A pretty restful week

Since Sunday I have taken things pretty easily, the cold that I picked up was quite persistent but seems to be easing off now.. My right knee is giving me some minor pain however, I did run Thursday and Friday without too much drama. Tomorrow I will go for a nice long swim in the lake in the morning then perhaps a spin on the bike. The plan will be to take it easy next week as well. The image obscures my face nicely but shows the time which works for me. This weekend has been good for me to be able to spend some time with my family and not to have to plan in long sessions. Should I decide to have another go next year then more thoughtful planning will definitely be the order of the day. With regard to the blog, I feel that it would be a shame to let it drop. Even if no one else reads it then at least it plots my progress and allows me to reflect on the highs and lows. However, I think for the off season I will switch to a weekly summary.  

Resolution......reflections on yesterday

What a day. The night before the race I lay awake listening to the fireworks in Nottingham (great timing), that went on till gone 11 and then to the couple in the next room who talked very loudly till 1am. I realised that it was going to be along one. Eventually I guess I managed 3 hours sleep before gathering all of my gear and heading off down the race venue. All was calm as I loaded the bike with various foods and gels. As I pulled on my wetsuit the sun was coming up for what was to be a memorable day. We piled into the rowing lake and it was cold, I did 5 minutes warming up and then waited for the start. The swim was straightforward enough up and down the lake and then out straight into T1. I had made the decision to wear a trisuit so no need to change, simply dry my feet, put on my helmet and go.

The air was a bit chilly whilst my trisuit dried, I also realised that the bike computer still wasn’t working, so it was all going to be guess work for the bike section. The course was pretty friendly, not too much climbing with some straight sections to get stuck into. I settled into a rhythm fairly quickly and was delighted when I hit the first loop point. I re-set my timer so that I could calculate an approximate bike time. The second loop was ok as I started to recognise familiar landmarks. When I hit the second loop point I checked my watch and it read 1:46 for 30 miles. I was very happy with this and calculated that I could complete the bike section in less than 7 hours. This in turn would give me the chance of breaking 13 hours for the entire event. The final lap came in at just over 1:47 which meant that provided I didn’t hang around I could do it. However, as I was thundering down a nice little decent I noticed a small buckle in the front wheel. I stopped to check the tyre wasn’t about to blow, satisfied that it wasn’t I carried on. The ride into T2 was fine and I was reassured that I wasn’t last. The bike had held out, so now it was just me and a pair of running shoes.

As I went out of T2 I felt good. My legs were ok and I settled into an easy rhythm, checking my heart rate every few minutes. I was clocking 9:30 minutes per mile which although slow would achieve my goal of sub 13 hrs. The first 5 miles flew past as did the second 5. Then I started to feel a little uncomfortable. As I approached the 13 mile point, I was ok but could tell that I needed to be careful not to blow it in the last 2 hours. Mile 16 came and went and by mile 20 I decided some strategic planning was needed. By this stage I could see a sub 12:35 was on the cards and using my GPS calculated that provided I stuck to 12 minute miles I could make it. However, a few fellow competitors were having difficulties. One guy passed out and another was throwing up. If that happened to me then it was all over. Although it pained me to do so I devised a plan to walk the first tenth of the mile, then run until my GPS clocked 11 minute mile, then walk again until it hit 12 minute mile and so on till I clocked up another mile. It was a process that focused me on something other than the light headedness etc I was feeling. I told myself:

"The primary goal is to finish, if you pass out you can’t do that"
So it went on until I hit the 26 mile mark.

At that stage I had dreamed that I would have a new lease of life. I would then sprint down the funnel to the cheers of the crowds. However, I didn't. The pain was too great as I ran the final 385 yards. Thinking back it would have been fun to do the wobble that you see people do where their legs just give out but I didn't. My sense of humour was absent temporarily. Crossing the line was ok. I had achieved what I had set out to in a time that was good. I walked into the food tent and immediately felt sick. After grabbing a plate of pasta I collected my gear, loaded the car, rang home and set off stopping every hour or so to let the pain in my legs subside.

By 11pm I was home.
It had been a long day

As I lay in bed my thoughts went back to my time. 12:32 and a bit. I started to wonder what I could have achieved with 2 good nights sleep beforehand, 3 weeks tapering not 4, a lighter bike, legs that are equal in strength an aero helmet, more effective nutrition and a whole years more experience.

Mmm interesting

Race day revisited

I am tired and feeling very nausious and my legs ache
Have just driven straight from Nottingham to home:
Here is the result:
Event: Outlaw Ironman Triathlon
Swim: 01:08:44
T1: 00:06:57
Cycle: 06:35:37
T2: 00:03:30
Run:  04:37:49
Total  12:32:39

Category position 49
Overal 385

I'm off to bed

Here we go again!

After hitting the hay at 3:40 this morning I still woke up just after 7:30 and started packing my kit. By 9:30 I was on the road and after stopping off at the bike shop to pick up a battery for the speedo for the bike (which is now working) and a quick hello to my mum I was heading north (again). Needless to say the traffic was awful and I finally swung into hotel car park at 2pm. At £35 a night I wasn't expecting much. However it is clean, close to the race venue, has it's own car park so who cares if the room is smaller than a very small room that has been washed on the white cotton cycle by mistake and shrunk.

I then made my way to the race venue and to registration which was a breeze compared to Bolton. All in the same place an what feels like a very friendly event. It had a very different feel to last weekend. The chap who did the briefing was the founder and his care for the event really came across. Then a quick  trip to the co-op to grab munchies for breakfast, Pizza Express for an early dinner, then it is back to the room, to make up my drinks, pack my kit and then into the sack by 9:30.

My overriding feeling about tomorrow is calm. Of course I am worried that the bike might breakdown, I might get my nutrition wrong and I could just not make it. However, what will be will be and I will try to be philosophical about it.

Not ideal prep...

I was out and about Lyme Regis bright and early this morning for a 45 minute run. This week was supposed to be a recovery week had I completed Bolton. We arranged to go to a music festival way down in Cornwall. I could hardly let the family down, so here I am sitting on the grass at the back of the audience trying to rest my aching feet. It's been a long day in the car, sitting on the hard ground and standing whilst watching the bands. So in about an hour or so we will be back on the car for a 4hr drive home. I know that I should have missed the festival to be in the best shape for Sunday, but what can I do? My hope is that we should be home by 4am at the latest, I will then get a few hours sleep before heading up to Nottingham for some rest before 'The Outlaw' on Sunday. So as Newton Falkner blasts away, the wind picks up and it starts to rain, I hope that the combination of the extended taper and the poor prep day won't ruin my chances on Sunday.

Bike seems ok

We are off down to the coast today and so I was out on the bike early for a solid hour.I was keen to check the bike out and to be as confident as I can that it isn't going to let me down. It feels fine and the ride was good. I continue to receive messages of support which is great. A cocern that I have is the prolonged tapering. This will be four weeks now and a long bike seems like quite a long time. I have no idea what effect it will have on my fitness. I had intended to do a gentle sea swim for 30 mins this evening but plumbing issues (the flat not mine) put paid to that.

Back on the bike

I am delighted to report that my bike has been repaired. Apparently I had snapped the crack shaft in the bottom bracket meaning that the pedals were not connected. So this evening I headed out for a 45 minute ride followed by a 15 minute run. The bike felt smooth and the pedals turned more smoothly than I think they have for a while now. However, I cant help but listen out for every little creak and clip that the bike makes. The run was fine, only fifteen minutes so no drama. The more I read about the Outlaw the more excited I am getting. It sounds like a great triathlon.  

Back in to training mode

As I get used to the idea of Sunday's Outlaw I have clicked into a repeat of last weeks tapering. So today it was a 45 minute run, then a swim this evening. The run was great around the grounds of Ashridge House where I am working tomorrow. It was a beautiful start to the day, I saw rabbits, deer and a whole host of other animals and birds in the early morning sunshine.

The swim at the local pool was OK, I struggled to get motivated after the lake. I think also that after Sunday's swim I am regarding this weeks swims as maintenance. 

Monday, a day of 2 halves

This morning I was resigned to the fact that I wasn't going to complete an Iron distance triathlon this year unless I arranged it myself.  I dropped off the bike at the bike shop, they were as confused as I was but committed to repairing the drive shaft. At work everybody was very sympathetic and was very kind. I felt pretty resigned to the outcome of yesterday and set about my days work. However, shortly I was interrupted by a couple of fellow triathletes who after offering their best wishes, suggested I enter "The Outlaw" which apparently is Ironman distance, next weekend, . in Nottingham I rang the organisers and after a short text conversation with Jennie registered and now have a place. So by the afternoon it was game on and I have to pay serious attention as to how I prepare.

Following yesterdays, 2.4 mile swim, approx 30 mile bike and 6 mile run, I thought I would stick to the traditional rest day and re-start using last weeks tapering. I hope it works out.

Race day

I woke at 2:50 and headed straight down to eat. There was a quiet buzz in the restaurant as competitors sat and ate their breakfast. I downed mine really quickly then headed up to collect my gear, after nearly forgetting my wetsuit, I loaded up the car and headed for the bus which was 15 minutes away at the Reebok stadium. I was feeling pretty mellow and as I prepped my bike was starting to enjoy the atmosphere. At the appointed time I climbed into my wetsuit and headed with the crowd of 1400 to the waters edge. As we made our way into the water my confidence built. Every week at least 3 times a week I have swim 3k and so this felt very natural. Another swim, just a little longer with a few more people. I cant remember how we were signalled to start but one minute I was chatting to a chap next to me and the next second we were off. The swim was pretty easy with the exception of being ducked once by a big hefty chap. I felt good. The first lap was a bit of a bun fight but the next was great. It felt quick and when I checked my watch it registered 1hr 7:30 which I was pleased with. We headed into transition which once again was smooth and then out onto the road on the bikes. So far so good. The first 12 miles or so was heading out onto the main circuit which comprised of 3 loops of around 33 miles. I was happy and comfortable, eating well and taking on liquids. Pace felt fine although I couldn't tell my speed as my speedo had packed up. 

I had been on the bike or around 2 hrs  and was well into the first circuit, when I had to change to a low gear to attack a sudden rise, as I climbed out of the saddle to apply the necessary pressure I heard a loud "crack" and my left peddle went slack. I climbed off  expecting to see a broken chain, but instead found both peddles at 6 o'clock.

The left one swinging to and fro and in no way connected to its partner. I desperation I started running up the hill with my bike hoping to find a Marshall, but no luck. I kept on walking until after half an hour or so a friendly motorcycle policemen radioed the support team to send a mechanic. After waiting for 90 minutes at the side of the road no one came and I realised that race day for me was over. Eventually a bus pulled up that was collecting the "drop outs". I joined 3 others, 2 who had crashed and one who had thrown up and so packed it in. 

Eventually, after a long a tortuous series of lifts I ended up at the hotel, pretty fed up and wanting to put as many miles between me and Bolton as I could. I rang Jennie and explained the situation, she was very sympathetic and followed up with a text that suggested I make up my own Ironman and do it in a couple of weeks. My initial reaction was pretty luke warm but the idea is growing on me.
I was left with a bit of a dilemma. I wanted to collect my car from the Reebok Stadium but that was 5 miles away, but I didn't fancy getting on the shuttle bus with the other athletes. So I pulled on my running gear and headed out to make my own way. Without the Sat Nav I went a bit of a long route and it ended up as 6 miles, but it felt good to get running and it meant that I had at least done a bit of a triathlon. After collecting the car and packing it with my gear I was able to collect my bike and bits a pieces and I headed off down the motorway. I was making good time surfing through the various music channels when I happened across Take That. Not my favorite band, but it reminded me of something. A few months ago Kevin, one of my closest friends, died after a long battle with cancer. He was a pretty cool guy, into some interesting but mostly rocking type of stuff. However, at his funeral Ruth (his wife) explained that Kevin had always loved the song that goes something like "This could be the best day of your life" by Take That. This was the song that came on the radio and it made me think of him and how can choose to make this a good day, probably not the best day, but a good day. It occurred to me that it was up to me and how I thought about it. I have learned masses about triathlon over the past 7 months and even more today. I can use that. I am the fittest I have ever been. I can and will improve. The way this can be a good day, is if I make it so by "treating triumph and disaster both the same". This wasn't a disaster, no one died. It is data that I will learn from and tell stories about a long time into the future. Today I did not finish. However, I don't think I can call myself a triathlete without a D.N.F. in my back pocket. So now I have one, and for that I thank you Bolton. I am disappointed but not beaten. I will complete the distance one day, maybe soon or maybe some time in the future. PJH road to Ironman continues and who knows what is around the corner and I am sure I will be knocked back again but in the words of the band Garbage "The trick is to keep breathing".