more news!

Wow I have forgotten how to use the blog its been so long. The last blog was written last week but found it in draft as I forgot how to publish it despite pressing publish now repeatedly.

Ah well...think I've sussed it again.

So the Sprint Quad.... I was really hoping to win this and gain some valuable points in the National Trophy series. Despite being the leader I can still lose the top slot depending on the last race of the season. the swim was good in the Box End ski lake and I was pushed all the way by eventual winner Steve King but I did manage to enter and exit T1 in 1st place covering the 750m swim in 10:55. Arriving at the kayak I quickly launched and was about to pull my first stoke when I thought....hang on, this ain't my paddle! I can only assume the racking had been bumped by an overzealous triathlete in the 400m swim and mine and Ali's paddles had fallen over and re-reacked wrongly. A quick dask back to transition and swap paddles and off after Steve. I had never heard of him before but boy can he paddle. I never gained an inch and to add insult to injury I was caught on the second lap by Ian Smith, looking very smooth and rhythmical. I managed to beat Ian out of T2 and lead for 2 laps of the X-country bike course and only fell off once trying a back wheel slide around a downhill corner. On the third lap he dropped me into the headwind but I was confident my running would be good enough for the catch. Out of T3 I set about steadily catching Ian then put in a little dig before the hills to break the hold. We never saw Steve during the whole bike or run legs. Steve won, 2 mins ahead of me with Ian 3rd.

So the last race of the series is in Bude and the kayak stage comes 3rd this time which may suit me better. Wait out on that one.

Update at last

Hi followers

Long time no writey!!

so whats been happening??? so much so much.

Since last year I have completed another ironman but being injured at the time and I was walk jogging the marathon but set my heart on a sub 4 run and I did by seconds although it took a bit of effort for the last few km. But mission accomplished. The swim that day was a disaster and I nearly drowned......no really I did. A punch on the back of the head when everyone jumped the start and I went down like the Belgrano. A puncture on the bike didnt help matters and I was glad to get away with a finish in under 10 and half hours.

After that I didnt really get up to much and started kayaking at Solihull Canoe Club, trying to master K1 kayaking. Did you know that the canals are bloody cold in winter.? I can testify they are colder than rivers as I fell in quite a few times.

In late November I started the Quagmire series(run/kayak/run/bike/run). Again I fell in in the first two races but was still coming in the first few finishers. In the last race I managed to stay upright thanks to a lowered seat and was able to power round the course and finished first with the second fastest time of the series to win the overall series.

I then looked to doping the national Trophy series Quadrathlon. I wanted to do all the races to improve on my multisport ability and I travelled to Aberdeen to race a point to point. The race went well with my first win. I had the fastest big leg, a good solid run and a tiresome paddle after 15.5 miles in a big heavy sea kayak afer my attempt in a wild water racer resulted in getting wet...again

A few straight forward kayak timetrials and races saw me elevated from a novice to division 6.

Onto the Challenge race where last year I was 3rd I managed to improve by 10mins on the kayak and a few mins on the run to come 2nd and the most improved athlete.

A couple of weeks ago I did the British Quadrathlon Champs and came 2nd again but this was my first full quad and I lead the group of swimmers with only 2 swimmers ahead, one of which was a relay racer. A good kayak, the fastest bike and an average run followed but still the fastest novice too.

I also have done a few triathlons. Dambuster.... 5th RAF and 1st Vet, The RAF Sprint triathlon....3rd overall.

So we are upto date except for the bike TT's I am also doing but they are by the by.

looking forward to more updates soon.

Got a Sprint Quad this weekend and the World Champs in August...

keep ya posted!!!!!!!!!!