2016 is looking good

So my blog is always a little erratic but here's the update so far.
The year starts OK with plans to race Manchester marathon, Xterra Malta, half and full Outlaw triathlon and then take it from there injury permitting. A few local run races would kick off the season before hopefully a good TT season (start next week) then open water swimming.
So late January the dreaded flu bug passes through the office like a tornado in Kansas, except I don't end up in Oz and spend a week in bed followed by another two weeks of general malaise and feeling lousy. The prospect of a week training and holiday in Cyprus with Ali keeps me sane but slightly worried I might be too under the weather to train properly.
All was fine and Cyprus proved to be a fantastic winter sun local and quiet familiar roads with plenty of climbing. No swimming though as the sea and the pool were freezing but supported recovery as an ice bath.I finished the week with a respectable 250 miles on the bike and managed a 2hr long run and total run millage of 25miles. We returned home to finish the week off with a half marathon in our village which was a disappointing 1:24 and would normally have been about 1:18 given the other competitors I know.
Next up was a local 10km race and in this one I managed a 37 something but it was 10.4km in the end and I was only minute from the winner. This was a great feeling knowing the speed was coming back(2nd place had beat me by 7min in the half marathon).
Ali and I recently joined Marple Swimming Club and Marple runners but the swimming has been really focused and included some hypoxic training (25m underwater swims) and feel this has helped along with the structured training. Something I probably haven't done for a year or two.
Off to Xterra Malta for a race and a bit of more sun and holiday in April and to put into practise the swimming. Xterra is the off-road triathlon version and from my experience at Xterra UK last year, and now Malta, they're not easy. Maybe its just me not knowing how to ride a mtb fast yet but I do rely on my good all round ability of swimming, bike fitness, and run to make up ground.
Malta was a great race. Of course it was because I won but it is a lovely place to race. Beautiful clear sea swim, rugged mixed terrain bike leg with something for everyone including some tarmac, steep climb, tricky descent and a few technical bits. The run has more of the same with a small scramble up the cliff and a quad sapping hill climb. The wind on the day didn't help much and only added to the difficulty. The swim went well and I mixed it up with the pro's but soon was getting overtaken on the bike. I managed to take some places back during the run but was hindered with quad cramp on the steep climb following a bit on the bike too. Not knowing where you are positioned or who is ahead or close behind made just give it all and I managed to win my first race in a few years (Age group obviously) by 7 minutes. Most importantly though was winning the slot to the Xterra World Championships in Maui, a bucket list race for me. Better start saving!! Good job its not a wet suit swim in Maui as I managed to put my thumb through the calf of my Vector Pro. I think I'll need to shorten the legs which will make it even faster to get out of.

I removed the wetsuit on the beach due to the long run and steps up to T1.

Photo by Samuel Farrugia

Mdina glass trophy for Xterra Malta Age Group win ....yessssssss!

A week later and a few blisters remain from Malta but its time for the Manchester marathon with Ali and Daz Sharpe. We had thought last year we might be capable of 2:40 on the flattest marathon course in Europe but winter miles were lacking from me and Daz has Ironman Lanzarote in 5 weeks with my Outlaw ironman in three months. We would be happy with sub-3 hours and we did. I set off at my comfortable pace running at a HR of about 162 whilst Daz set out to run 6:45 per mile with the intention of picking up the pace later. Everything went well until about mile 21 when cramp started again. I had been running about 6:15 per mile but suddenly it was 6:30 for two miles then BAM! 7:45's. What could've been somewhere around 2:45 and a pb ended with 2:55:15. Happy enough but I was running scared the last few miles worried that Daz would catch me but he ended up with 2:59:45.
So we both broke 3hrs and happy with that, and I'm slightly happier as he still hasn't beat me over marathon distance. We then waited for Ali and the tracker showed she was on target at 30km but hen as 5hrs came and went we new she was struggling. 23 minutes later she comes strolling down Talbot Road with a big grin on her face. Again lack of mileage through winter took its toll. My biggest run had been 2hrs/16.5 miles but Ali's had been just under 2.5hrs in a half marathon. All in all it was great prep for the Outlaw.

What else?......oh yeah, Ali and I had a bike fit at CycleFit in Manchester. Big differences to my TT position but small tweaks to my road bike with a new saddle too. Ali has had some big tweaks to her position change of stem and saddle and as I write she is out on a 60 miles sportive and has punctured twice.
I'm also looking to sell my Quintanna Roo triathlon bike and also the Bp Stealth to fund my next tri bike. Some interest so far but no secured offers so get on the ironman journey Facebook page and make me an offer.
Next up Xterra Greece ....7th May

End of year round up...sort of

Another year of sport and another year older and what was potentially going to be a great year and an excellent winter training ended (nearly) with some mixed results and ups and downs.
February started with a crash caused by an idiotic car driver slamming on his brakes and reversing towards us resulting in evasive action and a fall on my shoulder. Innocuous at the time but the shoulder stiffened over the weeks and months and needed a steroid injection to free it up, and just in time for my first race at Wilmslow sprint tri in May where I finished 2nd overall. Great result in my eyes.
Onto Bala middle distance on a tough course but my form was good and despite leading the swim and onto the bike the course was abandoned to a fatality. A very sad situation.
Next up was Ironman UK and again the form was there running a PB the week before and swimming and biking was great. Again lead the age group for much of the bike course and a short distance at the start of the run before I started coughing up blood and struggled with breathing for still an unknown reason. Multiple chest X-rays and MRI's and scopes in my throat and nose have detected zilch. Race finish in 15th AG is a result but not the win I wanted and trained for.
Medical tests and rest then back to training just in time for Xterra UK to try something different. A great swim, but lost a few places on the tough muddy slippery bike course and ended up 4th in what was also the European Champs. I did get offered a roll down slot for the World Champs in Maui but expense could not allow this year. Maybe next year ;-)
A last minute entry to the Tameside XL off road tri a couple of weekend ago yielded another 4th place and this was disappointing. A good swim again, and a good run, but my inexperience on a MTB and lack of course knowledge probably cost me a podium postion. 2nd to 4th were within 50sec and the technical hilly bike cost me this I'm sure. The winner overtook me about 3miles into the bike and left me for dead downhill on the loose rocks. Another learning experience.Following the Rules n+1 was invoked and a new (2nd hand) addition was added to help on the MTB front.

So winter training is starting and the local pool is a couple of minutes walk away with coached sessions two nights per week and one early morning. Absolutely ideal and I am loving the structure so far.
Running speed is coming back again and next weekend I am doing the Worksop Half Marathon with my old training partner and superfit mate Daz Sharpe. I am sure we are both laughing at the prospect of a race off. Cant wait but a 1:20 will do and coincides that Sunday is my long run day. Happy all round.
Biking is mainly commutes with longer rides planned for Tuesday and Thursday evening and a long club ride on Saturday.

So the form was there but bad luck conspired against me but remaining positive that it can be repeated and bettered in 2016. With luck also Xterra Wetsuits UK will sponsor me again and hopefully my bio will be there (to be updated soon) if you want a look at my past results and achievements.


So, onto 2016......there was a time when you could enter races a week before but popularity means having cash (or a credit card) to enter a year in advance when the entry goes live. Luckily Ali and got entries to both the half and full Outlaw next year. My brother and mate Paul Breeze are also entered for the Outlaw.

Good luck and safe training everyone and see you on the start line

So races for 2016 are go

April                   Xterra Malta
                           Manchester Marathon

May                   Wilmslow Sprint Tri
                           Half Outlaw

June                   Peninsula Sea Sprint Triathlon

July                    Outlaw

August               Xterra UK

September         Tameside XL

November         Maui??

Something new....Xterra European Championships

Ive been doing triathlon for about 24 years now and whilst I have taken part in off road quadrathlon (triathlon with kayak as the 4th discipline), I have never done a mountain bike triathlon with a cross country run. Having been to Hawaii (Ironman) twice and raced on Oahu too (ITU Worlds 2005) I had heard about Xterrra on the island of Maui and quite fancy going there one day so I thought I'd give Xterra England a shot just to see how I compare and what I need to do.
My brother Philip is a keen MTB'er and racks up more miles than some roadies but his swimming is negligible and lets face it, most people can put one foot in front of the other twice repeatedly so running he can do, and with that he decided to enter with me to race at the Vachery Estate in Surrey on August bank holiday weekend.
We drove down Saturday morning after Philip had driven most of the night to get here from Larne, and had planned to recce the course by bike and foot. We put the tents up on arrival, registered, and set out on the bike course leaving our chief supporter Ali to read her book in peace. The course was fairly dry and with a few little hills that required concentration to progress without coming to a complete standstill. There was quite a bit of technical focus with tight turns and lumps and bumps that meant speed was nigh on impossible to maintain but it was dryish and within my capabilities. Back at the tent Philip went for a kip while I headed out for the run lap recce. The course was good with one steep hill, a ditch to jump or traverse twice and a huge tree trunk to leap/clamber over and a bog to negotiate each lap. Simple really.
We had the race brief then a bit of a Q&A with the legendary Conrad "The Caveman" Stoltz, Ben Allen and Jacqui Slack then had dinner at the venue and headed off to bed for an early night, typical camping evening. Also typical camping is the rain, and it fell in buckets.
Race morning was more of a race afternoon so a lie in was on the cards then bike racking at 1030hrs ready for a 1210hrs start. The pro's went off at midday then all the 40-44 and below age groups 5 mins after, then us 45-49 upwards with the relays.
There seemed to be a bit of a jump start on the swim but I worked my through the group and seemed to be at the sharp end. I could only see one swimmer ahead who I guessed was Damo Littlewood of Tri-1st Birmingham. I didn't see the relay swimmer or another athlete in front but the results show I was out of the water 4th from my wave in 21:54. It felt easy and comfortable in my Xterra Vector Pro but Philip was working hard to finish the swim 5 minutes quicker than his anticipated time in 35mins and it was his first open water swim in his Xterra Vortex.

X(terra)-men

Out on the bike the course was completely different following the deluge we had overnight. Firm dry tracks were now muddy and slippery and despite lowering my tyre pressures i still struggled. Every 180 degree turn was a front end slide and there were a few crashes but still I was overtaking the age groups ahead at every overtaking opportunity on the narrow tracks. I really wanted to capitalise on my swim and go for the medals and a potential Maui slot. There was a bit of hill running when traction just wasn't there. I realised I need to run tubeless wheels with lower pressures and get proper tyres to suit the course. Its all a learning experience. Maybe I need a carbon bike too and not a 'cycle to work scheme' bike, hmm....there's a thought....

Philip focussing

Upright for a change

One thing I am fast at is transitions and I headed out for the 10km cross country course feeling good and confident I could run some folk down. The first lap was fairly swift and I overtook loads of people and managed a great leap over the ditch and tree and even managed to catch a few of the pro's.

Huge tree to leap over

Philip clambering

The second lap was slower as I caught a few people through the muddier sections and I have to admit to feeling tired going up the hill. I managed to catch Damo (last years 40-44 winner) on the run which lifted me a little but I knew he was suffering from an Achilles tendon issue. 

I had no idea where I finished and Ali went to get me a print out from the timing tent whilst I ate my body weight in chocolate brownie and flapjack. The look on her face said it all as she walked back. I was 4th....probably the worst position to be in. No medals at the Xterra European champs boohoo...gutted!  But this was all about testing myself and trying to determine what I needed to do to get to Maui.
Meanwhile, Philip was out running the course and managed to do fairly equal splits. He has decided that he likes Xterra triathlon and is going to be training for next year. Ive also decided I like Xterra too and quite fancy racing abroad but I need to improve on my technical riding skills and maybe need a new bike, N+1 springs to mind.
Time to start training again and look at bike bling.

A year of training and hospital appointments

This year was supposed to be full of racing and doing well and maybe the odd win and my training and form had been on track but for a few hiccups....or maybe coughs of blood.

The winter training had gone well, biking was going good and the local timetrials were proving that I was getting faster and in better shape than last year and this was in spite of a shoulder injury that required a steroid injection when some volvo driving ass decided he didn't like being behind cyclists in the ASL (advanced stop line) at traffic lights and raced ahead of us then stopped and reversed in towards us resulting in my going over the bars. Weeks were lost from swimming and almost the season but thankfully an injection a few weeks before the first race seemed to have cured the problem without the need for any surgery.
The first race of the season was Wilmslow triathlon and I must admit that I was expecting to race for the Vets prize so I was surprised that when I checked in I was given Number 2 meaning I was one of the fastest swimmers. I had ridden and run the course the night before as a familiarisation recce and I knew I could bike well and my running was starting to get better and stronger so I thought I might stand a chance of top 3. I wore my Xterra Velocity swimsuit (and nearly forgot to take it off in T1) for added slipstreaming in the 400m pool swim and headed out on the bike thinking I was in 2nd place. I quickly overtook the supposed lead swimmer, a paralympian swimmer Daniel Pepper. I never get complacent and kept pushing hard and with 3 miles to go I caught another cyclist, Simon Parker. I led out of T2 but was overtaken within 500m and Simon pushed on to win by 23s over the 6.3km run. To come 2nd overall was a surprise but also a big confidence boost given that I hadn't done any brick work and I could look forward to more training and the national Middle Distance championships to be held at Bala.
I have never really liked the middle distance race at Bala. Its always cold and its a hard race but this is the national champs and its also prep for my A race, Ironman UK (Bolton). The swim was shortened to 1km due to the water temperature and by god it was cold. My face was freezing but the racehead takes over and I came out 1st in my age group in the Xterra Vector Pro first race outing. At least the sun was out for the ride over the mountain but it was still cold. I was having a bit of a localised race with Mark White and tried to get away with an effort on the last big climb but as I crested the top the road had been closed and the race had been cancelled due to a competitor fatality. Not the race everyone was hoping for and I certainly felt like a medal was on the cards, if not the win, but someone had died and it puts everything in perspective and makes you grateful to be alive.

RIP Daniel Cavanagh, aged 40.


Getting older is getting harder to accept and injuries are always in the back of my mind. A simple muscle pull or a trip and fall can set you back for seemingly ages and negative thoughts can set in but
keeping an eye on the future is a reminder of why you train. Ironman Bolton was looming up fast, it seemed only like yesterday that Ali and I entered it whilst sitting in the sun in the garden last year. I had gone through a run/walk program to assist with my achilles injury and had managed a 1:26 half marathon in training with very little effort and had managed to swim the ironman distance twice in under 56 and 57 minutes in the weeks prior, and my timetrialling was still getting faster so I felt in good shape and confident of a win at Bolton. Arrogance maybe? No, Confident and trust in the training. I'm chasing an age group win after coming 2nd in South Africa and 6th in Melbourne.
Race day in Bolton arrived and the weather was typically British.........shit! It poured and poured and at one point on the swim you could barely see the buoys the rain was bouncing so hard off the Pennington Flash.
The first lap of the swim was smooth and the second not so with one or two fellow competitors zigzagging across my front repeatedly. A glance at the timer on the first lap was a disappointing 29 something minutes but I thought, hey it must be long, same for everyone. I took the furthest buoy wide to take my own line and was enjoying the swim but again at the end I could hear the commentator say 'here comes the 1:01 swimmers'. Again disappointment as I was hoping to be heading to my bike in 57 minutes. But I was good enough for 7th in my age group.


One lap done and still enjoying it

A quick T1 and I was out into the rain flooded roads of Lancashire with more than a fair share of taking it easy on the multiple turns and roundabouts that makes the Bolton course so slow in comparison to other courses only compounded with the weather. To say I shivered and my teeth were chattering is an understatement. I was dropping bottles in the feed stations, A because it was cold and B because they weren't long enough to get all the nutrition needed without slowing to a stop.Nevertheless I did manage to get my nutrition bang on. Half a Powerbar and a gel during every hour along with a Powerbar drink. The bike course is awful. I detest it. Its not hard but for a timetrialist its crap with barely more than a few miles at a time to  stay aero....but, its the same for everyone. Sheephouse Lane hill is nothing special but Hunters Hill second time round is more than a little cheeky and I was dreading it as I started getting cramps about 70 miles. I just took it easy up the hill and saw Ali just getting back on her bike after a puncture, which took too long to change and subsequently cost her time and forced her to miss the cut off time by one minute. Gutted.

As I headed towards the macron Stadium T2 I was emptying my bladder when I got overtaken by Mark Richardson. Little did we know that we were leading our age group and I followed him into T2. I changed into run kit and hoped to get warm running and after a few hundred metres I caught and went past Mark. This is when it starts to go wrong...........
I was struggling to catch my breath and was forced to walk up the first small hill. I recovered over the top and caught mark again and sat in trying to get a big breath that might help relax my breathing. I was struggling for oxygen it seemed. When I managed to get the big breath it made me cough and the cough brought up blood. At first I thought it might be Powerbar dyed spittle but it was bright red.. I was able to walk so I kept going hoping to recover and even managed to run the downhill part to the brook and along to the next hill. more of a jog really. This basically set the scene for the 4hrs 33min of marathon interspersed with numerous toilet breaks. never have I pee'd so much. A good thing maybe being hydrated? The run course is actually quite nice and I would liked to have been able to do it justice.

Swim   1:01:42
T1            2:50
Bike     5:38:09
T2            4:33
Run       4:33:43


All I trained for and wanted for a year was to win an Ironman race and I end up completing my 8th Ironman in my slowest time yet and put my health at risk to finish in 15th place in my age group At the finish I picked up my medal and was escorted to the medical tent and after some questions and basic observations they suspected I may have a spontaneous pneumothorax then after an ambulance trip to Royal Bolton Hospital for a chest xray, ECG and blood tests it was a suspected pulmonary embolism. The A and E doc gave me , Ali and my dad, a little scare when he tried to explain there was bad news and I thought he was trying to tell me  had lung cancer. Just great communication skills. So I got released after an echogram of my heart and the cardiologist diagnosed viral pericarditis. This is supposed to have started from a sore throat i was getting whilst riding and must have been exacerbated by extreme sport. My blood results were also pretty extreme with CK levels at over 2000 (normal is 125).
I must also say a big thanks to Andrew Rudder for getting me my finisher tee-shirt as I had bypassed this on the way to the med tent and hospital. Cheers mate.

Over the past few weeks I've had to take it easy and had a few more blood test with two further A and E trips, a visit to the chest clinic specialist and today I had a CT of my chest and abdomen. I have a follow up in a few weeks but at least I am able to exercise now. Mainly just commuting so far and two trial runs of 20 and 30 minutes that went OK.

A few weeks ago I was all for giving up ironman and potentially the decision was being made for me but never say never  and Ali and I have pre-registered for a a half and a full distance next year. I also have Xterra UK to do in a couple of weeks with my brother also racing. Should be good fun and I have had enough of hospitals for this year. The good thing is I am raring to go again if a little steady at first.

Have fun folks and enjoy life.

Late again!

I hated school which is probably why I never get round to writing my blog. I always seem to do it in blocks. Here goes again..

Since the last blog Ali and I have been to the Scilly Isles to complete the Scilly Swim Challenge. What an adventure. This was my Christmas present from Ali and an amazing experience and holiday thrown in to the bargain. The islands are beautiful.
We started with a walk from St Marys at about 0530hrs and walked up to the start the first swim a few km away. The route was roughly that below and around 150 people took park including Beth French, the first peson to swim from the mainland to the Scilly Isles....28miles.
The swim was pretty amazing and we were meant to swim within a 50m wide by 200m window but as the day progressed this was not the case especially on the long swim.
I made a point of setting off last from every beach and looked for Ali along the way and only saw her twice during the six swims. The early swims were a little shivery but by Bryher the sun was well and truly up and the day was fantastic with pretty smooth waters. Food stops provided by volunteers on the islands were second to none. On Tresco it was a banquet and a bask in the sun before traipsing across the island to start the next swim. The swim to Samson was short with no food or drink as it was inhabited. Swimming in virtually last I was looking up to see the early swimmers exiting onto the beach then disappearing back into the water like the march of the penguins. The long swim was daunting. I do get scared in the sea and always get freaked by my over imagination. Apparently we did have seals follow us at one point though and I am glad that we did the seal swim on a different day. Once in the middle of the channel spotting the exit became a little easier but it did get a tad boring and St Agnes seemed forever in the distance.
After a another bask and feed we set off for the seemingly easy short hop back to St Marys. Unfortunately we hit a rip tide or strong current on the edge of the headland and for what seemed like an age(and it was) I was swimming on the spot. By looking at my watch I was able tell that something was wrong. Eventually a kayaker told me to head back out to sea and swim around the headland. This swim took me longer than the long swim and my average paced dropped from 1:24/100m to 1:40/100m.

Many swimmers had to get on a boat just to be towed through the current then dropped off again but fortunately I was able to make it albeit slower than expected. All in all an amazing experience and to cap it off we were the first swimmers ever to complete the round trip and we saw dolphins leaping on our return crossing to the mainland

1. St Marys to St Martins     2800m
2. St Martins to Tresco         2200m
3. Tresco to Bryher               1000m
4. Bryher to Samson             1000m then a 25m walk over the beach before
5. Samson to St Agnes          4800m
6. St Agnes to St Marys        2800m



Liverpool National Triathlon Championship
What a wash out. The weather was horrendous with rain covering the potholes on the bike leg and a mass of jellyfish towards the end of the swim leg.
I had a great start and was at the front of the swim in a small group but then my goggles leaked and misted and I couldn't see or sight so I had to roll over and adjust my goggles. I still managed to come out of the water in the top 10 in 21:54. I set off strongly on the bike and felt good but got held a little on a turn with too many riders on the course and not wanting to be nailed for perceived drafting I held back a smidgen. This with hindsight probably cost me a medal. Having not run much all season due to recovering from the knee surgery I set off at a good pace and managed to hold it throughout. I was really pleased to run a short 38 despite literally no run training. I finished 4th overall and missed a bronze medal by less than a minute. Sometimes the effort is better than the result.
Ali did the sprint version of the race an I was able to finish my race and walk with her to the start and watch her get stuck in. Not having the greatest bike leg she also came 4th in her age group. Competitiveness runs high between us!

So onwards and upwards to next year

2014..a year of injuries Grand Tours, new experiences and new expectations

Why is it that when you have almost completed or half way through a blog you accidentally hit the red X as you move from page to page and nothing saves...........Aaaargh....infuriating.

Where was I.... oh yes... 2014, a bloody awful year in terms of accidents, illness and injury but a mixed bag of positive results.

The year had just got started and I was returning to running following knee surgery for a torn meniscus when a bike accident in late January resulted in a fractured shoulder, fractured 5th metacarpal, bashed up other knee(!) and facial grazes and cuts but it seemed to be the whiplash that took the longest to recover from. Bloody irritating when trying to breath in the pool or glance over your shoulder when biking.

A&E selfie

# 5th metacarpal (little finger to most people)



did its job
 

A new Vendetta wetsuit and Lava pants from Xterra Wetsuits arrived and the Lava pants are a godsend. I was able to effectively swim with a good body roll without getting too tired, and remain relaxed whilst breathing and still knock out 1:20 for 100m multiples. Certainly helped with recovery and fitness building.
I was commuting on the 29er that I bought with the plan of getting into Xterra triathlons and eventual qualification for the World Champs in Maui......one day it will come.
I entered a 25 miles TT with Mark Saggers and Ali who had never ridden a 25 outside of a triathlon. A windy day and I managed to go under 20 minutes for the first 10  miles knowing the last 10 would be tough. I finished in a lifetime pb of 54:24! Over a minute quicker than my previous set back in 1997 and three minutes quicker than last years best. I still don't know where it came from other than I was focused and concentrating on every push and pull of the pedals. It was good to compare against Mark but he had come off a heavy training week and he managed a 56min. He was hoping for a 57. Ali managed a first finish in 1:26.
With the elation I decided to risk potential failure due to lack of training and get the kayak out for the World Quadrathlon Championships to be held at Brigg, North Lincolnshire. I knew the course well having won the 2012 European and British Champs there but again my kayaking had been hampered by the crash. The race started with the usual 1500m river swim and I hugged the bank upstream and down the middle on the return. Fast and furious as I tried to stay with the known swimmers,  I came out in 4th a minute down on last years World Champ but 40 seconds up on the favourite, and Xterra athlete, Steve Clark.

Xterra Vendetta seeing action at the World Quadrathlon Champions

The kayak phase is next and immediately I was not comfortable and being overtaken by lots of good kayakers including many GB paddlers. Steve Clark caught me after the turn and managed to get on the wash of another overtaking athlete whereas I lost balance and the wash and continued to struggle.
The bike went well but never felt awesome but I was making up places at least. Returning to transition I could spot a few riders ahead including Steve and Stefan but Steve King was nowhere to be seen. In 2012 I had spotted Steve King a minute ahead and quickly outran him to win by 6 minutes and Stefan by 3 minutes. It would be different this time with lack of form. Surprisingly the run went well considering the condition I was in but it was not good enough to challenge for the medals. Probably the best bunch of competitors at a Worlds event and Steve King (GBR) won, with an outstanding performance by Tom Stead (GBR) to take 2nd. Watch out for the future because when he learns to kayak a bit better he's gonna win. Leos Rousavy (CZE) was 3rd. My worst World result so far (9th) and just missing the Vets prize by a minute but consolation in that I was within striking difference of Stefan (GER) and Steve Clark (GBR).

setting up transition at the Worlds

Running in pain

Receiving an entry as last years winner from Spalding Triathlon club was gratefully accepted and the chance to race alongside my son was fantastic. Elliot had entered a relay team but we would be going toe to toe on the run at some point. I have always liked the Spalding triathlon as it used to be local for me and I trained at the pool. I have never finished less than 3rd. Andy Tarry had entered so I knew that realistically a win would involve Andy having a mechanical or injury issue. I wasn't wrong....he won easily with the fastest swim, bike and run and I took 2nd with the 2nd fastest swim and bike and the 3rd fastest run. My son managed to run a very respectable 18:26 despite no training or interest and I suspect he was running scared a little knowing I was chasing on the second run lap. His team did win the team prize too. Proud Dad moment. If only he could take it serious and train he could be a great athlete.

Xterra Velocity speedsuit gets its first pool use

I just love riding in the sun on the Bp Stealth



Me and Elliot finishing Spalding Triathlon 2014

So the next big challenge was the |Cheshire Ring kayak race. Ali and I were planning on doing the Devizes to Westminster 125 miles kayak race as a K2 in April but the accident put that to bed. So The Cheshire Ring is the next biggest race at 96 miles with 92 locks and 6 tunnels to navigate.
We estimated 23 hours and we were on for a sub-20 until darkness fell, tiredness set in and unfamiliar knowledge of the locks and route.



Ready, steady, 96 miles....GO!

My brother, Philip and son, Elliot came to help with feeding and motivating and did a wonderful and well appreciated job of it. We managed to finish in 20hrs 58min 33s, with both of us suffering many blisters to our hands but the sense of achievement was phenomenal when we considered what we had completed. At one point in darkness we came a cross a dead end that turned out to be a downed tree blocking the canal. After a quick recce we manipulated the 6-metre kayak through the tree and re-entered the water. Can we do it faster? Can we break 20 hours? Most definitely....with favourable conditions like this year and more training and practice. maybe next year.....or the year after...who knows?

More recently as last weekend, Ali and I took part in the Great Manchester Swim with Ali doing it for charity and me as a training session. Another opportunity to race in the Vendetta. It is so buoyant and smooth and a pleasure to swim in. I hit the water first for my wave but was quickly overtaken by a 19:40 swimmer over the one mile course. I was content with my 24:00 time at 1:24/100 pace. I am on the toes of the front swimmer in the video below.


 

 

So whats next? I was asked to join the GB team for the World Cross Triathlon Championships in Germany but lack of leave and funds have put paid to giving it my best but I do have a place for the Nation Triathlon Championships at Liverpool in August. I also have a mammoth swim event in September with Ali. We are taking part in the Scilly Swim Challenge which involves swimming between each island and walking across each island. Total distance is 6 swims(15km) and 6 walks(10km) in one day. So looking forward to that and we have a seal swim planned. Hopefully we will see some dolphins or porpoises too.

Mark Saggers has also invited me to a ride with Ed Clancy, Olympic medallist in a prize that he has won. So I'm looking forward to that and hopefully a day of sunshine in Wales.

Next year I am considering another Ironman as my brother Philip want to do one. So that means a winter of training and a big build up. I want to win my age group and get on the top of the podium. My second place trophy in South Africa is a constant reminder of what can be achieved and a bit of sibling rivalry never hurt anyone. Did it Philip???? see you on the start line Bro!

Post Ironman World Championships review

So I've been back at work a few days and the race has been over 11 days ago now but it is still raw and fresh unlike the massive blister I managed to acquire on Ali'i Drive. The blister was probably the worst acute injury I have ever endured whilst racing in terms of pain, but more of that later.
I just re-read my race plan from the previous blog and things went well and pretty darn close to the suggested plan.
I arrived in Kona with 9 days to acclimatise and it was pretty hot the first days but either I did get used to it or the temperature/humidity dropped by race day. Each morning I would get up at 6.15am, have some breakfast and a cup of tea and wander the mile into town for a swim about 7am. Depending on who was in the water or around me depended on how far I went due to the shark sighting the previous week. I did manage to swim the whole distance one day and most swims where approximately at 1:30/100m pace which was very satisfying. I had been doing lots of 50's and 100's effort sessions at Marple and Stockport pools but using the Garmin I was able to analyse my stroke rate and metres per stroke etc and know I was relaxed and smooth. I also picked up an Xterra Velocity swim suit and despite being a UK ambassador for Xterra Wetsuits UK I did have to pay for it. It feels so slippery in the water and psychologically I knew I would be better in it than a standard trisuit.

The Xterra Velocity swim suit with the Ironman World Championships swim start in the background.

After the swim I would head back to the condo via Island Lava Java for Kona coffee and a muffin and head out for 30-40 miles bike ride along the Queen K highway. Running was not on the agenda as I had discovered that I had a torn meniscus and really shouldn't be at the race but for the fact the insurance company thought it doubtful they would pay out and I didn't want to risk loosing 3-4K with nothing to show for it. I did however decide to do the Under Pants Run, which, is more of a jog and a micky take out of the athlete tourists that walk about town and shops in their speedos and flip flops flexing muscles and shopping oblivious to the local residents and respecting the heritage of Hawaii. The youtube video can be seen here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tARSJmgdA-c and Steve Clark and me can be seen at 3:06 and 3:26. It was fun but I did feel ridiculous and probably made me realise how ridiculous people look when they do it for real.
So Ali and my Mum and Dad arrive on different flights on the Thursday prior to the race and put up with me until race day. Race day came and I had slept well, getting up at 4am for breakfast of porridge oats with cranberries, toast, cups of tea and other obligatory hydration fluids. Race numbers went on in true military precision through the marque tents and I was good to go with an hour spare so I went to find Ali, Mum and Dad to say bye before making my way back through transition and into the water for the start.
I was feeling confident as I tread water at the front of the masses with the paddle boarders whizzing up and down to keep everyone contained. I had a bit of space but when the one minute marker notification the atmosphere changed and people where trying to jump the line. Bloody stupid when you think each meters equals about a second and we are going to swim 3800 metres. The madness goes haywire as the cannon fires and I jockey for position with hundreds of other swimmers in close proximity. As a veteran of seven ironman races and hundreds of open water swim this is still bloody scary and after 12 minutes(glance at my watch whilst single arm swim) I am still in the midst of a threshing machine. I am not to afraid to admit I felt claustrophobic and tried to make my way to the edges and I fought some internal demons and told myself to just swim and be aggressive. Its the only way. Another glance at my watch at the Bodyglove boat was at 27 minutes and the final turn for shore at 29 minutes. Why then did it take 34 minutes to get back? There was only maybe 100m extra from start line to shore and I was able to swim smoother and more relaxed as the swimmers thinned out but I finished 58th in my age group at 1:38/100m pace. Better than my 2005 time at least so happy enough. The down side was my swimsuit ripped straight down the middle to the white X despite being ultra careful. I'm waiting to hear from Xterra about a replacement.
A smooth T1 in just over two and a half minutes and I soon start overtaking loads of cyclists and I feel awesome. When I turn at Kuakini on the out leg I feel the tailwind and I set off and it feels effortless as I push up and over 30mph and quickly get fluids and gels on board. I'm wearing a white cycle top with a pocket full of gels and white arm coolers which reflects the heat and keeps the sun off. I look like a milk bottle but I don't care as long as it works. There were plenty of drafters or effing cheats as I prefer to call them and many got penalties but some didn't get caught. The most obvious was one Aussie that overtook me and others and pulled right in front and sat up forcing the rider to overtake or he rolled up to the next rider, sat in for a bit freewheeling then attacked again. He got a few choice words from me.
After the Hawi turn we headed down hill fast but I started to develop cramps in my left thigh and could get the dioralyte powder into the cheap plastic bottles they where giving us so I tried to drink more Powerbar Perform. After 70 odd miles and just before the turn on to the Queen K is where Steve Clark caught me and I wasn't able to keep him in my sights as we pushed into the headwind. My leg leg was starting to go numb and my foot was tingling so i assumed I had a bought of sciatica. It was all I could do to push for the sub-5hr ride, one of my goals, but when I got to T2 I could barely walk and hopped and limped through transition to the med tent for a gluteal massage. Never before have I spent so long in transition but I didn't take the record as some spent nearly an hour there.
I finally headed out on the run but walked up Palani Drive before the commentator got me to run with crowd assistance but my foot, leg and butt were killing me. A change of run style to compensate for the knee injury and my ultra tight compression socks are to blame for the blisters that were to come in later miles. I always knew I would have to walk but never really anticipated walking so much or I never really gave it thought about how it would feel whilst everyone around you jogs by. Bloody demoralising is what it feels like and hats off to anyone that spends hours and hours out there plodding along to the finish line. My run was nearly as long as my bike section in time but I managed to jog the final 7 miles whilst walking through the feed station whilst chatting to a fellow Brit, Steve from Preston.
The blisters took some time to recover from and the main one is a little sensitive even now. When all is done and dusted I completed my 7th Ironman(second world champs), albeit my slowest, but broke 5 hours again for the ride and  nearly beat my 11 hours target. I finished in 11 hours 16 minutes and 1 second. When it got beyond 10 hrs 30min I didn't matter where I finished or in what time just finishing would be enough. Ironman number 7 and my second World Champs has left me wondering what might have been if i had been race fit but there is always time for more. If you can qualify once you can do it again and if qualified three times but I'm still waiting for the perfect day when you arrive healthy, fit and you have Lady Luck on your side. One day.....maybe, hopefully.
there were some great performances out there and a lot of surprises amongst the pro's. Rinny Carfrae stormed the run to take Rachel Joyce's lead and win her second world Championships and in doing so beat last years men's winner, Pete Jacobs. we had two British girls on the podium, Rachel and Liz Blachford and Catherine Faux making the top ten overall ladies result with a first in her age group. Pro soon?
The few days after the race were painful trying to walk and I had to cut the skin from the blister to get the sand out. At least my knee was painful. I spent the remainder of the days sightseeing with trips to Waip'o valley and Waimea but the highlight had to be swimming with Manta rays at night. There must have been about 10 rays ranging from 5 foot to 14 foot wing spans within inches of your face, turning loop the loops to catch plankton in their gaping mouths. Ali was screaming with excitement like a little girl, my dad had gone quiet and my mum caught a glimpse of the first two and the depth of the dark water and got back in the boat. A brave attempt considering she has never snorkeled before and doesn't put her face under water.

So what's next?
Recovery recovery recovery and contemplate the next challenge. Unfinished business in Hawaii can wait but I really am considering taking on Xterra off road triathlon with the vision of racing in Mauii World Championships soon. I'm also thinking of doing the 'canoeists Everest', Devizes to Westminster kayak race, with Ali in a K2 in under 24 hours. That's our target time but a finish would be great. I also have surgery to think about.
Since I was too jet lagged and work got in the way this blog has taken a month to write and I had my knee arthroscopy on Friday. But more on that next time. Needless to say I'm taking it very easy and my exercise consists of walking to the kettle for a cup of tea and lifting my hand to my mouth with paracetamol, codeine and ibuprofen.