A Day in the Lakes Half Ironman - Report!!

Well - it's nice to look back on it but boy, that was a tough one.

Up late on Friday night with the Calderglen Trail Race meant that the 'important' sleep the night before the night before was not a good one. Woke up shattered on Sat morning for a full days work then the drive down to the Lakes (Gen drove, I tried to sleep without too much success).

Arrived into Ullswater about 8.00pm ish - stunning scenery, then into Pooley Bridge & the Park Foot campsite which was just my worst nightmare come true - noisy, absolutely teaming with kids & drunk blokes. Fortunately we were directed away from all this to the Triathlons own field down by the lake - much calmer & we managed to pitch the tent about 200 yards from transition.

Tent up, BBQ lit & we started to relax a little - until the BBQ went out & we still hadn't eaten at 9.45pm! Still, pulled it all together & off to bed for about 5 hours restless sleep.

Woke up on race day - Genevieve seemed ok but I just felt sick, nervous & tired so I took a fair amount of direction to get me sorted out & organised. NOTE; MUST go into Barcelona in a better state than this because it is an exhausting state to be in.

SWIM
Race started at 8.30am. 3 swim heats - we were both in heat 2. Water was lovely - clear & flat, just perfect. We were to swim at an even pace throughout - I really enjoyed it & stayed out of trouble, the only issue was the buoys were too small to sight on properly & I couldn't see anything swimming into the low sun with a blue lens in my mask. Need to take a couple of lens options to Barcelona.

Exited the swim with ease & ran to T1, rolled off the wetsuit & looked up to see Gen standing there in T1 also, couldn't believe it - what a great swim she had! Our swim times were approx 36 mins - no chip time unfortunately but bang on target.

BIKE
We both exited T1 at the same time & feeling quite strong I pulled away from Gen who sensibly rode her own race, not mine. The bike route was a cracker but a tough one - undulating to say the least especially the 20% Kirkstone Climb & Shap later on but I felt strong all the way - overtaking steadily all the time, especially in the hills. Gen was going well until some sharp lower back pains forced her to stop & stretch out for a few minutes but better to do that then push on through the pain - still a long way to go.

My total time for this very hilly 56 miles was 3.11, Gen was about 20 minutes more after the back issues. We did not have any problem with the distance or terrain but I personally need to try & relax on the bike, I felt like I was always pushing myself to get to the run which put a bit too much pressure on myself. Gen needs to do some more core strengthening.

It was good to practice the nutrition - we set our watch timers for 20 minute repeats & fed & watered every time. Ok at first but it makes you realise how much you need to take on board in these events.

RUN
So, the dreaded run arrived - we knew it was going to be tough but had no idea quite how bad it was going to be. I left T2 in a group of about 6 -running for about half a mile along the road before turning right & seeing the road climb steeply in front of us. To my surprise everyone I was with just stopped & walked but I kept on running even as the road turned to path then scrabbley sheep track. I kept running for a full hour - right up over the first summit feeling extremely hot & wretching occasionally with the effort of all the climbing, twists, turns & leaping over streams & rocks. Very glad I followed the Fell shoe advice. Came to the first of only 2 feed stations & paused for long awaited water & forced down a gel then trotted along for a short while before I saw the climb ahead (see picture on previous post). Attempted to continue running but just too steep & rugged & as soon as 1 person ahead started walking everyone did. Climbed up here for what seemed like hours until I got to the summit & the most incredible views across Ullswater. Looked behind & saw a chain of people walking behind far into the distance. Headed off the summit across a very boggy area then started descending very carefully for an age. Almost as bad as going up. We eventually made it off the fells & back onto the road for the longest 3.5 miles of my life - the sun beating down & the road still undulating. 2 miles from home & Mark from the Daily Record shot past me at what seemed like 10k pace & skelped me on the ass. I resigned myself to the fact that he had beaten me on this occasion only to turn another corner & find him bent double by the hedge with cronic stitch. I didn't stop to help.
The camp site & finish finally arrived & I crossed the line in a run time of 2.11 and a fraction over 6 hours in total. Mark finished 2 minutes later & I sat & waited for Genevieve who I feared would absolutely hate the run. She appeared into the finish area looking none too bad, finishing in 6.44 & an outstanding 9th female. People were generally about 50 minutes outside their normal half marathon time & this was true for both of us.
POST RACE
Back to the tent for a BBQ, glass or 2 of wine then passed out at about 7.00pm knackered & burnt to a crisp.

In summary this was a big confidence boost for us for Ironman distance in October - it was very hot, the swim & bike were not too much trouble & the run felt more like 20 miles because of the terrain. The nutrition went fairly well and we survived & feel fairly well recovered today if not a little bit limp!
As far as this being a race to recommend - I would say yes, I would seriously recommend that you don't do it!!

1/7/09 UPDATED TIMES!! - Apparently Heat 2 swim times were a minute slow so now Genevieves time is 6.43 & mine 5.59 - yee haa Sub 6 hours!

See the link below for Mark's Blog entry on the Daily Record Blog too....
http://blogs.dailyrecord.co.uk/ironman/2009/06/a-long-day-in-the-lakes.html#more

C.

Triathlon Scotland Newsletter

The next Newsletter will be issued in August and we would be grateful for any articles and photos which your club or club members may wish to contribute. Email them to me by 15th July and I'll forward them on.

A Day in the Lakes - Photo shot!!

Anyone fancy a Half Marathon at the end of a Half Ironman????

Apparently it is all downhill from here. In an Ambulance.

St Christies Times

..... are now on the website. They look about right given the timing disaster.

Colin 26.03 (1 min 15 sec PB) (With new bike)
Genevieve 28.12 (29 sec PB) (Without a new bike!!!)
Graeme Scott 31.02 (31.02 PB) (first time!)

http://www.stchrisccek.co.uk/page4.htm

Daily Record Blog

I have been following this Blog with interest over the last few weeks - a couple of roving reporters from the Daily Record, Mark & James, are in training for the Challenge Barcelona that we are doing in October.
Their list of events over the summer is very similar to ours - Mark was training in Mallorca shortly after us earlier in the year & they also appeared at Stirling Triathlon & last Sunday at Ayr. They have also blindly entered the Day in the Lakes Half Ironman this Sunday that we are doing & having spoken to Mark on Sunday at Ayr, they are feeling equally edgy about what we have undertaken here!

Have a click here to follow their progress.....

http://blogs.dailyrecord.co.uk/ironman/

St Christies TT 23rd June

Surprised not to see a few more of you out last night - a cracking evening for time trialling, still a spot of wind but nice warm air to trawl through your lungs.
I turned up on the new TT bike having practised on it for the mile in between the house & the start line!! A bit of a tentative start - especially through Auldhouse trying to get the gears right but cranked it up along Leaburn & Strathaven Road to bring home a PB by about 1.15mins! Not sure about the actual time as the timers clock stopped but it was between 25.58 & 26.03. I'm sticking with 26.03 to avoid disappointment!
Genevieve also had a flier finishing we think in a touch over 28 mins - a PB by approx 35 secs. 27 something is very close now.
We are both pleased given that we did the Tri on Sunday & a 65mile/5k brick session on Monday so not the freshest legs!
The only other ATC rider was newest member Graeme Scott who had to go through the 'what the hell is the route' scenario but we think he still managed to come in under 30 mins which is always a good effort first time round.
More official results may or may not follow depending if they can work them out.

Hope to see lots of you tonight for the final Hamilton College swim before the summer break.
Have a think about what you would like to do instead of this session for a few weeks - I favour an open water swim but that doesn't suit everyone - any other thoughts?

Training this week ...

Tues 23rd Bike - St Christies 10TT 7.00pm
Weds 24th Swim - Hamilton College from 5.00pm (the last one for a while as the college closes for Summer)
Thurs 25th Run - Ek Shop 6.15pm
Fri 26th Swim - Hamilton Palace 7.30am
Fri 26th Run - Calderglen Trail Races - 5k & 10k - enter on the night. We're there with the shop for the event & a pint after in you are interested!!
Sat 27th - Bike Ek 9.00am
Sun 28th - Long easy run Auldhouse 9.00am

Weather looks great all week - get yourselves out there!!
No open water swim planned this week due to the Calderglen Trail Race on Friday.
Not many races on this week for most but the 2 of us are away Sunday doing the Ullswater Half Ironman.

Ayr Open Water Sprint Triathlon 2009 - Results

The latest race for ATHelite Tri Club was Sundays Ayr Triathlon. For everyone this was their first bash at an Open Water event, getting the chance to swim from the mouth of the River Doon up current then down again in 2 laps whilst getting swim over, under & across by all the other competitors. It was clear that whilst we had all been practising our OW swimming & the all important sighting (looking up to see where you are going), many competitors had not - resulting in many people zigzagging up & down the river in a most annoying fashion & then stopping & just standing up in the water as all the swimmers behind swam up their backsides. There was also a bit of confusion as the whistle went as to whether it was a mass start of a phased start. Turns out it was a mass start but who was to know!!

___________________ Swim__Pos__Bike__Pos__Run__Pos__Final
Freeman, Colin ...........14:41...31...39:18..13....18:43...7.....01:12:42
Freeman, Genevieve .17:17...55...40:43..19....23:21...51...01:21:21
Jones, Gareth..............18:28...72...42:31...33...23:56...57...01:24:55
Carrigan, James..........16:08...40...47:00..59...23:04...47...01:26:12
Allan, Graeme.............18:06...70...45:07...48...28:33...79...01:31:46
Honings, Frank............17:53...63...48:46...65...28:26...78...01:35:05

I was first out of the water for the club & surprisingly far up the field given that it was my first go at an OW event - wetsuit came off like a dream & having almost wretched over my bike shoes managed to get straight out onto the bike feeling remarkably fine. Loved the bike & worked my way though the field into about 15th position for a quick T2 & off on the run, again feeling amazingly fine. I moved through the field again on the 5k picking off 6 people & moving into 9th position with no-one else in sight to catch.

Next in was Genevieve who seemingly had a stormer - a very comfortable swim which probably could have been a good bit quicker if not for starting quite far back after a slightly pessimistic swim time prediction. An excellent bike (2nd quickest female) & probably her best triathlon 5k to date. Genevieve finished as 2nd Female Senior & 3rd Female overall so she won CASH!!

Gareth had a good solid race too in all departments - especially good on the run & completing a sprint Tri in under 85 mins for the first time in the last couple of years.

An excellent swim from James followed by a slightly slower than expected bike but a quick run brought him home in 1:26:12.

Next in was Graeme who kept it going right to the line what with everyone shouting at him. A very good swim put him in good stead for the rest of the race & good to see him significantly under 30 mins for the run - those over 30 days have long gone!!

Frank was next in for the club in only his second ever Triathlon & much better than his go at Bishopbriggs. Quicker in the transitions & consistant throughout to come home in 1:35:05.

A great little event this one with a good range of cakes afterwards - we'll get entered nice and early next year before it fills up. Thanks to Mandy & Eleanor for the support & photos too.

Good also to see most people out running the next evening - we managed a 65 mile Bike & 5k Run off the bike on Monday with no problems so very happy with the quick recovery.
It did turn out to be a rather expensive race though as I somehow ended up buying the Scott Plasma Ltd TT bike that was sat for sale on the finish line. Not quite what I intended but I am blaming Gareth for that!
Colin

A Day in the Lakes

Bike Route

Run Route

Look at this for a bike/run profile!! This is the bike/run profile in our triathlon next Sunday!! The first peak looks steep but what in heavens name is that 2nd peak all about!! My eyes are hurting just looking at it.........

Weather forecast for Ayr Triathlon

The weather has taken a turn for the better!!

http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/today.asp?zipcode=ayr

From British Triathlon

What are you doing this weekend?This Sunday 21 June, there will be a double dose of triathlon on our screens as the first broadcast of the British Triathlon Super Series is shown on Channel 4. The ITU website will also be streaming live uninterrupted coverage of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series from Washington DC.All the action from the first event of the British Triathlon Super Series at Strathclyde Country Park will be shown from 8.30am on Channel 4. Viewers will be able to watch Will Clarke and Jodie Swallow take their respective race titles and watch all the elite triathletes do battle over the Olympic distance in the North Lanarkshire countryside. The British Triathlon Super Series is made up of five races, with every round broadcast on Channel 4. For all the race reports and their respective broadcasting dates and times please visit www.britishtriathlon.org. With the British Triathlon Super Series early in the morning, there is still time to fit in a training session before the ITU broadcast live coverage of the third Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series on www.triathlon.org/tv. The men’s event will be shown from 14.00 (GMT) with the women’s being shown later at 16.45 (GMT).By logging onto the site you can subscribe to watch live, high definition coverage of each Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series race including previous races, highlight shows, features and interviews. Free low resolution live coverage is also available from each event.From all the team at British Triathlon we hope you enjoy the broadcasts this weekend!

Weekend Training - 20th/21st June

Due to this Sunday being the “hottest” day of the racing calendar, and the fact we have such a competitive bunch at ATHelite Tri Club, everyone is away competing (or just having fun “giving it a go”) this weekend. The Sunday run, therefore, will NOT be on (unless there is someone out there desperate to run on Sunday and you haven’t told me????).
If there is anyone keen to give the Saturday morning bike ride a go, please come and join us. We have a “starter pack” this Saturday so a great time to give it a try!! Easy pace, any bike.

Mandy