Ride of the Falling Leaves

Rounded off my season with this local sportive starting from Herne Hill velodrome.
Had a quiet week training wise as a stomach bug laid me low for a couple of days and I seem to have also picked up a cold. Still seems to be lingering so time to get back on the Neovite.
Despite not feeling 100%, it was a good forecast so met up with Mike K and Gavendish for an early warm up ride to the start.
Signing on was easy enough and we did a lap of the velodrome and rolled out. Mike K was putting in some big pulls on the front which everyone else seemed happy enough about. The TSN train stayed reasonably together for quite a while but then gradually strung out about halfway round. Mike was going well on the flat, but I don't think a P3 is the best climbing machine out there. Had a slight bit of confusion at Westerham as Mike and I were under the impression that there would be a checkpoint (it said this on the map) but we didn't hang around long and headed for home. We had a quick stop at a petrol station for Mike to get some water as his ejector bottle system had fired out 2 bottles before we even reached the start. Made it back through the suburbs for a finish time of 3.55 and a welcome plate of pasta.
The route was a bit unispiring given the start and finish legs through the suburbs, but the finish venue made for a nice picnic. Got home with 150km on the clock so a good day in the saddle.

Hever Castle Tri 27/9/09

First overall win ever!!!!!!
Entered this inaugural event with my wife Jennie as a fun way of rounding the season off. Have been winding down on the training for a couple of weeks now, so not expecting anything spectacular.
Slighltly different to most tris as we were set off by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn at the loggia by the lake.
Not too many people in the wave and I got a clear start in the swim. Apart from one mega swimmer, I finished a few metres behind the main leaders and hobbled across the gravel into T1.
Made a decision not to ride a disk wheel as the ride was quite technical and lumpy. Passed everyone by the second lap and pulled into T2 with a decent lead.
Ran out knowing I just had to keep my head and got some encouragement from Jennie at the start of lap 2. Realised I wasn't going to get caught and managed to enjoy the run in with a few waves to the crowd.
Thankfully the race was split up by ability rather than age group, so all the better athletes were in the same wave. Well pleased to be the only one in the photo at the finish! To round things off they even had a podium for the prize giving.
Although I did well, this must be the most scenic tri out there. Superb weather rounded off a great day.

Vitruvian Middle Distance Tri

This was my second main target for the season and I felt in pretty good shape for it.
Woke up a couple of times in the night as I was waiting for the 4.oo a.m alarm to go off, but didn't have time to think about it when it finally went off. Up and out the door in 10 minutes.
Had a delicious breakfast in the car of a Go bar. Felt faintly nauseous afterwards.
Go to Rutland water in the dark and set off for registration. No queues so quickly through and racked bike. Felt a bit more relaxed once I was set up and had visited the toilet. Had a couple of gels and a banana before the race briefing then waited for my wave. Got in the water with 5 minutes to spare so concentrated on getting used to the water temperature and getting my heart rate down a bit. Got into a steady rythymn on the way to the first bouy and didn't get knocked around much. I'm a very average swimmer, but also a fairly slow starter in any race so I settled in mid pack. Had some new goggles which I could actually see out of for a change. I like the 2 lap swim format as it breaks things up a bit. Unfortunately as my feet are as soft as a 10 year old girl, I was hobbling around the bank like an extra from Riverdance.
Into T1 I was pleased to see an acceptable number of bikes still on the racks. I was in and out past people putting socks and calf guards on. I think they had the last laugh as my feet felt like blocks of ice after 3 or 4 miles. Got into a good tempo on the bike and steadily picked people off. Made the right decision to ride disc and 808. Rode slightly lower pressure than usual and it was much better. Think I'll stick to that all the time now as I often found them a bit harsh compared to cosmic carbons but I was being a bit dim in pumping them up so hard and then wondering why I felt battered to bits on them. Caught Mike at the end of the bike and suddenly got a panic about forgetting how many laps the run was. I shouted across to Mike but I don't think he heard me. Aero helmets plus carbon wheels don't make for a quiet ride.
Had a good quick T2 and got my shoes on without incident or cramp. Legs felt OK starting the run, but the initial euphoria soon wore off and it was a pretty lonely start to the run. It felt like a fair old drag to the turn, but I felt slightly better for collecting the first band. Had a mental boost at the start of the second run knowing the end was in sight. Had a pretty good idea that I was leading my age group so couldn't resist raising my arms crossing the line. Final time of 4.11 was 4 minutes quicker than last year. Not that far behind Thomas Hellreigal, but I suspect he wasn't trying that hard.
Felt great at the finish, but it could have been something to do with the amount of caffeine and gels I'd had. Didn't sleep well though and was pretty monged out the next day.
A good race all in all and happy that I got it all out on the course. Looking forward to a rest now.

Alton CC 25

Don't seem to have done many TTs this season, but was hoping to go out on a good note.
57.31 so fairly average. Is it just me or is the Bentley course mainly uphill?
Possibly not very well warmed up. No turbos allowed at the HQ so lazily thought I could just ride up and down a bit. Some people took the trouble to park elsewhere and do it properly.
Oh well, good practice for the Vitruvian next week.

Racing layoff

Going a bit loco now in Fuerteventura after 3 weeks of training mainly on my own.
Cycling is tough as I either seem to be climbing or banging into a head wind. Shame I haven´t got a power meter as I´m sure I´m on the gas pretty constantly. Getting a bit bored of the same old roads though, so glad only 1 more week to go.
Done quite a few runs, but the heat makes it hard work. Can´t get up early enough in the mornings but it seems to be OK in the evenings so going to try and do a long run tonight.
Swimming is the one thing I will miss from here. We´re using a 50m outdoor pool that seems to have the cleanest water I´ve ever swam in. No chlorine at all. It felt long at first, but now I like the distance between turns. Unfortunately my times don´t seem to be improving much though. Might go for a video analysis when I get back.
Hasta luego!

XC 10k 30/7

South London Harriers Near as Dammit 10k. Off road at Farthing Down.
Not a bad run. Fourth place, but 30 seconds slower than last time. Felt OK, but maybe heavy week catching up with me. Had also swam and done hour on turbo that day. Not bothered though as wanted a heavy week before holiday. Will be lying on the sunbed having a few rest days soon.
Been swimming every day now this week. If still no better after holiday I'm gonna quit!

Dunsfold Park RR 28/7

Last week of racing before holiday so thought I'd give it a go.
Usual scratchicap format which basically means a lap and a bit to get warmed up before it all comes together.
Decided to stay near the front out of danger and had a few goes off the front which all came to nothing.
Picked out a Team Wildside guy to follow to the finish as I thought he looked pretty handy. Was sitting in about 4th place with 500m to go when we both started going backwards. Seemed to have riders coming past me on both sides, but I wimped out and just let it happen.
Came nowhere, but felt comfortable all race so not too bad.

SCRL RR 19 July

Slight change of plans this weekend so took the opportunity to do a 100km 1/2/3 road race.
It was on the Bletchingley circuit as also used for a sporting TT.
Lining up for the start I noticed a lack of cannon fodder type riders, which probably meant that I had this honour.
There are 2 short but steep climbs followed by a tough climb into Bletchingly which has a short flat bit then climbs again right through the village. The hammer went down on every climb and I was giving it full gas just to stay in the bunch. The elastic stretched very long on the third lap, but I chased hard for a while then hit the descent hard and got back on. Luckily I was with another guy and we worked well together.
The bunch was shrinking all the time, but I hung on to the finish even though my legs were cramping up a bit when I got out the saddle.
I felt that I'd achieved something by just getting to the finish, so I can't say I had much left for the sprint. Good experience for someone more used to TTs and triathlons.

Dunsfold Park RR 14/7

Not so good tonight.
Sat too far back in the bunch and got caught behind a split. Chased hard and got close but the 2 guys who were with me wouldn't come through and that was it.
Pretty fed up with the lack of effort from the others, but that's racing I guess. Last lap was a waste of time really, so I put in a couple of attacks just to annoy the little group I was in.
Should have known it wasn't going to be my night when I punctured on my warm up lap.

White Oak Tri Results

1st place male 40. 3rd senior overall.
Wasn't very motivated this morning - didn't even put my best wheels in.
Well organised event. Don't get to swim in a 33m pool very often and actually quite liked it. Lengths pass quicker than a 50m but less time spent turning as in a 25m.
Not sure about the bike route - a few too many traffic lights for my liking. Nice run round a lovely little park complete with boating lake and railway.
Results were out a few minutes after the last finisher so quite a few people still around for the prize giving.

Surrey League RR Victory!!!!!

Wow first win of the season.
Handicap event and as a fourth cat I had the benefit of going off in the first group.
We got ourselves organised and worked really well as a group. The group was gradually whittled down to 5 by the last lap, so I felt reasonably confident in my weedy sprinting powers. Its a funny finish on the Nutfield circuit as there is a short steep hill with 500m to go and then the final 150m is downhill. I gave it full gas up the climb and then just put my head down. Daren't even look round before the line, but was able to to manage a salute as I finished.

White Oak Triathlon

12 July 2009.
Should be a bit easier than Bala. Thankfully only a 400m swim!
Will prepare by doing some road racing. No wonder I get hammered in the swim.

Silver Medal National Champs

Once again first loser M40 Middle Distance Triathlon at Bala.
Rubbish swim, great bike leg and held on through the run.
Post race KFC chicken on the 5 hour drive home was probably not the best recovery!