Tri Questions - Part 1

1. Why Tri bikes in an Ironman?
Having done 6 sportives this year, all above 70 miles and the longest being 150, not once did I see a rider on a bike with tri-bars and using a pointy helmet. So why do riders in an ironman use a tri bike? I always thought that the prone tri bike position was too harsh for a long ride but obviously not.

2. What do you wear under a wet suit?
I'm not sure about clothes in general for an ironman. Do people get properly changed at each transition? I can't imagine swimming with padded cycling shorts under a wet suit and I can't riding 112 miles without them.

3. Swimming suits
Can you wear a wetsuit in pools? Are there full body swim costumes for men (I'm fairly self conscious at the moment)? Would it be practical to wear for pool swim sessions or a pain in the arse?

This is what I saw and liked the look of Aqua Sphere WT80.

4. Ironman Alternative
I didn't decide to do the ironman UK before the pre registration closed so the 8000 people registered will have "24 hours advance opportunity to enter the 2010 event's 1500 places". So, if I don't get a place, does anyone have any alternatives. I can't do the Outlaw Ironman the week later as I'm going on holiday. July 24, 25, 31 or 1st August would be perfect.

Plans are afoot

After taking the examples from the inspiring John Sutton and Rob Shipman, I am thinking of doing an ironman in 2010. I can't really swim that well but I'm pretty sure I can train myself up to get in under the 2 hrs 20 mins cut-off for the 2.4 mile swim. After that, its just a small matter of the 112 mile cycle and 26.2 mile run. These distances don't scare me like the swim does. I know I have no idea what its like to do one after the other but taking them in isolation, I know I can cycle and run that far.

The UK Ironman is in August which is perfect timing before I go on our family holiday. I have been thinking of doing an ironman for a couple of years but now I have gone back to work, time is more scarce. I know my NQT (newly qualified teacher) year will be extremely tough so if I don't do it in 2010, I might have to wait until 2012.

Currently, I have this planned:

2009
05 December 2009 - Endurance Life Gower Marathon

2010
14 February - St. Valentines 30k *
28 February - Meon Valley Plod
14 March - Surrey Spitfire 20 *
28 March - Bedford Harriers Oakley 20 *
18 April - Brighton Marathon
9 May - Fred Whitton *
6 June - Dragon Ride *
1 August - Ironman UK *
* Not entered yet

I have a 20 miler every other week up until the marathon as I'm very keen to break my PB. I'll need to add a long ride in every week as well with a really long one in on the weekends I'm not running 20 miles.

The swimming will have to be fitted in during the week and I need to add a couple of triathlons to get used to them. I've done duathlons but the whole wet suit thing is a mystery.

Other thoughts

CamelBak
I went to use it on Saturday and filled it up, put it on and water started squirting out of the mouth piece. I found it had a small hole and the pressure of wearing it was facing the water out. I was straight onto Wiggle and they were very good. I explained I needed it for a marathon I'm doing in 12 days so didn't have time to send it in first. They agreed to post a replacement

Tyres
All hail the Continental GP4000s tyre. I don't know how they did it but the 65 miles I rode where on some terrible roads, unseen pot holes due to all the water, loads of leaves, fallen sticks and branches and lots of general crap on the roads. Not once it I slip, skid, wobble or get a puncture. Amazing.

Taper time
In the past, two weeks before a marathon has been a serious taper fortnight. This time, as the marathon is less time pressured, I'm going to try and run hard up until Saturday and then taper for only 7 days. I wanted to see how fresh my legs feel. It may backfire a little but I am curious.

Yearly Targets
As mentioned previously, I am going to miss both my yearly running and riding targets but I have set new smaller ones to get to at least 80% of the cycling and 60% of the running. The cycling is very doable, the running will take a bit of effort but I should make it.

Salvaging a poor day

Today was supposed to be the Turbo X Salomon cross country 10. A wet, muddy run on difficult terrain; the ideal preparation for my cross country marathon. However, on Saturday night I realised the car was double booked.

My kids had a fashion show event (don't ask) in town and Cath needed to take them there and back so I would have to make my own way to Bordon in Hampshire. I looked at the trains but the usual rubbish Sunday morning service was in place with the first train getting into the closest station too late to make the start, even if I took my bike. So the only option was to cycle the 42 miles. An extreme day but worth it if I pulled it off.

Bordon is not too far away from Haslemere where I used to live so I thought I would be able to find it. I printed out maps, set the alarm for 5:40 am, got all my bike and running gear ready, fixed lights on my road bike and went to bed.

The alarm went off and I jumped out of bed and got breakfast ready fast. I knew that the sooner I could set off, the better. As the forecast had said, it was wet and windy but had stopped raining. I rode out in the empty roads towards Wimbledon, Kingston and Cobham. This was all familiar territory but it went wrong as I got to Aldershot. My map was done using A and B road numbers but all I could see were names which were no help. I knew I was going wrong but just tried to head in the right direction.

Time was slipping away and by the time I left Farnham, I was only just going to make it. It was then that I must have taken a wrong turn as I cycled and cycled looking for signs to Bordon but nothing. It was 9:55 when I saw a sign and in said 6 miles. Pointless. The race had begun and I was not going to be running it. I was gutted. It was a race I had been really looking forward too. Normal road races are ten-a-penny but these cross country runs are a lot rarer.

I had 50 miles on the speedo so I decided I would cycle home and make it a century and save something of the day. Trouble was, 5 miles later, the Almighty got angry and decided to flood Surrey. No one told me I was going to have to build an ark and my flimsy rain jacket was doing nothing. I could hardly see and it got quite scary.

I persevered for another 7 miles but decided I couldn't go on. It was beginning to shiver violently and I was worried I would get hypothermia. I got to Godalming and got a train home shivering all the way, having done around 65 miles.

I got home and sulked for a couple of hours. Outside the weather cleared so I go angry, got my running gear on and set out. My legs where tired and I was slow but I forced myself round my 11 mile loop. All was not lost. Nearly two thirds of a half ironman :-)

A week to forget

• My wife is in New York for the week (miss her and cannot get out to run)


• Woke up on Monday very unwell (really busy week at school)


• Off work Monday and Tuesday (looks bad as I'm trying to make an impression)


• My youngest hates her after school club. She was crying again on Monday and Tuesday


• Wednesday - still feeling bad and daughter ill as well. I went home from school


• Got a call from school to go and pick her up


• Thursday and still feel ropey and daughter is still unwell.


• Duaghter also saying she doesn't want to ever go back to after school club.

No more Twitter

I am done with Twitter. I never quite saw the point of it in the first place and didn't use it that much. I didn't like the constant stream of comments that flooded past and that unless you spent ages on it, you couldn't read everyone's thoughts.

I also didn't like the lack of a conversation. It was like hearing the odd word or two through the walls.

I did enjoy keeping track of some interesting people on there but most of them have blogs that I regularly read.

Anyway, on Monday I got a tweet from a friend who directed me to a web site. Usually I'm good about these things but this time I didn't think and opened it. Somehow this hacked my account and sent all my friends the same tweet. I changed my password but it still seems hacked so that is that. No more tweets for me. Account Deleted.

Wiggle adverts

I like the online sports store Wiggle but I find it very unnerving that as soon as I search for something on their site, the next time I log into Hotmail I get an advert down the right hand side for that very same item.

I know stores, search engines and email sites all talk to each other to make sure you buy, buy, buy, but seeing it happen so starkly is a little disturbing.

Last week it was CamelBaks and XC shoes, now its compression tights. I did find it particularly pointless with the first two as I have already bought them from Wiggle. It shows its not that clever.

Brighton 10K

Saturday was miserable. I woke with a stinking cold that had got worse and worse all day and outside it looked like the end of the world. I could not envisage running anywhere. I did some school work and pottered around the house watching my first TV in 8 days. At 6:30, we ventured out into the rain and all caught a train to Brighton to see my brother. He took us out for a nice Italian and we got to stay in a lovely room in his hotel.

Sunday morning was the Brighton 10k, a race I've run before but my brothers first time. It was actually my brothers first ever race and the first time he had run 10k. It was raining when I woke up but it soon cleared. My cold however, had not; I felt rough.

I had breakfast, porridge and toast, and then met up with Phil and his girlfriend Jo. We walked down to the start just past the pier, used the facilities, got some pins for our number and got to the start. The girls (my family and Jo) walked up the road to wave at us and we waited for the start.

At 10am we started but quite slowly. It was congested and we tried to make progress but it was hard. We went out 1.5 kms before turning back the way we came and through the start. We waved at the girls out and back and found the crowds thinning. We picked up the pace a little in spite of the head wind and made out way to the second turn around at 6.5 kms.

Once we'd made the turn for home, it was mentally easier and Phil's pace quickened. He was fine until 7 kms when he started to slow slightly. I pushed a little ahead to give him a carrot and he kept pace. In the last 1500 meters I could hear him breathing harder but he was not giving up and within sight of the finish he started sprinting. It took me by surprise but he didn't drop me. We weaved in and out of the runners getting faster and faster but still crossing the finish line together.

I'm so proud of my brother. It was great to run with him and a lot of fun. We had a huge Sunday lunch where I tried again to get him to do the marathon in April but he said never. Oh well, a 10k once a year will have to do.

Stats
Chip Time: 0:54:18
Overall Position: 1559th out of 2544
Male Position: 579th out of 1531
Weather: Overcast and windy. Not cold.
First Place: 00:29:03
Last Place: 1:44:11 (amazing guy with a walking problem who looked so determined when I saw him coming the other way)

Photos courtesy of Sussex Sport Photography. I have bought these pictures and I'm waiting on delivery.

CamelBak Octane XC

With my marathon fast approaching, I new I had to sort out my back pack. The EnduranceLife series requires you to carry water, a space blanket and a phone. I have a very old CamelBak that I used the on one of their half marathons but it wasn't great. It was uncomfortable and rubbed a little so I figured by the end of 26.2 miles, it would be a disaster.

So I looked around and decided on the CamelBak Octane XC from Wiggle.

It has a 2 litre capacity and three pockets, two big ones around the sides and a small one on top. I had gels in one pocket, inhaler in another and my phone and money in the top.

I gave it a good test wearing it on my 20 mile long run at the weekend. It felt heavy when full of water but once I put it on it was fine. The strap around the waist made it feel stable but the strap around my chest did feel like it was lifting and separating and giving me a nice rack so I didn't do it up. Vanity over comfort.

After I started, it was fairly uneventful. The water did slosh around and the noise was a little annoying but the movement was minimal. It was very comfortable, didn't make me too hot and didn't rub. I had to tighten the shoulder straps a few times as they felt loose but that was all.

I'm extremely happy with my purchase. £45 well spent.

Tour of London

My week had been very busy as I'm back at school on my placement. It was very hard work and I only managed to get out twice to play football on Tuesday and Friday. I worked hard when playing but it meant the weekly miles were low. I had to complete the weekend long run or it would be a terrible week.

I started in Battersea Park, doing a loop before heading up to Sloane Square, past Harvey Nichols and into Hyde Park at Wellington Arch. I did a full lap of Hyde Park before crossing at Wellington Arch again, down Constitution Hill and to Buckingham Palace.

London was looking stunning. It had poured down at football on Friday night so it was a pleasant surprise to see blue sky and a crisp morning when I woke on Saturday. London was also very full with lots of people in town for remembrance day.

After the Palace I went down The Mall, past Horse Guards Parade towards Westminster and the Embankment. There were times when the pavements were so full I had to walk for a few seconds or try to run in the road but it didn't bother me.

I was still feeling fine at this stage. I had stopped at 5 miles and 10 miles to take a gel (SiS) and my new camelbak (review later) was supplying me with water. I was loving London and I think it helped pass the time. Its very easy to overlook the place where you live but the run reminded me just how lucky I am.

I ran along the Embankment, past the Millennium Bridge and over Tower Bridge. The south of the river is the busy side so I had to pick my way through the crowds past Borough Market, Tate Modern and the London Eye. I had a packet of Clif Shots at 15 miles and tried to work out where I'd have to go to get over 20 miles in.

So it was back to the north side over Vauxhall Bridge and along the river to Chelsea Bridge and back into Battersea Park. I was tired by this stage and suffering. My left foot was hurting but everything else was ok and I knew I only had 2 miles to go. It was around the park and home to finish 20.5 miles in 3:12.

I am really pleased with the run. Not quick but that is really not an issue at the moment. Time will be irrelevant at the marathon so its just great to get the distance in my legs.

Not long enough

Post holiday + pre-work + rubbish weather = miserable Sunday.

I was supposed to do a long run. 15 minimum, 20 maximum. It was pouring down when I got up but I had to take my Dad to the station first thing so I was in no hurry to get out and run. I got back around 10:30 and had a little more breakfast as it was still foul outside. Then it was lunch and the weekly shop so more opportunities to procrastinate.

Finally it was 3pm and the last chance to get out so off I went. I kind of knew I wasn't doing 20 but thought I might make it to 15. I ran towards Wimbledon and was enjoying myself finding the miles were passing by easily. I didn't really think where I was going and passed over Wandsworth Common to Clapham Common and then down towards home. This was only 11 miles but it was dark and I was so close to home that I stopped.

I'm now annoyed that I didn't do more. My weekly mileage is good but my long runs just aren't long enough.

Running in Cyprus

Just back from Cyprus and a lovely weeks holiday with my wife. We carelessly left our kids at home with my Dad. Shame!!!

I managed to do a few runs whilst out there. One in the gym, one hill run and two 10 milers. I didn't find anywhere nice to run inspite of asking twice at the hotel. The roads were all busy with small verges and I spend a lot of the time waiting to be killed by a careless driver. But it was good to get the miles in and they allowed me to eat more at the evening all-you-can-eat buffet.

Runs
Sun 25th - 6.2 miles
10k on a treadmill in 51 minutes. Terrible run. It was a very very hot run on an old, squeaky treadmill. No air conditioning in a basement room in Cyprus is not nice.

Tue 27th - 10 miles
A good 10 mile run along a horrible main road, some of it on a verge, some on a path. Near the sea but not close enough to be a coast road.

Wed 28th - 5 miles
1.5 miles slow, 1 mile fast (7 minute mile) and then 0.5 slow. Then 2 miles of step hills reps. It was hard work but good.

Fri 30th - 10.2 miles
Same run as on Tuesday. Thursday had a terrible storm in the afternoon so given in was overcast at 11am, I decided to go out early. However, after 30 minutes, the skies cleared and it was sunny......and very warm. I was drenched and my head was burning. Still ran ok.