Comedy of Errors!!!
Short version:
A bit of a mare for me and my first DNF….damit!!!!
Basically got my nutrition and hydration completely wrong and with 30km to go on the bike, got severe stomach cramps and nausea. Complete ‘school boy errors’ I’m afraid….
Long Version:
Well my prep didn’t really go to plan for this race, and I wasn’t really organised i.t.o. getting to the race. Firstly, we missed our ferry, then I realised we forgot to pack Leo’s pushchair. Then moments before leaving for the start, I discovered that I’d left the wheel magnet (for my bike computer) at home (on Bronson’s back wheel). Just great, and I had no time to try get another one. This meant that I’d be racing blind, not good. I also discovered some damage to my back tyre. Now I had to worry about puncturing too.
Anyway, managed to get to the start, after meeting Pip and taking a tunnel under the river to the far bank. We dropped our run kit off and got body marked before making our way down to the bike racking and swim start. Bike racking went really smoothly, the racking was top-draw.
We met up with Holly and Ryan and a few other Brits ambling around the transition area. It was already quite warm, we were in for a hot day for sure.
We headed down to the swim start, my first real mass swim start. This was going to be interesting. And to add to the fun, I discovered that I had a red swim hat (like all the blokes) while Holly and Pip and blue swim hats. Just great, I was in for a hammering.
It was great getting into the water as we where getting really hot waiting on the bank in our wetsuits. After a bit, the gun went off and we were away. Pip was so funny, the gun actually went a minute or two early, and she was messing with her stop watch, needless to say, some profanities where uttered!!!
The swim was, as expected, rough. I got swam over several times. But managed to keep my head above water and got to the end in 00:36:24. Not a great time, I was clearly not pushing at all. It was then into T1 to grab my bike and head off.
The bike course was pretty pan flat and uninspiring. And most of it was through the industrial / docklands of Antwerp. Things were also made tricky by railway tracks all over the place, I did start to wonder if my rims would survive them. I had no idea how fast I was going, or how far I’d gone. This was my undoing. Just before 60km Ryan caught me up and told me we were 60km into the race. We then went through an aid station. I desperately needed a water bottle, but due to a fumble by the marshal a queue had formed I decided to grab a bottle of the ready-made Gatorade instead. And from here on in, it all went wrong.
My stomach didn’t agree with the Gatorade. I started getting stomach cramps and feeling very nauseas. I ended up cycling the last 30 km very slowly back to T2, into a headwind I might add.
In T2, I put my trainers on and decided to head out onto the run, even if I was just walking, and very slowly at that. I saw Pip a few times on the run, and she confirmed I looked like crap!!! After one lap I chucked the towel in and headed back to the hotel for a well deserved shower.
It was only with hindsight that I started to piece together what went wrong on the race. Once I’d recovered and had something to eat. It was a combination of not eating and drinking enough on the bike, then having that Gatorade on an empty stomach just did me in. I wasn’t really thinking clearly because there was one more drinks stop about 5 to 10 km from the finish. I should have stopped there and drank several bottles of water. Then, once on the run, I should have stopped at the first aid station and refuelled, I should have got some coke into my system. That usually settles my stomach.
But for some reason, I think it was the heat, I tried to just keep going, and ended up feeling worse and worse.
Oh well, I’m not too gutted, I would have been had it happened in Switzerland…but an important lesson learnt. I won’t make those mistakes again!!
So I have a swim time of 00:36:24 and a bike time of 03:10:05. Think I’ll have to go back next year just to settle the score.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Thursday, August 2, 2007
MK 2007 - Race Report
I got a lift up with a club mate, Matt on Sunday. It was an early start as it’s a good hours drive and my race started at 07:10. We left Surbiton in the rain, but luckily by the time we arrived in Olney, the sun was shinning, only just!!!
Matt quickly helped me get my wheels on my bike, then it was off to register and set up in transition. Luckily there were no queues so registration went quite quickly. The fun started when I got to transition, only to discover it was 2 inches under water/mud….picture ‘The Battle of the Somme’…I found my number, got my bike on the rack, but then where to put my kit??? I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry. I finally made a plan by using the bag I keep my wetsuit in as a mat, and thankfully the three guys to my left didn’t turn up so I had some additional (mud filled) space. Had I known this before, I would have used my tri box with lid which would have really helped in the mud.
But anyway, no time to worry about the mud, I had to get to the start line. I grabbed my goggles, wetsuit and cap and headed for the start. I missed most of the briefing so had no idea on the swim route, I just hoped I’d be able to follow the leaders. The swim at MK is really zig zaggy in order to get the distance in. Then I heard that the bike route and run route had to change due to the flooding in the area. Just great, more surprises on the way, I also had no idea where the bike out / in and run out were. Not too much of a problem as I can usually follow someone else.
I had just enough time to get my suit on and get into the water, I was barely in when I heard 5…4…3…2…1 GO!!! Of course, I was facing the wrong direction, so a quick about turn and I was off…thankfully I was in a good position so nice clear water in front of me and a clean run to the first buoy.
After the first buoy I noticed a club mate on my left, I decided to see if I could drop her on the swim, she is deadly fast on the bike and a very quick runner so I new this would be my only opportunity to beat her. I stepped up the pace a bit and managed to put some time between us. The rest of the swim was pretty uneventful, usually the swim at MK is a bit short, and usually quite yuk as you normally get caught up in reeds near the banks. But thanks to the Monsoon season, the lake was deeper then usual so none of the usual problems.
I am pretty happy with my swim time of 00:25:33, it’s about what I should be doing based on my pool times. 10/40 in my age group 24/113 in the girls race.
Then into The Somme to get my bike, it was weird dumping my wetsuit in the mud, but what could I do, then it was time to squelch my way to the bike out and off I went. The bike was ok, not tough really, as there are no real big hills, but I felt really sluggish, like I just wasn’t getting anywhere. This wasn’t helped by the fact that it was quite cool, and all the slow swimmers were now catching me on the bike. My heart rate was also quite high, just adding to my suffering.
None the less, since I am a ‘half-full’ kinda girl, I peddled on, enjoying the scenery and trying not to pay too much attention to the fasties whizzing by me. The bike course had to be detoured due to the flooding of a particular road. But thankfully this was all well managed by the marshals along the way. The Bike courses ended up being about 5km shorts…yippee!!
It was then back to The Somme to ditch the bike and grab my trainers. And then slipped and slid out onto the run course. The run course was three laps, and once again shortened due to flooding. (yippee, ‘coz I stink at running). My feet were still frozen from the bike leg, at one point I thought I had left something in my shoe…so I stopped to check…nothing…just some frozen toes!!!
Everyone and their granny came past me on the run….literally, men and women from the 50 plus age group (old enough to be grannies!!!). Ah well, I was still enjoying myself so kept on going. On the last lap, Kate waited for me with around 200m left to run, she made me sprint the last bit in, it hurt, the whole way…yuk.
So the damage:
Splits:Total time 02:30:11
Swim: 00:25:33
T1: 00:01:26
Bike: 01:12:29
T2: 00:01:48
Run: 00:48:53
Not great but not bad…the run and bike was short, so I can’t really count this as a PB. I’m tempted though, as the chance of me getting anywhere close to 2:30 on a full distance course is slim!!!
Anyway, here is a picture of the bit of the run course that goes past the transition….crazy!!!
Next race, Antwerp this weekend….
Matt quickly helped me get my wheels on my bike, then it was off to register and set up in transition. Luckily there were no queues so registration went quite quickly. The fun started when I got to transition, only to discover it was 2 inches under water/mud….picture ‘The Battle of the Somme’…I found my number, got my bike on the rack, but then where to put my kit??? I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry. I finally made a plan by using the bag I keep my wetsuit in as a mat, and thankfully the three guys to my left didn’t turn up so I had some additional (mud filled) space. Had I known this before, I would have used my tri box with lid which would have really helped in the mud.
But anyway, no time to worry about the mud, I had to get to the start line. I grabbed my goggles, wetsuit and cap and headed for the start. I missed most of the briefing so had no idea on the swim route, I just hoped I’d be able to follow the leaders. The swim at MK is really zig zaggy in order to get the distance in. Then I heard that the bike route and run route had to change due to the flooding in the area. Just great, more surprises on the way, I also had no idea where the bike out / in and run out were. Not too much of a problem as I can usually follow someone else.
I had just enough time to get my suit on and get into the water, I was barely in when I heard 5…4…3…2…1 GO!!! Of course, I was facing the wrong direction, so a quick about turn and I was off…thankfully I was in a good position so nice clear water in front of me and a clean run to the first buoy.
After the first buoy I noticed a club mate on my left, I decided to see if I could drop her on the swim, she is deadly fast on the bike and a very quick runner so I new this would be my only opportunity to beat her. I stepped up the pace a bit and managed to put some time between us. The rest of the swim was pretty uneventful, usually the swim at MK is a bit short, and usually quite yuk as you normally get caught up in reeds near the banks. But thanks to the Monsoon season, the lake was deeper then usual so none of the usual problems.
I am pretty happy with my swim time of 00:25:33, it’s about what I should be doing based on my pool times. 10/40 in my age group 24/113 in the girls race.
Then into The Somme to get my bike, it was weird dumping my wetsuit in the mud, but what could I do, then it was time to squelch my way to the bike out and off I went. The bike was ok, not tough really, as there are no real big hills, but I felt really sluggish, like I just wasn’t getting anywhere. This wasn’t helped by the fact that it was quite cool, and all the slow swimmers were now catching me on the bike. My heart rate was also quite high, just adding to my suffering.
None the less, since I am a ‘half-full’ kinda girl, I peddled on, enjoying the scenery and trying not to pay too much attention to the fasties whizzing by me. The bike course had to be detoured due to the flooding of a particular road. But thankfully this was all well managed by the marshals along the way. The Bike courses ended up being about 5km shorts…yippee!!
It was then back to The Somme to ditch the bike and grab my trainers. And then slipped and slid out onto the run course. The run course was three laps, and once again shortened due to flooding. (yippee, ‘coz I stink at running). My feet were still frozen from the bike leg, at one point I thought I had left something in my shoe…so I stopped to check…nothing…just some frozen toes!!!
Everyone and their granny came past me on the run….literally, men and women from the 50 plus age group (old enough to be grannies!!!). Ah well, I was still enjoying myself so kept on going. On the last lap, Kate waited for me with around 200m left to run, she made me sprint the last bit in, it hurt, the whole way…yuk.
So the damage:
Splits:Total time 02:30:11
Swim: 00:25:33
T1: 00:01:26
Bike: 01:12:29
T2: 00:01:48
Run: 00:48:53
Not great but not bad…the run and bike was short, so I can’t really count this as a PB. I’m tempted though, as the chance of me getting anywhere close to 2:30 on a full distance course is slim!!!
Anyway, here is a picture of the bit of the run course that goes past the transition….crazy!!!
Next race, Antwerp this weekend….
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Magic Numbers
Thought I’d post up some of the numbers from the race…quite arbitrary, but want to keep them to compare to in the future.
Total time spent training
swim: 24:52:34
bike: 72:10:00
run: 41:27:17
Total: 138:29:51
I kept these stats from about mid January to race day.
The Race, from my heart rate monitor:
Total time 5:44:58
Avg Hr : 152
Max Hr : 171
Calories: 3353
I am surprised by my average HR, I did most of my training at about 147 avg (a bit higher on the run and a bit lower on the bike), so I wouldn't have guessed I'd be able to maintain a higher HR for the race.
Race positions:
118 out of 210 girls who started the race (206 completed the race)
25 out of 40 in my age group (F30-35)
Would have been happier with top 50%!
Splits:
Total time 5:44:57
Swim: 27:56 (43)
T1: 3:07 (74)
Bike: 3:00:25 (88)
T2: 2:54 (130)
Run: 2:10:32 (179) lap 1: 41:47, lap 2: 46:46 lap 3: 41:57
The numbers in brackets is my position for each stage, just in the girls race. Predictably the swim is pretty ok, then just all going slowly downhill from there ending with my shocking run!!! To be honest, nothing I didn’t already know….like I really need to work on the run!!!
Total time spent training
swim: 24:52:34
bike: 72:10:00
run: 41:27:17
Total: 138:29:51
I kept these stats from about mid January to race day.
The Race, from my heart rate monitor:
Total time 5:44:58
Avg Hr : 152
Max Hr : 171
Calories: 3353
I am surprised by my average HR, I did most of my training at about 147 avg (a bit higher on the run and a bit lower on the bike), so I wouldn't have guessed I'd be able to maintain a higher HR for the race.
Race positions:
118 out of 210 girls who started the race (206 completed the race)
25 out of 40 in my age group (F30-35)
Would have been happier with top 50%!
Splits:
Total time 5:44:57
Swim: 27:56 (43)
T1: 3:07 (74)
Bike: 3:00:25 (88)
T2: 2:54 (130)
Run: 2:10:32 (179) lap 1: 41:47, lap 2: 46:46 lap 3: 41:57
The numbers in brackets is my position for each stage, just in the girls race. Predictably the swim is pretty ok, then just all going slowly downhill from there ending with my shocking run!!! To be honest, nothing I didn’t already know….like I really need to work on the run!!!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
The race
Finally race day arrived…I got up at 5:40 after having a fairly good sleep, thank god for ear plugs!!!!
I quietly got ready while Bronson and Leo slept on. Then down for breakfast at 6am. I really find it impossible to eat on race mornings, but managed to get something in me.
The nerves where still all good. It was then up to the room to grab my stuff, then Martin drove us to the race. We headed for transition and got all our kit laid out. The vibe was great in transition, everyone in good spirits as the weather looked good for racing. Dry, but not too hot.
At 8am we cleared out of transition and headed for the start line, then we overheard the announcement, that morning the water temp was measured at 14 degrees, so the swim was shortened to 1400m. All the slow swimmers celebrated, I was not too happy. Well what could one do???
I quietly got ready while Bronson and Leo slept on. Then down for breakfast at 6am. I really find it impossible to eat on race mornings, but managed to get something in me.
The nerves where still all good. It was then up to the room to grab my stuff, then Martin drove us to the race. We headed for transition and got all our kit laid out. The vibe was great in transition, everyone in good spirits as the weather looked good for racing. Dry, but not too hot.
At 8am we cleared out of transition and headed for the start line, then we overheard the announcement, that morning the water temp was measured at 14 degrees, so the swim was shortened to 1400m. All the slow swimmers celebrated, I was not too happy. Well what could one do???
After watching the pro’s go off and the other men’s waves, the girls set off at 9:05 along with the blokes 40+ which made for quite a big start, the water was cold but once the gun went, it didn’t bother me at all.
The swim felt great, a bit of barging about in the beginning but nothing too worrying, I tried to keep my stroke long and slow, but don’t think I managed. I think it’s easy to do when you are swimming on your own in a nice calm lake. But when you swimming with 100’s of others and the chop is up, you just resort to what you know…and for me that’s my old waterpolo style of swimming from the shoulders with a stupid high stroke count, not efficient in a wet suit!!!
Anyway, I was out the water in 27:56. I saw Bronson and Leo as I exited the swim, I shouted my time, but didn’t have time to explain the swim was short, so poor Bronson thought I was super woman with a 27 min swim for 1900m…nice while it lasted!!!
The transition was on an Astroturf hockey field, and was a normal transition, i.e. not the usual bags etc. Took my time in T1, then out on the bike after 3:07. A bit slow, but as the hockey field was covered in sand, I tried to get as much of this off as possible before putting on my cycle shoes and socks.
The bike felt fast to begin with, I kept thinking if I keep going at this speed, I’m going to pay a price later…but I felt great so just went with it. The hills where fine, I even managed to overtake some people on them…I especial like it when it’s some flash git on an overpriced bike, never fails to amuse me!!!
I knew Holly would be on my tail, in fact I expected her to catch me before the first climb, as it turned out, she caught me exactly 1 hour into the ride, on the last cheeky little hill before the final decent and quick dash to the turnaround point. We exchanged some banter…or abuse, and then she was off.
I really respect Holly as a cyclist (and runner), that wee Welsh lass is nails, so I was pretty proud of myself for staying ahead of her for so long. In the end her bike split was only about 7 minutes faster then mine. Yippee for me, all those hours of training paid off.
Back to the race, I dashed to the turning point, watching my bike clock the whole time. I managed lap 1 in 1hr 28 ish, still feeling ok so off for lap 2. I started feeling quite tired on the second lap, especially the long hill, it just seemed to drag on. I did the second in 1hr 32 ish to leave me with a 3hr ish bike leg. I was really happy to discover on my results that the bike leg was 03:00:25.
I then pranced about in T2 again then off for the run. A 3 lapper. The first part of the first lap went fine, then somewhere between then and lap 2, the wheels came off a bit. Physically I felt fine but mentally I was knackered. I completely lost concentration and found myself wasting time. Had to have a real talk with myself, somehow managed to piece things together again and managed a 2hr 10 half marathon. So a total of 5:44:57.
I am really, really happy with that, even if the swim was 1900m, I would still have snuck in under 6 hours, which was my secret goal. I would have been happy with 6hr 30 min, I knew if everything went very well, 6hr was doable, but to get in under that was just heavenly. I will confess that I had a little cry as I crossed that finish line. It’s been a long old journey, so to finally cross that line was just glorious.
The race organizers where really well prepared, at the finish I got my medal, then went off for a well deserved drink, then we got our finishers T-shirts and a race certificate with all our splits on. It was then out to see Bronson and Leo, to shed some more tears…such girls we are!!! There was also a huge spread to tuck into, very much appreciated. According to my HRM, I burned 3300 odd calories, so set about replacing them.
Monday I felt pretty stiff and very tired, Tuesday a bit better, and by Wednesday I was mostly recovered. And now having trawled over the results for a few hours, I’m already thinking of another one. I’m sure I can shave some time off of that run and maybe squeeze that bike in a bit too….
I don’t want to sound like an Oscar winner, but I need to say a few thank yous because although I crossed that finish line on my own, it was thanks to several people that I got there at all. To friends and family for all the support before and after the race. To my training partners (you know who you are), much better then doing it on your own, thanx for the hours of company. To Clare who loaned me her wetsuit and bike food carrier thing, much appreciated.
Then a special thanks to Bronson and Leo, for the support and encouragement, for coming all the way to Switzerland for my race, for the advice and help with all matters technical and other. And especially for allowing me the time to do all the training. It meant the world to me!!!!
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Leading up to the race
We left for Switzerland early on Wednesday morning. A quick dash down to Dover to hop on the ferry to Dunkerque. From there we made our way to Strasbourg where we spent the night. The trip was ok, just a bit mad navigating in French and driving on the wrong side of the road. Leo also hated the trip and started getting very impatient with being stuck in the car seat. Poor boy.
We then made our way to Switzerland via the German Autobahn on Thursday morning. Once again Leo started getting very irritable being stuck in the car, to make matters worse, as we got to Jona, we suffered a flat tire, thanx to driving over a hideous huge bolt that had snapped off a truck…ended up having to buy a new tire as it was beyond repair.
We got settled into our hotel, which also happened to be at the start of the race cycle route (good skills Sharon for some excellent booking skills), then went out to do one lap of the route. We where just getting ready to go when we met this girl and her bloke who had just come back from riding the route. As our map wasn’t too detailed, we asked her for some advice, she then went on to say that she got lost several times, it took her 4 hours to cycle the one lap route of 45 km. She complained the descents where really terrible, very steep and technical. She managed to put the fear of God into us. I thought for sure we’d be cycling back in the dark
Needless to say, Ryan (Holly’s other-half) was a master map reader and we made our way around just fine. The first 10km, nice and flat, then a 1,1km short sharp climb followed by the only bit of crappy road surface. Then a nice down hill and flat section to the next climb. The second climb was long (around 8km) but was broken up with the occasional flattish section. Then came the descents, the first was fast, we got up to 63km/h without trying. The second was a great straight flat section where we got up to 45km/ without too much effort. Then a short climb and some more down hill. All good!! There was only one section we missed, but as it was less then 4km of the route, we decided we could live without it.
Later I discovered that the girl we’d chatted to in the corridor was Alison Fitch from Australia, a professional on the long distance race circuit!!! She came 6th on Sunday in a time of 4:32:34, with a bike split of 2hr 40. I guess when you are on a flimsy timetrial bike going at that speed, then yes, those descents can be scary!!!
For Friday and Saturday the weather was really crap, it just rained continuously, but the weather report always looked ok for Sunday, so we held our thumbs. Friday morning I met up with Alex to hand over her bike, we took it down on the back of the car to save her from flying with it. As the weather was so crap, we offered to drive Alex around the course. We also managed to find the bit we missed the previous day so that was a bonus.
In the afternoon we made our way down to register, it was quick and simple, and we got really cool bags too!!! I love new kit, and these are great!!!
Saturday morning it was still raining…I was starting to think that their forcast for Sunday was one fat lie. Poor Leo was really getting annoyed at being locked in doors all the time, so we took him to the ‘Kinder Zoo’ (Children’s Zoo) that was next door to the race headquarters. Leo loved it, he rode on a pony, checked out all the animals and we got to see the seal and sea lion show.
After this, I met the others to go to the race briefing. The race briefing brought good and bad news for me…firstly the bike section was described as challenging with technical descent, and 950m of climbing. This was the good news, as having ridden the route on the Thursday, I thought it was pretty easy. Climbs were do-able, road surfaces great…hence no problem. I guess this is what happens when you train on a 90km route on crap roads with 1300m odd of climbing!!!
The bad news…there was a good chance the swim would be shortened as the lake temp was at 15 degrees. And to think that the previous week the temp had climbed a degree every day till 19 degrees and there was even talk that is would be a no wetsuit swim.
I also managed to bump into Chantal, who I met via my blog….she recognised my SA accent so introduced herself. Great meeting you Chantal!!!
I then set about racking my bike and checking out the transition area, run route and swim start. All nice and straight forward. Then it was time for the Pasta Party…yum yum. Bronson decided it would be too much for Leo so left me behind to get on with it. It was great, I quite liked these huge bells that the Swiss have, I forget what they called them but they where really cool.
We then headed home to get our stuff together before the big day. This was quite challenging as Leo was asleep in our room. So I had to drag everything out and down the corridor to Sharon’s room, get it all packed and ready, then pack it all back in our room. What a mission!!! The nervous were also setting in, the big day was only one sleep away.
We then made our way to Switzerland via the German Autobahn on Thursday morning. Once again Leo started getting very irritable being stuck in the car, to make matters worse, as we got to Jona, we suffered a flat tire, thanx to driving over a hideous huge bolt that had snapped off a truck…ended up having to buy a new tire as it was beyond repair.
We got settled into our hotel, which also happened to be at the start of the race cycle route (good skills Sharon for some excellent booking skills), then went out to do one lap of the route. We where just getting ready to go when we met this girl and her bloke who had just come back from riding the route. As our map wasn’t too detailed, we asked her for some advice, she then went on to say that she got lost several times, it took her 4 hours to cycle the one lap route of 45 km. She complained the descents where really terrible, very steep and technical. She managed to put the fear of God into us. I thought for sure we’d be cycling back in the dark
Needless to say, Ryan (Holly’s other-half) was a master map reader and we made our way around just fine. The first 10km, nice and flat, then a 1,1km short sharp climb followed by the only bit of crappy road surface. Then a nice down hill and flat section to the next climb. The second climb was long (around 8km) but was broken up with the occasional flattish section. Then came the descents, the first was fast, we got up to 63km/h without trying. The second was a great straight flat section where we got up to 45km/ without too much effort. Then a short climb and some more down hill. All good!! There was only one section we missed, but as it was less then 4km of the route, we decided we could live without it.
Later I discovered that the girl we’d chatted to in the corridor was Alison Fitch from Australia, a professional on the long distance race circuit!!! She came 6th on Sunday in a time of 4:32:34, with a bike split of 2hr 40. I guess when you are on a flimsy timetrial bike going at that speed, then yes, those descents can be scary!!!
For Friday and Saturday the weather was really crap, it just rained continuously, but the weather report always looked ok for Sunday, so we held our thumbs. Friday morning I met up with Alex to hand over her bike, we took it down on the back of the car to save her from flying with it. As the weather was so crap, we offered to drive Alex around the course. We also managed to find the bit we missed the previous day so that was a bonus.
In the afternoon we made our way down to register, it was quick and simple, and we got really cool bags too!!! I love new kit, and these are great!!!
Saturday morning it was still raining…I was starting to think that their forcast for Sunday was one fat lie. Poor Leo was really getting annoyed at being locked in doors all the time, so we took him to the ‘Kinder Zoo’ (Children’s Zoo) that was next door to the race headquarters. Leo loved it, he rode on a pony, checked out all the animals and we got to see the seal and sea lion show.
After this, I met the others to go to the race briefing. The race briefing brought good and bad news for me…firstly the bike section was described as challenging with technical descent, and 950m of climbing. This was the good news, as having ridden the route on the Thursday, I thought it was pretty easy. Climbs were do-able, road surfaces great…hence no problem. I guess this is what happens when you train on a 90km route on crap roads with 1300m odd of climbing!!!
The bad news…there was a good chance the swim would be shortened as the lake temp was at 15 degrees. And to think that the previous week the temp had climbed a degree every day till 19 degrees and there was even talk that is would be a no wetsuit swim.
I also managed to bump into Chantal, who I met via my blog….she recognised my SA accent so introduced herself. Great meeting you Chantal!!!
I then set about racking my bike and checking out the transition area, run route and swim start. All nice and straight forward. Then it was time for the Pasta Party…yum yum. Bronson decided it would be too much for Leo so left me behind to get on with it. It was great, I quite liked these huge bells that the Swiss have, I forget what they called them but they where really cool.
We then headed home to get our stuff together before the big day. This was quite challenging as Leo was asleep in our room. So I had to drag everything out and down the corridor to Sharon’s room, get it all packed and ready, then pack it all back in our room. What a mission!!! The nervous were also setting in, the big day was only one sleep away.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Bring on the Taper!!
For those of you who don’t know…No, a Taper is not some South American jungle animal…it is, in fact, what one does before killing themselves in a race!!
I thought the fist week of the taper would be easier…but No, still quite a lot to get done, this is what I was supposed to do….
I thought the fist week of the taper would be easier…but No, still quite a lot to get done, this is what I was supposed to do….
And this is what I did:
Monday:
Massage – Went round to Clare’s for a sport massage. Man it hurt!!! But I needed it, legs felt great after a day or two’s recovery. Also lent Clare’s food storage box as I couldn’t find Bronson’s one anywhere.
Tuesday
Swim – 1 hr, don’t know how far.
Wednesday
Run 40 min
Thursday
Bike 42km in 1 hour 30 mins.
Cycled to Richmond Park and did 3 laps of the park. Some idiot cut the grass in the park, so after the first lap, I started having a hideous hay fever episode. Not sneezing, thank heavens, but my eye’s started to swell and itch. Didn’t help that I left my glasses at home…
Saturday
Swim, 2100m in around 45 min
Bike, 64km (or 6 laps of Richmond Park) in 2hours 20 min.
Run, 1 lap in 1 hr 8 min (with toilet stop)
Another good brick session, and all went well. The weather has been really crap here, so when I left for the lake, it was in the rain, but I soldiered on. By the end of the swim, the rain had ceased so the bike and run were dry. The food strategy worked fine, but I still needed to make a toilet stop. Looks like I’m not going to get away from that, will just have to plan for it!!
In the last 15 minutes of the run, I started to feel quite tired, I was still to run up the short sharp hill, so wasn’t looking forward to that. But then, a great comedy moment that made me smile. A guy come past me on his mountain bike, with his helmet on back to front!!!
I then went off to Sigma Sport to get the last few things I needed before we leave...treated myself to a nice new helmet...
I was supposed to do a long run on Sunday or Monday, but the weather was just too terrible, and I didn’t want to risk getting sick just before the race.
This is what I'm supposed to do this week...but not sure how much I'll get done as we leave tomorrow for Switzerland....
Will hopefully get one more post in before the race...else, the next post will be the race report....
Monday, May 21, 2007
Week 16
Saturday
Swim – 2600m in around 1hr 10
Bike – 54km in around 2 hrs
Run – 1hr 5 min
Saturday was my BIG BRICK and food prep. Went down to princes lake to meet Clare (who is loaning me a wetsuit till mine comes back from Snugg). The wetsuit fit great and had a good swim, on my own…did two big laps and one small lap. Nice and steady, focusing on good technique and a nice rhythm. All good…
Then drove to Richmond Park to do some reps. Managed 5 reps of the park in 2hours. There was a terrible headwind which made the going quite hard, but managed to maintain 26,5 km average which is OK.
After the bike, I set off for 1 lap run of the park, the food trial was going fine until then, had to have a pit stop after 20 minutes (thank god for public loos in the park!!!). I then managed the rest of the run fine, I did start feeling some tummy cramps coming on, near the end, which is a bit of a worry. So back to the drawing board, not sure if it’s the bars themselves or the fact that I ate a whole one in one go?? Don’t really have time to try out another strategy so may just have to wing it on the day.
But overall, very happy with the day, and pretty confident of getting around CH 70,3 without killing myself.
Sunday
Bike – 81km in 3hr 15min.
After a tough Saturday, I decided to just go along for the club ride on Sunday, we ended up doing a good ride, Staples, Ranmore, box hill, then back via Leatherhead. The pace wasn’t fierce at all and the hills felt doable so happy with that session. But by Sunday afternoon I was pretty tired, then having to run after Leo tearing around on his bike took some doing.
Swim – 2600m in around 1hr 10
Bike – 54km in around 2 hrs
Run – 1hr 5 min
Saturday was my BIG BRICK and food prep. Went down to princes lake to meet Clare (who is loaning me a wetsuit till mine comes back from Snugg). The wetsuit fit great and had a good swim, on my own…did two big laps and one small lap. Nice and steady, focusing on good technique and a nice rhythm. All good…
Then drove to Richmond Park to do some reps. Managed 5 reps of the park in 2hours. There was a terrible headwind which made the going quite hard, but managed to maintain 26,5 km average which is OK.
After the bike, I set off for 1 lap run of the park, the food trial was going fine until then, had to have a pit stop after 20 minutes (thank god for public loos in the park!!!). I then managed the rest of the run fine, I did start feeling some tummy cramps coming on, near the end, which is a bit of a worry. So back to the drawing board, not sure if it’s the bars themselves or the fact that I ate a whole one in one go?? Don’t really have time to try out another strategy so may just have to wing it on the day.
But overall, very happy with the day, and pretty confident of getting around CH 70,3 without killing myself.
Sunday
Bike – 81km in 3hr 15min.
After a tough Saturday, I decided to just go along for the club ride on Sunday, we ended up doing a good ride, Staples, Ranmore, box hill, then back via Leatherhead. The pace wasn’t fierce at all and the hills felt doable so happy with that session. But by Sunday afternoon I was pretty tired, then having to run after Leo tearing around on his bike took some doing.
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