Just a quick post to show some pictures of the new toy. A Giant Bowery Single Speed, you can choose between a fixed wheel and a freewheel by turning the wheel round. Going to have a play with fixed for a while and see how I get on.
Saturday 20 September 2008
Wednesday 17 September 2008
6 Minutes
Well its been over a week since the last post. What have I been upto?
I had a week off after Almere and seem to have been very tired since. This week has been my first proper week back in training. Its not going well. Everything seems like a struggle, but slowly I am coming round and hope to find some running form in time for the Henlow 10. I've been thinking a lot about what I can do this winter to improve and have identified some key areas to work on. I have also been thinking a lot about next season, and have decided to chase the sponsorship boat for cash in order to fund my trip to Australia as I am determined to go to the World Long Distance Championships again. 6 MINUTES, that's what I need to find this winter. I move up to the 35-39 age group next season and my time at the long course this year in the next age group up (the one i move to) meant I would only of missed a bronze by 6 minutes. I think that is definitely achievable!!!
I will put more details of my plans to improve on future posts. One way to improve is to buy new toys, as a result I collect by brand new Giant single speed on Friday, supplied by the fantastic Paul at www.hilderthorpecycles.co.uk which I am really looking forward to having a ride on. I also hope in the next couple of weeks to have sold the KUOTA (buyer in the pipeline) in which case I will be getting my new Giant TT bike ready for next season, again provided by Paul. Having a sponsor really helps to motivate you, as you tend to feel the urge to perform at every event. I will have the TT bike for the fast flat courses, and the sponsored Giant TCR Advanced with clip on tri bars for the hard mans courses up here in Yorkshire. With the winter bike as well that's a full fleet of 4 Giant bikes. I love bikes!!!! you can never have enough.
That's all for now, pictures soon of the new single speed.
Saturday 6 September 2008
Some more pics from the worlds
A few pics I've "borrowed" from another site. I have been thinking lots about the World Champs next year and really want to go to Australia. I am going to try and get some financial backing from some local businesses to see if I can generate some cash to cover travel and accommodation. We will see what I can do but I really want to go the more I think about it. Fingers crossed!!!
Tuesday 2 September 2008
The World Championships
How to describe the World Championships.................HOT HOT HOT.
The event started with registration on the Friday, this was the first of the challenges that lay ahead. Trying to find registration was interesting as it was apparently clearly sign posted. What signs?????. Later that day we then had to find the Theatre in town for the race brief, again not sign posted? We managed to overcome this issue and made it to both locations on the Friday. Saturday we had to rack the bike and helmet. This was a bit easier as transition by car signs were on the roadside. By Saturday the heating had been turned up some and it was in the region of 27 degrees. Sunday was an early start with an 0530hrs alarm and Sags and I left for Almere at 0630. Arriving at 0700 we went across to transition to start our own personal race prep. For me I just tend to check and re-check everything and once I'm happy I wander round talking to people so's not to think too much about the race ahead. At about 0810 we talk a walk across to the start (about 1km down part of the run course) and watched the Elite men start, followed by the Elite women's start. Then it was our turn, our chance to shine and represent our country at the World Championships.
The Swim,
Long, oh so very long. Absolutely no way it was 4 kilometers. My estimate would be 4.5 kilometers at least. The horn went and we ran into the water, I was very surprised to find myself with plenty of room in the water despite the amount of athletes starting. I swam the first short loop with no problems and exited the water for the land lap across the timing mat. Lap 2 was the longer lap which took you away from the beach and along the coast down to the harbour. This was a difficult stretch as the sun was in your eyes and you couldn't see any of the buoys. By this time also the wind was picking up and it was quite choppy with a current making for some seriously hard work. It was apparent as you made the turn into the harbour just how hard it was as you could immediately feel your pace increase just from the change in direction. At the end of the swim you had to climb up some wood steps and then it was about 500m run into transition.
The Bike,
After transition I was ready to start the bike course feeling that I had lost a lot of time in the water. You ran out of transition and started the bike on a quite technical stretch through all the barriers and it was quite narrow with some tight corners. Then it was on to the first of many long, flat, straight roads. The first 10k or so was an out and back loop and then you followed a big circuit and the straight roads varied by which way the wind was blowing. It was quite dull for probably 58 of the 60k per lap with the only decent bit being the winding and twisting sections at the end of each lap. Its very hard to race on a circuit so flat and I recall seeing most competitors around me having to get out of the saddle just to stretch off now and then. It made you ache in all sorts of places having to hold that position for so long. Normally you get to move about on the bike a bit due to climbs, descents and tight corners but most of this circuit was in the tri bars. To be honest I was glad to get to the end of the bike course which is unusual for me.
The Run,
This was the best part of the race for me, two 15km laps to go. I set off on the run and felt comfortable all the way. The first lap went very well and I was looking out for the other RAF lads as the first lap ended. I had passed loads of people on the run and as the heat was taking its toll more athletes were starting to fade. I was feeling strong and looking forward to the next lap. I ran well and as I was on the 16k marker I saw Jase and Sags running together past the 14k marker. They looked in good form and seemed to be enjoying it. I continued at a strong pace and counted down the k's to go as I passed each marker. As I passed the 27k mark I was loving it, I new I was going to be able to continue with the pace all the way to the line and kept passing more people. I estimate passing over a 100 people during the 30k but was only overtaken by 2 people. With about 150 meters to go Dawn (GB Team manager) passed me my Union Jack flag to carry down the finish line straight and I had the finish line to my self so I could walk the last 5 meters and savour the moment stopping on the line to celebrate. It was over.
This was one of the hardest races I think I have done. I have always said I would give up the sport when I stopped enjoying it. Had I not have had such an enjoyable time on the run then this could have been my last triathlon, however by the end I was buzzing so much that I am truly gutted it was my last one of the year. Roll on next season!!!
I would like to say well done to the other RAF Athletes, and congratulate them on there performances. Some great results from the other guys, and of course Kelda as well.
I will upload some pictures when I get them sorted out.
The event started with registration on the Friday, this was the first of the challenges that lay ahead. Trying to find registration was interesting as it was apparently clearly sign posted. What signs?????. Later that day we then had to find the Theatre in town for the race brief, again not sign posted? We managed to overcome this issue and made it to both locations on the Friday. Saturday we had to rack the bike and helmet. This was a bit easier as transition by car signs were on the roadside. By Saturday the heating had been turned up some and it was in the region of 27 degrees. Sunday was an early start with an 0530hrs alarm and Sags and I left for Almere at 0630. Arriving at 0700 we went across to transition to start our own personal race prep. For me I just tend to check and re-check everything and once I'm happy I wander round talking to people so's not to think too much about the race ahead. At about 0810 we talk a walk across to the start (about 1km down part of the run course) and watched the Elite men start, followed by the Elite women's start. Then it was our turn, our chance to shine and represent our country at the World Championships.
The Swim,
Long, oh so very long. Absolutely no way it was 4 kilometers. My estimate would be 4.5 kilometers at least. The horn went and we ran into the water, I was very surprised to find myself with plenty of room in the water despite the amount of athletes starting. I swam the first short loop with no problems and exited the water for the land lap across the timing mat. Lap 2 was the longer lap which took you away from the beach and along the coast down to the harbour. This was a difficult stretch as the sun was in your eyes and you couldn't see any of the buoys. By this time also the wind was picking up and it was quite choppy with a current making for some seriously hard work. It was apparent as you made the turn into the harbour just how hard it was as you could immediately feel your pace increase just from the change in direction. At the end of the swim you had to climb up some wood steps and then it was about 500m run into transition.
The Bike,
After transition I was ready to start the bike course feeling that I had lost a lot of time in the water. You ran out of transition and started the bike on a quite technical stretch through all the barriers and it was quite narrow with some tight corners. Then it was on to the first of many long, flat, straight roads. The first 10k or so was an out and back loop and then you followed a big circuit and the straight roads varied by which way the wind was blowing. It was quite dull for probably 58 of the 60k per lap with the only decent bit being the winding and twisting sections at the end of each lap. Its very hard to race on a circuit so flat and I recall seeing most competitors around me having to get out of the saddle just to stretch off now and then. It made you ache in all sorts of places having to hold that position for so long. Normally you get to move about on the bike a bit due to climbs, descents and tight corners but most of this circuit was in the tri bars. To be honest I was glad to get to the end of the bike course which is unusual for me.
The Run,
This was the best part of the race for me, two 15km laps to go. I set off on the run and felt comfortable all the way. The first lap went very well and I was looking out for the other RAF lads as the first lap ended. I had passed loads of people on the run and as the heat was taking its toll more athletes were starting to fade. I was feeling strong and looking forward to the next lap. I ran well and as I was on the 16k marker I saw Jase and Sags running together past the 14k marker. They looked in good form and seemed to be enjoying it. I continued at a strong pace and counted down the k's to go as I passed each marker. As I passed the 27k mark I was loving it, I new I was going to be able to continue with the pace all the way to the line and kept passing more people. I estimate passing over a 100 people during the 30k but was only overtaken by 2 people. With about 150 meters to go Dawn (GB Team manager) passed me my Union Jack flag to carry down the finish line straight and I had the finish line to my self so I could walk the last 5 meters and savour the moment stopping on the line to celebrate. It was over.
This was one of the hardest races I think I have done. I have always said I would give up the sport when I stopped enjoying it. Had I not have had such an enjoyable time on the run then this could have been my last triathlon, however by the end I was buzzing so much that I am truly gutted it was my last one of the year. Roll on next season!!!
I would like to say well done to the other RAF Athletes, and congratulate them on there performances. Some great results from the other guys, and of course Kelda as well.
I will upload some pictures when I get them sorted out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)