Me and my Zoot Kit!

Finally got round to posting some pictures of my lovely Zoot clothing.


Picture opposite is from East Grinstead Triathlon 08. Wearing my Ultra Tri suit. Most comfortable, stretchy in all directions, but supportive where required suit I've tried. Most importantly matches my bikes colour scheme!










Zoot bag - My boyfriend calls this my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bag as it's gigantic. Carry's all my race kit and work/swim kit on a daily basis.

All Zooted up. Bike Jersey, shorts, socks, visors, Ultra Shoes. Would put SpeedZoot on over the top, but might be excessive

My longest cold Bath to date!

Call me a freak! but I like (okay too strong - see and have experience the benefits of) Ice Baths after a hard training sessions, especially hard runs. On Sunday after two hours on the bike and 70 min running at half ironman race pace, in warm UK weather, my legs were roasting. So plunged myself into a cold bath. Decided to make good use of time and call my Dad and wish him a happy birthday (It being midday and leaving it any later would mean I was neglecting my daughter duties!) Talking away and distracted from the cold - last almost 25 mins. I'm sure my Dad already thinks my sporting activities are un - natural, for a twenty something female. That I should be going out and getting drunk every weekend! The Sunday am training, protein shakes in ice bath would just confirms it.

Finally got my arse in the sea - actually went in twice back to back on Saturday. I think my fear of sea swimming has resolved. Went in first with two Friends (Andy and Sue) as we were getting out another two (Jan and Kevin) were getting in so joined them. My bright yellow almost neon Zoot swim hat ensured I was seen amongst the waves.

Training been going well, not a lot of riding - see previous post if interested, but I think I've grossed a few people out. Sorry Todd! Todd's jumped on the blogging band wagon - http://toddleckie.blogspot.com/) I think we may be in competition for number of blogs, and amount of press coverage. Not that us Triathletes are the least bit competitive in nature! I think he may win having place 4th at U23 Worlds in Vancouver 2 weeks ago. Congrats again Leckie x

Did a monster swim set with friend and swim coach, Jan last Friday. You know it was hard when you lying in bed and your arm muscles are twitching spontaneously! Really lifted my confidence. Even the pure swimmers didn't want to join in the fun! Not that I swam fast, but fast and consistent for me! Jan's website has set details but main set 2 x 400m off 7 mins. 4 x 200m off 3:45. 8 x 100m off 1:45. Held 6:15 for 400m, 3:07 for 200m and 1:30/1:31's for 100m. Still slow relatively to good swimmers, but I'm improving on my weakest area. Even if progress is slower than I'd like.

Training been effected negatively my lack of sleep and stress at work - so decision made to take evening off training and sort ever mounting list of 'to do things' out. Clear my head and to do list.

Positively booked flights to Hawaii, this week!

Should girls really be riding Race bIkes!

The answer is of course yes. But this latest title is fuelled by the discomfort I felt during a 50 mile TT at the weekend. Okay, so the soreness had be building slowly, but reached its peak last Sunday. Been riding the same make of saddle now for a while. Now however, my saddle and girl bits(!!) do not agree with one another. My stubbornness and continued riding has resulted in trip to the doctors and a 5 day course of antibiotics being prescribed.

Back to the 50 mile TT. According to the Time keeper I set a new PB of 2:13:23. This would be quite impressive on a day when I was less than satisfied with my performance, as I'm now back to being a triathlete racing time trials with less than fresh legs (weights midweek and steady ride on Saturday). Oh and going round a roundabout completely rather than taking the first exit (It got a little confused, when trying to avoid collision with horse trailer. I had a "do I go or not" moment). My PowerTap read 2:15:23. I know which I believe. Especially since the race start was delay by 10 minutes (which was actually more like 8 and a half minutes!!), as the timekeeper was late!!!

Time trailling is great, because once race is over, the rest of the day can be enjoyed. Planned to meet fellow Eastbourne triathletes, Andy and Sue for coffee at Java and Jazz in Forest Row, for post race coffee and cakes. (Andy and Sue have decided not to race at the long course championships this year. They shall be missed by Simon and me. They stayed at the same campsite as us in Almere in 2006 for the Europeans and were great camping company. I'm sure that since camping next to us a cafetiere and coffee has been added to Andy's packing list :-)! Camping will be a bit more lonely I'm sure) Disappointingly they (Java and Jazz) didn't open till 11am and it was not yet 9:45am. While Andy and Sue headed back to Eastbourne. Simon and I headed off in search of a Sussex coffee shop. Our search led us into Uckfield. Just as we were about to resort to Costa and sitting outside next to some Chav's and a Wheelie Bin. I spotted the Hop Barn cafe/ restaurant just around the corner. Secluded suntrap of a garden, greenery, quiet, great coffee and selection of cakes and good service. Coffee and large slice of carrot cake enjoyed!!!

My Zoot package, contained some lovely items. New cycle jersey in bright pink and orange. I'll take a picture and post when I finally stop washing and wearing it. Also included was some new bike socks, bright bright yellow swim hat (no losing me in the sea!) and casual t - shirt. So now I'm all Zooted up. Thanks Martyn

National 25 Race Report

Writing this post later than I'd hope to have done. Work has been getting in the way this week. Ahh! I need a rich man, so I can give up work and ride my bike all day.

Travelled up from Eastbourne to Sawtry, near Cambridge last Saturday morning. Forgot to pick up directions to Race HQ and Hotel, that I'd printed off that morning. Managed to arrive in the correct place and with plenty of time to spare. With my time keeping and directional skills that was a miracle. Anyway why the need to arrive on time? I'd planned to meet fellow Science in Sport team mate Helen Carter and some of the ladies (and guys) Helen coaches from a3crg. The plan being to check out the course. After a back and leg loosening spin, checked into 'home for the night'.

The rest of the afternoon was spent changing brake blocks over and adjusting brakes to make room for the borrowed Zipp Sub 9 Disc (again). Quick check and adjustment of gears required. Very proud that I managed to do this, without a call for help to my boyfriend. Although I can do these sort of bike things myself, Simon does this for a job and is much more efficient. Double check of race kit. I'd purchased some new pink bike mitts from The Tri Store the day before, for the occasion. Do not quite match my kit! But were a must.

Celebrated my new found confidence in brake and gear adjustments with coffee. However, spoiled by the fact I had two journals to read. I said work was getting in the way.

Race morning. Managed to come out of hotel and turn onto A14, not A1. Prime example of my lack of navigational skills. Realised 15 minutes up the road. Therefore, arrived late and flustered. Shorter than I like turbo warm up and spin to start. Customary last minute wee required. Then the off.

Rode well, catching riders ahead and not being caught. Good ride in my mind. Wasn't riding to power (Normally use a PowerTap hub, but as using disc wheel unable to). Had heart rate for feedback, but mainly went off perceived exertion like at the National 10. Feeling strong. As a triathlete, normally riding Time Trials for training, fresh legs racing is a strange sensation. I'd say all was going well, on route to new PB. Until.... Punctured tub on disc wheel on the entry to the Sawtry North roundabout, about 2.5 miles from the finish. So slowed a little to check okay to carry on. Lost focus. Just kept thinking Simon (Boyfriend) will kill me if i damage the disc. Rode like a Granny on an upright around the corners and had to shift my weight to the front of the bike. As the Finish got closer, the bumps I was feeling from the disc wheel got more predominant. Dilemma, do I pull out or carry on. I'm stubborn. Carried on. At the risk of being killed later. Finished 1:04:43. Just 3 seconds outside of PB. Puncture aside feel I rode well. I didn't start off too hard in my usual way, and built up throughout 25 miles. I quote my friend Martyn " Pace and Patience"!

Journey home, was joined by friend and swim coach Jeanne. Made the journey home seem much quicker. Despite missing junction off M25, and taking the scenic route cross country via East Grinstead home! There's a common theme to my driving!

The rest of the week has been work and some light training. Ran steady for the first time this morning, in what seems like ages due to focusing on cycling for 3 weeks. It's a good feeling to be running again.

Finally paid my entry fee for World Long Course Championships. £160 to British Triathlon. Not happy about having to pay a management fee, due to the lack of support we 'self sufficient, non Nirvana' athletes receive.

On a happier note. A package arrived from Zoot sports today. Will post some pictures of my new goodies soon!!!

First post (First of many)

I can't believe it's already June. I've been saying I'll start a blog since the beginning of the year. Well finally got round to it. Hope to post updates regular about my training, racing and journey to the 2008 Hawaii Ironman World Championships.


I qualified for the 2008 Ironman World Championships at the Florida Ironman on 3rd November 2007. Wow that was some time ago now. Florida was my first attempt at the Ironman Distance (okay i lie, but New Zealand 06, doesn't count. As gale force wind halted my effort). I had a great race day with most things going to plan and training all coming together (thanks to coach, Brad!). Crossed the Line in 10:35. Placed 4th in my age group. Couldn't turn down the Kona spot. However, definitely can't afford it. But hey, plenty of working years ahead to pay off the credit card.

So why blog and bore or entertain people with my training, racing and crazy thought! As a way to reflect on my training and racing, the positive and negative aspects. To say a big thanks to my supporters - The Tri Store, in Eastbourne. Thanks Loz and Simon. Thank goodness they opened the store in Eastbourne. Without them I would have never entered into the crazy sport of Triathlon, met my current boyfriend (partner/ bike mechanic/ masseur/ dish washer - upper) Simon or still be living and working in Eastbourne. Also thanks to Ian at Jim Walker for sticky training tyres for my training wheels and racing tubs for my bling wheels. Thank you to Martin Branfoot at Zoot sports Europe (DJM Products) for kitting me out in fabulous racing kit and "I want" Accessories (Ultra Tempo race trainers, Zoot training bag, Speedzoot, visors, socks etc etc). Finally. Thank you to Science in Sport, for letting me join their womens Time Trial team giving me better access to their great range of sports nutrition.

I know it's June already so here's a quick run down of my year so far. Having had November off all structured training. December and January was all about easing back in and focusing on my running. February I ran a new Half Marathon PB at Tunbridge wells Half 1:33:39. (Simon and I won the couples prize. So Gourmet burgers for post race lunch and coffee and cakes, a cyclists staple.) Then beat it again at Hastings in March with a 1:32:37. Running on heavy legs from a weeks training Holiday in Spain. Started time trialling in March. Opened the season with a 2 up time trial, with the boyfriend. The idea being you alternate riding closely in front on one another, so you go really really fast. I let the team down. There wasn't much alternating and most of the time i was way off the back. Heavy weights session midweek before a time trial is not a good idea.

Cycling mileage picked up as the weather became warmer and I joined up with Science in Sport (SiS), to ride as part of the women's team. My training kit has grown, to include some fabulous black and white SiS team clothing. Unfortunately the red doesn't quite match the pink colour scheme of my bike. Thinking of starting a one women campaign to change the company logo from red to pink. Thanks to Helen Carter (SiS Team Mate and Exercise Physiologist) for helping me get my foot in the door. Check out Helen's website. http://www.helencarter.info/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Early morning and evening training to fit around full time work, and weekends spent doing either long rides or time trials. My focus for this block of training is the National 10 and 25 mile time trials. However, managed to sneak in my first triathlon of the year - East Grinstead Sprint on May 16th. A good opportunity to test early fitness and transition skills, which were a bit rusty. Pre-race preparation isn't a forte of mine. A loose cleat on my bike shoe meant my left foot was moving forwards and back. Not good for efficient power transfer. This almost beats my disastrous 50 mile time trial last year where I put right and left cleats on the wrong side, so I couldn't clip in. You'd think I'd learn. Loose cleats aside, posted fastest senior women's bike split and held in on the run to take 2nd place to Yvette Grice. Very happy with that result.

National 10 mile time trial. Rode on a borrowed disc wheel (Simon let me borrow his new Zipp sub 9 disc, even though he had been unwell and not yet ridden it - He still has a hold over me for that). So with that pressure and the fact this was my first real outing as a SiS gal, I had to go fast and do and PB. Rode 22:46. Finish in 25th Place. Very pleased. The SiS girls took the team prize Just missed being a counter by 20 seconds.

So just had a couple of easy weeks, building for the National 25 Mile TT, this weekend. Watch this Space.