RAC E INSIDER
Two top age-groupers and Aberfeldy alumni, Ali Rowatt and Doug Roberts, detail how to get the best from this Scottish classic…
The main event is the Aberfeldy Middle Distance race (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21km run), which this year hosts the British and Scottish Champs. The course takes in the cool, clear waters of Loch Tay, challenging roads over the shoulder of Schiehallion, a circumnavigation of the wild Loch Rannoch, and the grounds of the spectacular Taymouth Castle.
The one-loop swim looks beautiful but it’s cold, very cold, so try to find a body of water that best replicates a similar sort of temperature.
The bike course takes you on some of the most stunning roads in Scotland. The climb up Schiehallion is testing, but the views make the effort worthwhile before the thrilling descent towards Loch Rannoch, which tests both skill and nerve as it winds towards the village of Kinloch Rannoch. The loop then takes you around Loch Rannoch again, providing a stunning backdrop for the nicely undulating terrain before the climb back over Schiehallion and the long descent into T2.
With the bike, although noticeably quite hilly, it’s more the severity of the climb and technical nature of the descents that you maybe need to practise more. The first hill comes less than 10k after the swim so try to replicate this in training. Also train with your race-day bike, so when it comes to the tight technical corners you’re comfortable handling it on
potentially wet, slippy corners.
The run course is three loops within the grounds of Taymouth Castle. It’s not flat, more undulating, with one hill on the loop making for a good test of endurance. Practise doing some longer runs on tired legs or off the back of a bike ride a week or so leading into the event.
Make sure you keep hydrated and well-fuelled on the bike and at the start of the run so you can maximise your effort across the whole race. Next month: Brighton and Hove Triathlon on 15 September.