Coast2Coast

Hello,

I have just finished my first year of training. It all started in Aug 2011 when I did my first Sprint Tri (without any training - just for a larf) in 2h 09 and started running in Oct 2011 with a local club and my pace was 12mim/mile!

I did 13 races this year and my fastest Sprint Tri this year was accomplished in 1h26min finishing the season with my firts Olympic at London in 3.09. Im also starting to run at sub 9mim mile,

I have improved much and signed up for the Coast to Coast in 2013 (run/bike/run/kayak/run/bike/etc etc) and although I did not feel the 'urge' or ready to to a Marathon I think it will help me greatly with stamina and endurance.

For this reason I plan to do my first Marathon (a xc one) in beginning of May.

Shall I run slower that I could possibly do to, just to train myself to keep going/train for stamina?? Or should I run at my race pace - to try my best/fastest time?

The event is mid September. Do you think that just one marathon would be enough or should I do at least a couple?

Do you have any other advice with regards to endurace training?

Thanks

Thanks for your reply Cougie and well done for having done it twice!!

Im doing the one day event.

Ithink I have seen pics of that 'paddle'. How does it effect your feet, also for when you get off the kayak?? Do you just run/ cycle and remain with wet feet for the rest of the day? I saw people wearing neoprene (like diving) shoes.

I have just bought a CX bike so I will be ok with that.I m going to buy a Camelbak Octane 18x.

OK I will run as fast as I can! Will one Marathon do or more than one over the summer?
And I expect I should also do a lot of long rides maybe a few 100miles??

As much advice as possible is great especially as you have done it.

Thanks again

Cougie - what are the split times needed for this? I have had a look, I've done long distances in running and Duathlon but I was hoping for a go at the one day in this one, and was concerned at the cut-off times. Also what kind of bike would be recommended. I did the Rob Roy challenge a couple of times and used a Ridgeback Hybrid

Thanks, I fancy giving it a go I was dithering between road bike and hybrid for the Rob Roy Challenge which was 15 mile run then 42 on the bike, the last 20 or so being undulating hilly roads, but that's only as competitive as you choose to make it yourself and cut-offs don't apply.

I have an old steel frame racer that I modified to put Cyclo tyres on, that would probably work for it, as it's still quite quick on the roads. 

The only problem you might have is clearance for your tyres. I put on soem Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres - 35mm I think - they were fine for the road and good enough for the offroad bits. Some bits were very muddy too - so you might have problems clogging up your brakes ?  

cougie wrote (see)

SC your feet do get wet in the kayak but the first year it rained all day anyway so it made no difference. Id not bother with special shoes. You'd need to carry them.

The cx bike is perfect - I did see a couple on road bikes but they struggled offload. Not surprisingly.

I'd definitely do some long rides too - the fitter you are there then the stronger you'll be for the last run.

Hi Cougie, I think I will just take my trainers off before getting on the kayak and string them to my Camelbak. There is 80m of riding there so I m going to put a lot of bike miles in and spin classes when cant ride.

Really look forward to this event.

Having been redirected to this thread, I have also just signed up to do the Scotland Coast to Coast Challenge. What tips or advice for either training for the event or things to remember/forget about during the event? I'm personally doing the 2 day challenger. I've done a couple of marathons and an ultra (however I am painfully slow) but only just started cycling. What do people do over winter with regards to cycling? We've just had our first snow fall so I'm not confident I'll be able to do much (comfy to about 40 miles so far) Good to see people chatting about the event already!

I completed the racer category this year and its a great event.  I didn't cycle before much tbh (but I come from a cycling background).  It was very windy on the day which we had to ride into for the first 50 miles.  The second half of the bike is off road but I wouldn't say its that technical and is easily covered on a x bike.  The last run leg is a real joy, it has a great wilderness feel once you get out of the forest.  The lasy kayak is just all out to the finish.  I think anyone with a fair level of fitness can complete this event in one day, although I would make sure you can cover distances on the bike otherwise you will suffer unnecessily.

Hi cougie. Thanks for the tips. I had heard that the final run is a bit brutal. I'm lucky to live within reasonable driving distance of the cairngorm national park so will schedule some hilly runs there and basically try and get used to being out for most of the day (something my collie will appreciate). I'll leave the road cycing for now and work on that in the spring. With regards to kayaking, I have a wee inflatable one that I've been paddling about on the river with. It's good fun! 

That sounds like a good plan. You'll have to keep the nutrition going too - so find food that you like to eat after being out for hours on end. 

The last leg starts at Fort William football ground (Claggan Park is it) and heads off up Ben Nevis. If you follow the path and then come back down the path for the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel - thats the first little bit of it done.

Then it takes the fire road up through the forest, and then once you peel off that - its cross country to Loch Leven.

Its worth a look at I'd say - I found the steps down to the Youth Hostel treacherous in the rain - I was like bambi on ice - so find good footwear or maybe even take walking poles with you. 

I have bravely entered the one day event, sucker for punishment.  I have a very light hartail mountain bike and a road bike.  Thought I'd go on the MTB fitted with 1.8" tyres instead of its 2.3" mud cluggers.  Should reduce resistence significantly and a cross type tred.  Any recommendations out there?

Ok tried my road route on the MTB (still with wide tyres and lots of mud on it), giving similar effort to my usual training ride (usually consistent).

14.4 miles, Average speed was 1.9mph slower than the road bike, 7 minutes longer and top speed on the downhill reduced by about 5mph which mathmatically suggests around 40 minutes longer over 80 miles but I think that gap will increase significantly as it felt a lot more effort to keep moving.

Problems noticed mainly was the riding position made it difficult to get down low to avoid wind.  Pro - A lot more stable and more braking power.

My Road Bike is a Specialized Allez - not sure about the strength off road so may still change my tyres on MTB to go as narrow and free rolling as poss, may change the bars or add some clip on tri bars, I expect that would increase the average speed by over 1 mph to bridge the gap and give a good cross alternative.