Wadebridge Sprint Triathlon.

Wadebridge Sprint. 13th October

Swim 400m (pool swim) -  7:18
Bike 24km - 44:36
Run 5km  - 19:17

Finish time, 1:12:49
18th overall, 11th in age group (17/39)

Today was Wadebridge sprint triathlon, the last event in the Cornish series and also my last race of my first triathlon season.
My good friend Will came down for the weekend and so was kind enough to drive me to the race, fortunately unlike most races this was a bit of a later start so i had a good nights sleep and a big breakfast to set me up. We arrived in good time for me to have transition set up and get a good warm up. The swim was in a pool which was something new but also meant that the water would be much warmer than normal so i looked forward to that.

The swim was also shorter than a normal sprint and not being the best swimmer i was again pretty excited! Once my number was called i jumped in the pool and got ready to go, unlike other races this season i was less nervous and had a solid race plan in my head. The swim went really well, i got into a steady rhythm and felt very comfortable. Initially i went a bit too fast as i was excited but soon settled down. Annoyingly the bottom of the pool and the pool wall were both blue making the ends of lengths hard to see so this made a few of my turns a bit clumsy. However when the float was tapped on my head with two lengths to go i pushed on and came out the pool knowing i swam well.

Transition was fast and after thinking i was lost i was safely onto the bike section. I was really looking forward to this, i had my new bike tri bars clipped on and the garmin all set up. The bike course is 12km out and 12 back in, the out course was hilly. I didn't really study the route so wasn't that ready but as i a a strong climber i pushed on and made up a good bit of time. Once i was on the tri bars with the new bike spinning beneath me i felt like i was flying. I felt fast in control and good there was also a strange silence from the bike and no gears jumping that im used too! After the turn around i picked up the pace, i wanted to catch a couple more people on the bike and really push the second section. The bike responded and i was picking up pace again, myself and another competitor who was on a tri bike kept going head to head but after two climbs i managed to drop him and was feeling really strong. In the last couple of k's i started thinking about the run and making sure i was hydrated.

Transition 2 went well and i was off on the run. The run has a long steep downhill to begin with so this was good to get the legs going it was 2.5k out and back however meaning i would have to go back up the hill! The run was good however my chip timer on my ankle was way too tight. I felt like my ankle was being stabbed and that it may bleed, however i was never going to stop to change it. I picked up the pace after the halfway mark and lengthen my stride. The uphill near the end was quite comfortable even with another competitor throwing up all over the place next to me. I pushed on for a sprint finish and crossed the line exhausted but feeling like i ran a strong race.

My aim as 1 hour 15 so im very please with 1:12, i also finished 11th in my category and could't be more happy it was a really strong field and a tough course. The race went great for me, the new bike and my fitness felt really strong. It's a great way to end my season and very encouraging.

I would like to thank Will for driving me, his support and the following photos.

End of Season.

So as it's almost a week until my next and last event of the season i thought i would update my blog a little. Also notice the new title of the blog..lift has been removed as i realized i don't really do weights anymore..

Anyway, My next event is next Sunday the 13th of October and is Wadebridge Triathlon, it is a small race 400m pool swim 24km bike and 5km run. I am very excited to race as i managed a late entry and thought i would not get a place. It will be my last race of the season and hopefully a fast exciting race. It is also in the Cornish Triathlon series that i have already done a couple of events in so hopefully i will pick up some more points.

The last couple of weeks i have been in Spain in France travelling and surfing and also a Uni field trip. I managed a lot more training than i expected, one of my lecturers is an iron man and long distance athlete and therefore every morning i was up at 7am doing a 8/10km run with him. It was great to run with him as he was much quicker than me and we pushed each other on the flat coastal run. Also the surf died off when we were on the fieldtrip so i spent a lot of time swimming in the sea and the outdoor pool. I was training twice a day and felt really strong. I unfortunately had a small calf injury towards the end of the week so spent a couple of days resting but now it is healed up and i am back training.

This Sunday is my 20th Birthday and i will be receiving my new bike, a Trek Madone 3.1 2014 model. This is a huge deal for me, it's my first Carbon bike and actually the first road bike i have ever paid for! I spent a lot of time looking for the perfect bike and had a bike fit to make sure it will be perfect for me. The guys at the Tri shop in Edinburgh were great and i am happy that i bought from them and feel it will be the perfect bike for me!

After my Birthday i will have a strong week of training, plenty of pool work and on the bike and faster runs. Hopefully the weather will stay dry and i can get some solid miles in. Im really excited to race again and the pool swim will be very interesting as i have not yet done one!

After my last event i will report back and i also have some very big news to announce after this race. I'm very excited about it and its going to be a big step for me. But you will have to wait and find out!!

Thanks for all the support so far.

Glen Clova Extreme Duathlon

Saturday 14th September

27km Bike
15km Mountain run over two Munro's
7km bike

Time 2:38:58
Position 8th

So on Sautrday i was up at 6am for my 5th race of the season and my second Duathlon. We were blessed with great weather as the sun was just rising as i drove up to Glen Clova, this was a good sign as the days race involved a mountain run so i did not fancy that in bad weather.

The race was structured that groups of ten would set off on the bike then another group 3 minutes later, unfortunately i was in the last group so had a bit of waiting around and was worried that there would be a lot of cyclists on the route. However it gave me plenty of time to warm up, stretch and chat tactics with my parents.

Once i set off on the bike i immediately felt good, i switched up to the big gears, dropped into the tri bars and just set out to ride as hard as possible. Immediately i was overtaking people on the ride and used others as targets to get too. The road had its bends and bumps and occasional head on car but i still managed a fast strong pace. After the halfway mark i began to push even stronger knowing i needed a quick time on the bike. After passing the hotel and heading into the last 7km two other competitors jumped on my wheel to draft, there was no rules about drafting something i wasn't used too. So at first i was a bit annoyed but they took there turn at the front of our pace train and it worked well for me in the end.

Coming off the bike i went into a fairly busy transition but luckily my parents were waving next to where my box was sitting. I switched shoes, grabbed my camel back threw on a cap backwards for reasons unknown and set out on the run. I knew the first section of the run up to Corrie Fee was relatively fast so i tried to up my pace and took on some water. Once i arrived in Corrie Fee it was a beautiful sight, competitors all along and up the back wall. I noticed most were walking up the back as it is extremely steep so i made it my goal to run as much as possible. It was a tough jog up the back of the corrie but i pushed on only walking in places where running was more or less impossible. I glanced at my watch and set myself some time goals to aim for. After the Corrie it was a steep run and a little muddy up to the top of the first Munro Mayar, i reached the checkpoint had a gel and began the descent over the ridge. I pushed hard on the descent knowing i could make up time and ran hard over the ridge mainly to keep warm in the bitter wind. After the ridge the route looped onto the ascent of the second Munro Mayar. The run to the top was again steep and very rocky so i just took it as fast as i could. Once at the top i was feeling good, i had done the hard bit on the mountain and was looking at a pretty fast time. I knew i could push hard on the way down.

The Descent was tricky, it was very rocky and narrow in places and i had a couple of slips. Fortunately nothing major. Once i reached transition i saw my Dad who was telling me i was running a good time. At this point i was feeling exhausted, my legs began to hurt and energy was low. But i knew i needed a final sprint on the bike.

I jumped back onto the bike and began the final push to the finish. My parents were able to follow me in the car on the final leg which was really awesome. It made me want to ride faster and so i dug deep and crossed the line knowing i had nothing left to give.

I finished in two hours 38 and came 8th overall. I am massively happy with that as i am not a mountain runner, i knew i gave everything and a top ten result was incredible. The race was fantastic, with amazing views of the mountains, great support and overall a hard strong day out!

My dad was able to film some of the race from the car please have a look here!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJxxwGSy3t4

Here are a few photos from the event.

One week to go.

So it's one week to go until my next event, and a race i am extremely excited about. The glen clova extreme duathlon (see last blog post).

Training has been going almost perfectly, i have been getting fast shorted rides in on the bike and working on my positioning on the tri bars as to increase speed. I have also done some longer rides with a few climbs to build up more strength in my legs. I have been doing gradually longer runs and including ones with big hills and running up the glens, as well as fast shorter runs. I feel i am hitting the speeds i know i am capable of and i am happy with my level of fitness.

I have cycled the race route twice now and feel comfortable where i can push hard on the bike and other spots where i need to hold off the speed. I feel it is important to know exactly where i can hit high speeds as the road is quite narrow and has many twists. I have also today ran the mountain route including the two Munroe's with my Father. I don't want too give away too much about my training but the run was strong and i found the places where i can push my pace and where it will be tough. The route seems good and i have taken some compass bearings in case the weather closes in. The descent from the mountain is a little tricky with some big rocks and wet underfoot but i feel confident going at a faster speed.

I now know the exact distance of the run and it should be a tough but good route on the day. From now until next week i will train hard make sure i have all the correct gear and keep working on the hills. I will also be watching the weather very closely!

I have a race plan structured out and i know where i can push myself hard on the day. I just hope that it will go to plan and its a strong race for me.

I will report back after next Saturday.

Some recent training photos.
1. Hitting the speeds on the bike.
2. Trail running up Loch brandy
3/4 Mountain running with my Father