For those who still don't know my resolution is to complete an Ironman ditance triathlon in the next few years. Therefore this years resolution will be some stepping stone on the way to that. More about that latter. Instead I though I'd jot down what I had instore for myself for my holiday time off.
This week I'll hit the gym Tuesday and thursday as the works Christmas do is Monday and Friday is Christmas eve. I shall therefore be having a glass or two of christams cheer. On Wednesday I really need to finish my wrapping card writing and etc.
Obviously Xmas and boxing days shall be "rest days" but htis leaves the dual bank holiday the two days of leave I've got before new years day and then the proceeding bank holiday I have a lot o training time I could use. I thus plan to use the days to get out and run and cycle as much as possible. This will of course depend on the weather for the bike. I also want to swim more of the 60 length or more numbers to start building my endurance in that category too. I also want to train up for the next Wadenhoe by running the MTB up and down a track that runs up a railway foot bridge. The track is off road slippery and about the same height and gradient as the Wadenhoe hills. If not a bit steeper and higher. Thus by running myself and the bike up this trial over the interviening weeks I hope to file away the rough edges that are causing me so much hassle in the races. i.e gear changes on the hills. If I can get up the steeper hills in the higher gears without have to shift the big cogs I'll remove one potential cause. Not to mention the speed advantage.
We can but try.
I'v also been doing some analysis of the previous two races winners. Although the first place man in the 1st race was faster on the run then my fastest run he is slow on the bike section comapred to some of his rivials. The winner of the second race has a big advantage over everyone on the bike and hence his dominaton. I will need to be able to at least match this to stand clear. If I could do this and run like the wind and translate well. I could be in contention.
So Christmas is fun New years is going to be all business.
Monday, 20 December 2010
Wobbly legs and hailstones.
Workout stuff has been really boring thanks to the weather. Primarily for the past two weeks I've been at the gym of which other than the usual delights of turning myself into a water feature thanks to the enermous amount of sweat I seem to generate, the gym has put a spinning bike in the main gym area.
Yes finnally to do a bike workout no longer means I have to sit for thirty minutes either pedalling like a victorian on a penny farthing in the approved armchair position due to the "unisex" saddle fitted to the normal exercise bikes. For those who don't know what I mean, it is this. The exercise bikes have a comfortable seat designed for the female buttock making it rather uncomortable to use in the way it should be due to the width of the damned thing. Which means either you have to sit right back on it with the seat lower down so you don't wear holes into the inside of your thighs. Or you can sit right on the front edge of the seat and wait until you lose feeling in your vitals.
The spinning bike saddle on the other hand is the standard unisex option in that it works for both sexes and you can apodt a position very similar to that of a bike. Like the ones I want to be able to push faster. This is good. The bad news is that the spinning bike is not part of the electronic suite of modern exercise equipment harking back to the days when you had to monitor your own performance and demand your own effort levels. I still enjoy it far more and although I may still need to use the electronic one to see if my performance has improved I will be including this as my 15min "steady pace" exercise.
Second highlight was another good hoof in the pool of a 60 length workout after a rather bruttish session when nothing seemed to be going right on dry land.
When the weather broke for a split second raising temperture into the heady plus temperatures allowing me to use my expensive new road bike for what it was intended I planned to head up to Wanford via the back roads and possibly further. Thus I donned the road cycle lycra put together a light pack of esstentials and headed out. The roads although no longer icy where wet and rather misriable but I was quite happy and with seemingly bounds of energy reached Wansford. I then thought. Hmmm.... I think I could reach my sisters house near Bourne and back again before the sun goes down. I therefore headed out onto the A47 moving as fast as I could to clear the busy route before the noddy car drivers realised their overused single line expressway had been invaded and went via the charming vilages of Southorpe and Barnack towards Stamford. I have been through Stamford on a number of occasions in the summer and the sleepy little market town has one of the most annoying town centres to travel through. On the bike I was forced to cut up cars left right and centre as I dashed for the lights. I also had no real clue of the road I'd need as I'd never travelled through the centre towards Bourne. I knew there was a route as I'd seen it on the map but had to follow the car signs to the A15, which is the main road that runs through the middle of Bourne. The hills began and although I could stop for a breather at the many traffic light junctions I was unaware that I was heading into the leisurely slopes of Lincolnshire. Those of the true hills my mock me but I'm used to the almost complete flatness of Cambridgeshire. The route out of Stamford was very pictursque. I one point I thoiguht I'd even found a leak on the road side as I went up a hill thanks to the free flowing water coming down the road but it turned out to be just a car wash at the top in a converted petrol station forecourt. The hills became twister and the roads slushier. I discovered that my front derailier had actually become jammed and would rock the big cogs so I was stuck in the top gears as I tried to negotiate new and interesting inclines on a slippery surface. Hence no momentum as I didn't want to nail it into a corner and not come out the other side but with linited gears I was having to slog up the gradient.Into Bourne and over to my Sister's.
Who was out.
Although I think I did see my brother in law as he headed out of the village in his car we exchanged looks only realising too late who the other was.
No rest for the wicked although I did stop to try the door bell and phone my sibling to tell her I had been there. I headed back the way I had come. I didn't fancy venturing down the A47 again in the failing light as my lights and reflectiv coat would only provide the drivers on that road brief wonderment as they mowed me down so I decided to head back towards Peterborough after Stamford. The legs at Stamford started to register their distress. I was constantly having to switch postions to try and alter the muscle groups working but my thighs would start to kill in any postion. As I reached Marholm on the west side of peterborugh the sun sank under the horizon and the temp plummeted. I had some warmers kit in the pack and put on the gaunlet gloves and tried to walk off the thigh strain.
This didn't help alot other then restoring feeling to my fingers.
I now tried to go as fast as I could through the dark country roads to Nene Park and sanctury. My legs screaming at me. I didnt see a single car which was fortunate and plunged down the hill towards the river. I couldn't continue much further and as I was only a few miles from my parents as opposed to much further to my own home I headed to theirs for a cuppa and a lift back to Yaxley.
Everyone agreed I was mad.
The total trip when worked out on google came to roughly 64miles A good distance but I was naffed and compared to the ultimate target of a hundred odd miles or so was a bit of a cold shower realisation as to actually how hard the Ironman is.
The following weekend I had decided I needed outdoor running so went for a 13miler as per the run I'd done before the Great Eastern Run.
I was carrying the same pack as the bike run only with more spare clothes incase I had to stop. I'd also bought some gloves. Ronhill ones too. Rather slippery so no use for the bike or car but very nice on the run. I'd also included a baseball cap as I'd left my running wholly hat in the car after the last Wadenhoe. It was lucky I did for as I escaped Orton Goldhay on the way home it began to snow. Or at least that what I thought it was. Snow tends not to bounce. Yep it was hailing. Fortunately it wasn't very large ice crystals and between my headphone and baseball cap it kept the worse off so I was runnin home free. Thanks to the ice on the road and a detour to post a letter I hadn't done a memorable time.
Yes finnally to do a bike workout no longer means I have to sit for thirty minutes either pedalling like a victorian on a penny farthing in the approved armchair position due to the "unisex" saddle fitted to the normal exercise bikes. For those who don't know what I mean, it is this. The exercise bikes have a comfortable seat designed for the female buttock making it rather uncomortable to use in the way it should be due to the width of the damned thing. Which means either you have to sit right back on it with the seat lower down so you don't wear holes into the inside of your thighs. Or you can sit right on the front edge of the seat and wait until you lose feeling in your vitals.
The spinning bike saddle on the other hand is the standard unisex option in that it works for both sexes and you can apodt a position very similar to that of a bike. Like the ones I want to be able to push faster. This is good. The bad news is that the spinning bike is not part of the electronic suite of modern exercise equipment harking back to the days when you had to monitor your own performance and demand your own effort levels. I still enjoy it far more and although I may still need to use the electronic one to see if my performance has improved I will be including this as my 15min "steady pace" exercise.
Second highlight was another good hoof in the pool of a 60 length workout after a rather bruttish session when nothing seemed to be going right on dry land.
When the weather broke for a split second raising temperture into the heady plus temperatures allowing me to use my expensive new road bike for what it was intended I planned to head up to Wanford via the back roads and possibly further. Thus I donned the road cycle lycra put together a light pack of esstentials and headed out. The roads although no longer icy where wet and rather misriable but I was quite happy and with seemingly bounds of energy reached Wansford. I then thought. Hmmm.... I think I could reach my sisters house near Bourne and back again before the sun goes down. I therefore headed out onto the A47 moving as fast as I could to clear the busy route before the noddy car drivers realised their overused single line expressway had been invaded and went via the charming vilages of Southorpe and Barnack towards Stamford. I have been through Stamford on a number of occasions in the summer and the sleepy little market town has one of the most annoying town centres to travel through. On the bike I was forced to cut up cars left right and centre as I dashed for the lights. I also had no real clue of the road I'd need as I'd never travelled through the centre towards Bourne. I knew there was a route as I'd seen it on the map but had to follow the car signs to the A15, which is the main road that runs through the middle of Bourne. The hills began and although I could stop for a breather at the many traffic light junctions I was unaware that I was heading into the leisurely slopes of Lincolnshire. Those of the true hills my mock me but I'm used to the almost complete flatness of Cambridgeshire. The route out of Stamford was very pictursque. I one point I thoiguht I'd even found a leak on the road side as I went up a hill thanks to the free flowing water coming down the road but it turned out to be just a car wash at the top in a converted petrol station forecourt. The hills became twister and the roads slushier. I discovered that my front derailier had actually become jammed and would rock the big cogs so I was stuck in the top gears as I tried to negotiate new and interesting inclines on a slippery surface. Hence no momentum as I didn't want to nail it into a corner and not come out the other side but with linited gears I was having to slog up the gradient.Into Bourne and over to my Sister's.
Who was out.
Although I think I did see my brother in law as he headed out of the village in his car we exchanged looks only realising too late who the other was.
No rest for the wicked although I did stop to try the door bell and phone my sibling to tell her I had been there. I headed back the way I had come. I didn't fancy venturing down the A47 again in the failing light as my lights and reflectiv coat would only provide the drivers on that road brief wonderment as they mowed me down so I decided to head back towards Peterborough after Stamford. The legs at Stamford started to register their distress. I was constantly having to switch postions to try and alter the muscle groups working but my thighs would start to kill in any postion. As I reached Marholm on the west side of peterborugh the sun sank under the horizon and the temp plummeted. I had some warmers kit in the pack and put on the gaunlet gloves and tried to walk off the thigh strain.
This didn't help alot other then restoring feeling to my fingers.
I now tried to go as fast as I could through the dark country roads to Nene Park and sanctury. My legs screaming at me. I didnt see a single car which was fortunate and plunged down the hill towards the river. I couldn't continue much further and as I was only a few miles from my parents as opposed to much further to my own home I headed to theirs for a cuppa and a lift back to Yaxley.
Everyone agreed I was mad.
The total trip when worked out on google came to roughly 64miles A good distance but I was naffed and compared to the ultimate target of a hundred odd miles or so was a bit of a cold shower realisation as to actually how hard the Ironman is.
The following weekend I had decided I needed outdoor running so went for a 13miler as per the run I'd done before the Great Eastern Run.
I was carrying the same pack as the bike run only with more spare clothes incase I had to stop. I'd also bought some gloves. Ronhill ones too. Rather slippery so no use for the bike or car but very nice on the run. I'd also included a baseball cap as I'd left my running wholly hat in the car after the last Wadenhoe. It was lucky I did for as I escaped Orton Goldhay on the way home it began to snow. Or at least that what I thought it was. Snow tends not to bounce. Yep it was hailing. Fortunately it wasn't very large ice crystals and between my headphone and baseball cap it kept the worse off so I was runnin home free. Thanks to the ice on the road and a detour to post a letter I hadn't done a memorable time.
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Wadenhoe blues
Ok so I haven't posted for a while and my training program has suffered for it. With out the edge that it gives to justifing my days off its easier to say "I don't fell like it".
So whats been happening. The wadenhoe events are in full swing and I'm looking very competitive. The 1st event it was all a bit new. I got there and started setting up. On the first run I found the pace was fairly easy. A group of about 3 of us broke off and started outstripping the rest. The running course went round a field over a style and then down a set of downs before leaping a fence and then running alongside the river where it gets nice and muddy before finally heading up a hill and bck to the start line. By the style I was about tenth, by the fence I was up to third. My Father pointed out that those behind us had to wait a long time before getting over the style as everyone grouped up. Next race I'd go as fast as i could to make sure I made it over this style and stay in the runnning. 2nd place man was in a RAF tri suit and did a leap over the fence while the 1st place man climbed over it. This made up some serious time fro him so I had to follow suit. I kept with them to the start line then RAF man started slowing down on the second lap so I keyed up on the 1st place man and ran on his shoulder for the next lap. Transistion was a nighmare though. 1st place man didn't change shoes so was away as soon as he had his helmet on. My shoe change was poor and I'll have to practise this. Then to make matters worse, I hadn't got the bike course right and without anyone to follow I went all over the shop looking for the route. 1st place man got further away. RAF man was on the quad rather than the dualthon so was off to the kayak. The bike then started acting up. The gears kept jumping so I couldn't push as hard as I wanted. I made some poor laps trying to recover some steam. Then a man in a mountainbike team jersey went past. That was annoying and I resolved to catch him up.
That was when disaster hit. As I switched down on the big ring the chain got stuck between the frame and the outer gear. Looking at the jammed drive train it reminded me of when the same thing happed in the peak district and it took me serval minutes to carefully lever it out. I had no such time in the race so I grap a hold of it and pulled.
Hooray!
It had come free in one. I quick lookover and it looked fine. On I jumped and started up the hill again. As soon as I had to puch hard I felt the gear slip and then a sudden lack of opposition told me instantly what had happened.
The chain had broken!
I was disgusted. To do so well and be knocked out that way. 4th place man came by just as I through the bike down. "Chain" he asked. Yeah I said and waved him by. Then picked up my injured friend and hoofed it back up the hill with it over my shoulder.
I was gutted. The next day I got it into Bristows for a repair. The guys at Bristows thought it was a problem with the rear cassette as with a new chain it still had the jump that was killing it before. With a new one it was nice a smooth.
I didn't want to wreak its new perfect setup so it went in the garage and stayed there until the next race.
That day came on the 5th of December. Last ime I found the wait was almost perfect but the 2nd race seemed to come up on me by surprise. I took the bike on a quick warm up. I hadn't adjusted the seat and resolved to do so as soon as I got back. Disaster seemed to loom as the chain got stuck again as I dropped the big ring. It was not good. I had time and ran it back up the hill and started to get to work on it with my Father who'd come to watch. We managed to free it with an application of leverage on the pedals. The pre race briefing was called and I had to take off and then it was rush time to get everything in place bike shoes helemet then as I warmed up at the line I even realised I'd forgotten the paper number on my chest. I legged it back to the car to slap it on knowing the race would be called any second. I just got it on with help from my Father when the line up was called and sprinted it up to the front. The horn went and as per my plan I sprinted for the style.
I don't want to boast but as I went for it I heard a shout about half way to the style and couldn't hear anyone runnning with me. I kept going to just before the style. I thought the shout could have been aimed at me and the race was being restarted or something so I turned. The pack was lagging behind I had a good 50-70m lead already. I gathered myself and headed over the style. The cross country shoes paid off as I was able to take the gradients with far moe confidence then my competitors. I lept the fence again but made a poor landing. Still on my feet but needed a second to gather myself. Through the mud I thought I could feel the pack gaining so I gave it all I had up the hill and came back towards the start finish line. Looking at the pictures I was well in the lead only RAF man was still in touch and he was in the quad! Transition was still a nightmare trying to regain some breath while fighting to get my shoes on.
The 2nd place in the dualthlon caught up but I was still ahead. My glasses had steamed up so I couldn't see the course coupled with the effort I'd put in on the run and the iffyness of the gears I was slow on the bike and I knew it. I thought "Just get this lap out the way then go for broke". Thats when the chain broke again.
I was gutted annoyed and down right disgusted. I could have won it.
I trooped back and resigned my number.
The organiser laughingly said I could take the spare bike they had. Which on closer inspection was sporting slick road tryes. In the ice and slush I'd die. But it was a good idea...a backup bike....
So whats been happening. The wadenhoe events are in full swing and I'm looking very competitive. The 1st event it was all a bit new. I got there and started setting up. On the first run I found the pace was fairly easy. A group of about 3 of us broke off and started outstripping the rest. The running course went round a field over a style and then down a set of downs before leaping a fence and then running alongside the river where it gets nice and muddy before finally heading up a hill and bck to the start line. By the style I was about tenth, by the fence I was up to third. My Father pointed out that those behind us had to wait a long time before getting over the style as everyone grouped up. Next race I'd go as fast as i could to make sure I made it over this style and stay in the runnning. 2nd place man was in a RAF tri suit and did a leap over the fence while the 1st place man climbed over it. This made up some serious time fro him so I had to follow suit. I kept with them to the start line then RAF man started slowing down on the second lap so I keyed up on the 1st place man and ran on his shoulder for the next lap. Transistion was a nighmare though. 1st place man didn't change shoes so was away as soon as he had his helmet on. My shoe change was poor and I'll have to practise this. Then to make matters worse, I hadn't got the bike course right and without anyone to follow I went all over the shop looking for the route. 1st place man got further away. RAF man was on the quad rather than the dualthon so was off to the kayak. The bike then started acting up. The gears kept jumping so I couldn't push as hard as I wanted. I made some poor laps trying to recover some steam. Then a man in a mountainbike team jersey went past. That was annoying and I resolved to catch him up.
That was when disaster hit. As I switched down on the big ring the chain got stuck between the frame and the outer gear. Looking at the jammed drive train it reminded me of when the same thing happed in the peak district and it took me serval minutes to carefully lever it out. I had no such time in the race so I grap a hold of it and pulled.
Hooray!
It had come free in one. I quick lookover and it looked fine. On I jumped and started up the hill again. As soon as I had to puch hard I felt the gear slip and then a sudden lack of opposition told me instantly what had happened.
The chain had broken!
I was disgusted. To do so well and be knocked out that way. 4th place man came by just as I through the bike down. "Chain" he asked. Yeah I said and waved him by. Then picked up my injured friend and hoofed it back up the hill with it over my shoulder.
I was gutted. The next day I got it into Bristows for a repair. The guys at Bristows thought it was a problem with the rear cassette as with a new chain it still had the jump that was killing it before. With a new one it was nice a smooth.
I didn't want to wreak its new perfect setup so it went in the garage and stayed there until the next race.
That day came on the 5th of December. Last ime I found the wait was almost perfect but the 2nd race seemed to come up on me by surprise. I took the bike on a quick warm up. I hadn't adjusted the seat and resolved to do so as soon as I got back. Disaster seemed to loom as the chain got stuck again as I dropped the big ring. It was not good. I had time and ran it back up the hill and started to get to work on it with my Father who'd come to watch. We managed to free it with an application of leverage on the pedals. The pre race briefing was called and I had to take off and then it was rush time to get everything in place bike shoes helemet then as I warmed up at the line I even realised I'd forgotten the paper number on my chest. I legged it back to the car to slap it on knowing the race would be called any second. I just got it on with help from my Father when the line up was called and sprinted it up to the front. The horn went and as per my plan I sprinted for the style.
I don't want to boast but as I went for it I heard a shout about half way to the style and couldn't hear anyone runnning with me. I kept going to just before the style. I thought the shout could have been aimed at me and the race was being restarted or something so I turned. The pack was lagging behind I had a good 50-70m lead already. I gathered myself and headed over the style. The cross country shoes paid off as I was able to take the gradients with far moe confidence then my competitors. I lept the fence again but made a poor landing. Still on my feet but needed a second to gather myself. Through the mud I thought I could feel the pack gaining so I gave it all I had up the hill and came back towards the start finish line. Looking at the pictures I was well in the lead only RAF man was still in touch and he was in the quad! Transition was still a nightmare trying to regain some breath while fighting to get my shoes on.
The 2nd place in the dualthlon caught up but I was still ahead. My glasses had steamed up so I couldn't see the course coupled with the effort I'd put in on the run and the iffyness of the gears I was slow on the bike and I knew it. I thought "Just get this lap out the way then go for broke". Thats when the chain broke again.
I was gutted annoyed and down right disgusted. I could have won it.
I trooped back and resigned my number.
The organiser laughingly said I could take the spare bike they had. Which on closer inspection was sporting slick road tryes. In the ice and slush I'd die. But it was a good idea...a backup bike....
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