth. Bike all set up and then the wait for my swim start. Each start had a different colour hat; my colour was gold which I took as a good sign.
Swim start was off a pontoon in the middle of the tidal river through the city. My wave was about 20 people and we spread out quite quickly – the swim started in salt water but then turned into fresh to turn back on the return part to salt. I really enjoyed the swim, no “bumping” and was quite happy with my 28 minutes to cover the 1500 metres.
Then the long run up steps and along a road to collect my bike from transition and then another run this time with the bike to the mount line and off up the 10km hill for the first time. The return back down into town was fast and with few bends to slow the competitors.
Back in town we turned to do the whole thing again, at least I knew where the main hills were this time but I lost my drink bottle in town going over the many speed bumps – no time to stop and so no more drink on the bike with the decision to drink well at the start of the run. I felt my bike was OK with a 1hr 18min for the hilly 40Km Course.
Off the bike and back to a run/push into transition – socks, shoes and hat on and back out for the run with my “insider knowledge” of the route from the guided tour. I finished the bike at the same time as a Polish bloke but he ran slowly into transition and still hadn’t racked his bike when I was leaving for the run. After about 1km, I passed a GB lady that had come past me on the second uphill on the bike so I felt I was going well.
The run was 4 laps of 2.5km. The first half of each lap was uphill with rest a fast down and then flat to return to the start. The day was getting hot but the run was in old narrow streets mainly in the shade which was nice and with plenty of water on offer I rehydrated to finish the 10km in 47 minutes.
The finish was in a small stadium, but bizarrely the stands were empty – Liz said the officials wouldn’t let spectators in for some strange reason so I ran over a very quiet finish line with absolutely no spectators. I managed to come 42nd out of 72 in my age group so not last.
All over and off to collect my medal and T-shirt and rush to get my bike onto the first transport back to the hotel, or we would have had to wait for a few hours for the next one.
I went for the experience and thoroughly enjoyed the event. Staying in town would have been good but once we got the logistics sorted it wasn’t that bad to be so far away from the event.
Newport & District Running Club 