Elemental Tri Series is a series of triathlons organized between May and August 2015 (Olsztyn, Strawczyn i Białystok). The organizer of the race is LaboSport Poland, and it all happened thanks to sponsors: Elemental Holding (naming rights sponsor), Beko, Etixx oraz Giant.
I had the opportunity to participate in Elemental Triathlon Strawczyn, on August 2, 2015, at the Olympic distance (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run). Beside this, you could take part in the sprint distance (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) or in relay events at the Olympic distance. The race attracted well-known names such as: Dariusz Kowalski, Thomas Brembor, Margaret Szczerbinska, Paulina Kotfica, Agnieszka Cieslak, Aleksandra Sikora, Sergiy Kurochkin, Maciej Dowbor.
THE ROUTE
The triathlon route was planned in the vicinity of an artificial lake in Strawczyn. Swimming was carried out in the lake, on the 750 meter long loop. „Sprinters” left the water after one loop, while the „Olympians” had to get out of the water after the end of first loop, run around a buoy and repeat the route. Rarely seen, although spectacular solution allowed the audience a moment of extra excitement and photographers to capture a few more photos.
Cycling stage also included one loop for sprinters and two for Olympic athletes. Olympic distance was held with a no-drafting rule, yet time bicycles and triathlon handlebars were allowed. Sprinters, for security reasons, couldn’ use those. The route has been planned in a very beautiful, although mountainous terrain which proved very challenging (especially long and sharp uphill that Olympians had to overcome twice).
The last stage – running – takes place around the water tank, on 2,5-kilometer loop (sprint – 2 loops, Olympian – 4) on hard surface (asphalt and paving stones), allowing to speed up (providing you have some strength left ;-)). Four loops in the Olympic distance allowed viewers to actively encourage their friends and give them a regular „kick” of energy.
MORNING BEFORE START
The night before the race we spent in Kielce. During breakfast in the hotel restaurant one could already feel the atmosphere of the event like just before start. Most of the hotel guests were preparing for triathlon. Around you could see multitude of sport gadgets and T-shirts from BEKO – co-organizer of the triathlon.
Usually for a pre-race meal I eat a light rice porridge with mixed dired fruits and nuts. This time, as I had 4 hours to start I allowed myself to try a bit of everything from the full range of hotel breakfast ;-) After eating my fill came the quick packing and the we set off to Strawczyn. At my position in the transition zone I arranged everything as planned beforehand (it is described in Art. „how to prepare for a triathlon„), I handed over the rest to the deposit and sat down to soak up the atmosphere in anticipation of the start.
In the meantime, the area around the expo tents began to thicken. On one side you could see the BEKO family zone, where the kids could give vent to their inexhaustible energy using slides and a rubber-ball pool, on the other side expo tents, filled with sport accessories and a growing crowd of professional athletes and amateurs laughing and discussing the already completed races and future ones.
strefa zmian
BRIEFING AND START
The briefing went very smoothly. All the stages and moving between them were discussed, and more importantly – safety rules reminded. Then everyone gathered at the start. About 11:45 the water boiled when the sprinters set off for the first stage. Less than 10 minutes later, when the first sprinters already sailed back, the starting signal sounded and we set off …
przygotowanie do startu
SWIMMING AND T1
I stood on the inner side, closer to the center of the basin. After the starting signal I rushed into the water and ran as far as I could, threw myself into the water and started swimming vigorously. At first you have to give it a lot or you could end up trampled and kicked. The first 100-200 meters is a real fight. I took a hit as well – a stray hand knocked my goggles off and I had to stop to pour out the water and put them on again. A few more kicks reached me but somehow I managed to return back to fight.
After passing the first buoy, everything calmed down and everyone finally could swim in their own pace. Again, a slight commotion at the turn, then again into water and the last lap. After getting out of the water I had to run a few hundred meters to the transition zone. In the zone everything had been prepared on the bike, so only a quick change of clothes, bike from the hook and onto the road.
Swimming: 00:35:34 / T1: 00:03:42
CYCLING AND T2
The cycling stage consisted of two loops around the neighbouring towns, all in a very picturesque, but fairly mountainous terrain. The route was very well secured and marked, having someone to warn us about sharper bends where necessary.
There was a surprise waiting for us – a long uphill consisting of three hills, one after another. You had to give it your all and some contestants didn’t manage, having to lead their bikes. The reward for defeating the driveway was a long ride down, where you could make up for the lost time. Surely I will remember this tour for a long time, as the majority of participants (everyone with whom I spoke later on, recalled these uphills).
Somewhere around the 10th kilometer I my shoe unclipped, SPD cleat staying in the pedal, which hindered smooth operation. Certainly I lost by a bit of time and because of this. As a result, I ran down to the transition zone, leading bicycle with one hand and holding the shoe in the other.
In the zone I quickly hung up the bike, took off my helmet, jumped into running shoes rushed to the exit.
W strefie szybko odwiesiłem rower, zdjąłem kask, wskoczyłem w buty biegowe i popędziłem do wyjścia.
Cycling: 01:31:55 / T2: 00:01:35
strefa zmian T2
RUNNING AND THE FINISH LINE
Running is my favorite stage. Despite the fatigue after previous stages I always run like a wind. It is definitely my domain and here I make up for any previous weaknesses. Minute after minute I regained lost time and „swallowed” more participants. The route was fairly flat, with some small steps, where everyone came down carefully and I jumped a few steps at a time, and a very slight climb where I passed the next runners. On this route there were two nourishment points, where you could grasp a cup of water/isotonic or take a sponge to wipe your face and neck from gathering salt. Volunteers on the points cheered us to dig out last energy reserves. Just as with the rest of the audience. The four loops around the basin staged runners to regular shots of positive energy and gave strength to reach the end.
When getting out of the water I accidentally paused my sport-watch. I quickly realized and ran it again, but up until the very end I didn’t know exactly what time I’ll have at the finish line. On the last loop I counted in my head how much time I lost and if I can fit in under 3 hours. Running to the finish line I fought for every second, because I knew that I’m on the verge of 3 hours, but when I saw an orange gate marking the finish line, nothing else mattered. I passed the finish line with everything I had. That was the end – now I could eat up and relax!
Running: 00:46:40 / Full race: 02:59:26 (position 83/133)
SUMMARY
The triathlon was attended by nearly 400 participants: 145 contestants at the Sprinter distance, 133 at the Olympic distance and 39 relay teams.
Among sprinters, the best was Sergiy Kurochkin, with the result of 0:58:39. Among women, the best was Paulina Kotfica (1:05:24). Tomasz Brembor (winner of the Groupa Azoty Triathlon – here you will find the commentary) got third place.
Olympic distance was won by Sebastian Najmowicz with a time of 2:11:17 and Klaudia Konkolova (02: 45:05).
The winning relay team was „BEKO PRO” team (Karaś Sebastian Podsiadłowski Mihał Witkowski Damian – 1:53:52).
Full results: Olympic distance, Sprinter distance, Olympic distance – relays
I can tal only in superlatives about this Triathlon. Initially strange-looking solutions, as getting out of the water before the second swimming loop or long run to the transition zone, in the end made the whole event more dynamic and spectacular. The organization, in my opinion, was really well thought so that everything and everyone could be exactly where necessary.
The finish line area was very well organized aswell – there was enough space to safely slow down and cool off. Nearby was a stand with water, isotonics and fruit providing instant refreshment and volunteers were very well informed (not so obvious, as I learned from previous races). After-race vegetarian meal (pasta with pesto) finally brought a smile to my face :-)
Triathlon, due to the mountainous terrain cycling route and a long run to transition zones, is not the best place for record-breaking and I would not recommend it for rookies because it puts contestants on a real try. On the other hand, cycling in the picturesque scenery and the dynamics of competition definitely rewards the effort. If you are looking for a challenge and want to deal with your weaknesses, the Elemental Triathlon Strawczyn surely is a great place for that. Emotions quaranteed!