Today was certainly interesting. I can't write about most of it yet though. It is a secret and it probably involves more lawyers.
On the plus side. I managed to run a mile outside and go out on the bike on my own yesterday, and clocked a not unreasonable 21miles in 1hr18 in plenty of wind. Then today's swim session included a 750m time trial. It was technically terrible. Bad turns, no catch, untidy breathing, without my tri-suit, with fogged up goggles and with yesterday's run and bike in my legs. But still I managed to put in a relatively comfortable 13:59. I have swum faster pace for 400m races (just) but it is about 30 seconds inside my best 750 race swim from last year. With all those things to tidy I should go comfortably inside 14 at the weekend.
Monday 30 April 2012
Thursday 12 April 2012
Knockburn Duathlon
It has taken me a couple of weeks to write this. Not because I don't have the time. I just don't really care enough.
Even with a lot of people I knew signing up to the race I couldn't really be sure I would cope with even going, never mind racing or competing. I packed all my gear the night before and loaded up the car. On the morning of the race I tried to switch into auto-pilot with my normal race routine but it didn't really work. I was much too stressed about going and it was all I could do to drive out to the race.
Once I got there I spent about 10minutes trying to decide if I could even get out of the car. Once I did get out I couldn't actually get as far as registration until I found someone to hide behind. I eventually managed to get my bike out and set-up in the closest transition spot to the car park and then found people to hide behind until the start of the race.
So to the actual race.
First 2k lap of first run was pretty terrible, it was all I could do to keep my legs moving and stay in front of Bert. Second lap of run was a little better. Felt a bit more relaxed and at least managed to catch back up to a group, but still dropped over 2 minutes on the guys I was running against last year. Transition was untidy but I got out in the front of the group.
That lasted about 100 yards until we hit the base of the first hill. I am definitely biking better than I was last year but I was still much too tense after the run and the climb was more than I was able for. The whole group went past me and just kept stretching away. That is about what I expected though so I wasn't too bothered by it. I expected to catch a few back on the descents, and for the first half of the downhill section I was making more places than I was losing. I caught up to a few people that I knew, but I had to shed way too much speed to make a sharp left over some gravel and afterwards I just didn't have it in my legs, or my will, to get back up to speed. Somewhere around there I made the decision that all I wanted out of the day was to finish and I just went backwards, losing time and places.
Second transition was tidier than first, although the clock said otherwise. Second run, I knew before I started was going to be a problem. The tension from the first run was back and added to it was the tension in my back from the second half of the bike. No surprise then that even from my place near the back of the field I still managed to lose more places on the second run. Losing nearly 4 minutes on the 'beatable' runners near the front this time.
Post race I managed to clear up my bike and I even went on for a coffee and a sandwich during the presentation. Being in a crowded room was a bit stressful again, even knowing enough of the people in the room didn't really help.
Even with a lot of people I knew signing up to the race I couldn't really be sure I would cope with even going, never mind racing or competing. I packed all my gear the night before and loaded up the car. On the morning of the race I tried to switch into auto-pilot with my normal race routine but it didn't really work. I was much too stressed about going and it was all I could do to drive out to the race.
Once I got there I spent about 10minutes trying to decide if I could even get out of the car. Once I did get out I couldn't actually get as far as registration until I found someone to hide behind. I eventually managed to get my bike out and set-up in the closest transition spot to the car park and then found people to hide behind until the start of the race.
So to the actual race.
First 2k lap of first run was pretty terrible, it was all I could do to keep my legs moving and stay in front of Bert. Second lap of run was a little better. Felt a bit more relaxed and at least managed to catch back up to a group, but still dropped over 2 minutes on the guys I was running against last year. Transition was untidy but I got out in the front of the group.
That lasted about 100 yards until we hit the base of the first hill. I am definitely biking better than I was last year but I was still much too tense after the run and the climb was more than I was able for. The whole group went past me and just kept stretching away. That is about what I expected though so I wasn't too bothered by it. I expected to catch a few back on the descents, and for the first half of the downhill section I was making more places than I was losing. I caught up to a few people that I knew, but I had to shed way too much speed to make a sharp left over some gravel and afterwards I just didn't have it in my legs, or my will, to get back up to speed. Somewhere around there I made the decision that all I wanted out of the day was to finish and I just went backwards, losing time and places.
Second transition was tidier than first, although the clock said otherwise. Second run, I knew before I started was going to be a problem. The tension from the first run was back and added to it was the tension in my back from the second half of the bike. No surprise then that even from my place near the back of the field I still managed to lose more places on the second run. Losing nearly 4 minutes on the 'beatable' runners near the front this time.
Post race I managed to clear up my bike and I even went on for a coffee and a sandwich during the presentation. Being in a crowded room was a bit stressful again, even knowing enough of the people in the room didn't really help.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)