The events keep on rollin' in

Since the last post I have been in no less than 3 events amongst many other training activities, there's been Tri's, Trails, Open & Lap swimming, a long ride, a recce ride and even a lunchtime run at work!

Action shot of the swim exit

Focusing primarily on the events, first up was Capernwray Tri 4. Now familiar with the routes I still hadn't done much bike work, but there was a twist in the tail of Tri 4 - this was a handicap race. Long story short everyone started at different times with a view to finishing at about 8pm - first across the line takes the victory (no it wasn't me!). Avoiding the mass start mellay I was fairly comfortable on the swim. The bike, as expected, was once again hard work. No initial cramp this time but limited use of the legs for driving up the slightest of inclines, oh and the cramp saved itself till about mile 6! The bike leg eventually finished and off  we go down the canal towpath. Now having been caught by others that hadn't even got in the water when I set off on the bike I knew I was well behind, plenty of encouragement on the run from one or two of the lads I know though which pushed me onto the end in a total chip time only a couple of seconds adrift of the first race I'd done - if nothing else at least I'm consistently slow!

Next up was the final installment of the Fylde Tri-ology Series, this time in Fleetwood. Having arrived early to setup my start time was soon upon me. A steady start in the pool with an average swim time I was soon on the 3 lap bike leg. Finding a good pace and cadence early on I really enjoyed and felt like I'd made progress in the bike leg, the times say otherwise but I felt good nonetheless. Onto the run which was in a odd M shape this time. Pushing on and feeling good after the bike the run felt quite sluggish and steady that is until the finish line when I stopped the clock - a distance just shy of 5k at little over 24 mins is pretty much PB territory for me. Overall, my best performance in this series and a great way to finish he season.

Fylde Tri-Ology Series Results

Finally in the events round-up we have yesterday Race2Remember 8k trail race around Nicky Nook in Scorton. Having secured a running partner in Mark (it took some convincing and I had to leave the

All smiles with 100m to go!

'hilly' part out of the course description) we were set to go. A decent pace (for us) soon developed as we dragged up the first long, grassy incline and back out on to the roads and farm tracks. Before long we found ourselves in the woods and the rooty, stony trail surface I love. This section of enjoyment was abruptly ended as we approached 'The Sting' with around 1500m to go. The aptly named section of the race can't have been more than 500m long but it was almost vertical in places and just kept kicking - having defeated half of it I resorted to some hands on knees walking to the top. A gentle grassy slope down on the other side awaited with a short road section before heading back in to the grounds of Wyresdale Hall. An almost 9k run completed in 53:27 and 2 very chuffed (and knackered) runners!

Race2Remember - 29.09.2014

In other events there has been a few training activities undertaken. Having no signed up for the Cholmondeley Castle 70.3 we decided to recce the course. Initial thoughts were toward a 3:30 bike leg averaging a 1:10 loop. Despite some stops, slow climbs and the navigational issue we did a 1:15 lap. With some more practice and a little grit and determination I suspect we won't be far off the mark and plan to revisit the loop every 6 weeks or so to further our knowledge.

Cholmodeley Bike Loop - 15.09.2014

Only a couple of days later I had a planned ride to Windermere.  The out leg took in some decent views and climbs heading through Silverdale and Arnside then on to Levens before climbing and dropping onto Lakeside. 

Home to Windermere - 18.09.2014

A quick brew stop and some procrastinating as to the best route home having passed an extreme climb which was the original route home. A short sharp burst out of Windermere and we were soon at Wheelbase in Staveley to have a nosy at what we couldn't afford - I also took the opportunity to stretch out to try and save my now aching leg and knee.

Windermere to Wheelbase - 18.09.2014

Having decided we couldn't afford anything off we set towards Natland & then Crooklands before coming through Burton and the long slog down the A6 - which at this point I was grateful for! Eventually reaching Lancaster before heading home down the cycle path. A great day out with a decent amount of climbing - which has further highlighted I can't do it, a plan is afoot to swap out the cassette to give me a lower gearing to help my climbing.

Wheelbase to Home - 18.09.2014

Run training continues as usual and I have now joined other Team Penguin members in running 1 lunch time a week from work as well as some more fell races in my sights and a trip up Clougha Pike to contend with.

Until next time...........

Crazy, crazy times.....

Since last time I have once again been on my jollies - this time to the Isle of Man to help out C.E. Racing in their 2014 Classic TT & Manx GP campaigns. A successful fortnight of practice and racing racing resulting in a Classic TT Finishers Medal & a Manx GP Replica in the junior race (we'll gloss over the slight fall off and the breakdown!)

Back on the mainland and I have a new toy to test - I have upgraded to the forerunner 310xt multi-sport watch. Initially the size of the watch was the first thing I noted as it is considerably larger than the Forerunner10, using the watch is fairly straightforward as it is fairly self-explantory despite all the technical setting that are available. Set the basics such as height, weight, age and avg pace and that's about it all setup, pre-program a couple of other options for running and multi-sport to allow 1 button transition stop/starts and you're away!

The first outing with both my watches produced some bizarre results with the 310xt being a good 150m infront over the entire 10k distance. Eventually getting it to connect wirelessly over the ANT+ to upload the run I noticed it was significantly out of date in firmware. Another uphill struggle to firmware the watch but eventually ready for another go. My next outing, a short 5.5k, provided much closer results.

10k - 310xt

Same 10k - Forerunner 10

All in all very chuffed, just to test the multi-sport now - conveniently I have Capernwray Mid-Week Sprint 4 coming up on Wednesday followed 10days later by the final installment of the Fylde Tri-ology series at Fleetwood. The following Sunday, just for good measure, I had eyed up the Kendal sprint tri too but have since also been put onto this little gem of a race - race2remember.org.uk an 8k trail route.

Now for the crazy - as if starting to play rugby again whilst training wasn't enough to put my body through a few of the Team Penguin cohort have registered, signed up for and paid for (that's the key to the commitment and the 1 thing that makes it a reality!) their first half iron distance event - The Castle Triathlon Series - Cholmondeley Castle Gauntlet

Oh lordy what have we done!!