Swim:The lake is ideal for what Enduroman require. One lap around the outside of the lake is 300m. The lake is shallow, which means that it will not be as cold as most lakes in June. Swimmers will be able to stand up on most parts of the course and they are never more than 20 seconds swim from the side of the lake. It will be a mass start, but only a maximum of 50 swimmers in each wave. The corners will be quite tight for the first couple of laps until the swimmers space out a little. Apart from the first lap, swimmers will funnel single file past the officials who will count them past using the numbers on their swim caps. The colour of your swim cap will indicate a certain group of numbers (EG - yellow caps will be numbers 1-9, 51-59, 101-109 etc). So the counters will have no problems counting you past. About 30m short of the officials counting area, there is a small platform where swimmers enter and exit the water, Swimmers can stop here to feed, or use the loo ;-) For those doing the longest swim in the Triple, you only have 36 laps to do. Much better than the 600 you had to do at Lichfield
T1:
Have an old pair of flip flops or trainers with your support crew by the lake. It is a 150m grassy hill run into the tennis courts where your bikes will be. Next to your bikes will be a changing tent, or you can stop at your own support tent which will be half way up the hill from the lake. Grab your bike and walk up the tarmac slope to the turn-around circle on the bike course. Here will be the aid station giving out Citrus High 5 EnergySource drink and a selection of summer fruit, orange and citrus gels as well as water. The run course will also use this aid station until everybody has finished the bike, then it will move down into the race centre by the camping area.Bike:
This is a beautiful, scenic, good-to-smooth tarmac surface lap of just over 11 miles,. apart from the half mile private road that runs from the turn-around circle, up a short slight incline (which felt like Mt Everest after 10 days), out onto the public roads. I have called this, 'The Rat Run'. Chuffin potholes everywhere! The site owners have assured me that they will address this issue but as a charity and the fact that some of the rat run is shared with other land owners I can't see there being a great improvement. In practice, by day 10 of the Deca, I could ride up and down the rat run blindfolded. Only the Double / Triple will be on the bike course at night, so if the potholes don't improve then let's call them a little Enduroman present from No 4
Once out on the highway, there are 2 left turns along the flat before a very fast downhill and even smaller power hill into the village of Burley. This is quite busy in the day with old folk walking across the road without a care in the world so watch out for pensioners, and the wild cattle and horses that think they own the roads. There is an s-bend hill coming out of the other side of Burley. This has quite tight bends so I found myself cycling out into the road an extra yard or two so the vehicles behind would see me sooner. Left turn at the top of this hill then it's head down through the Forest. All the turns throughout the course are left turns. This was a major requirement for your safety. I did however have to slow down considerably before all the turns as the view to the right is restricted until I was right on top of it.
Then comes the hill called, "Little Alfie". Those doing the 1 x Iron may be swearing a little by lap 10, but for those doing the longer distances, this 'little' hill that looks nothing on your first few laps will have you swearing like Alf Garnett by nightfall.
Finally it is a left turn then back down the rat run. Don't worry, I will spray any potholes with magic Lichfield paint as per the Devil's Staircase. Slow down as you approach the turn-around circles as the ground has a few gravel sections. Here you can use the aid station, rest your bike up or make the 'walk of shame' back to your tents(approx 50m) to grab some grub or a kip. Unfortunately, the support crew tent area is as close to the bike course as we can get it. Anyway, the walk will do you good, you need the exercise so man up!Situated near the tennis courts which is only 20m from the circle is the main marquee. Here you can have your meals provided by Enduroman, or meet your crew for some shelter or a break.
T2 is the same as T1.
All in all, the course is more technical than Lichfield with a few more little climbs, but smoother roads, protection from the wind and stunning backdrops. In Burley, Forest Cycles have kindly built a cycle shop on the course
, cyclists can stop off for repairs and any minor repair bills and labour will be paid for by Enduroman. I didn't use an aero set-up, but there would be no disadvantage in using one.Run:
Smack on 1 Mile. The course goes from the race centre up a short gravel hill, around the turn-around circle, (the only tarmac part of the course), down the length of the estate on a gravel track, around both lakes where it is soft woodland underfoot (just like Lichfield, so loads of tree roots sticking out of the ground and branches that can take your eye out), then back up the grassy path, back past the support crew tents (where you can stop off) to the race centre. Again you can use the main marquee during meal times.
I always run Ultra's in Nike Structure Triax trainers because of the support they provide. I would see little point in wearing trail shoes unless it pisses down and that could happen). The site owners have assured me that even if we have a freak storm, the campsite wouldn't flood (yeah right!)
Anyway, best of luck for all your training. Remember that I only completed the Deca on this course so that I could pass on any advice, so please ask if you have a question!
No 4 signing out.