On Saturday I cycled to Windsor and back, just shy of 100km's. We do a good route via Richmond Park, Kingston, Hampton Court and then along the quieter southern route via Sunbury, Shepperton, Chertsey and Virginia Water (for those that bonk and need to get the train home, not mentioning any names WJD). Then a quick loop of Windsor Great Park (what an incredible public space) in the hope of seeing some polo, having a bite to eat and then heading home.
I did 1hr50 on the way out with a nasty headwind, 20 mins round the park (no polo unfortunately), and then 1hr40 back. I don't know what it is about making it past half way but it motivates me no end. Just getting out on my own and getting a good cycle under my belt with no peloton or i-pod to assist helps with the confidence building and prepares you for the monotony of the 180km's that we will have to endure.
When you're doing these sort of sessions, there's not much that can motivate you aside from knowing - a bit like Daly Thompson training on Christmas Day - that you've got another session under your belt and hopefully it's one more than the competition. The thing with me and this Ironman is that the competition is not my worry. It's the getting round. And after watching the marathon efforts on Sunday in London it hit home what an epic effort it will be for everyone in TGS to get round in one piece. Chances are that some of us won't. Which will be gutting.
In the interim someone on the TGS list circulated the following story, post-London marathon efforts. If this isn't enough to motivate you then I'm not sure what is. It makes my worries about completing the IM pale into insignificance:
"Johnny brother's best
mate got leukaemia and, despite a relatively good prognosis, sadly died 3 weeks
later. He (Johnny) and Jez who both have a strong ironman/marathon pedigree set about a
fundraising challenge running and cycling their way around the UK from Belfast
to the London Marathon via a few marathons and major cities. Cycling
through Angelsey Johnny's brother was knocked off his bike and instantly killed
by an elderly man driving home from his wife's funeral. They buried him on the
day of the London Marathon last year. Anyhow Johnny decided to pick up the
fundraising challenge from the point on the road where his brother died and not
being that fit battled through cycling around 100-140 miles a day for much of
last week, knocking off a marathon in Bristol on Friday and then cycling to
London for the Marathon on Sunday to finish it. It was pretty gutsy and running
with him I've never seen determination like it, they nailed it in 4h12m in the
end and was powerful stuff given the emotion"
I was also really sad to hear that a 30 year old woman died whilst running the Marathon on Birdcage Walk (under a mile from the finish). She seemed fit and healthy and, in my 30th year, I felt quite affected by this. I guess you just have to hope that the training puts you in good stead for a strong performance and that your time isn't up quite yet.... fingers crossed eh?!
Monday 23 April 2012
Swimming - breath control
Something that I hadn't been looking forward to, especially after a sesson in the pool 2 days earlier when my arms felt like lead. I was told we were going to work on breathing. I was thinking head position and learning how to take on board air without inhaling a load of water (a regular occurrence for me). In fact it was breath control we were practicing which meant testing how long you could hold your breath for.
Thankfully the night before we'd been doing breathing exercises in yoga to regulate and improve our breathing. Full yogic breaths involve inhaling from your abdomen, up through your chest to your collar bone followed by even longer controlled outflows of breath. Sometimes we restrict our breathing to one nostril, other times we retain the breath for prolonged periods. Either way, very relaxing and definitely helps when I get in the pool.
Swimming should also regulate your breathing but for me it turns into a gasp followed by as many strokes with my head under water and then another gasp. I often panic, especially when I get into open water and can't see anything under water. My typical 'rhythm' in open water is to breathe every 2 for a couple of strokes, then 3 to swap sides, then back to 2 again.
The session went along the following lines:
Thankfully the night before we'd been doing breathing exercises in yoga to regulate and improve our breathing. Full yogic breaths involve inhaling from your abdomen, up through your chest to your collar bone followed by even longer controlled outflows of breath. Sometimes we restrict our breathing to one nostril, other times we retain the breath for prolonged periods. Either way, very relaxing and definitely helps when I get in the pool.
Swimming should also regulate your breathing but for me it turns into a gasp followed by as many strokes with my head under water and then another gasp. I often panic, especially when I get into open water and can't see anything under water. My typical 'rhythm' in open water is to breathe every 2 for a couple of strokes, then 3 to swap sides, then back to 2 again.
The session went along the following lines:
- Warm up - 300m
- Catch ups - 120m (see Swimming Lesson 1 post)
- Normal front crawl - 60m - all OK so far, I hadn't forgotten how to front crawl
- Breathing pyramid [and so I thought my nightmare was about to begin] - swimming lengths you set off breathing every 2, next length every 3, then 4 up until the 4th length when you are breathing every 5 strokes. On these latter ones I was advised to actually hold my breath for the first couple of strokes and then breath our slowly ("like blowing out a candle"). And then back down again, 4-3-2, each time getting easier until breathing every 2 strokes felt like I was hyperventilating. So 210 m / 8 lengths in total. It really wasn't too bad as long as I remained calm which, in the grand scheme of things, I did. I think the key is to not push it too much so that your HR and breathing remain relatively steady. With practice I should be able to get up to breathing every 8 strokes. Eeek.
- Swimming underwater. "How far do you reckon you can get" says Dave. Oh no, oh no, this is not what I signed up for, I'm thinking. "Erm, probably about 5m?!" I reply tentatively. Under promise, over deliver. I'm told to do breaststroke and to go as deep as possible. I get to the other end having come up twice for air. The most I managed was 7 strokes of breast stroke under water but the aim is to have me swimming whole lengths by the summer. Watch this space...
- What I hadn't realised is that Dave was prepping me for the Usain Bolt. As per the 100m runner I was required to sprint the 30m length of the pool while holding my breath. I think I took 2 breaths but, again, the idea is to hold your breath for as long as possible. Head down and power through the water. It was good to go fast and I definitely felt more power going down. The exercise was to do 4 sprints with 30 seconds rest at the end of the first, 25 secs after the second and just 20 secs to recover before the final sprint. The idea is to up the number of sprints and reduce the length of recovery as you improve
- I finished with 4 lengths warm down and a further 12 lengths to put into practice what I had learnt during the session
- There is some element of excitement at trying out my new stroke when I get in the water - a bit like buying a new pair of shoes or even a new car. You want to use it all the time. Needless to say it hasn't been so exciting that I want to swim more than twice a week!
- The 'high shoulders' call is one of the best things to focus on when swimming longer distances. You feel your whole body role out of the water and your arm then automatically reaches further forward. Even if I'm not going much faster my stroke is longer, smoother and, without doubt, using less energy.
- WJD laughed at me when I said I was aiming to do the Ironman swim (3.8km) in 1hr 20 mins. But I am fully confident that I will be at or about this time when I come out of the water. If I'm 10 mins ahead of him on the bike that's quite a lot of catching up to do if I'm averaging 28kph on wheels.... If that is not worth the spend on swimming lessons then I'm not sure what is.
Tuesday 10 April 2012
Disclosure
As the tital suggests this is a Monday morning ritual which involves emailing the TGS list and disclosing your exercise for the last week.
Some records of effort are more technical than others (distance, time, time spent in each heart rate zone) but the comments do add some colour to an otherwise bland list of numbers. My key determinants of effort are distance and time which, by default, give me an idea of speed which will hopefully improve over the coming weeks and months. I get criticised for not recording my heart rate and training off that but, for now, perceived effort is my main gauge.
Some may call this amateur but I was put off the use of heart rate monitors in last year's Cowman. As I was running my 4th loop of the 5+km circuit for the half marathon I was tackling the long slow hill that took you to the top of Emberton village. As I ran past one middle-aged, male competitor I heard a whole series of loud, angry bleeps coming from his watch.
"Is that telling you that you're about to have a heart attack?!" I quipped between breaths.
"Yes, I think it is" he replied solemnly.
I'm not aware that he did have a heart attack. The only serious injuries that day were the man who fell off his bike when a bee flew into his helmet while putting his water bottle back in its cage; the girl that then cycled into the back of the car who's driver had stopped to help bee man; and, very sadly, the passer-by's dog that got run over (and killed) by the ambulance taking the 2 cyclists to hospital. RIP dog.
The other column on the disclosure email is that of 'Lagers' which is a very unscientific record of the number of alcohol units consumed in a week. Needless to say there is an inverse correlation between number of lagers consumed and the amount of exercise done. JK did manage an epic (or rather liver-pickling) 60 units over the course of 4 days one particular week and his training suffered for at least a week afterwards.
Either way, it's quite a useful record of where we all are and what our contemporaries are up to. Some of the whackier recorded exercise efforts more recently include bikhram yoga (in a very hot room), the 'Haute Route' from Chamonix to Zermatt and WJD's dancing efforts on the floor of the Inferno in an attempt to pull another CHSB*. Needless to say, some are probably kidding themselves when they record their efforts (TB to mention but one) and I sometimes wonder whether all my "C2W's" really do constitute training when I'm on the Pash**. It's worth doing and it cheers up Monday mornings significantly along with making plans for the next weekend's training effort.
* Clapham High Street Babe
** Princess Sovereign, Pashley. A wonderful bit of British engineering that is made of solid steel and has a large basket on the front. 3 Sturmey Archer gears are all you need to propel this machine across the country but the somewhat inefficient cycling position means that your body acts as a sail forcing you backwards. I record this as 'resistance training'.
Some records of effort are more technical than others (distance, time, time spent in each heart rate zone) but the comments do add some colour to an otherwise bland list of numbers. My key determinants of effort are distance and time which, by default, give me an idea of speed which will hopefully improve over the coming weeks and months. I get criticised for not recording my heart rate and training off that but, for now, perceived effort is my main gauge.
Some may call this amateur but I was put off the use of heart rate monitors in last year's Cowman. As I was running my 4th loop of the 5+km circuit for the half marathon I was tackling the long slow hill that took you to the top of Emberton village. As I ran past one middle-aged, male competitor I heard a whole series of loud, angry bleeps coming from his watch.
"Is that telling you that you're about to have a heart attack?!" I quipped between breaths.
"Yes, I think it is" he replied solemnly.
I'm not aware that he did have a heart attack. The only serious injuries that day were the man who fell off his bike when a bee flew into his helmet while putting his water bottle back in its cage; the girl that then cycled into the back of the car who's driver had stopped to help bee man; and, very sadly, the passer-by's dog that got run over (and killed) by the ambulance taking the 2 cyclists to hospital. RIP dog.
The other column on the disclosure email is that of 'Lagers' which is a very unscientific record of the number of alcohol units consumed in a week. Needless to say there is an inverse correlation between number of lagers consumed and the amount of exercise done. JK did manage an epic (or rather liver-pickling) 60 units over the course of 4 days one particular week and his training suffered for at least a week afterwards.
Either way, it's quite a useful record of where we all are and what our contemporaries are up to. Some of the whackier recorded exercise efforts more recently include bikhram yoga (in a very hot room), the 'Haute Route' from Chamonix to Zermatt and WJD's dancing efforts on the floor of the Inferno in an attempt to pull another CHSB*. Needless to say, some are probably kidding themselves when they record their efforts (TB to mention but one) and I sometimes wonder whether all my "C2W's" really do constitute training when I'm on the Pash**. It's worth doing and it cheers up Monday mornings significantly along with making plans for the next weekend's training effort.
* Clapham High Street Babe
** Princess Sovereign, Pashley. A wonderful bit of British engineering that is made of solid steel and has a large basket on the front. 3 Sturmey Archer gears are all you need to propel this machine across the country but the somewhat inefficient cycling position means that your body acts as a sail forcing you backwards. I record this as 'resistance training'.
The Masters
I should probably have called this post 'The Art of Rest'. Whilst I have probably overdone it (doing nothing rather than training I hasten to add) this weekend I actually feel much better for it.
I don't know about the rest of you endorphin junkies but sometimes you feel a bit flat. The training isn't that productive and your enthusiasm levels are low. Each session, however hard or soft, feels like you're in the 24th mile of the marathon. Your legs feel heavy / ache and you wonder whether you're going to get to the end. So what to do about this?
I indulged in some pretty serious golf-watching. The Masters coincided nicely with the Easter weekend which meant you didn't even have to go into work on Monday feeling sleep-deprived. In addition, some quality family time, the Lamborn Open Day, 2 failed rounds of golf and horse-riding provided some activity-based alternatives to slogging it round the countryside on my bike / two legs. And my, do I feel better for it.
For someone that just wants to get round the Big Woody in August and after a really busy couple of weeks of work and training, I can't tell you how much better I feel for a good solid couple of days off. A couple of glasses of red and lots of delcious home-cooked food was just what was required. I positively jumped out of bed this morning and enjoyed a very sunny cycle in to work.
Whilst the one rest day in your schedule should be taken religiously, sometimes you need a good couple of days to really recover. Ideally you would do this after a heavy weekend's training or a competition. My next 'big' break will probably be after the May Day bank holiday. Don't get me wrong, when one of the boys sent round his 'Disclosure'* email this morning I felt a tiny twinge of guilt having not used my free time for some long rides. But then I thought "s*d it". Sometimes you just need to kick back and watch the Masters.
* see separate post on Disclosure for full explanation.
I don't know about the rest of you endorphin junkies but sometimes you feel a bit flat. The training isn't that productive and your enthusiasm levels are low. Each session, however hard or soft, feels like you're in the 24th mile of the marathon. Your legs feel heavy / ache and you wonder whether you're going to get to the end. So what to do about this?
I indulged in some pretty serious golf-watching. The Masters coincided nicely with the Easter weekend which meant you didn't even have to go into work on Monday feeling sleep-deprived. In addition, some quality family time, the Lamborn Open Day, 2 failed rounds of golf and horse-riding provided some activity-based alternatives to slogging it round the countryside on my bike / two legs. And my, do I feel better for it.
For someone that just wants to get round the Big Woody in August and after a really busy couple of weeks of work and training, I can't tell you how much better I feel for a good solid couple of days off. A couple of glasses of red and lots of delcious home-cooked food was just what was required. I positively jumped out of bed this morning and enjoyed a very sunny cycle in to work.
Whilst the one rest day in your schedule should be taken religiously, sometimes you need a good couple of days to really recover. Ideally you would do this after a heavy weekend's training or a competition. My next 'big' break will probably be after the May Day bank holiday. Don't get me wrong, when one of the boys sent round his 'Disclosure'* email this morning I felt a tiny twinge of guilt having not used my free time for some long rides. But then I thought "s*d it". Sometimes you just need to kick back and watch the Masters.
* see separate post on Disclosure for full explanation.
Thursday 5 April 2012
Cycle: St Albans - Astwood 65km
On an overcast Saturday morning I set out from Cunningham Avenue in St Albans. After a delicious meal and even a therapeutic glass of red with Ginny and Chris in their new, soon to be marital, home I set off into a pretty unpleasant head-wind.
The route took me up the Harpenden Road, past the Wasps rugby training ground towards, you guessed it, Harpenden. After Harpenden High Street I headed through a big housing estate up quite a hill to the East onto the B653 to Luton. On reaching Luton I had a little hiccup as I ended up on a dual carriageway heading towards the M1 but I soon realised the error of my ways and corrected it. I knew that I need to go up a big hill and I seemed to find the steepest one in Luton up Crawley Green Road. Having wobbled my way to the top I headed out on the A505 towards Hitchin.
It was then Lilly Bottom to Barton-le-Clay, another long hill out of Lilley with a loo stop behind the hedge at the top followed by a Mr Kipling's brownie. Then Pulloxhill, Flitton, Maulden and on to Ampthill. A couple more nasty little inclines but the weather had brightened up and I was well over half way by now. Surprised by the cute Ampthill High Street I headed north, past Waitrose (good for a snack / break) on the Bedford Road.
The final section is a right to Milbrook, round the edge of the track and into Marston Mortaine. Over the A421 into Cranfield and then the final stretch and hill past Bourne End and into Astwood.
Total Time: just over 3 hours (including a couple of directional stops and D-tours)
Total Distance: 40 miles, 65 km
Average Speed: 22km/h
Comments: Not great speed but dull weather, no pelaton and carrying a heavy rucksack which I like to think ruined my aerodynamics. Didn't eat enough and could have done with some energy gels / carbohydrate + protein mixer (that High5 4:1 stuff is like rocket fuel - I've just bought a load more!). 2x Mr Kipling's chocolate brownies not enough - need to make some endurance-specific flapjacks for future longer sessions to practice eating on the bike. As much as we take the p*ss I do think JK might have a point about boiling up some potatoes. This gives you bite sized savoury carbs which over the course of 13+ hours will be much needed.
The route took me up the Harpenden Road, past the Wasps rugby training ground towards, you guessed it, Harpenden. After Harpenden High Street I headed through a big housing estate up quite a hill to the East onto the B653 to Luton. On reaching Luton I had a little hiccup as I ended up on a dual carriageway heading towards the M1 but I soon realised the error of my ways and corrected it. I knew that I need to go up a big hill and I seemed to find the steepest one in Luton up Crawley Green Road. Having wobbled my way to the top I headed out on the A505 towards Hitchin.
It was then Lilly Bottom to Barton-le-Clay, another long hill out of Lilley with a loo stop behind the hedge at the top followed by a Mr Kipling's brownie. Then Pulloxhill, Flitton, Maulden and on to Ampthill. A couple more nasty little inclines but the weather had brightened up and I was well over half way by now. Surprised by the cute Ampthill High Street I headed north, past Waitrose (good for a snack / break) on the Bedford Road.
The final section is a right to Milbrook, round the edge of the track and into Marston Mortaine. Over the A421 into Cranfield and then the final stretch and hill past Bourne End and into Astwood.
Total Time: just over 3 hours (including a couple of directional stops and D-tours)
Total Distance: 40 miles, 65 km
Average Speed: 22km/h
Comments: Not great speed but dull weather, no pelaton and carrying a heavy rucksack which I like to think ruined my aerodynamics. Didn't eat enough and could have done with some energy gels / carbohydrate + protein mixer (that High5 4:1 stuff is like rocket fuel - I've just bought a load more!). 2x Mr Kipling's chocolate brownies not enough - need to make some endurance-specific flapjacks for future longer sessions to practice eating on the bike. As much as we take the p*ss I do think JK might have a point about boiling up some potatoes. This gives you bite sized savoury carbs which over the course of 13+ hours will be much needed.
2nd swimming lesson
This took place at 7.30am before work. Not super-early but still required a 6.15am get up to cycle in to Central London (35-40 mins). I had only had elderflower juice and after the cycle in and 1 hour + in the pool I felt a bit wobbly and required a lot of food throughout the day to replenish stocks. Lesson learnt.
The key now was to develop my power in the water but, equally, what was happening out of the water while I was powering through with the other arm? More shoulder work but this time doing the following:
The key now was to develop my power in the water but, equally, what was happening out of the water while I was powering through with the other arm? More shoulder work but this time doing the following:
- Warm Up x 6 lengths
- Catch Ups x 4 lengths - with one arm stretched out in front the other arm takes a full stroke until it's caught up with your hand held outstretched in front. You then take a stroke with the other arm. Try to keep breathing regular (not easy - I forgot and then started to sink). This helps work on your streamlining and pull through the water. Difficult to start with but keep trying and you get into quite a good rhythm. This is a great exercise for a warm up as it forces you to stretch your shoulders out
- Arm Pit-Hits (high elbows) x 4 lengths - it's really an arm pit 'stroke' but that didn't have the same ring to it. Hold your hand out with your 4 fingers together and your thumb outstretched at a right angle to form an "L" shape. Swim normally (ish) but as you bring your arm out of the water, brush your thumb past your armpit. It's not meant to look pretty. I felt completely unco-ordinated, especially when I tried to breath but the exercise helps with your high-shoulders and encourages you to role your shoulder, increasing your reach and hence the length of your stroke
- Both of the above together at the same time x 4 lengths. Sinking all the way!
- Pull harder & longer - for this we then put paddles on my hands, float between the legs. After 4 lengths my arms / shoulders were really starting to ache to the point that I had no power towards the back end of my stroke. I deduced from this that I need to get down the gym, or at least do some more dips...
- We finished with 6 lengths. Enough for a bit of tiredness to creep in to the last 2 lengths. I was told to focus on maintaining my head position, high shoulders and length of stroke
- I finished the session with another 40 lengths / 1,200m. Total session
1st Swimming Lesson
"You have a very good front crawl"
"Wait until you've seen me swim more than 2 lengths"
2 lengths later...
"There's a few things we can work on. I'm going to be a complete bitch so don't take offence"
And so I met David during my first swimming lesson where we worked on the following:
"Wait until you've seen me swim more than 2 lengths"
2 lengths later...
"There's a few things we can work on. I'm going to be a complete bitch so don't take offence"
And so I met David during my first swimming lesson where we worked on the following:
- Leg kick - ensuring the movement is from the hips and the feet are relaxed. 2-4 lengths with hands out in front (no float) and a small breast stroke every couple of seconds to take a breath. We worked on ensuring my feet weren't coming out of the water which led to inefficiency / lack of power under the water
- Stream-lining - swimming on your side with your lower arm outstretched and your upper arm resting on your thigh. 1-2 lengths on each side and then alternating every 5-10 seconds. This helps with your breathing and streamlining / positioning in the water. I swallowed a lot of water
- High Shoulders - float between the legs. The sensation was to feel as though you were lifting your shoulders out of the water. This helps keep your elbows high which encourages you to roll your shoulders and increase your reach. They reckon Rebecca Adlington gets 10-12 extra inches on each stroke by doing this which, over x number of strokes taken over 4km, will add up to quite a lot in the efficiency stakes
- Pull through - this makes sure your stroke is as long and powerful as possible - think about pulling through straight and deep and right past your thigh until your hand comes out of the water.
Swimming Lessons
I discovered an amazing swimming pool in the very centre of London where I am still to find more than 5 people in the fast lane during an early morning session. It's marble-lined with a huge vaulted ceiling and 30m in length. In fact it is such a well-kept London secret that I'm afraid I'm not going to disclose the location. It even comes with history: the paras used to train there during WWII.
It was here I booked in to my first swimming lesson since the age of 8. You could count swim coaching with the Pony Club Tetrathlon Team since this tender age but the main challenge back then was getting me to put my head under water without holding my nose and upgrade from doggy paddle to front crawl.
In completing the Cowman I'd managed 1.9km in something like 37 minutes. In completing the IM distance I am upping the challenge to 3.8km, lets say 4km for psychological reasons. In case I get lost on course or something.
I needed to check I was swimming as efficiently as I possibly could for the first part of the IM. Even if I don't go any faster as a result, I would like to be expanding less energy. The man who has taken on the challenge is David Tatler who recently helped Frank Skinner conquer his fear of water alongside Karen Pickering for Sport Relief: http://www.swimming.org/bigsplash/news/frank-skinner-makes-a-big-splash-for-sport-relief.
We will be breaking down my stroke and working on technique initially. I then want his help trying to break up the monotony of swimming 30m lengths and working towards the 4km distance. This will hopefully take me through to the end of May when I finally get back into a wetsuit and the cool waters of Tooting Lido (90m & outdoor). After this it's on to Heron Lakes (1 km loop) and going back to the same problem I started out with: putting my head under the murky depths without holding my nose.
It was here I booked in to my first swimming lesson since the age of 8. You could count swim coaching with the Pony Club Tetrathlon Team since this tender age but the main challenge back then was getting me to put my head under water without holding my nose and upgrade from doggy paddle to front crawl.
In completing the Cowman I'd managed 1.9km in something like 37 minutes. In completing the IM distance I am upping the challenge to 3.8km, lets say 4km for psychological reasons. In case I get lost on course or something.
I needed to check I was swimming as efficiently as I possibly could for the first part of the IM. Even if I don't go any faster as a result, I would like to be expanding less energy. The man who has taken on the challenge is David Tatler who recently helped Frank Skinner conquer his fear of water alongside Karen Pickering for Sport Relief: http://www.swimming.org/bigsplash/news/frank-skinner-makes-a-big-splash-for-sport-relief.
We will be breaking down my stroke and working on technique initially. I then want his help trying to break up the monotony of swimming 30m lengths and working towards the 4km distance. This will hopefully take me through to the end of May when I finally get back into a wetsuit and the cool waters of Tooting Lido (90m & outdoor). After this it's on to Heron Lakes (1 km loop) and going back to the same problem I started out with: putting my head under the murky depths without holding my nose.
TGS Background
After a particularly boozy ski holiday and another session in the Folie Douce, 'monkeys & bananas' fancy dress on the slopes and 'rock star queens' in the evening, someone made the call that we needed a suitably challenging sporting event to work towards. It would keep us off the booze (ish) if nothing else.
The British Middle Distance Championships, fondly known as the "Cowman", were being held out of Emberton Park 10 minutes from my family home near Milton Keynes. This would give us a good base for a 4am start and 6+ hours of gruelling competition, and so we entered. The title makes it sound grand and important. In reality, they'd let any joker in, including those competing under the banner of Team Gun Show (not a requisite of being a member I hasten to add).
Team Gun Show (TGS) Members include:
HCD - only female member and logistics assistant / head chef
WJD - HCD's younger brother, in charge of kit and comedy impersonations. Skinniest calves on the team
MW - in charge of logistics, transport and 'risk assessment' officer. One gear. Tight hamstrings
JK - aka 'The Fish'. Has started up a long-running rivalry with MW. Similar stature (arguably lighter) but those 5 minutes in the swim provide MW with quite a considerable challenge on the bike. Tends to get caught in the run. Likes eating potatoes (something to do with his heritage)
CG - probably the lankiest member of the team and provides strong competition to WD in the skinny calf competition. Solid in the mountains and possible dark horse on the day. Likes a good moan
PF - brings up the rear and doesn't mind being beaten by a girl. Provides quick-witted humour even after a 2 hour climb up the Col de la Madeleine. Another potato lover along with car bonnets on Nightingale Lane
CB - technical officer and head mechanic. Doesn't like swimming or running
TB - aka 'The Flake'. Currently trying to wriggle his way out of the Big Woody
The British Middle Distance Championships, fondly known as the "Cowman", were being held out of Emberton Park 10 minutes from my family home near Milton Keynes. This would give us a good base for a 4am start and 6+ hours of gruelling competition, and so we entered. The title makes it sound grand and important. In reality, they'd let any joker in, including those competing under the banner of Team Gun Show (not a requisite of being a member I hasten to add).
Team Gun Show (TGS) Members include:
HCD - only female member and logistics assistant / head chef
WJD - HCD's younger brother, in charge of kit and comedy impersonations. Skinniest calves on the team
MW - in charge of logistics, transport and 'risk assessment' officer. One gear. Tight hamstrings
JK - aka 'The Fish'. Has started up a long-running rivalry with MW. Similar stature (arguably lighter) but those 5 minutes in the swim provide MW with quite a considerable challenge on the bike. Tends to get caught in the run. Likes eating potatoes (something to do with his heritage)
CG - probably the lankiest member of the team and provides strong competition to WD in the skinny calf competition. Solid in the mountains and possible dark horse on the day. Likes a good moan
PF - brings up the rear and doesn't mind being beaten by a girl. Provides quick-witted humour even after a 2 hour climb up the Col de la Madeleine. Another potato lover along with car bonnets on Nightingale Lane
CB - technical officer and head mechanic. Doesn't like swimming or running
TB - aka 'The Flake'. Currently trying to wriggle his way out of the Big Woody
The Plan
In the year of the London Olympics 2012, I am taking on my own sporting challenge. Having comfortably competed in the Cowman 70.3 last year and announced Steve-Redgrave-style to my TGS teammates "don't let me even consider an Ironman" I now find myself down for the following events:
At this point I should probably put in a disclaimer but I think it's quite clear that this is a case of the blind leading the partially sighted, so please take everything I say with a pinch of salt. Comments, constructive criticism and moral support all much appreciated.
- Cycling trip to the Dolomites (Italy) from 14th to 18th June
- Cowman on 8th July - 70.3
- The Big Woody on 25th August - ironman (IM) distance
At this point I should probably put in a disclaimer but I think it's quite clear that this is a case of the blind leading the partially sighted, so please take everything I say with a pinch of salt. Comments, constructive criticism and moral support all much appreciated.
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