A good TT and a National Gold!

After doing OK in the BRAT midweek aquathlon last week I decided to use the 'Stealth' in a club TT whilst back in Lincolnshire for the evening. I had just finished rebuilding it with shimano parts(the only campag bit left is the chainset). I got some Planet X tribars from Breezy and set them quite narrow. I turned up for the Aslacksby 10 held at Bourne Wheelers(my old cycling club or one of anyway).
I didnt do much of a warm up but set off in the 39 ring....accidentally but an easy start all the same and was soon on the 53 heading downhill. Not long after I'm back on the 39 for an uphill. The 1st two miles are rolling then its pan flat till the last 200 metres. Most of the club were doing a 2up TT but I needed a solo as a marker. When I got over the hills and turned left I had the tailwind but twisty section through a few villages. I was catching a pair of riders before the last village turn but held back slightly not risking catching them on the junction. A quick glance at my watch told me I was on for a fast time but I still had 1-2 miles to go possibly into a bit of wind. The Stealth was fast and I felt really aero but my wrists were aching on the straight bars. I caught the ladies 2up TT team of a mother and daughter just before the last left to the finish. The mother was 71 years old! and she was on the front. I drifted out to apex the junction and another glance to the side and I saw a black helmet. Little did I know this was my minute man catching me. A downhill dash then the last uphill in 22 min 47 sec and a new course pb for me by 2 secs. I glanced over my shoulder on the line to see the minute man Ian Redding there. He did a 21:48 for a new course record.
I left the race feeling great as I have been lacking a bit of bike speed. It gave me confidence ready for the National Club Relay Triathlon Champs to be held at the weekend. I was going to be racing for Birmingham Running And Triathlon (BRAT) club as a Vet40.

So fast forward to Saturday at Holme Pierpoint. I was third man in the relay with Steve Cock the lead out man, Duncan Hough second and Mark Hirsch bringing up the rear.
The start was manic and Duncan hit the water in about 30th place. The RAF team with Mike Masters was already away swimming as was the BRAT A team. By the end of my swim lap we were ahead of BRAT A. Not sure were the RAF teams were. I had a good swim and was constantly overtaking. I just couldn't get past one swimmer at the end of the swim but I nailed him and a few others in the sprint along the slippery rubber matting. I handed over the chip to Mark then set off to get my bike and do some streching ready for the 15km TT. The bike legs felt fast and easy upto about 800m to go. A quick bike rack and hand over the chip again to Mark H then try to recover for the 5km run.
Just prior to setting off on the run I was bricking it. Our team was leadiung the Vets but I didn't know by how much. Its all or nothing in the run and a set off as fast as my little legs would go. I just had to dip over the mat to register the chip then set off up the grassy hill. I just kept counting steps to maintain a focus and kept the pace all along the back leg with the tailwind. I caught a few runners from my wave including a TFN guy. My confidence was building and my achilles heel was holding up. The last leg into the wind was tough and the straight goes on forever. I was just winding up for the sprint finish and got a big cheers from the BRAT supporters. How pleased was I to hand over to Mark. My job was done. My splits were 7:36/20:42/17:49 not bad when you think there is a little lost in the changeovers.
The big thing was getting Gold for the Vets40. I was the only member of the team beforehand without a gold medal at any national event. The BRAT club took six medals in all; 4 golds and 2 bronze. The young lads did the club proud taking a bronze against considerably older and bigger athletes.
The event was awesome with a fantastic astmosphere. Definately one of the most fun events I've ever done. This is a must do race and as a spectator event much better than the Hyde Park fiasco!
The Gold medal fits in well with my Silver at the Middle distance and World Bronze for Aquathlon and my Ironman 2nd place. Happy days

BRAT midweek aquathlon

This week I entered the BRAT midweek aquathlon and moved up a couple of places from last time. hooray! Well it wasn't as quick as the last one but the swim was longer than last time(somehow) by 2 mins for me. Transition was poor too. I struggled to get out of the wetsuit and into my trainers. I need to re think my practice when i launch my assualt back to full fitness next year.
the run started well but i soon ran out of steam on the muddy slippery track. I didnt think i went off to quick but it was difficult to maintain a rythym and cadence. Excuses excuses!! But I did finish in 2nd place so cant be all that bad...can I?

Well I must admit I'm really looking forward to and planning next year already. It will involve plenty of biking needless to say. Roll on October and the end of my studying!

next planned timed event is Tuesday in a club 10TT as prep for the National relays with BRAT if I can get a place.

It was good to hear the other guys are doing so well. Westy doing the 25TT taking the RAF Champs. Saggs going very fast on the bike and Daz and Pete N flying on the bike at the IS Tri and not to mention bionic Brad....say no more. It makes me jealous sometimes that I'm not going so well but it's my own making and i'll be back with a vengeance. Look out Ironman Switerland 2010 cause I'm coming to take my Kona slot this time!

On a go slow!

I've not been posting anything for the last month due to work, work and more work ..oh and also a little embarrassment. I'm not sorry to say I don't like being beaten but I'm sorry to say I have. How I miss 2005 when I felt invincible. Well you're only as good as your last race.
So in the last month I have come 4th in the BRAT Aquathlon after an OK swim and a slowish run. I came 6th at the RAF Sprint Champs although I was 1st Vet (still not used to that term either!). And to cap it off I got overtaken on the bike by Daz and JC and I couldn't catch Brad. Well that never used to happen.Hey Ho back to the drawing board.
I have been catching up on my studying recently and maybe neglecting the bike mileage a little.
I have been picking up the training again ready for the IS race and the Relays which I'm racing with BRAT as a Vet (that term again).
I heard from Jase midweek and he told me of his soaking in our beautiful summer. On Thursday night I thought I'd go open water swimming at Bittell Reservoir and I took the scenic route(I got lost) when the skies opened and dropped an ocean on me. I considered riding home from swimming in my wetsuit but was worried about aqua planning and coming off the bike. The rain didn't stop all evening and I had to put on my wet kit to ride the 10 miles home. Nice! Good swim though. Did 2 x 1 km loops in a lovely warm lake.
I went out on a ride with the BRAT 'A' group yesterday for 50 miles but ended up as 60 miles and it was hard work. The first half was an average of 18 something mph and the final average was nearly 22mph. We were hammering a 5up TT along the A435 at nearly 40mph at one point. My legs were screaming 'PLEASE STOP!'

I've also entered IM Switzerland 2010 and considering IM Malaysia 2010 but I'm having trouble with their website trying to get all the necessary info..No scroll bar! any ideas? anyone been to KL or Langkawi and know of cheap accommodation?

Do I have to get used to being overtaken?

A week ago in Bala I was thinking the season was over but this week at the Dambuster I was determined to give the run a try and maybe even finish the race. Test the achilles! Hmmm.
The swim didnt go to plan. Nige was too far right and some fish like person (DS) on the left with Mike Masters dropping in on my heels for the first few hundred yards before he and someone else overtook me. A steady T1 and out onto the bike assuming everyone except Mike was up the road. How wrong I was. Only DS up the road as I had left T1 in 2nd place on the road.I did see him on the 'Ripple' up ahead. Westy came past on the 'Ripple followed by one of the fast boys from the next wave. I tried to up the pace but there was no power and i was pushing at least 3 gears too light at IM pace...maybe slower. Jas and Mal overtook me but I did catch DS at 20miles. The saving grace was I did feel like I was getting into a rythym at 20miles. I'm just not used to being caught on the bike after years of 'being a biker'.
An easy T2 to avoid the cramps I've been getting sort of worked as I got cramp in my inner thigh(thats a new one!) but I decided to run it off and finish the race. With Jase Wakely ahead and Mal Rose just behind I had an incentive. Going across the Dam I expected to see some other RAF guys but only Westy was ahead after I caught Jase. Confused I was. Maybe it was oxygen debt. The run went well if not slower than I'm used to but I was pleased to finish and hold off Jase for third. I didnt know I was overtaken by a RAF person(DS) because he didnt have the kit. An inherent problem we seem to have every year with suppliers! Would I have held him off?? maybe/maybe not. I did 2:03 a few years ago then did an Ironman a week later. This time it was 2:12 with an early season Ironman.
As it is my legs are screaming for mercy despite a post race massage. I did go for a gentle cycle ride tonight to try and ease them ready for some work prior to the Sprint Champs. See you there. God this short stuff hurts!

Bala middle distance swin amd bike

it's been ages since i wrote anything online because i've been busy writing assignment and there's no point writing if i'm not training.
I got back from the training camp and tweaked my right achilles and have spent the last few weeks trying to get over that.
Today was the National Champs in Bala where I had I got a silver in 2005. It's one of the hardest races I have completed but today I didn't even get that far.
I had a good swim coming in about 7th in the vets wave. No splits yet! The bike leg started ok but I was obviously not in the mood or frame of mind to do well. My plan was to work hard on the way out and expected a tail wind home. Going into the turn I saw Jase Wakeley and was probably a few mins up due to the 10 min gap in waves. After the turn I made a few places but then started to lose them rapidly for no reason. It felt like riding with the brakes on. The return journey over the mountain was awful. I was dying! I'm sure there was a guy with trainers on and no straps who over took me. Bloody awful is an understatement. I took T2 easy reflecting on the Brize Norton event and set off easy to test the achilles tendon. hmmmm
A steady jog around the lake gave plenty of thinking time. My hips were hurting and then back ache and then the dreaded cramp I always get at Bala. Add to that the achilles injury that seemed to feel like it was building in pressure and after only a mile and a half I stopped, turned around and walked a long walk of self shame. Save the success for another day is the way I'm thinking. Analysis over, shame banished, move on.
Try again next week then it's a long few months of proper assessment and treatment ready for an Ironman.

back from cramp

whilst watching the Grand Prix this morning in the kitchen with the doors open to the beautiful sunshine I contemplated my calf injury. To my suprise I could feel no pain. A little poke here and there and it seemed 90% back to normal so as soon as Jenson was splahing the bubbles about I put the trainers on and went for a 4 mile run. Initailly the right ankle was sore but this was just stiffness. The calf was fine. 27 1/2 mins later I was back in the house and happy to to back training. Theres still plenty of stretching to be done and the achilles pain(rt side) I think is due to rubbing caused by the heel support/achilles cutaway. New Saucony trainers are on the way.
I'm now contemplating the racing strategy for this season. I'm still short of miles and time to train. I still have loads of Open University study to do and it gets in the way of training. But... its great to be back racing and this year will be the base for the next. Bring it on!

mini series tri disaster

you know when you're really looking forward to doing a race even though you know it's gonna hurt? Well the pain I have now is bloody different from the pain I was expecting.

On Monday night I ran with the BRAT's and after running to the session I covered about 13miles at a comfortable pace, chatting alll the way round about IMSA with Mark H. When i woke the next morning my right achilles was sore and my left shin. I put it down to running on tarmac and uneven surfaces.

I decided against the TT on Tuesday night as I had some bits to sort on the bikes as I was lending one to one of the novices for the mini tri the next day.

Wednesday was race day and I headed to BZN with a merry band of novice triathletes. I was still unsure about running but as the day went on and my achilles warmed up and I did some stretching I was hopeful but I would decide in T2.
The swim starts were altered so Brad, Westy, JC and myself could race together. Brad led the way in the pool followed by me, Westy and JC. I was pleased to be about 10m behind Brad and felt comfortable throughout the swim. Onto the bike I quickly overtook Brad and when on the main road got into a settled ride until a BMW overtook me then stopped by the parked car to allow an oncoming car to pass. With no room to get past I was halted in top gear. A heard a whoosh as Westy flew past. I quickly got back up to pace and chased Westy then overtook him only to be retaken about 5 mins later. He then started to pull away as I tried to limit the loss knowing my run was better than his. He probably had about 15-20 sec going into T2. This where the pain comes in..... as I got my feet out of the cycle shoes my left calf cramped with an intensity like I've never experienced. I racked the bike but could not bend my leg for fear of increasing the pain. And so my race ended in T2 trying to put on a run shoe with a straight leg. On the bright side I was saved from hurting my achilles any more. Well done to Westy who went on to post the fastest bike and win overall. And well done to my novice colleagues especially Amy who came 3rd.
A massage tonight did little to ease the pain. Anyone else ever had residual pain in the days following cramp?