One of the greatest long distance triathlons in the world, Challenge Roth sells out in minutes so bagging a race place is the first hurdle.

#TeamTCUK athlete, Richard 'Hobbsie' Hobbs was one of the lucky ones and, after competing in Challenge Roth 2017, found himself on the start line for a second time and chasing a sub-11hr finish.

Find out how he got on and why he's now spending the rest of the summer learning how to pee on the bike! 

Pre-race

I don't think I have been more excited sat in front of a screen since I was 15 years old and that Pamela Anderson video was leaked!

After competing at Challenge Roth in 2017, in 36 degree heat and a (one year only) change to the run course, I was keen to go back and give it another go, with the aim of beating my 11hr 41 time and aiming to go sub 11. So, after some focused and completely different keyboard bashing last July, I somehow got another place in a race that fills in less than a minute.

A condemned carbon frame and last-minute replacement from Specialized a week before the race, heightened the pre-race anxiety but it all worked out, as fortunately a friend lent me an identical bike to train on.

I booked a package with Raceforce, who deal with all the logistics and stress of a race that whilst iconic is not easy to navigate between the split transitions and has nowhere in Roth to stay.

The bike was collected and driven down which eliminated any bike box concerns, we had a practice swim in the canal on Friday with nervous murmurings of a non-wetsuit swim (which would have been the first in Roth history).

Saturday I did a short bike with fellow TCUK athletes, Jon and Tess. The temperature was hot pre-race hitting 32 degrees, but the race day forecast was looking good, and we hoped it was right!

Did you feel that your training had prepared you sufficiently?

After the Lanzarote training camp I felt good, and sharper than previous years, I knew I needed a concentrated push to move forward, I spoke to Coach Matt on numerous occasions, and did the obvious thing - I hit every session, I listened to what he said, and just got on with it.

Admittedly the benefit of being self-employed meant I could fit training around work, with a degree of flexibility, but notwithstanding that I put in a proper shift this time. 4am alarms were frequent at the weekends, 9pm swims, (just because that's when I could get out); there are no quick wins, you just have to do the sessions and invest in the journey.

I was fortunate to find some great people to train with, but on the long specific sessions went alone.

The second TCUK camp in Morzine was perfectly timed for one last push, and despite a tumble down a mountain, due to lack of cornering talent, (which I don't like to talk about) I left feeling strong for a quality taper and race day.

I arrived in Germany, feeling the fittest I ever have in my aging 42 years, not just physically but mentally too. The long rides and runs I did on my own had given me great encouragement and a new level of focus, determination and more importantly stubbornness!

Swim

Time: 1:16

How did it go?

Compared to 2017 the swim went well. I swam over 110,000M in training since January and whilst I won't confess to be the best open water swimmer, I felt more comfortable and stronger than ever before.

The swim wave I was in was unnecessarily aggressive, 210 men strong. I think a group were a bit ‘over-excited’ so after 500m of kicking bashing, and leg pulling I managed to get into a good rhythm. After 1km, I swam down the middle to get clear water, which in hindsight was the slower route, but I managed to relax and get to the swim exit in a good frame of mind.

I finished 9 minutes up on 2017, a big improvement.

T1

Time: 6 mins

Aided by one of the 7,500 volunteers, I grabbed my red bag and headed for a spare bench. The wetsuit came off well, and I managed to get out the tent grab, a drink then run the 200m to mount the bike. All good.

Bike

Time: 5:44

Coming out of a hot wetsuit swim (24 degrees water temp!) I was concerned my HR was too high. I knew I had to take the first lap easy. Roth is not flat, but it is fast, with 1600m of elevation it has a couple of sharp climbs but rolls through the well supported towns and villages.

The first lap went to plan, all my power and speed data were good, and I eventually saw a drop in HR as I hit 30km.

The second lap was a different story with the wind picking up. This meant we were subjected to grabby crosswinds and on one long section, a horrible headwind.

I could see my power increase and speed decrease, but I tried to stay relaxed, and not ‘over cook’ it.

I lost the fight against needing to pee on lap 2 and pulled over to complete the bladder emptying process, only comparable to a thoroughbred race horse…I should learn to pee on the bike…and whilst swimming! But at least this meant my hydration was good!

Talking of which I decided to take a bottle every aid station (18km) which worked well, and I ate. I actually over ate and got as much in as possible, then towards the end of lap 2 dropped the solid intake and focused on the lovely sensation of thick gloopy gel swallowing!
 

T2

Time: 4mins

T2 was good, a friendly German volunteer (in fact they were all very smiley) took my bike and I jogged into to T2 feeling ok.

I changed socks, slowly put the shoes on to ensure they were where they were meant to be (I had learnt from losing a toenail 2 years ago)

I grabbed my bottle, hat and sunglasses (got to look good) …and off I went.

Run

Time: 3:45

I knew I had a good triathlon run in me, and I knew one day I would prove it. After some good training runs, I had a clear strategy. Talking to Matt before, we discussed my pacing, (a cause of frustration for Matt for many years) not stopping at a the all too frequent aid stations (every 1.5km) until at least 10km in.

I carried a water bottle and sipped from this for the first 13km, then ditched it and then took on board all of Roth’s finest food and drink offerings every other aid station from therein.

This worked well, coupled with my new found Israeli friend who could only shout: “Richard…what pace? … 5min Ks yes?”

…after 12km of running with him, mostly of him tucked behind me into a bloody headwind, and asking what pace every K, I wanted to buy him a Garmin myself just to shut him up!

Fortunately, he stopped at an aid station and I never saw him again…!

The run course at Roth is one loop. This is strange but I liked this as, whilst loops are great for support from friends and family, I’m usually far too miserable to even acknowledge them by the third lap, and the thought that with every step forward I would never have to see that bit of the course again, I pushed on to the lumpy bit at 32km.

I remember this hill, I had to ascend it 3 times in 2017…at 32km once would be more than enough.

I got awful cramps halfway up, so I threw some more gels down (the last 2 I had) stretched, walked and then manged to get into a running rhythm again. I knew from 38km it was all downhill and flat, I knew also my cramp induced walk had meant my 3:45 target was in doubt.

So, I pushed on through unbearable pain and doubt and manged to pass a lot of people. A bit of rage with a French runner who didn’t quite understand my shout as I passed him, meant I arrived at the final kilometre pumped and overjoyed to walk through the finish straight knowing I had finally run a proper race.

I had no idea of my finish time until I turned back on the finish line and saw my name and 10:56:37 flash up. I knew sub 11 was in me, Matt knew too, but I didn’t know if I was physically or mentally strong enough to get there.

For someone who has no ability to show emotions, I must admit I was overcome on the line, and once I got my medal, finishers t-shirt and pint of Edinger, I walked to the showers. I grabbed my phone and called Matt, which in hindsight must have been a strange call to receive on a Sunday night…some weird guy not being able to speak apart from say: “I did sub 11..I can’t talk…thank you for everything mate.”

…and that’s how I feel. I appreciate I haven’t been the best person to coach over the seven or so years, but this year has been different. I feel so positive with events this year and I’m keen to push on and get better.

This sport is not easy, it is a life choice. It requires dedication, a level of selfishness and sacrifice, but I don’t believe I could reciprocate that feeling anywhere else than when I crossed the line and saw my time.

It’s been a hell of a journey, shared and fully supported by TCUK, and some of the best people I have ever had the opportunity to meet.