Iron Distance 2012 Training Thread

Good luck for the weekend, fellas. Hope you have a very cool time down in the boonies. Pressure on you, Slim!

Hoping to make some running progress this weekend. Swim last night (rubbish - as usual) and hoping to get clear from work early enough to enjoy a ride this afternoon. Then a couple of long runs tomorrow and Sunday before a killer brick on Monday. Happy training, peeps .

Tired swimming on Wednesday, but got ambushed by the breast stroke mafia.

Back on the bike Thursday, legs still feeling the 100 on Tuesday, but a few short sharp hills and one drawn out climb (the one on the Jodrell Bank thingy from earlier in the year, Muffin Top will know which one I'm on about)

Felt better going up some of the climbs than have done, so the training must be getting there

Running tonight

Good luck to those racing this weekend

Good work Bobby. It is lovely riding round Delamere, the scenery should have helped a tad.

Feeble in comparison but I have just done 45 mins on the turbo. It has been gathering dust so thought I would finish the week with a blast. Glad I did, it was almost enjoyable.

SA, great riding this week, it sounds almost like a holiday training camp. I do recall the hill, it was long as I recall but the gradient steady and company great.

Blimey Max that is some traffic build up, couldn't you have cycled  

Max - just back from the LW.  Sorry to hear what happened but i guessed it would be traffic.

I will write a race report very soon but it was a great event, much as I imagined it. The weather mostly held for us doing the LW .

A great event  

That certainly was punishment !!!

A brief race report for anyone considering this race in future years!

I really don’t think you can knock this race.  We arrived in the beautiful countryside near Lydney on the Friday afternoon and pitched the ‘Shady’ tent making full use of the free camping.  Registration was a very laid back relaxed affair in a marquee tent with benches and straw bales to sit on!  Off then to the national Dive Centre to rack the bike and stare with some trepidation at the old slate quarry which boasted as being the deepest dive location inBritain!  Apparently the orange buoys which dot the surface of the quarry mark the locations of such things as double decker buses, aircraft etc…I just hoped I wasn’t going to see any of them!

The Pasta party was great – held in the adjacent craft centre and as much food as you could eat. We then returned to the tent and listed to the sudden squally showers outside.  A  tin of Worthingtons made everything seem better and I prepared for the 0730hrs swim start in the morning.

In the morning the whole shady tribe got a lift in one of the minibuses which left every 10mins for the Dive Centre. When we arrived we sat in the Dive Centre canteen which overlooks the quarry and which was serving hot drinks, food and a large TV.  I don’t think I’ve ever had a more plush waiting area before an event!  We watched as the Big Woody entrants set off at 0630hrs and then an hour later it was our turn to enter the water.  Despite my slight nerves at swimming in such deep water it simply didn’t bother me and the water was incredibly clear and blue.  I know my swimming is very weak and something to work on in the winter but I enjoyed the two laps around the quarry and left 12 people ( out of 90) still in the water as I clambered out.  It was then into some old trainers and a 700 meter run (walk/shuffle) up the track and back to T1.

Iron Min was helping to organise everyone and she whisked away my bag giving me encouragement  as I set out for what is described as a ‘rolling but not extreme’ bike!  After about a mile I heard some screaming behind me which seemed to be getting louder.  I was about to jump off my bike and hide when I caught the words ‘hurry up daddy’ mixed in with the noise.  A minibus then drew level with my two little ‘angels’ taking it in turns to stick their faces out of the side window and scream at me to ‘get a move on daddy’.!  Suitable chastised/motivated I gave it a bit more umph and hurtled out around the bike course which was exactly as described.  The recent heavy rain had made some parts a bit tricky with red sand across the road and there were definitely some upflats which had me creaking on the pedals.  Two memorable descents where I absolutely flew down the road for what seemed miles really stood out for me together with some stunning countryside

I rolled into T2 after about 3hrs 5mins and was just glad that I wasn’t doing another loop with the Big Woody entrants.  My bike was taken from me by ‘Vince’ a tritalker who has a great sense of humour and then I quickly changed with a marshal helping to pack my bag !  I was worried about the run after the wheels had come off so badly at ‘The Outlaw’ and I set off with some trepidation.  As usual my lower back hurt with every step and my shoulders felt tight.  Running just felt wrong and I thought ‘here we go again’.  But I just kept a very steady pace and knew I had to do three laps of the out and back course.  I began to ease a little bit but the run was mostly uphill and was very tough going.  I focussed on the moment and just forgot about the distance left to do and it became a bit easier.  It was a tough run route but I am really glad to say that ran all of it bar one steep hill which I power walked up on every lap – along with most other entrants.  I actually ran the last lap quicker then the first two – so a negative split – very pleased with that!

I finished the race to applause from the 30 or so people at the end and received a nice medal and great beanie hat with the ‘Little Woody’ on the front.  There was great food and drinks available in the marquee and I sat on a straw bale with a cup of tea and a bacon roll and could not have been happier!

We all then waited at the finish for Stubby 7 from the forum whom we had met the day before and who had come on his own to tackle his second ever triathlon.  He duly arrived and I was really pleased for him. It was a tough event – definitely at least as hard as Bala if not a bit tougher and Stubby had toughed it out after a hard swim and an overall hard event.

Final thoughts.  I really want to see events like this survive. The triathlon world will be the poorer if we only have corporate branded events in which to compete.  This was triathlon at grass roots level but run by people who really wanted you to have a good race experience and were extremely helpful.  It is not a race to do if you are obsessive about correct distances – the run was short and everything was a bit approximate….. but it was a tough race with great fellow competitors in glorious countryside – what’s there not to like?

Another brief-ish report on the ‘Little Woody 2012’!

Being my second triathlon ever I really enjoyed the relaxed, friendly and helpful atmosphere the organisers promoted. Registration was a quick, informal affair leaving more time to find a perfect spot for the tent (campsite was opposite the finish line – perfect for that last collapse) Racking of the bikes was in a separate area but was easily accessible and well arranged. Race briefing was very clear and again fun and informal followed by a very tasty ‘pasta party’!

I had met slimshady and his family earlier and joined them later in their tent for a can of Worthingtons and a chat to quell some of my last minute nerves! Then off to bed for the swim start at 7.30am.

Minibuses were laid on for all the athletes to be ferried to the swim site, where we were able to wait in a very comfy café/canteen (I am reliably assured I have been spoilt with this waiting area) ready for the start. The swim location was fantastic, beautiful clear water with a range of underwater artefacts (which I had time to look for on my very poor swim). I left the water last to the applause of all of the canoeists. It is worth mentioning at this point that the volunteers/orgnaisers/marshalls were fantastic throughout the race, despite me plodding around the course in last place everyone of them offered encouragement, guidance and a general sense of happiness that helped me to carry on. Out of transition and onto the bike and my head was splitting, I seriously considered giving up before putting it down to out of control breathing during the swim and concentrated on calming my breathing and taking in fluids. Luckily enough the headache stopped with my bike computer telling me I was already 15miles into the ride.

The ride was fantastic, lots of hills and some real killer inclines towards the end but on the plus side it had two fantastic downhill descents as well as stunning countryside and villages on the way. The ride came to an end, finally, and I knew then that I would complete the race whatever the run held for me. I rolled into transition where a marshall unloaded my bag and helped pack my cycling clothes away whilst discussing my ‘vibram five fingers’ and the positive/negatives of these. Slimshady’s family were also there cheering me on and giving me encouragement, for which I cannot thank them enough and I set off for the run. For the first mile I thought this was going to be easy as we ran along flat paths, all the while leading us to a set of hills that took us to the turn-around point and then it was back down again. The run went well for me, although it was long, I kept myself hydrated and fed at the two feed stations and kept my spirits high sharing nods and smiles with most of the other runners, all suffering in the same way.

Before I knew it I was on the home stretch, I was quite emotional seeing slimshady and his family at the finish line ready to cheer me home and couldn’t help smiling from ear to ear as I crossed the line. (pleased to be part of the 'pirates') I almost forgot to pick up my medal and hat in all the excitement and could not of been more proud wearing them all the way home…and part of today!

Overall this is a great event, I do not have much to compare it to but thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere, organisation and the entire event! I don’t know how relevant this report is for anyone but hopefully it isn’t too boring!

p.s. slim, I’m looking up the Ballbuster right after this!

Great reports 

Nice report Stubby - maybe I did lie when I told you the Worthington's would assist you the next day!  

See you at the Ballbuster!

Thank you purpletrilady and britrisky. What race are you doing by the way? I am definetly going to take my medal into work with me - might even hang it in the staffroom !

I just entered the Ballbuster Slim! Better get back on the bike tomorrow attacking those hills!