The Triathlon thread - Ironman, 70.3, Olympic, Sprint
Discussion
Cotswold Classic done in 5:36. The run went very badly. Dark times mentally. However my swim and bike were great. Rain held off until I was on the run. Then it was HEAVY before settling into light rain. Teeth were chattering 5 mins after the finish.
Edited by m444ttb on Sunday 23 August 17:42
So - Ironman Copenhagen on Sunday.
Friday and Saturday were warm - very warm for Copenhagen - 24 degrees which considering i had entered because it was likely to be cool wasn't ideal - spent Friday / Saturday registering / collecting my bike and being a tourist.
Sunday morning early - bright, not that warm and pretty windy - the swim course is a manmade lagoon on the coast so its sea water but pretty still - start wave at 7.20, even though i'd done bolton last year i don't think it really dawned on me until the pros started at seven just what i had to do........my friends said I went very quiet!!
Swim start was good - not too much chaos with the new system, decided to just take it easy and see what happened - you're never going to make up or lose a whole heap of time on the swim so best just to get it done - lake was a little weedy in places but not too bad, as i was coming towards the shore i could feel my garmin vibrating on my wrist - no idea why, as i got out the water I had a look and it had decided to stop and go onto standby, so no idea what time i'd swum in - doh, anyway - out the water, helmet and bike shoes on - nutrition in pockets and off i go.
Bike course was reasonably technical for the first few miles weaving into and out of the city - out onto the coast road north of the city and all good - windy in off the sea but blowing across us but nothing too bad, eventually turned left inland and then south - roads were rolling at times and the wind was just all over the place so best not to worry too much and just get on with it - aid stations were exactly where you needed them - and you did, my bike computer now said it was 24 degrees and very sunny. i had a bit of a low point at about 70 miles, just seemed a long way done and a very long way to go - but kept turning and eventually got to the magic 100 - just 12 to go, how long did that 12 take, felt like an absolute age - i was uncomfortable, bored - just wanted to get off and have a stretch..........finally back into the city centre, give your bike away and into the tent.
Trainers on - lots of suncream and a hat and off we go again - the run course is 4 laps, anyone thats trained for an ironman should be able to run a 10k without breaking sweat - so just decided to take it one lap at a time and see what happened. The course is very flat and well supported - was still very warm but with an aid station every mile or so we were well looked after - lap 1, done, lap 2 done, i'd promised myself a rest on lap 3 to get through lap 2, but with all the support and a potentially good time in prospect i carried on - more water, more high 5 and coke - and just keep going. Lap 3 done, 10k to go - 10k, thats apparently not that far, it doesn't seem like it at the time - you're now into lots of people walking, you look at their wrists and they have less bands than you, you're still going - just keep pushing on and it'll all be over soon - with about 1k to go all the pain went away - just total adrenaline.............
i had three targets when I started - my "bronze" was to beat last years Bolton time (12.27) my "Silver" was under 12 hours - and my total stretch "Gold" target was under 11 hours.
I finished in 10:48.36 - thrilled is not the word, although I have absolutely no concept of how I could ever go faster, so that might have to be that.
Splits were
Swim 1.06.38,
T1 6.36,
Bike 5.34.33,
T2 5.39,
Run 3.55.11
Now a few more days of drinking beer and not training!!
Friday and Saturday were warm - very warm for Copenhagen - 24 degrees which considering i had entered because it was likely to be cool wasn't ideal - spent Friday / Saturday registering / collecting my bike and being a tourist.
Sunday morning early - bright, not that warm and pretty windy - the swim course is a manmade lagoon on the coast so its sea water but pretty still - start wave at 7.20, even though i'd done bolton last year i don't think it really dawned on me until the pros started at seven just what i had to do........my friends said I went very quiet!!
Swim start was good - not too much chaos with the new system, decided to just take it easy and see what happened - you're never going to make up or lose a whole heap of time on the swim so best just to get it done - lake was a little weedy in places but not too bad, as i was coming towards the shore i could feel my garmin vibrating on my wrist - no idea why, as i got out the water I had a look and it had decided to stop and go onto standby, so no idea what time i'd swum in - doh, anyway - out the water, helmet and bike shoes on - nutrition in pockets and off i go.
Bike course was reasonably technical for the first few miles weaving into and out of the city - out onto the coast road north of the city and all good - windy in off the sea but blowing across us but nothing too bad, eventually turned left inland and then south - roads were rolling at times and the wind was just all over the place so best not to worry too much and just get on with it - aid stations were exactly where you needed them - and you did, my bike computer now said it was 24 degrees and very sunny. i had a bit of a low point at about 70 miles, just seemed a long way done and a very long way to go - but kept turning and eventually got to the magic 100 - just 12 to go, how long did that 12 take, felt like an absolute age - i was uncomfortable, bored - just wanted to get off and have a stretch..........finally back into the city centre, give your bike away and into the tent.
Trainers on - lots of suncream and a hat and off we go again - the run course is 4 laps, anyone thats trained for an ironman should be able to run a 10k without breaking sweat - so just decided to take it one lap at a time and see what happened. The course is very flat and well supported - was still very warm but with an aid station every mile or so we were well looked after - lap 1, done, lap 2 done, i'd promised myself a rest on lap 3 to get through lap 2, but with all the support and a potentially good time in prospect i carried on - more water, more high 5 and coke - and just keep going. Lap 3 done, 10k to go - 10k, thats apparently not that far, it doesn't seem like it at the time - you're now into lots of people walking, you look at their wrists and they have less bands than you, you're still going - just keep pushing on and it'll all be over soon - with about 1k to go all the pain went away - just total adrenaline.............
i had three targets when I started - my "bronze" was to beat last years Bolton time (12.27) my "Silver" was under 12 hours - and my total stretch "Gold" target was under 11 hours.
I finished in 10:48.36 - thrilled is not the word, although I have absolutely no concept of how I could ever go faster, so that might have to be that.
Splits were
Swim 1.06.38,
T1 6.36,
Bike 5.34.33,
T2 5.39,
Run 3.55.11
Now a few more days of drinking beer and not training!!
drgav2005 said:
Great effort - well done! Half of the battle with long distance tri is mental. Actually, long distance tri is mental. Welcome to the madhouse 
Thanks. I need a good hard think about 2016 now. While my time was good and beat my target I'm not that happy due to the run being so poor despite the training. I'm leaning toward another year at this distance and putting back the Long Course Weekend and IM Wales to 2017.esuuv said:
So - Ironman Copenhagen on Sunday.
Friday and Saturday were warm - very warm for Copenhagen - 24 degrees which considering i had entered because it was likely to be cool wasn't ideal - spent Friday / Saturday registering / collecting my bike and being a tourist.
Sunday morning early - bright, not that warm and pretty windy - the swim course is a manmade lagoon on the coast so its sea water but pretty still - start wave at 7.20, even though i'd done bolton last year i don't think it really dawned on me until the pros started at seven just what i had to do........my friends said I went very quiet!!
Swim start was good - not too much chaos with the new system, decided to just take it easy and see what happened - you're never going to make up or lose a whole heap of time on the swim so best just to get it done - lake was a little weedy in places but not too bad, as i was coming towards the shore i could feel my garmin vibrating on my wrist - no idea why, as i got out the water I had a look and it had decided to stop and go onto standby, so no idea what time i'd swum in - doh, anyway - out the water, helmet and bike shoes on - nutrition in pockets and off i go.
Bike course was reasonably technical for the first few miles weaving into and out of the city - out onto the coast road north of the city and all good - windy in off the sea but blowing across us but nothing too bad, eventually turned left inland and then south - roads were rolling at times and the wind was just all over the place so best not to worry too much and just get on with it - aid stations were exactly where you needed them - and you did, my bike computer now said it was 24 degrees and very sunny. i had a bit of a low point at about 70 miles, just seemed a long way done and a very long way to go - but kept turning and eventually got to the magic 100 - just 12 to go, how long did that 12 take, felt like an absolute age - i was uncomfortable, bored - just wanted to get off and have a stretch..........finally back into the city centre, give your bike away and into the tent.
Trainers on - lots of suncream and a hat and off we go again - the run course is 4 laps, anyone thats trained for an ironman should be able to run a 10k without breaking sweat - so just decided to take it one lap at a time and see what happened. The course is very flat and well supported - was still very warm but with an aid station every mile or so we were well looked after - lap 1, done, lap 2 done, i'd promised myself a rest on lap 3 to get through lap 2, but with all the support and a potentially good time in prospect i carried on - more water, more high 5 and coke - and just keep going. Lap 3 done, 10k to go - 10k, thats apparently not that far, it doesn't seem like it at the time - you're now into lots of people walking, you look at their wrists and they have less bands than you, you're still going - just keep pushing on and it'll all be over soon - with about 1k to go all the pain went away - just total adrenaline.............
i had three targets when I started - my "bronze" was to beat last years Bolton time (12.27) my "Silver" was under 12 hours - and my total stretch "Gold" target was under 11 hours.
I finished in 10:48.36 - thrilled is not the word, although I have absolutely no concept of how I could ever go faster, so that might have to be that.
Splits were
Swim 1.06.38,
T1 6.36,
Bike 5.34.33,
T2 5.39,
Run 3.55.11
Now a few more days of drinking beer and not training!!
Bloody awesome!!! Friday and Saturday were warm - very warm for Copenhagen - 24 degrees which considering i had entered because it was likely to be cool wasn't ideal - spent Friday / Saturday registering / collecting my bike and being a tourist.
Sunday morning early - bright, not that warm and pretty windy - the swim course is a manmade lagoon on the coast so its sea water but pretty still - start wave at 7.20, even though i'd done bolton last year i don't think it really dawned on me until the pros started at seven just what i had to do........my friends said I went very quiet!!
Swim start was good - not too much chaos with the new system, decided to just take it easy and see what happened - you're never going to make up or lose a whole heap of time on the swim so best just to get it done - lake was a little weedy in places but not too bad, as i was coming towards the shore i could feel my garmin vibrating on my wrist - no idea why, as i got out the water I had a look and it had decided to stop and go onto standby, so no idea what time i'd swum in - doh, anyway - out the water, helmet and bike shoes on - nutrition in pockets and off i go.
Bike course was reasonably technical for the first few miles weaving into and out of the city - out onto the coast road north of the city and all good - windy in off the sea but blowing across us but nothing too bad, eventually turned left inland and then south - roads were rolling at times and the wind was just all over the place so best not to worry too much and just get on with it - aid stations were exactly where you needed them - and you did, my bike computer now said it was 24 degrees and very sunny. i had a bit of a low point at about 70 miles, just seemed a long way done and a very long way to go - but kept turning and eventually got to the magic 100 - just 12 to go, how long did that 12 take, felt like an absolute age - i was uncomfortable, bored - just wanted to get off and have a stretch..........finally back into the city centre, give your bike away and into the tent.
Trainers on - lots of suncream and a hat and off we go again - the run course is 4 laps, anyone thats trained for an ironman should be able to run a 10k without breaking sweat - so just decided to take it one lap at a time and see what happened. The course is very flat and well supported - was still very warm but with an aid station every mile or so we were well looked after - lap 1, done, lap 2 done, i'd promised myself a rest on lap 3 to get through lap 2, but with all the support and a potentially good time in prospect i carried on - more water, more high 5 and coke - and just keep going. Lap 3 done, 10k to go - 10k, thats apparently not that far, it doesn't seem like it at the time - you're now into lots of people walking, you look at their wrists and they have less bands than you, you're still going - just keep pushing on and it'll all be over soon - with about 1k to go all the pain went away - just total adrenaline.............
i had three targets when I started - my "bronze" was to beat last years Bolton time (12.27) my "Silver" was under 12 hours - and my total stretch "Gold" target was under 11 hours.
I finished in 10:48.36 - thrilled is not the word, although I have absolutely no concept of how I could ever go faster, so that might have to be that.
Splits were
Swim 1.06.38,
T1 6.36,
Bike 5.34.33,
T2 5.39,
Run 3.55.11
Now a few more days of drinking beer and not training!!
m444ttb said:
drgav2005 said:
Great effort - well done! Half of the battle with long distance tri is mental. Actually, long distance tri is mental. Welcome to the madhouse
Thanks. I need a good hard think about 2016 now. While my time was good and beat my target I'm not that happy due to the run being so poor despite the training. I'm leaning toward another year at this distance and putting back the Long Course Weekend and IM Wales to 2017.
)I think i'm just feeling a combo of post-A race blues and not having enjoyed the style in which i finished. All this said the only known when i booked the half was that i could run a half marathon. Oddly for full distance the run is the bit im most concerned with. At least i know i can pull off a run/walk strategy!
m444ttb said:
I think i'm just feeling a combo of post-A race blues and not having enjoyed the style in which i finished. All this said the only known when i booked the half was that i could run a half marathon. Oddly for full distance the run is the bit im most concerned with. At least i know i can pull off a run/walk strategy!
i'd be very surprised if at least 90% of an IM field didn't run/walk the marathon, even if it's just to walk the aid stations. I've always come off the bike feeling battered, even on 100mile training rides i've never felt able to go straight into a run. But, for me at least, all that changes on race day, as Dr Gav says above so much of it is mental at this distance. Get yourself entered in the big one for next year & do the Cotswold Classic again, its an ideal time for a training race. If it doesn't work out you still have 2017 to go for & you'll be in a much better position with the experience of 2016. With a 5.30ish half in the bag already you've already got most of what it takes to get to the finish of a full
Well I have booked the Long Course Weekend (did it a month ago). The worst case will be I can't manage any of the three events with only two months left to get it together for the rather expensive Ironman Wales. My plan, if I do IM Wales, for next year would be to do the Titan Brecon in June, LCW in July and Cotswold Classic in August as prep events. If I don't do IM Wales I'll consider cancelling the LCW place and adding a few other tougher half distances such as Titan Weston-Super-Mare. Then doing it in 2017.
m444ttb said:
Well I have booked the Long Course Weekend (did it a month ago). The worst case will be I can't manage any of the three events with only two months left to get it together for the rather expensive Ironman Wales. My plan, if I do IM Wales, for next year would be to do the Titan Brecon in June, LCW in July and Cotswold Classic in August as prep events. If I don't do IM Wales I'll consider cancelling the LCW place and adding a few other tougher half distances such as Titan Weston-Super-Mare. Then doing it in 2017.
I certainly wouldn't want to worry you, but the Long Course weekend is quite tough, plenty of people do give themselves a hard time and then have plenty of time off after. I was advised by more than one about being careful if I entered it.However, I overtook someone wearing a Long Course Weekend number who had switched to the 70 mile bike and half marathon (you got a different colour number, she looked like she was in pain on St Bride's hill), so if you find yourself struggling you may be able to do that. Of course, you'd miss out the 4th medal but that's not the important bit. I was struggling with my running, so entered the full swim, full bike but then only the half marathon. I also managed to get back out on the bike and running in the following week, so I think I managed to use the weekend as good training.
I've got my race number for IM wales now, 844. It's getting real!
Dimski said:
I've got my race number for IM wales now, 844. It's getting real!
Yep got mine too,1049. Starting to feel a bit panicky about it.My running has been a bit problematic and Sunday's long run didn't go well. To make matters worse my ITB issues has flared up so I think I'm going to have to give up any further runs.
Doing loads of foam rollering and strengthening exercises. It isn't as bad as last time where I couldn't run for 2 months but I know it isn't right. Just got to hope for the best I guess.
I have already pondered whether the Sunday marathon at the LCW may even be worse than at the end of IMW. You have overnight to stiffen up on one hand, but on the other don't have the same nutrition worries. I do like the LCW format though. Can always back out of some / all of an event.
drinks said:
Yep got mine too,1049. Starting to feel a bit panicky about it.
My running has been a bit problematic and Sunday's long run didn't go well. To make matters worse my ITB issues has flared up so I think I'm going to have to give up any further runs.
Doing loads of foam rollering and strengthening exercises. It isn't as bad as last time where I couldn't run for 2 months but I know it isn't right. Just got to hope for the best I guess.
I feel your pain, me too. Pulled up sharply this morning after 20 mins on my run as my knee was bMy running has been a bit problematic and Sunday's long run didn't go well. To make matters worse my ITB issues has flared up so I think I'm going to have to give up any further runs.
Doing loads of foam rollering and strengthening exercises. It isn't as bad as last time where I couldn't run for 2 months but I know it isn't right. Just got to hope for the best I guess.
hing at me. I've not suffered knee pain since early on in my training, and thought that was down to un-even ground. Perhaps it was more about running downhill. Oh well, I'm into the taper period anyway, and I've already accepted that walking (most of) the run is a distinct possibility. Feeling good about the swim and the bike, that'll have to do.m444ttb said:
I have already pondered whether the Sunday marathon at the LCW may even be worse than at the end of IMW. You have overnight to stiffen up on one hand, but on the other don't have the same nutrition worries. I do like the LCW format though. Can always back out of some / all of an event.
Both are quite tough courses, a local LCW/IM Wales finisher did tell me that in her opinion the LCW marathon was the harder of the two. Higher expectation to run the whole thing, perhaps. You can just aim to be sensible on the weekend, and if after the cycle you feel the marathon is a step too far you can, as you say, drop it. Although the 112 bike was a huge step up for me at the time, I didn't seem to be suffering too much the next morning before the run. I might have answered that differently had I tried the marathon. I certainly aim to give the whole LCW a go next year.Edited by Dimski on Friday 28th August 16:16
Well after a crap nights sleep its my first go at a triathlon this morning.
Its only a mini taster event but i am still a bit nervous about it. Only 200m swim, 6 mile ride and 1.5 mile run which shouldn't be a problem (well maybe the swimming) but i am nervous about the transitions etc.
I have decided that instead of messing about with bike shoes and trainers though that i am just going to put some flat mtb pedals on my road bike and just wear the same trainers for the ride/run. Not ideal but less chance of me getting confused and cocking things up!
Its only a mini taster event but i am still a bit nervous about it. Only 200m swim, 6 mile ride and 1.5 mile run which shouldn't be a problem (well maybe the swimming) but i am nervous about the transitions etc.
I have decided that instead of messing about with bike shoes and trainers though that i am just going to put some flat mtb pedals on my road bike and just wear the same trainers for the ride/run. Not ideal but less chance of me getting confused and cocking things up!
Well i enjoyed it!
Went well apart from my swimming which went all to pot because i tried to go fast instead of concentrating on swimming properly. still i got round.
I actually managed to finish 6th out of the 47 taking part and my wife finished 8th. It was hardly and elite field but i am very pleased for our first attempts!
Went well apart from my swimming which went all to pot because i tried to go fast instead of concentrating on swimming properly. still i got round.
I actually managed to finish 6th out of the 47 taking part and my wife finished 8th. It was hardly and elite field but i am very pleased for our first attempts!
ED209 said:
Well i enjoyed it!
Went well apart from my swimming which went all to pot because i tried to go fast instead of concentrating on swimming properly. still i got round.
I actually managed to finish 6th out of the 47 taking part and my wife finished 8th. It was hardly and elite field but i am very pleased for our first attempts!
Well done, everyone starts somewhere. Went well apart from my swimming which went all to pot because i tried to go fast instead of concentrating on swimming properly. still i got round.
I actually managed to finish 6th out of the 47 taking part and my wife finished 8th. It was hardly and elite field but i am very pleased for our first attempts!
Nope - I did the half IM at Hever castle last year - not even nearly enough space in transition - and then half the rack empty, i smashed my hand off something submerged in the water - after we started nearly 20 mins late, all just stood around in our wetsuits, race briefing was way too long / complicated, kept going through specific junctions on the bike course - like we were going to remember every turn in 28 miles..............then as i said, we justr waited 20 mins for no apparent (or at least explained) reason.
Then the bike course itself was dangerous / slow - too many people on too small roads, that were still open to traffic - there were all distances so a varied ability of people, on several ascents you got stuck behind frustrated car drivers, trying to overtake slower cyclists and there just not being room to go around - so you jut crawled up at their pace in an increasingly big / frustrated group.
I stopped after lap 1 of the bike as I was getting pins / needles from my bruised hand and generally wasn't having a fun day - i won't be back.
Then the bike course itself was dangerous / slow - too many people on too small roads, that were still open to traffic - there were all distances so a varied ability of people, on several ascents you got stuck behind frustrated car drivers, trying to overtake slower cyclists and there just not being room to go around - so you jut crawled up at their pace in an increasingly big / frustrated group.
I stopped after lap 1 of the bike as I was getting pins / needles from my bruised hand and generally wasn't having a fun day - i won't be back.
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