{"id":10897,"date":"2021-03-13T09:58:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-13T09:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.incirliseviye.com\/?p=10897"},"modified":"2021-03-13T09:58:00","modified_gmt":"2021-03-13T09:58:00","slug":"nevis-triathlon-2018-race-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onhee.com\/?p=10897","title":{"rendered":"Nevis Triathlon 2018 race report"},"content":{"rendered":"

The race director is on the beach, pointing out to sea. \u201cSwim out to the blue boat, turn right round it, back in towards the small white buoy, turn right again and swim along the coast to exit under the arch.\u201d<\/strong> It sounds so simple. But seconds later an animated debate breaks out amongst the small, but enthusiastic, field of competitors over whether he meant the navy<\/em> blue boat or the sky<\/em> blue boat.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s an important distinction, as this quirky way of defining the course constitutes the only markers we\u2019re getting \u2013 and the two boats are about 100m apart. I should be paying attention, but in honesty I\u2019m only half-listening, as I\u2019m staring out into the beautiful blue sea, feeling the early morning sun on my skin and marvelling at how I\u2019m about to do a non-wetsuit race in the middle of November\u2026<\/p>\n

Island life<\/p>\n

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Such is life at the Nevis Triathlon, one of the smallest and most laid-back, yet stunningly beautiful, races 220 Triathlon<\/em> have ever had the pleasure of attending. Only 40 competitors are on the start line this year and that encompasses all three events: the full Nevis 74 (1km swim\/63km bike\/10km run), the half-distance Nevis 37 and the entry-level Try a Tri.<\/p>\n

Within that small field is a fantastic range of competitors though \u2013\u00a0from the youngest racer at 9 years old to the oldest at 85 \u2013 from locals doing their first tri to Kona age-group champ Jane Hansom. They\u2019ve had some big names here in the past considering it\u2019s such a tiny race too. This is where Ross Edgley (of great British Swim fame) competed his \u2018tree-athlon\u2019 and even Ironman pro Chris McCormack has taken on the course in previous years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Kona age-group champ Jane Hansom (right) with the race\u2019s oldest competitor, 85-year-old Dr Avery. Image: Ryan Delano<\/em><\/p>\n

Monkey run club<\/p>\n

I arrive on the Wednesday before the Saturday event. This is a last-minute end of year addition to a season blighted by injury (I\u2019ve been the 2018 Queen of the DNS) and although my grumbling achilles means I\u2019m there to complete not compete, I\u2019m just happy to be on a start line.<\/p>\n

What a place to compete in, too. Nevis is one of the smallest Caribbean islands and is a true paradise with lush rainforests covering a volcano in the middle, and sandy beaches around the coast. Towns are small and rural but the island is packed with friendly residents and rustic beach bars \u00ad\u2013 put it this way, you\u2019re never far from one of Nevis\u2019s famous rum punches (or a new friend to drink it with) \u2013 and if, like me, you\u2019re a fan of getting away from it all and out into nature, then you couldn\u2019t ask for more.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m staying at the Hermitage Plantation Inn, a boutique hotel created from one of Nevis\u2019s historical sugar plantations, nestled within the base of the rainforests and dating back to c1670. I\u2019m shown to a magical gingerbread-style cottage, complete with four-poster bed, swimming pool just outside my front door and hammock in the back porch\u2026 Considering I\u2019m used to staying in tents or dodgy B&Bs the night before most of my races, it\u2019s fair to say this quite a dramatic upgrade!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Monkeys can be found all over the tiny island and will peek out at you while you\u2019re racing! Image: Helen Webster<\/em><\/p>\n

On my first morning I\u2019m woken early by a group of the African Green Vervet monkeys that roam around the forests, so I lace up my trainers and head off into the forest roads for a morning run. I keep seeing the little black faces of curious monkeys popping out of the trees as I jog up the winding track past lush green vegetation and trees, while the hotel dog, Tuffy, has come along as my run buddy. It\u2019s a fantastic way to start the day, before heading to breakfast for the Hermitage\u2019s famous pumpkin pancakes and coffee with new local buddies Joel and Tim, who are a lot of fun and seem to have adopted me (you\u2019re never lonely for long on Nevis!).<\/p>\n

Click next page button below right to read more\u2026<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Killer Bees & Hardtails<\/p>\n

I\u2019m mindful of saving some energy for the race though, so short jogs aside I leave the big-energy activities such as the Nevis Peak Hike until after the race and instead spend some time exploring the island. It\u2019s hard not to get swept along in island life though and I try hard (and fail!) not to eat too much of the amazing island food, mainly accompanied by lethal rum punches. Word to the wise \u2013 if someone offers you something called a \u2018Killer Bee\u2019 during your pre-race taper, it\u2019s best to say no\u2026<\/p>\n

The day before the race arrives and I head to Oualie Beach, on the north of the island. This is where the race will start the next day and I\u2019m keen to recce the swim and collect my bike from the hire shop. Turns out there\u2019s been a small error in communication somewhere along the way though and the hire shop is out of road bikes, meaning my only option is a Trek hardtail\u2026 Not being used to a mountain bike and aware it\u2019s a really challenging bike route I\u2019m a bit nervous about this!<\/p>\n

Later that evening, a chat with a new friend Tim, who lives on the island, reassures me though. \u201cThe roads are pretty broken up in places and there are a few potholes,\u201d he says, considering the course. \u201cPlus it\u2019s meant to rain, so there might be standing water in a few places.\u201d Potholes and wet surfaces? My two least favourite things. I\u2019m suddenly very happy to be on a MTB \u2013 and decide tomorrow\u2019s going to be a lot of fun!<\/p>\n

Race morning arrives and it\u2019s a 5am start. The Hermitage have kindly made me some homemade carrot and walnut muffins for brekkie and I eat them while poking my nose out of the door and breathing a sigh of relief that the heavy rain forecast hasn\u2019t materialised yet. When it rains here, it rains like it really means it!<\/p>\n

Navigating the swim<\/p>\n

So we\u2019re back where we started this feature, at Oualie Beach at sunrise and that swim course. It\u2019s now been confirmed that it\u2019s the closer of the two blue boats we need to swim around and quickly afterwards, the klaxon goes and we\u2019re running out into the water.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m doing the Nevis 37 which only has a 500m swim, so it barely feels like I\u2019m getting into a rhythm before I\u2019m already turning to head back to the beach. The water\u2019s clear and blue and I\u2019m wishing I\u2019d been able to take on the longer distance and stay in it for longer! The triangular course is easy to follow out as I manage to get on the feet of some of the faster swimmers, then on the way back in I realise the buoy is the same one I\u2019d been using to sight off earlier in the week during practise swims. It\u2019s tiny, so I\u2019m glad I already know that the yellow house behind it is the right place to aim for! Win!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Kona age-group champ Jane Hansom exits the water first. Image Ryan Delano<\/em><\/p>\n

Transition is across the beach and it\u2019s not my fastest, as I take a minute to chuck a bottle of water over my feet to wash the sand off. Not the pro approach I know, but the thought of racing in 30 degree heat with a load of sand chafing my feet makes the time lost seem worth it.<\/p>\n

The Nevis bike course is really simple \u2013 it\u2019s either one or two laps of the 32km main road around the island, depending which distance race you\u2019re doing. Being such a small island the roads are pretty free of traffic too and what cars there are seem more curious about what we\u2019re doing than keen to overtake and I have a few locals slowing down and driving alongside me for a chat. Despite my reservations, the neon green Trek is actually a lot of fun and I\u2019m keeping up with a few other competitors and playing cat-and-mouse with an American girl on a racier-looking Specialized. There are a few potholes as predicted and as I speed past her on the bumpy straights while she slows down to dodge them, she laughs and shouts: \u201cyou chose the right bike for this course!\u201d<\/p>\n

The route takes us past the immaculate grounds of the Four Seasons hotel, then through Charlestown (the island\u2019s centre), where I almost take a wrong turn thanks to a car parked on one of the orange direction arrows spray painted onto the road. Just at the last minute I spot it and haul off left across the junction \u2013 to the cheers of a few locals on their morning trip to the shops!<\/p>\n

Click next page button below right to read more\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Just keep spinning\u2026<\/p>\n

Soon after Charlestown though, the course comes back to bite me. I\u2019d heard talk of \u2018Anaconda Hill\u2019 in the days before the race, but knowing I would be competing on a heavy, unfamiliar, bike I\u2019d tried to ignore them. Well, it was now time to face my nemesis.<\/p>\n

Anaconda Hill is on the East of the island and so named because it winds up and up (and up, phew!) until you reach the final sting in the tail \u2013 a short, sharp climb that takes you to Zetlands, close to where you start to hike up the main peak (infamously difficult and on my Nevis bucketlist for the days after the race). Today is all about triathlon, not hiking though and with the climb lasting about 2 miles I\u2019m soon in my easiest gear and starting to struggle. My American pal on the Specialized catches me up and speeds past \u2013 we both laugh and it\u2019s my turn to tell her she picked the right bike!<\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing for it but to keep spinning my legs and look forward to the inevitable descent on the other side! Luckily it\u2019s still early and the sky is overcast, so at least I\u2019m not baking. Turn after turn I continue up until suddenly I round a bend to find a short, steep section in front of me \u2013 surely the final section? Nope. This is the famous false finish of Anaconda Hill and there\u2019s still more to do. Coming to the next crest it\u2019s finally confirmed that it\u2019s over though (hurray!) as someone has sprayed \u2018You did it!\u2019 on the road alongside a smiley face, which makes me laugh as I start to speed down the other side.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Helen gets to grips with mountain-biking, Nevis-style! Image: Lizzy Dening<\/em><\/p>\n

The second half of the bike course is way easier with long, sweeping descents taking me back around to the north of the island. Any kind of PB is way off the table now, so I just enjoy the experience \u2013 the greenery whizzes past and I get panoramic views out to sea, while in the towns, I spot wooden houses painted in green, pink, white or yellow. In one there\u2019s a party atmosphere, with people running out to meet me in the road and shouting \u2018welcome to Zion\u2019 as I pass through and trying to stop me to give me segments of oranges. Some friends I\u2019ve made on the trip come out in a car to cheer me on too (hugs to Lizzy, Ross and Julie!) too \u2013 I\u2019m having a blast now and all too soon I spot the final hill on the course, a short but steep incline up and over and back down to Oualie Beach and the right turn back into transition.<\/p>\n

I leave my bike and start the short 5km run course, which takes me back the way I\u2019ve come (over the small nasty hill again!), to the island\u2019s tiny airport and back. I\u2019ll be honest, after 90 minutes of riding an unfamiliar bike over steep hills my legs are pretty tired and with the sun starting to beat down the run conditions are tough \u2013 so I\u2019m almost glad my physio insisted I adopt a run\/walk strategy to save my dodgy achilles. Hot runs have never been one of my strengths \u2013 I\u2019m definitely an \u2018out at 5am and head for a forest\u2019 kinda girl in the summer.<\/p>\n

Despite my slow bike leg there are quite a few people on the run course and with the sun radiating the full force of its 30 degree heat onto us the remaining athletes are visibly wilting. Given I\u2019m doing 3 minute intervals at race pace and 2 minute walk breaks I\u2019m expecting to be slow anyway, but actually this strategy seems to be quite a good one in the heat and I overtake a couple of people. At the turnaround point the women manning the aid station spray a bottle of water over me (I must look hot!) and I\u2019m into the last couple of kilometres back to Oualie Beach.<\/p>\n

Sandy finish line<\/p>\n

Turning back towards the beach I\u2019m directed sharp right around transition as the race finish is along the stretch of sand that makes up one of the prettiest beaches on the island. Pretty it might be, but the sand is the soft kind that gives way as soon as you step on it, making it hard to run on with a dodgy ankle!<\/p>\n

My friend Jane runs part of the beach with me though in celebration (she finished ages before me to win the race outright, all that Kona training served her well!) and with everyone on the beach cheering, I\u2019m soon across the finish line to be handed a whopping gold finisher medal (if you\u2019re into your bling, this is the race for you!). Then just in time, I head to join everyone in the bar as those predicted thunderstorms hit and the rain starts hammering down.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Male and female winner of the Nevis 37, plus winner of the Nevis 75 2018. Image: Ryan Delano<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

All in, Nevis was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I\u2019d thoroughly recommend it to any triathletes looking to combine a fun but challenging race with an amazing holiday and for 2019, a duathlon is being added to the race options as well. That\u2019s a whole year away though, which seems too long as Nevis has utterly stolen my heart \u2013 so I\u2019m already plotting how to come back in March for the Nevis to St Kitts Cross-Channel Swim\u2026<\/p>\n

Helen flew to St Kitts from London Gatwick with British Airways and then got a water taxi to the island of Nevis. She stayed at the Hermitage Plantation Inn. For more information on the Nevis Triathlon and activities on the island and to sign up for next year, visit the website here.<\/em><\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Other recommended island activities are: 4X4 island tour with Funky Monkey, visit to Nevisian historical Village, Nevis Peak Hike with Sunrise Tours ane visit to the island botanical gardens. Foodie highlights were breakfast at the Hermitage Plantation Inn<\/em> (Helen ate far too many pumpkin pancakes on her trip) as well as pig roast night and wood-fired pizza night; dinner at the Golden Rock Hotel and Bananas Bistro and (if you dare) the world-famous Killer Bee cocktails at Sunshine\u2019s.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The race director is on the beach, pointing out to sea. \u201cSwim out to the blue boat, turn right round it, back in towards the small white buoy, turn right again and swim along the coast to exit under the arch.\u201d It sounds so simple. But seconds later an animated debate breaks out amongst the … <\/p>\n

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