Sunday, 27 February 2011

RACE 9 - F3 MAXIFUEL NUTRITION WINTER DUATHLON - 27th February

Well its back to the same place, Dorney Lake, for the third time this year for yet another duathlon!  Getting a bit boring but then I did book this race as a result of 'bonking' on the cycle leg of the first race of the series.  Stop sniggering - 'bonking' in this context is about having no energy left during a race NOT a euphemism for sex.  What's more I checked in one of my triathlon magazines so its a totally kosher 'technical' term. 


Also Rob (see Race 6) has promised to compete again as he was less than amused that somehow I'd actually overtaken him last time! I've a feeling it will be back to normal on this race with Rob beating me much more emphatically this time. 


From Wikipedia:  "Dorney Lake is a purpose built rowing lake located near the village of Dorney, Buckinghamshire, and near the towns of Windsor and Eton. The lake is privately owned and financed by Eton College who have spent £17 million developing. Although it is primarily for use by the school, the facilities are made available to the rowing community as well as for canoeing, dragon boat and triathlons.


The lake will be used as the 2012 Olympic venue for rowing and canoe sprint (the whitewater events will take place at Lee Valley White Water Centre inHertfordshire), and as the 2012 Paralympic  venue for rowing. This will involve enhancing the existing facilities to include 20,000 seats for the Olympics, most of which will be temporary. Construction began in October 2009 to enhancements at Dorney Lake, including a new cut-through between the competition lake and the return lane, a new bridge and an upgraded access road, funded by the ODA."


Technical Details
  • For many years pre-construction, fertiliser use was restricted on the then fields to ensure high-quality water
  • The main Lake is 2,200 metres long
  • The requirement set by the Fédération des Sociétés d'Aviron (FISA), the international rowing authority, for world-class rowing courses is a minimum of 2,000 metres
  • The Lake has eight lanes, each 13.5 metres wide
  • It is a minimum of 3.5 metres deep
  • This depth standard provides the body of water necessary for racing boats to perform at optimum effectiveness
  • The parallel Return/Warm-Up Channel is up to 5 lanes wide and is 2.5 metres deep
  • The astounding amounts of 4 million tonnes of gravel, 1,970,000 cubic metres of topsoil and subsoil and 585,000 cubic metres of basal clay were extracted during construction of the main Lake and Warm-Up Channel
  • The project took over 10 years until completion in 2006
  • To minimise disruption to the local community material extracted was removed on a special conveyor belt to a point two miles away for collection by lorry there.The Lake is fed from underground aquifers (streams) percolating through a natural gravel filter. 
Just a reminder of what it looks like with the race HQ being in the top left hand corner.  Courtesy of an older and some say wiser brother (well he didn't undertake 50 events when he turned 50 so there may be something in that) - some archaeological background to the site.  "During Dorney Lake's construction Oxford Archaeology, was given access for a period of 18 months. Their excavations yielded an amazing wealth of archaeological material. They found one of the most complete rural landscape histories in Britain, dating from the last Ice Age 12,000 years ago. The nearby River Thames changed its course several times and has left behind a type of soil ideal for preservation of many artifacts from this time of occupation.

Changing from mostly woodland to cleared settlements and with 'hunter-gatherers' giving way to settled farming groups, this is a fascinating story, encompassing the New Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages, the Roman and Saxon periods and beyond.
Finds included a series of bridges, a ladder up to a bridge, burial mounds, wooden structures, a Roman farmstead, human and animal skeletons, the oldest scythe found in Britain, other tools, potsherds (broken pots), leaves, seeds, insects and pollen.
Meanwhile a number of local schools have done substantial cross-curricular projects at Dorney Lake, helped initially by Key Stages 2 and 3 archaeology packs. There is a rich vein of landscape development, human and animal settlement, farming practices, decorative arts and overall social history to be tapped. There have also been micro-climate and other studies". 
Back to the race.  The day dawned (yep - another early start) bright and sunny - in other words a beautiful spring day.  Felt like the spring had finally sprung - the forsythia was a blaze of yellow, the daffodils were out and there was even some early blossom on the wild cherry trees.  Which considering how the weather turned out in the afternoon for the Carling Cup Final (wet & windy) we were really fortunate.  Planned my drive better this time (well I've had enough practice by now) so arrived in good time to get registered and set up in transition.  Then disaster! There was no mobile catering van for this race so no pre-race cup of tea!  Deciding not to turn round and head home - met up with Rob who'd also made it in good time to set up his mean machine. 
During the race briefing  rather novel obstacle was mentioned.  In spite of best efforts, sheep had got onto the running course during the night and the road for running on was a "little slippery" in parts.  Then decisions - what to wear?  Would it warm up sufficiently to wear just a t-shirt (Robs approach with gloves) or should I wear my arm warmers again (forgotten who gave them to me for Christmas but they are really proving invaluable!) and my fingerless cycle gloves?  Decided on that and my new bright red Adidas top.  
Slight digression here.  My default colour has tended to be be black as a) it doesn't show up the sweat / dirt in the gym so much and b) I didn't want to stand out too much.  However following a mild complaint from Rob last time we raced that my "stealth clothing" meant he couldn't see me as a lot of the other competitors also wear black or a combination of black and white - although I'm not sure if it's for the same reason as me.  
Slight digression no. 2 - Adidas tends to be my default apparel due to the simple fact is that there is a discount store near where Mum and Dad live in the Clark's Shopping Village in Street (which is the name of a town). Makes expensive technical gear affordable if they have them in stock.  Interestingly, the last visit (after Race 8) they seemed to have a massive amount of blue kit with Chelsea logos on them - I wonder why they're being sold off cheap?
So off we went.  It was obvious from the outset that Rob was back to something more like himself - being I reckon about 500m ahead by  the end of the first run.  Onto the bikes and this time I didn't catch him and although I was keeping an eye out, didn't even see him! Subsequently found when comparing our splits (the breakdown of the time it takes on the first run, the time in transition changing from running gear into cycling gear - then reverse of this when you finish the cycle stage) he'd been faster on the bike stage than me by almost a minute. 
However the cycling stage wasn't without incident.  Firstly they had pruned all the shrubberies adjacent to the course and while the wind wasn't anything like as bad as last time there was a definite "with the wind" and "against the wind" sections of the laps.  When I say pruned I'm being charitable - they'd basically chain-sawed them to a uniform height of about 2 foot.  You'd think with all the money that Eton and the ODA have lavished on the place they'd at least undertake a half-decent management plan rather than the worst "municipal" hack-back approach?  Anyway the upshot was that there was even less shelter from the wind than previously.   Back to the incidents - firstly I had a real ding-dong battle with a guy called Simon (we introduced ourselves at the end of the race - you see - one advantage of a bright top is that you DO get noticed!) He was also a MSVET - and he sailed past me going with the wind, whereas I would catch and past him going into the wind (the advange of tri-bars on the bike).  This happened for three or four of the laps with him eventually winning the battle and setting off on the second run about 50m ahead (and no I could catch him - he actually stretched his lead to about 150m by the end of the race).  The second incident involved red-lace knickers!  I'd better explain.  I was overtaking one of the female competitors who was wearing lycra which to be honest was at the limit of its stretch.  It meant that it was a little translucent which gave an indication of her 'under garments' the aforementioned .......  All I can say is that is my kind of sportswomen and no - unfortunately she didn't introduce herself at the end of the race!
Second run a bit of a strain as usual - saw Rob in the distance and of course coming back (as it was an out-and-back course of two laps) and finished with(out) a flourish.  However finished with a PB for the course - eight minutes quicker than the first time this year so was pleased.  Rob too was something like getting back to his best (21st overall).
The one advantages about early starts is the early finishes - so finished and packed up soon after 10:30 and home for mid-day!
RESULT:  39th out of 110 and finished in 1:20:14

Thursday, 24 February 2011

RACE 8 - REMPSTONE ROAST (4) - 20 February

This is the forth and final race of a series of races that takes place in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset on the Rempstone Estate.  Rather than spend ages here explaining how lovely the part of the world is, why it's called the lsle of Purbeck and so on, I've put all that information at the end for a change,quoting copiously (well plagiarising actually) from http://www.dorsets.co.uk/Purbeck/ 


Health warning: you might want to get a cup of tea or a beer at this point as this update is rather long and rambling.  


The races were held in November and December last year, January and February in this.  I'd already competed in last years races (unable to January as it clashed with Run Rampage).  The races are organised by a really friendly triathlon club, and are just basically, really great fun.  This one consists of a 4 mile cross-country run, 15 miles of mountain biking and then a cheeky little 1.5 mile run to finish (you off).  Love the fact that all the distances are in "old money". 


For the second week running I'm getting my excuses in early.  I've a cold - sore throat, runny/blocked nose type but NOT man-flu.  I know, it's a bit pathetic to have an excuse again - I really need to "man-up".  Never mind it has given me a reason to eat whatever I like, personally find chocolate works for a sore throats, because as they say 'feed a cold and starve a fever' (or is it the other way round, I can never remember).   


Well the rest of this update is brought to you from Somerton, Somerset.  Well I did say at the outset that part of the reason for doing this was to visit as many people as possible during the year so here I am being spoilt rotten at Mum and Dad's. After an early start (6am) - for those of you interested in such things took the A3 (which incidentally goes across London Bridge - some trivial knowledge); M25; M3 (through the cutting at Twyford Down - scene of demonstrations .... I wonder what happened to "Swampy"? Whether he settled in some prosaic existence?); M27 around Southampton and then the best bit - the A31 across the New Forest with the mist hugging the heath. Really evocative - reminds me of a cycling holiday last year I spent  there and the fact there is an orienteering race at the end of March which I really must book (unfortunately the day after the annual hockey dinner but ....)  Then the A338 around Bournemouth which morphs into the A35, past the centre of Poole, passed the end of the road where friends live (more of which later) and turning off towards Wareham. Stay on the Swanage road (A351) finally turning left at Corfe Castle - easy to spot as it emerges like a broken tooth on its motte.  Onto to the road to the Sandbanks Ferry. 


Got to the Burnbake Campsite where the race HQ was sited just after 9am in time for a brew. Exchanged a bit of banter with the organisers - also availing themselves of the tea / coffee / hot chocolate. They must have got up early to check out and mark the course, set up the transition - never fails to amaze me how much time and effort people are willing to put into the organisation of clubs, races events etc. The real stars!  After a cup of tea - put the bike together and got ready. 


However venturing into the nearest woodland for the necessary 'relief' realise just how wet the last couple of days have made it!  This was emphasised by the very cheerful race organiser -  with an ear to ear grin she explains that some of the muddy looking puddles are a) very muddy and b) are deeper than they look - something I found out later on! She also mentions that those of us with elastic laces should make sure that they are on very tight as the running course is a 'bit muddier than usual". 


Again to digress - elastic laces are really useful in non-muddy races as it allows you to change shoes very quickly in transition. In this case my trail running shoes (yes you can get special trainers for running off road - they have more grip than normal trainers and the ones I've got are meant to let the water drain out more quickly which as you've seen for pictures from earlier races is a bit of a necessity!) and into to my mountain biking shoes (which - you've guessed it are different from my road bike shoes in that when mountain biking you occasionally - well a little more than occasionally in my case - have to get off and push therefore they also have more grip and recessed cleats compared to road shoes). So as you can see from the long rambling digresson - "kit/gear" considerations are the main reason for doing off-road duathlons! Actually while on kit - for those interested the bike is a Scott Scale 50 'blinged' with some oval chain rings (which I could also go on about but think will leave another time). 


Anyway back to the race - eventually - the start line is by the St John's Ambulance - which always raises a giggle.  The run starts through the campsite and through broad leaved woodland - very muddy but managed not to loose my shoes. Then onto sandy trials through coniferous woodland - marginally less muddy but the trials acted like streams - passed one of the volunteer marshals who cheerfully egged us on with a "you're still looking clean" - I think he was being ironic!  By this time the sun had come out and it was fantastic running through such lovely countryside - gently going down hill.  Needless to say the slog uphill back towards the transition was a little less enjoyable.  


Back in transition decided not to put the cycling jacket as with the sun it began to feel pleasantly warm - though on reflection that might just have been the run I'd done. The cycle course was back through the camp site and into the woodland where it had been very muddy on the run and although we went the opposite way on the bike it was - you've guessed very muddy!  So now well and truly caked in mud we head out up a long incline on sandy /wet trail up onto the heathland at the top of the hill. There fantastic views over Poole Harbour almost worth stopping admiring and taking a photo except that firstly I didn't have my camera on me (it was back in transition) and secondly as soon as you got to the top it was straight into a rather more rapid decent. Picking up some really good speed back down into the woods the first corner you come too had a large muddy puddle just on the blind bit! As cycling is a bit energetic you tend to do a lot a breathing through your mouth - aka gasping for breath! So as mountain bikes don't tend to have much in the way of mudguards .... Suffice to say there was a certain grittiness to be washed down with a drink.  


As we'd been warned there were some large puddles which if you didn't get just right tended to stop the bike dead and you can guess what happened .... Although to be fair I got most of them right and it was only the once that I had to get off and push. Back eventually onto some sandy trails which weren't running with water and we're just errrr ... well sandy.  You know what it's like walking on sand dunes - well it was a bit like that - cycling through treacle!  Also came across a group a people all in flouroesent jackets and poles, looked like they were training for some kind of forensic team - decidedly odd. 


Did the second lap - i.e. repeat - long incline, muddy puddle, gritty mouth, wet feet, cycle through treacle = end result wet cold feet, very muddy, and a bit tired.  Morale took a bit of a  hit as ending my cycle I saw some of the first runners finishing. However consoled myself that I'd only been overtaken by 4 people on the bike, and the run was only 1.5 miles so I was only 10 mins or less behind. So slipped into my trail shoes (another advantage of elastic laces is that you don't have to struggle tieing you laces with wet cold fingers) and off on the run following the route of the first lap initially - which if you remember was the wet muddy section. Just sprinting (OK more of a staggering jog at this point) when I was halted by dulcet tones asking would I mind terribly if I stood still? Shocked into standing still - I mean they must of realised I was 'racing'! I was confronted by two very nervous skittish horses who had been startled by the runners in front. And - you've probably worked it out by now, as horses don't actually talk - they were being ridden by two very attractive (see how I notice the important things even in a state of near exhaustion!) for want of a better word 'gals'. Puffing chest out and trying not to gasp for breath too much - said of course I wouldn't mind and while they thanked me, explained I was delighted to have the chance to catch my breath - though obviously I didn't need too! Finished to see the first cars leaving but it was such a beautiful day - quite frankly wasn't bothered or demoralised in the slightest.  Even less bothered and totally 'moralised' after a 'breakfast bap' sausage, bacon, egg, mushrooms ..... and a cup of tea. 


Scott Scale 50 
Back to the car park where everyone was packing up - interesting variations of putting very muddy bikes, kit and riders in and on cars.  Overhead one wife berating her husband 'I know you love that bl**dy bike - but you love the car too!' I wonder what heinous crime he'd been party to - probably got some mud on the upholstery.  Trying not to show off (too much) I got my power washer out plugged it in to the car's cigarette lighter and proceeded to hose down the bike.  I'm not saying that anyone else was looking on enviously as obviously I was very subtle about it ..... not!

As drove back to Poole crossed an area of very low lying land, much of it flooded so you can see that in a bygone age, without all the modern agricultural drainage and such, the area could have had the sense of being an isle.



Many thanks to Karon, Andy and the boys - Findlay, Keir  and Leon, firstly for lunch and then introducing me to the joys of the sneezing panda and lego men singing the beer song on YouTube.  Also may have competiton soon from Findlay as he runs cross-country for the school, plays rugby, tennis .... generally an all round sports star - so long as he doesn't take up triathlons (yet).  It was a great way of winding down after a race - much more preferable than my default of go home, eat, lie on the sofa, fall asleep, wake up stiff and so on.

That even off to Somerset which is basically A35 to Dorchester, turn right on to the A37 to Yeovil and you're virtually there - who needs SatNav? Then two days of TLC.  Thanks especially to Mum who like mum's all over the world did my washing for me (probably a bit muddier than even those I bought back from college) and for telling me how to use the pre-wash (I suppose I could read the instructions but then they're really only the manufacture's opinion of how things should be done ...)

Found out something else is celebrating it's 50th - Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird (which shamefully I've never read - think I got half way through at school but I have seen the film with Gregory Peck!



Result: 23 out of 40 in a time of 1:52:35 (about 4 mins slower than last time)


Series Result: 13 out of 21 (basically they take the best 3 results out of the four races - in my case all my three results as I'd missed a race)  


BACKGROUND:

"Purbeck is a district of Dorset that takes its name from the peninsula known locally as the 'Isle of Purbeck'. This sixty square mile chunk of land jutting into the English Channel is bordered on three sides by water and, although not actually an island, has an insular character which is largely due to its geography.


A ridge of chalk from the Cretaceous period known as the Purbeck Hills runs along the peninsula from Ballard Down, a National Trust nature reserve north of Swanage, managed for its calcareous grassland habitat, through Corfe Castle and almost to East Lulworth, a hamlet consisting of 17th century thatched cottages. East Lulworth is relatively low-lying due to a break in the cliff that occurs at Arish Mell, while to the north is Luckford Lake, a small stream feeding into the River Frome, which in turn runs intoPoole Harbour. In the past the low-lying land would have been very boggy and difficult to cross in winter, hence the 'Isle' of Purbeck.

There are a number of Iron Age, Roman and Saxon archaeological sites to be found on the isle of Purbeck. Nine Barrow Down, for example, takes its name from the nine barrows (stone age burial mounds) that have been found along this ridge on the northern side of the Purbeck hills while Flowers Barrow, in the south, is an Iron Age hill fort built 2500 years ago, a part of which has been lost to the sea thereby dramatically demonstrating the effect of coastal erosion.  The first settlement in the area would have been at Wareham. Easily reached by road and rail, today’s town forms an ideal base for exploring the Purbeck coast. Wareham’s accessibility attracted regular raids throughout history, especially from the Vikings, and it was eventually captured by King Canute in 1016. Raised earthen walls were built around the town for protection and today these walls are a haven for wildlife and enclose a thriving market town with a Saxon street plan and more than 200 buildings of historic and architectural interest.
The nearby Corfe Castle represents another attempt to defend the area from marauding armies. Built in a gap in the Purbeck Hills this ruined castle dates back to the 11th century. It is now owned by the National Trust, who are currently attempting to restore it. The village of Corfe Castle, built in the gap below the ruins, is a picturesque affair and attracts many visitors each year.


The Purbeck coastline is part of the ninety-five mile stretch known as the Jurassic Coast, named England’s first natural world heritage site in 2002 because of the unique insight it offers into 185 million years of the Earth’s history. The Purbeck Beds are an internationally important record of the evolution of mammals at the beginning of the Cretaceous period, and a total of more than 100 different vertebrate species have been identified from fossils. The Purbeck limestones are also famous for dinosaur tracks, the most significant of which are at Keat’s Quarry, where footprints more than a metre in diameter were discovered in 1986.


The more recent social and geographical history of the area is inextricably bound to its complex and interesting geology. Large deposits of Purbeck Ball Clay in the north give way to parallel strata of Jurassic rocks where the land meets the sea, including Portland Limestone and Purbeck Marble, a very hard limestone that, although it is not strictly marble, is capable of being polished. The Purbeck Hills, meanwhile, are part of the Southern England Chalk Formation which includes Salisbury Plain, the Dorset Downs and the Isle of Wight and gives rise to some of the most spectacular cliff scenery in the whole of England.  Purbeck Marble, like Portland Stone, has been in great demand over the centuries. Many of England’s more famous cathedrals are decorated with Purbeck Marble and much of London was rebuilt in Portland and Purbeck stone after the great fire of 1666. This mining activity led to a number of cliff-edge quarries, the remains of which can be seen at Tilly Whim. These are typical old stone quarries right on the cliff edge called after a special type of wooden crane used to load stone onto boats, known as the ‘whim’. The nearby 'Dancing Ledge' offers another example of man’s influence on Purbeck’s landforms. A massive piece of stone was cut out of the cliff and shipped to Kent in order to construct Ramsgate Harbour, leaving behind a flat ledge the size of a ballroom dance floor. 



The Ministry of Defence have played a significant part in Purbeck’s recent history, most notably in the case of Tyneham, a ghost village commandeered by the War Office in 1943, along with 30 square kilometres of surrounding heathland, for use as a firing range for training troops. This temporary measure became permanent in 1948 when the army placed a compulsory purchase order on the land and village and it has been used for military training ever since. In 1975, following sustained lobbying, the village and footpaths were opened to the public at weekends and throughout August and today, although the Elizabethan Manor House was pulled down in 1967, the church and schoolhouse remain intact and are preserved as museums. The absence of farming has allowed the land to become a haven for wildlife. "

Wednesday, 16 February 2011

UPDATE - 16 February

A couple of things I missed off my previous race update.  Firstly, thanks to Kevin who entered the race to keep me company but was unfortunately struck down by man-flu like illness so was unable to compete.  Secondly, when checking the results I found that I'd finished the race with a fellow member of Windrush Tri Club.  I don't know him (as so far haven't gone to any training sessions this year) but on "Googling" found that he'd been running for a testicular cancer charity so check out his awesome website .....  http://www.bustinyourballs.org/


Also have just confirmed another three events.


6 Mar Steyning Stinger Half Marathon http://www.steyningac.co.uk/the-stinger/  
My first ever half marathon and the 'stinger' in the name refers to the fact that its cross-country and involves a lot of hills - particularly near the end!


1 May Lingfield Gallop http://www.galloprace.co.uk/ 
"The Gallop 10K is a held over the flat on traffic-free roads, grass and woodland paths of this idyllic course. Only 15 mins from junction 6 of the M25, Lingfield is one of the countries prettiest horse racing courses." 

22 May Strathclyde Triathlon
 http://www.britishtriathlonsuperseries.com/default.aspx?id=695  This is part of the super series organised by the British Triathlon federation which attracts most of the top professional triathletes in this country.  The other one's I'm doing are Blenheim, Windsor and London - who knows, you may even catch a glimpse of me as Channel 4 usually covers the series. 
Will be finding some more soon - probably a couple of orienteering ones towards the end of March and then there are the long weekends of Easter and a society wedding of some description at the end of April.  Will keep you informed.

Tuesday, 15 February 2011

RACE 7 - SAUCONY 10K - 13th February

I thought I'd get my excuses in early because on Saturday, during our 4-1 drubbing by Gillingham Anchorians, managed to mistime the saves with my kickers, not once but twice on the same foot - leaving it a bit painful to walk on.  Ironically, the more aggressively you attack the ball the less likely you are to get injured as a keeper and probably being aware I really don't want to get hurt the day before an event (it happened before last year) I'm being more tentative with the result it's actually hurting more!



Anyway strapped up overnight (not a good look) and the following morning - I made my way to Sandown Racecourse where the race was being held.  All week I'd been telling people it was "only" a 10k by which I meant that there were no obstacles to overcome (no - disappointingly we weren't actually going over the horse fences like that recent Weetabix advert), no bike leg to do, no water to wade through ...... in fact it was a straight forward road race (hmmmm - exactly how straight forward later).  Got there in good time - actually had a bit of a lie-in because its only half an hour away in SW London.  Got my chip timer, goody bag etc. and started my preparation.  Noticed that the number on the chip didn't correspond to my race number so went back to registration to query it.  Half jokingly asked whether I could keep the chip if it was a younger and faster runner.  They agreed with one proviso - it was a woman's chip so certain physiological changes would be required!  


At this point I should come clean.  The main point of this race apart from completing it - is that during the weekend the Triathlon, Cycling and Running show is hosted by Sandown Racecourse, with loads of exhibitors and fantastic kit!  Last year I did this race I came away with a wetsuit, new trainers, specialist socks, nutrition ....... so really its a race with a shopping spree attached!


As you can see from the photos, it was a grey day with a light drizzle and fairly strong winds.  A description of the run modified from the website is as follows.  "The race started from in front of the main grandstand heading downhill off the ‘Apron’ and circling up and in front of the spectacular main building.    Be aware you will be faced with a steady incline (it was a hill! and it went on for far more than 150m - that was just the steepest part!) of approximately 100 – 150 metres.  When entering back into the  venue  the course turned left and headed through the stables (still going uphill but at least at a gradient that could be described as an incline), an area normally out of bounds to the public. This was our first chance to come face to face with your competition as you loop through the stables and back out and around the parade ring.  I should note at this point, that before the start the announcer had name-checked a number of semi and pro athletes - and this was our first sight of them seemingly effortlessly dealing with the "inclines".   "With large amounts of viewing from the main building hopefully, supporters will be on hand to cheer you on!" Well it was cold, wet, and windy - even the external exhibitors had taken their gear inside ... so only a few hardy souls.  Then we exited the parade ring along a newly surfaced pathway (except it wasn't quite finished) which brought us to the edge of the racecourse.  The course then has a flat (their definition of flat could be done under the Trades Description Act - there was a definite "incline" and of course what went down the hill with the wind behind you - had to come back up into the wind!) 1.25km out and back section where you will once again come face to face with the competition!"


After this section we headed back uphill until reaching the main grandstand building where turned left and then immediately right before repeating the whole thing over again!  A couple of things should be mentioned.  The crowd in the grandstand were great! Cheering everybody on which was a real lift.  Secondly the marshals were awesome!  At on point we had to cross the access road and they kept the runners running without a pause - holding up the traffic etc.  They also were a really friendly bunch - urging us on.  Slight digression (well that's what happens when you get to a certain age - you tend to whitter on..... ) Sandown is an interesting racecourse as it has a golf course and a go-kart track in the middle (that's what was generating the traffic the marshals' had to, well - marshal).  I'm assuming that these aren't allowed to operate on a race day as you could have an interesting commentary - Red Rum has fallen at the fifth - hit between the eyes by a golf ball which was sliced from the third fairway.....    


Anyway, back to the race, the second lap was hard what with all those "inclines" but I managed to keep up a reasonable pace so that only one person overtook me.  There wasn't much left in the legs for a 'sprint' finish but as I found out later - I had managed a PB (personal best) time.  


So now it was off to the main point of the day - kit buying.  Actually before this I went for so recovery food consisting of a Sunday roast (not bad) and liquid carbohydrates (i.e beer).  Then I went shopping!  This year I had a list so was not expecting to go too overboard.  In fact managed to get everything I wanted except for a helmet (the ones they did have were so expensive that they didn't bother putting the price on) but I did come away with a very good offer on a magazine subscription for "Triathlon Plus" which is all about .....?  


In the magazine they have a section on possible injuries one of which is a common occurrence for runners and triathletes.   As with all these things it brings out the hypochondriac in us all so I was convinced I had Plantar Fasciitis - which is caused by the inflammation of the Plantar fascia - the thick connective tissue that runs from the heel to the metatarsal bones supporting the arch of the foot. See all the things you can learn by doing sport? By the way I don't have this as at the time of writing the foot's OK - just bruising from a hockey ball.


However this wasn't the end of my 'discovery Sunday' as I found that something else shared my birthday.  Guess what, the E-type Jaguar turns 50 this year as well. The similarities are considerable.  Good looking, stylish, a design classic - the list is endless!   
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12396484

RESULT: 93 out of 257 in a time of 43:58 

Monday, 7 February 2011

RACE 6 - DORNEY DUATHLON - 6th February


Well it back to Dorney Lake for race 6 - another duathlon.  As it was helpfully pointed out by my brother, this was the site of a major multi-period archaeological excavation prior to being turned into a rowing lake (I'll find out some more detail and add to a later post as I'm returning to Dorney at least twice more). As you can see, the rowing lake is pretty straight and about 2km in length - which is kind of what you would expect. It would be a bit much for the likes of Cracknell, Redgrave et al to have to won all those gold medals while having to turn corners.  The black blob at the eastern end is where all the facilities are and where the summer triathlons take place.  Naturally we're based at the other end  sharing 3 portaloos! Anyway, it was an early Sunday start - too early as I totally miss judged the traffic and turned up at the venue at 8am (10 o'clock race start) to find that the gates were still locked - so I joined the queue.  Fortunately knowing I'd be early, I'd stopped off at the services for a paper and drinks - so had a leisurely read of Man U's loss and a whole sentence on Leeds' win. 
Plenty of time to set up, have a cup of tea, take some photos and generally chill-out.  While I was getting my timing chip (on odd one for this kind of race as you had a "dibber" that you physically had to "dib" in and out of transition - normally you just cross a mat and it does it automatically) I found that I was categorised as MSV - the first time ever! All races have juniors, seniors, veterans and so forth, but being 50 in the current year of racing meant that I was now classed as a "super veteran".  I think the super is less to do with the use as in superman, more that they just didn't feel they could get away with a category of "ancients", "really old vets", "do you honestly think you'll get round vets", "the wrinklies" or other such categories.  By the way, and I'm sure you've worked it out for yourselves, the 'M' stands for male as opposed to the 'F' standing for ..... work it out!        


The weather was particularly windy (it was the weekend of all those gale force winds and storms and England's victory over Wales in the rugby), so much so they didn't inflate the start/finish gantry.  As you can see although it was overcast, the sun did peep  through occasionally.  There were no rowers at all this Sunday (unlike the last time I was here) presumably because of the wind.  All the geese, swans and seagulls (apart from a few kamikaze ones) were either on the adjacent lake or on the shoreline.


Back to the race.  About 9:30 I was beginning to get a bit concerned.  Rob Harrison (who I work with) was going to be the first person to join me on a race.  He eventually turned up in time for the start.  Rob is what is called an "age-grouper" - he competes in dualthlons for the GB team in the MSV category.  This was going to be the first race trying out his new bike and practicing for qualification in this years GB team.

Mass start (see if you can spot me) and off on the two-lap run - watching Rob disappearing into the distance.  The high winds were mainly cross winds so although you didn't have to struggle into the wind, neither did you have the let up of running with the wind.  Needless to say, as well as trying to keep Rob in sight I was pondering on the fact that this had been the site of a major multi-period archaeological excavation prior to being turned into a rowing lake.  Well not really - more where's the next breath coming from......  

Onto the bike with a bit of trepidation following the last time.  However this time it felt good - well goodish - legs not too tired and was actually  overtaking people! The side winds were vicious though pushing you all over the place - and there wasn't much shelter to be had.  However did a much better cycle this time and managed to ease past Rob beating him to transition by 50m.  'Dib' in and out and off on the second run - to be overtaken by Rob on the second lap again to watch him disappear into the distance!  Overall really pleased with the race - Rob was second fastest  MSV and I was third - yes there were more than three! 

Then off to a local pub for a pint and an awesome sandwich with Rob and his wife Sally.  You do need carbs as soon after a race as possible to aid recovery - I'm not making this up honest!  Though maybe the pro's don't include beer in that but ....

At this point realised I hadn't taken a photo of us in our race garb so thanks to Sal for this one in the pub car-park.  Lunch was a great way of winding down - taking the micky out of Rob for me having the temerity to actually overtake him on the bike! He was convinced I must have done fewer laps but when he races he's very much "in-the-zone", totally concentrating on the race, his speed, heart rate, cadence etc. (which is why he races for GB). Whereas I'm more the kind of 'racer' (I use this term loosely) that considers that I'm competing on a site of a major multi-period archaeological excavation that I really ought to catch that pretty girl in front (I didn't); those two blond girls who went round together chatting to each other and looking like they were thoroughly enjoying themselves (Sally noticed them Rob didn't); why was there a hearse in the car park with a mattress in the back - was it really a "lurve - mobile"; respect for the lady who power walked her way round .......      

Result: 22 out of 82 in a time of 1:22:12

Wednesday, 2 February 2011

Events confirmed (2nd February)

So far the events I've booked (or completed). Still need to organise those further afield such as Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, West Country ..... 

16 Jan Run Rampage http://www.runrampage.com/
30 Jan Riot Runner CANCELLED BY ORGANISER
27 Feb F3 Winter Duathlon (second in series) http://www.f3events.co.uk/racing.php?evtyp=Duathlon
6 Mar Steyning Stinger Half Marathon http://www.steyningac.co.uk/the-stinger/
3 April - The Gauntlet - http://www.muckyraces.co.uk/
14 May The Beast in the East http://beast.grimchallenge.co.uk/
4 June Blenheim Triathlon http://www.theblenheimtriathlon.com/
30 July London Triathlon http://www.thelondontriathlon.co.uk/
6 Aug Hyde Park Triathlon http://london.triathlon.org/
11 Sept London Duathlon http://london.triathlon.org/