Training Update

Been a while since I mentioned the training load. A big 2 weeks planned and a 25 mile TT also. Managed 14:42hrs last week and a race, so not exactly a light week. Did a decent long brick session yesterday:

10 mile bike to Mick's
7 mile run with Mick
34 mile bike (hilly and windy!). Av 18mph
8 mile run

Felt quite tired after that. Almere, at 75 mile bike followed by a 18.6 mile run is not going to be easy! Hence these brick sessions could be key training. The Dambuster Olympic distance Tri is on 21 Jun; that should be a good test to see where I am at. More info on training completed later in the week.

A huge well done to the guys who completed Ironman Lanzarote yesterday. The wind, hills and heat really make this event the toughest Ironman on the circuit. I was in bits after doing the London marathon, but these guys did a2.4 mile swim and a 112 mile bike before setting out on a marathon!! Unreal!!

Train well peeps............... oh, and Turbo Man was running well yesterday! He could do well on his Half-Ironman tour.

Brize Sprint Tri

Loads of bike bling on offer at Brize! Check out this little beauty!

Since the current team of Jamie ‘not really fat’ Elliot and Nick Maxey took over the organising of Brize Sprint Tri the event has become very slick and great fun. With about 80 participants yesterday and the sun shining, it was a great event – very enjoyable. There are always a few stories to be told after a triathlon; so here we go!

My Race - Swim: Faced with a 4k swim at the World Champs in August I had decided to take every swim nice and steady. Hence I started at a nice cruise speed in the 400m swim for this event and felt very relaxed. Maybe too relaxed as the other 3 guys in my wave were about half a length ahead of me after 50m! I stuck with my plan and by the end of the 16 lengths they had all come back to me and all 4 of us exited the swim together! I had a slick T1 and first out onto the bike by a large margin.

Bike: The bike was simply head down and go. After the initial technical part through the housing estate I worked a big gear. However, I soon started to blow and had to settle for a higher cadence – or blow up completely. The new front wheel felt great but I had no idea if I was going well or not. There was no sign of anyone from previous waves and nobody in sight behind me. After about 5 miles I caught a girl from the wave ahead of me and had a couple more in my sights that I just failed to catch. I pretty much spun the legs easily over the last mile to prepare for the run – but I was tired!

Run: I was worried about my glute on the run so I really eased into it, just trying to maintain some form for the first half. My glute felt fine (very happy!) and as I started catching people I managed to feel the run legs coming back after the bike – though I had the beginnings of a stitch in my side (a common problem for me). I eased back to avoid a full blown stitch and that seemed to work. I was able to manage full blow pace over the last ¾ mile and the sight of Turbo Man from the previous wave up ahead was spurring me on! I got within 15m of him but the finish line came too soon! I had really shifted over the last 800m but I know there is more to come on the run.

As for final positions, there was a timing problem. I was announced as the winner (52:52) but I will wait to see the revised results before accepting the win (I timed myself as 54:49). Greg MacDonald was a no show. A far better triathlete than me, I was looking forward to racing against him. Dale did show, but only to help time the event as he was racing at the weekend. I must point out that there are many faster guys in RAF Tri who do not seem to support these events. It sure would make good racing if they pitched up.

Turbo Man finished with a faster time than last year, despite a slightly longer course. Debs Pratley knocked over 7 minutes off her time from last year – awesome! Vicky Webb won the ladies event, only just missing out on breaking the hour barrier. Bev was not far behind.

Overall, I am very happy. I seem to be in good shape, despite holding back due to injuries/recovery periods. I am now confident I can complete a last training build period before hitting some real quality work prior to the Inter-Services and The Trentham Big Half Triathlon in July.

Time to Race

Time to race! Can't believe how quickly May is going by! Brize Sprint tri tomorrow. I am in no way the same shape as I was last year for this event. However, I plan to use it to help get me into shape!

It will be interesting to see how Turbo man goes as he seems in good shape! Also coming up is IM Lanzarote, with a large RAF Tri contingent. We can follow them on the web-cast. For anyone out there interested, the race numbers are as follows:

Pete Norris - 279
Stu Tipton - 295
Simon Covell - 641
Chris Tasker - 67-
Doug Malcolm - 850
Roy Brunning - 957
Mike Scott - 1122
Bob Rollins - 1097

my tip for victory at Brize? Either Greg MacDonald or Mal Rose - unless Dale turns up........!

Pain in the bum - Pain in the neck!

After nearly a week of easy stuff following my bike spill I have an official pain in the neck and pain in the bum. Swimming is difficult. I can run but my glute is very sore. Man, all I seem to be doing since 13 April is recover from soreness! Good job the major aims for the season are in August! Not sure if I will get out for a ride with T Man tomorrow as we have visitors. Maybe the rest will do me good.

Kelda has a cycle sportif tomorrow so let's hope the weather is good up in Jock Land and that she stays safe. Let me know how you go Kelda. Is your daughter riding too?

Body Recovery. Bike Recovery

Bike recovery is slow! A possible replacement wheel for my aero set up is shown in this pic. Where is it from? Who makes these wheels? What is it made of? All these questions are top secret. Needless to say it is a stealthy wheel indeed! How long before Turbo Man is asking questions about this little number?! The plan is to match this front wheel with my disc wheel. If I need a non-aero set up, then I am going for a set of American Classic 420s, as recommended by that cycling legend, Daz Sharpe!

As for my recovery from the spill last Sunday, I am lucky that I had an easy week planned anyway. My glute is giving me problems and I think I have whiplash as my neck is not good. Apart from that I am fine! I managed a short swim this week but running is not really that much of an option just yet - will try and run tomorrow. Brize Sprint Tri next Wed. Not sure how it will go but remember, the aim is to enjoy our racing; I intend to do just that!

Crashed and Burnt 8-(

Here is the RAF contingent for the Shires and Spires Cycle Sportif held on 11 May 08. The weather was great and we were looking for a challenge over the 82 miles! You may have already heard that I crashed at 46 miles but I will come to that. As we set off in a bunch of about 20 riders we soon got up to speed. Before I knew it we had covered 10 miles in 27 mins exactly - not a bad pace! It felt so easy in a bunch too. Without going into too much detail, myself, Mick and Mike Masters managed to get in a good group that was shifting some! Whether it was a loss of concentration on my part or a lack of signaling from the riders ahead of me, I suddenly was faced with 4 riders almost at a dead stop and me going at about 20mph. Can't really remember much except whacking the back of my head. It was such a thud I thought that my helmet had come off. However, the helmet had actually done its job - it was cracked, as was my head! Anyway, I won't bleat on! Only one more whinge: I wrecked my carbon wheels..........sniff....... I loved those wheels. My bike was unridable (is that a word?) so it was the broom wagon for me. I would have loved to have finished the event as I was averaging a shade under 22mph for the 46 miles. Mind you, T Man explained that all the real hills were in the last 20 miles.

More recovery is needed.........again! I'm off to nurse my bruises and search for some wheels!

Shaved and Ready?

As you can see, my stick, but smooth, like legs are ready for the Shires and Spires Cycle Sportif on Sunday.

I just hope that my training buddy turbo man has removed Sherwood Forest from his legs - well I don't want any whip-lash from his foliage as we stomp up the hills!