White Van Man Road Rage!

My cycling time trials rarely go smoothly. There's normally a glitch in my racing. Sunday's 50 mile Time Trial was no exception. One week after crash week and National 100 mile TT I was either going to have an awesome race or a shocker. To be honest wasn't really sure if my legs and mind were recovered. But Sunday was a good day! Almost perfect conditions and on a good course - went 2:05:23. New PB for myself by 9 and a bit minutes. Smacked it to myself in the last 25 miles.
But, I had a run in with a white van driver during the race. which made me less than happy! I don't have anything against white van drivers in general. My dad drives one for work (Actually he's has also cut me up before, overtaking me on a descent near their house, not realising how fast i was travelling). This driver, of said white van driver (similar size and shape to Renault Kangoo) was not having as good as morning as me and decided to burst my little racing bubble. At about 25 miles, negotiating roundabout, back onto the A27 said white van driver overtook me about 5-10 meters from roundabout. My lesson learnt- should have been further over in the lane earlier. Anyway, he like me was taking the first exit, so pulled in front of me at the entry of the roundabout. Sending me swerving into a patch of sandy gravel almost coming off, but saved by the fact I hit the side of the van. I carried on riding not to lose any more time. White van driver had not had enough. He drove along side me for a bit, blocking both lanes of dual carriageway at 8:25am on sunny Sunday morning, when people were making there way to the beaches! Then he decided to pull in front of me. slow down and weave across the lane, every time I tired to overtake. This however did give me a chance to taken down his number plate. Unfortunately, i'd forgotten the last half by the time I got back to the HQ. The diver had the cheek to complain to the race organised about me landing on his van and request my details. So straight to the Chichester Police station I went to make my compliant. Rahh Rahhh Rahh! I could rant for so much longer!!

Rest of Day made better by plying 'chase' with my boyfriends 2 and 5 year old nephews. Entertaining while 'Mum' prepared lunch and 'Dad' finished last minute packing for holiday. Then sitting outside with Simon's Mum and Dad, Sue and Tim. Enjoying Lunch in the Sun, Coffee, Homemade Muffins and the last stage of The Tour de France.

End of crash week and National 100 Mile Time Trial

Last Thursday was my last hard day of training. I think by the end of Thursday morning the lady that lives in the flat above must have thought I was going mad as I did a multiple brick session. 5km run, 20km bike, 5km run, 40km bike, 3km run. Really love this type of session. Maintaining the intensity thought out the session, without the mental fatigue that might occur otherwise. Gives me confidence that I might do okay in some duathlons, which I'd like to dip my toes into next year. Long pool swim in the evening rounded off my training week.

Friday as rest day - travelled to Stroud and stayed the night at one of Simon's school friends - Rachel and her two children. They were kind enough to let us crash on their floor to break up the journey to Llandovery, Wales. Venue of the National 100 Mile Time Trial.

In Llandovery we had booked a cute bed and breakfast, which was also a lovely coffee shop, to stay at.
http://www.penygawse.com/
Lynne and Allan the owner's were fantastic, even getting up early on Sunday morning to provide us with breakfast. Not just cereals and toast, but go faster for longer, scrambled eggs.

Feeling full, head off 1/2 mile down the road to race HQ. Simon also racing but starting almost 90 minutes after me, so had someone to organise me.

Race report - Race to my wattage plan. Very tough rolling course, some long drags and some steep sections also. But very Pretty! Had a very embarrassing moment at 60 miles in. Had hidden some bottles at the exit of a lay by. Car belonging to David Collard Berry of A3crg was parked right in front. Slowed down, but but not enough. Back wheel slid on some loose stone and I landed on my right lower back and bum, Ouchh! Moments of flustering. Made DCB's day i think as he had to rescue a lady in distress - pick me up, sort out my brakes and put me back on my bike. Shouts out to the A3crg ladies (and men) out in force supporting their riders and anyone else that happened to pass. Enjoyed the last 25 the most. At this point being passed by the really fast men - Prebble and the likes. Also had stuck with my wattage plan, and something left to pick up the pace in the last 25 miles and gave it my all. Finished in 9th place 4:43:53. Beat my previous PB by almost 1 minute, on a much tougher course, after a heavy training week. Pleased. Simon also had a good ride PB beaten by 51 seconds for a 4:22:08.

Now looking for a flat 100mile TT, to really compare my previous 100 mile Time to !!!

This weeks been a recovery week, good job as my right hip, both knees and left elbow are all very bruised and tender. Not quite sure how I landed to sustain that pattern of bruises.

Very excited as I've received the new Zoot 2009 Catalogue and been told to put together my wish list!! I'd recommend anyone looking for new training or racing kit takes at look at their products. Great fabrics, innovations, colours and styling. Very excited!! It' like putting your christmas list together!

Post to follow soon!

My blog has been offline for a few days while the kind folks managing Blogger, have been deciding weather or not my blog contain malicious and people scamming content. Picked up for possibly containing nonsensical text! more likely to be my dyslexia!

Anyway, they have obviously decided I'm not clever enough to be trying to scam people and are allowing me to continue to bore/amuse people.

Report of crash week and National 100 mile Time Trial to follow soon!

Crash week - day 3

Two posts in one day! Yes forgot to post the one I wrote yesterday.

My day started early with meeting Yvette at 7am, for the 5 hour ride ahead of us. I'm a slightly stronger biker than Yvette (she kills me in the swim and run!). Yvette just finished 9th Pro Woman in Ironman France. Self inflicted pressure to ride strong and well was on. Praying that my legs would hold good and I'd have a better ride than yesterday.

Unfortunately my power tap stopped working an hour into the ride, unable to remember how to switch it to bike computer only, so rode on perceived exertion for the rest of the ride. We covered a lumpy 86 and bit miles. See map below. Rode out to Tunbridge wells - remembered why I don't often go that way. steep little lumps and rubbish road surface. Then across to East Grinstead - making the route up as I went along. The down through Ashdown forest, joining A22 to head back to the coast. My legs held good. Sat on the front all morning. Just kept taking in the carb's and drinking plenty.



Once home guess what Rego and a sleep. Now I have to go to the laundrette (sit with the Chav's, not making eye contact). Our washing machine is broken. Not good with all the training and kit I'm getting through this week. Then to the pool for a long-ish swim set!

Crash week, so far!

Last week was a nice recovery week from Half Ironman race last weekend and some preparation for the week ahead - The Crash Week. A week off work to enjoy lots of riding, with some swimming and running thrown in for fun.

So Saturday 3.5 hour ride steady, then 60 min sea swim in the evening. Sunday was a easy 2 hour ride and an opportunity to clear my to do list, for the week ahead. Joined good friend Helen for a ride on Monday. We rode for almost 2 hours steady, prior to me venturing off along the A259 to do 3 x 8 min efforts at threshold - fun. Quick transition and 60 min at 75% off the bike. Home to Rego and a little nap. Joined Bodyworks xtc for sea swim in the evening. I say joined them. These talented youngsters were swimming in the same ocean as me! Probably swam twice as far and twice as fast as me! Didn't mind I had prepared myself mentally for that occurring.

Tuesday - Drizzling in the morning. So geared up for my 4 hour ride with knee warmers, arm warmers and gillet. With jacket in back pocket just in case it got heavier. After about 20 minutes the drizzle stopped and it warmed up. So my bike jersey pockets gradually became very full. Rode out to Rye. Mistake as had an increasing strong head wind home (well it felt that way - as I started flagging. Hungry, dehydrated and tired I arrived home after 4h 15 mins. Legs felt empty. Home to more Rego and another little sleep - Its all about the recovery - felt much better afterwards. Legs still very tired. Hoping a massage tonight will help them feel a little fresher for tomorrow. Arranged to ride with Yvette Grice for 5 hours tomorrow! Another sea swim this evening. Steady 45 minutes, with 2 x 10 mins at race pace. Not quite sure I achieved this as all my sea swims feel like hard work.

2 more hard days, then 2 easy days prior to National 100 mile Time Trial on Sunday. Not sure racing off the back of a training week was such a great idea.

Club 7.2 mile Time Trial

Obscure distance I hear you say. Eastbourne Rovers club 7.2 mile Time Trial which starts just east of Birling Gap and winds it's way uphill to and over Beachy Head, before a steep descent into the Village of East Dean. Sharp left at the bottom of the hill to head back to Birling Gap, then onto the finish. 7.2 miles of thigh hurting pain. Wasn't brave enough to tackle the sharp turn on my time trial bike, so headed out on my much loved Road bike. Almost missed my start (due incorrect time on power tap display and spent too long watching the surfers at Birling Gap - much grovelling required to Dave Cox, TT Secretary post event for my tardiness). Sprinted to the start line as well as the finish. 22 and bit minutes of hurt. Can't say I enjoyed it. But really pushed my climbing limits. Spin home and a bit more. Then quick transition run - 6 mins hard. Felt like hard work! Still have last Sundays race in my legs.

Now off work for 1 week. To enjoy lots of training and relaxing. Hopefully will get some of the sunshine, that Eastbourne is apparently famous for.

Cowman Half Ironman Race Report

I travelled up to my parents on Friday afternoon, to break the journey up to Milton Keynes and also to collect my tent. after loaning it out. On putting my tent up in their garden on Saturday morning, to check all was intact. Discovered it was growing it's own Eco system inside. Last minute change of plan. Borrowed my younger brother, Jamie's tent. Which my other brother Simon had used at Glastonbury last weekend. Didn't have chance to check the state of this one - Hope would be sleep-able.

Drive up to Milton Keynes was uneventful. Arrived at Emberton Park (race venue and camp ground) and set up camp alongside Brighton Esporta Triathletes; Sharon, Teressa, Barry, John and Hildi, who shop in the Tri Store. Tent up (minimal traces of Glastonbury) and registration followed by quick drive around bike course, dinner, race prep, some chat and then bed. Life's exciting for a triathlete, no camping BBQ or beers I'm afraid.

Race morning. Consisted of the usually plenty of time, then oh my goodness race briefing is about to start and I'm still in transition with no wetsuit on. When will I learn.

Swim, My best yet in 33:40. 6 mins behind the first women out, but improvement of 3 mins since my last half ironman. Made myself start right at the front and exposed myself to the carnage that is a mass start. Found myself a good draft, but lost her when started catching slower men who started off 5 and 10 mins in front.
Exited the swim, to what I thought was a slow T1 - struggled with arm warmers. But actually only 1.27. I put it down to my bike mounting skills - which I've been practising and pulled off successfully for once. Not sure I'll ever have the confidence to do a Olly Freeman style mount!
Once on the bike, took a good 8 miles to feel comfortable. Stuck to my planned wattage. Passed only 7- 8 women the bike. Was starting to worry as normally pass a lot more. Later found out I came out the swim in 9th place! So had moved into 2nd place by half way through the bike. Only found out I was in 2nd towards the end of the first lap of the run. Bike course was a bit challenging - rolling, windy and wet. Proudly I posted the fastest women's bike split 2:47:23. Bike dismounted almost like a pro. Quick T2 and on to the run. The less said about the run the better. Felt dreadful initially. Heavy legs and knew I hadn't taken on enough carb's on the bike (rainy and cold = not enough Go energy drink consumed). Lesson learnt - if weather bad need to have calories from more gels, than drinks). Settled into pace, but never felt happy. Found the run a challenge mentally. Gradually uphill though village, then more uphill off road in tractor trials, a bit of a downhill, before entering the park, to run around the lake x 4. Halfway though second 5km lap couldn't feel feet. They had gone completely numb and i started to get some Lateral foot pain. I'd ran and raced in these shoes before but not half marathon or off road - maybe the combination wasn't good. Ran 1:37:48. Was aiming for 1:35. Never will know but may have been, if not having to stop and mess with laces/shoes or stop for a wee!!

Glad to cross the finish line - holding onto 2nd place. Congraulations to Sophie Witworth - women's winner and Brighton Esporta Triathletes for a day of PB's.

Full Results -http://www.pgix.net/bigcow/results.asp?EventID=116&CourseID=33#E

No photo's I'm afraid. I forgot my camera. The event photographers aren't very good - so not buying and Simon (boyfriend) was not in attendence as was working in the Tri Store Saturday.

Frontline News Item

Thought I'd just quickly post a copy of the Frontline (Professional magazine for Members of The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists) article which came out today. Some details are a little incorrect - like missing out on 3rd by 12 seconds at Ironman Florida. That was at the 2007 Europeans Long Course Championships. And long course championships should read 120km , not 20km. Unfortunately they chose the picture where I look like I'm power walking not running!! Trust me I ran the whole marathon. Didn't stop or walk, not even at aid stations. To scared. Had my coaches voice in my head saying. Don't walk the aid stations, you could lose a minute. 26 aid stations, that's 26 minutes lost!

5 days from race day and full of cold!

Feeling a bit low and sorry for myself today, Because as from yesterday evening I have a cold. I'm blaming one of my patients for the germs!!! Hoping that forced rest from training today, will help my body recover for Sunday - due to be racing Cowman Half Ironman. Also hoping it will go as quick as it arrived. I had no pre-cold warning signs. No headaches, bunged up nose, sneezing nothing! 30 mins after yesterdays evening steady run (comfortably hold 7:20 min/miles - feeling very good and confident about form) standing in Waitrose - nose started streaming.

Did contemplate a short sea swim to clear my nose out, but riding home from work was an effort. Could hardly breath when doing yoga.

Having said that i'm feeling a bit sorry for myself, not going to stress too much as what happens happens. Midweek out from Ironman Florida came down with cold (breathing recycled cabin air) and had a good race there. Next post will be cowman race report.