Outlaw 2021
Outlaw Full Distance July 2021
Race Report Peter Heron
Outlaw has been a club favourite since 2012. This year [2021] 9 club members competed, all neatly spread across most of the age groups; 25-29 Ben Stones, 30-34 Lee Steadman, Jake Turner, Tom Kennedy, 35-39 Phil Johnson, 40-44 Timo Giesbrecht, 50-54 Chris Ball, Jason Ennis, 60-64 Peter Heron.
Outlaw is often billed as the first Full distance race for those new to that distance, but there are also many seasoned long course triathletes who enter the race. Athletes are set-up to succeed with a calm lake for the swim, flat bike, and flat run Marathon course! The 16 feed stations on the run are deliberately placed to allow for the 9:1 run/walk method (the organizers are big advocates of 9:1). Years of experience makes organization exceptional. The cost is approximately 65-70% of an IRONMAN branded event so it does represent good value.
A single well organized transition helps keep it simple. The swim is a clockwise out and back loop in a freshwater lake with very little weed. The bike is 3 loops, and relatively flat aside from a gradual hill climb between 70-80k. The run is predominantly flat aside from a couple of hundred metres of small hills over grassy banks that link the lake perimeter loops with the out and back Meadows section.
Conditions are just about perfect for spectators with on-site parking, grandstand and plenty of space on the grassy banks dotted around the lake-side. On-site camp sites, and plenty of reasonably priced budget hotels within 2 to 5k from the event start. On-site car parking passes for the weekend cost £8.50 if booked in advance, or £10 on arrival.
PRE-RACE SUPPORT: Advice and tips provided regularly by Team Oxygenaddict who offer coaching support for the event. Continuous email updates, great documentation including kit lists, Race Day Planning Template, webinars, Race Briefing video, race day information pack, all go together to make for an engaging and worthwhile pre-race experience.
SWIM: Single clockwise loop of the lake. No sighting issues, no water craft to worry you, no waves and no wind! Strava link HERE.
BIKE: Three flat loops; though surprisingly there's 800 metres of elevation hidden away on some of the undulating terrain. Mainly open roads but very well signed, hazards clearly marked with orange spray paint, lot's of marshals. Great spectator support at the convergence of roads at Wharf Lane, and through the village of Car Colston. Short hill climb at around 80k. Strava link HERE.
RUN: Flat! Two out and back (approx. 28k total), and two full loops around the lake (10k total) polished off by a slightly cut short third loop (3.5k) into the finisher funnel.
TRANSITION: The year of this event (2021) due to the need to space things out because of COVID, the single transition area consisted of 3 marquees; Swim/Bike, Bike/Run, Dry Kit. Total distance end to end measured 700 metres.
VERDICT
Pros:
reasonable price
flat run and bike
16 well spaced-out feed stations on the run to help manage the 9:1 run/walk method
mature very well managed event
spectators seating / vantage points around lakeside add to the day
Great goodie bag - including a very sturdy backpack!
Free race photographs
Cons:
Minor quibble.... the final 1.5k of the bike ride comes in over dirt / cinder track (though they are firm), approx. 10 speed bumps, then a cattle grid - slightly testing on a TT bike!
Collecting your belongings from each of the marquees in the single transition area was a painful and unwelcome experience due to the long walk from one end to the other, then back again! At the end of the race, the last thing anyone felt up to was walking the 1.5k transition, followed by another 1.5k to the car if you weren't lucky enough to have been parked nearer.
Highly recommended especially for those wanting to test their abilities on a first Full distance race
A huge thank you to family, friends, club coaches, and fellow club members, and also the Outlaw officials and volunteers for making the day a success.