The Triathlon thread - Ironman, 70.3, Olympic, Sprint
Discussion
Scabutz said:
I've been sulking since Lanza and got really fat. Need to get back into it. Went head first back into training and put my back out. Bit of gentle swimming for a week or so now to ease back in
.
What’s really fat, I seem to recall you were 106kg and looking to cut weight then, what did you get to per Lanza and where are you now? .
Gargamel said:
Scabutz said:
I've been sulking since Lanza and got really fat. Need to get back into it. Went head first back into training and put my back out. Bit of gentle swimming for a week or so now to ease back in
.
What’s really fat, I seem to recall you were 106kg and looking to cut weight then, what did you get to per Lanza and where are you now? .
I am mostly focusing on BF% now rather than purely weight. Going to hit the gym a bit and try and bring the weight down slowly. Mistake I've done in the past is to lose weight quickly.
I am roughly 28% BF% now (done with calipers). Would like to get it somewhere between 10-15% mark which will put me around the 90kg ball park.
I've got the rest of this year and next spring. Would like to start the season at "race weight" and then not have to worry about when I deep in training.
craig r said:
Just booked sprint tri's 2 & 3 of the year, Southam and Brackley. The Southam one is a repeat of the first one I did this year which I monumentally cocked up, but I have a time to aim at. Unfortunately, it's the day after Wolf run which I have entered so I can see my legs complaining a bit! The Brackley one is a bit of a strange one I think, the bike is 28km, which is longer than for a normal sprint?
Next year I want to do some open water sprints, I'm thinking Pitsford Triathlon. If anyone has experience or suggestions of other open water sprint distance tri's around Northampton I would like to hear about it.
What is the opinion on triathlon clubs? I usually train alone as I like being in my own head without distractions, but I keep feeling like I should join one.
I am a member of a triathlon club but I don't often go to the training sessions. 1, like you I prefer to train on my own without distractions, 2 I find it hard to train at specified times and need to fit around other things. I do like to go along to some when I can for the social side of things though and for some different sessions. Some people can't function without a club, others don't need it all. When you really get in to tri you do get club discount on your BTF membership so worth having then.Next year I want to do some open water sprints, I'm thinking Pitsford Triathlon. If anyone has experience or suggestions of other open water sprint distance tri's around Northampton I would like to hear about it.
What is the opinion on triathlon clubs? I usually train alone as I like being in my own head without distractions, but I keep feeling like I should join one.
Pitsford is a good event. I did the standard last year. Swim is good, it was a little weedy but the organiser had ploughed a channel through the exit so it wasn't too bad as long as you found that. Its quite exposed so gets a little choppy but really nothing to worry about. Short run to transition.
Bike course is lumpy. No huge climbs but a few short, sharp shocks. Nice quiet roads though so generally a fast course.
Run is round the the lake. Flat, some "off-road" sections. Not trails just not tarmaced path. Good event, I recommend that.
Big Cow do events at Emberton which isn't far from Northampton. They did used to have a sprint/standard in May/June but didn't this year. Their main event is the Cowman which is half iron. This year they have added Calfman & Stampeed. With Calfman being half half ironman and Stampeed being half that again (so basically sprint).
There is one at Stanwick Lakes as well but I haven't done that and don't know anyone that has. Got Ok reviews on racecheck ( https://www.racecheck.com/races/stanwick-lakes-tri...)
Scabutz said:
I've been sulking since Lanza and got really fat. Need to get back into it. Went head first back into training and put my back out. Bit of gentle swimming for a week or so now to ease back in.
Similar to me! 
Haven't run for 6 weeks! Thought I'd go for an "easy" 5K just to see where I'm at.
Yeah went well!
My pacing is dogs
t. Went out at race pace, (makes sense since last run was a race) hung on for grim death and suffered like mad. Got home, and my calves spent the next 3 days complaining that Id been a dick! 
Bit of foam rollering and a gentle 4K jog and they feel a bit better now. Still tight, but should be OK to resume light training over the next few days 
Scabutz said:
I was about 103Kg when disaster struck. 3 days in hospital nil by mouth waiting for an op I probably went under 100. I am now 113kg. Last year when I set my PB I was 94kg. I still had some visible fat around the belly but not much.
I am mostly focusing on BF% now rather than purely weight. Going to hit the gym a bit and try and bring the weight down slowly. Mistake I've done in the past is to lose weight quickly.
I am roughly 28% BF% now (done with calipers). Would like to get it somewhere between 10-15% mark which will put me around the 90kg ball park.
I've got the rest of this year and next spring. Would like to start the season at "race weight" and then not have to worry about when I deep in training.
Yeah that is a fair chunk of weight there. 113 kg to 94kg. That is getting close to 180,000 calories. So good luck with that, you need a proper food schedule. If you don't mind me saying so, you have seem to have a really clear idea on your FTP and HR and PTW and a whole load of analysis - but are struggling with a basic issue.... whats the story ?I am mostly focusing on BF% now rather than purely weight. Going to hit the gym a bit and try and bring the weight down slowly. Mistake I've done in the past is to lose weight quickly.
I am roughly 28% BF% now (done with calipers). Would like to get it somewhere between 10-15% mark which will put me around the 90kg ball park.
I've got the rest of this year and next spring. Would like to start the season at "race weight" and then not have to worry about when I deep in training.
I have taken about 6 kg off in four months, a feel significantly better for it. Still want to lose about another 4kg before the winter.
Something is going on in my head though, whenever I have a long swim session I just feel incredibly hungry. A bit of salad just isn't doing it. I need to find a better way of dealing with post swim hunger. In the old days it would have been a bag of bovril crisps of course.
Gargamel said:
Yeah that is a fair chunk of weight there. 113 kg to 94kg. That is getting close to 180,000 calories. So good luck with that, you need a proper food schedule. If you don't mind me saying so, you have seem to have a really clear idea on your FTP and HR and PTW and a whole load of analysis - but are struggling with a basic issue.... whats the story ?
On a basic level I would say, greed. Deeper than that I have, I guess, a personality trait that is unhealthy. I call it an all or nothing mentality. I either train 20 hours per week, eat really well, go to bed early, don't drink any alcohol. Or I eat crap, do nothing, drink loads go to bed late. It would be easy to say I have some issue with my weight, biologically or otherwise but I don't think that's it at all. I do put on weight easily but I am enormously greedy. You don't put on 10kg in 2 months without some serious eating and drinking.
I need to find some middle ground between the current extremes. That's why I want to start losing it slowly and stop the yo-yo dieting. I also need to find a way of moderating my drinking. I can not touch a drop for 9 months and then will go mad when I do have a drink.
I also need to handle set backs better. Its always when I something prevents me from doing what I planned that I give up and do nothing. My finger before Lanza was a prime example. I couldn't swim for weeks because of the wound and couldn't really cycle because I could use the brakes very well. But I could have run, and I could have cycled on the turbo, I could have done some strength work. Instead I did nothing but sit in the sun drinking endless bottles of white wine, stuffing my face.
Scabutz said:
Gargamel said:
Yeah that is a fair chunk of weight there. 113 kg to 94kg. That is getting close to 180,000 calories. So good luck with that, you need a proper food schedule. If you don't mind me saying so, you have seem to have a really clear idea on your FTP and HR and PTW and a whole load of analysis - but are struggling with a basic issue.... whats the story ?
On a basic level I would say, greed. Deeper than that I have, I guess, a personality trait that is unhealthy. I call it an all or nothing mentality. I either train 20 hours per week, eat really well, go to bed early, don't drink any alcohol. Or I eat crap, do nothing, drink loads go to bed late. It would be easy to say I have some issue with my weight, biologically or otherwise but I don't think that's it at all. I do put on weight easily but I am enormously greedy. You don't put on 10kg in 2 months without some serious eating and drinking.
I need to find some middle ground between the current extremes. That's why I want to start losing it slowly and stop the yo-yo dieting. I also need to find a way of moderating my drinking. I can not touch a drop for 9 months and then will go mad when I do have a drink.
I also need to handle set backs better. Its always when I something prevents me from doing what I planned that I give up and do nothing. My finger before Lanza was a prime example. I couldn't swim for weeks because of the wound and couldn't really cycle because I could use the brakes very well. But I could have run, and I could have cycled on the turbo, I could have done some strength work. Instead I did nothing but sit in the sun drinking endless bottles of white wine, stuffing my face.
Whilst having goals can be super motivating, having either unrealistic ones, or when you "fail" to achieve a goal can have a big impact.
I think you may need to forget your PB's from back then, and focus on some achievements now. Eg stop beating yourself up that you aren't 94 kgs any more. How about targeting to get to 105. That type of thing. Also have five goals, and mentally agree with yourself that 3 out of 5 is a good win ! That may help stop you fixating and going high and low when things don't run to plan
SouthHamsGaz said:
dangerousB said:
SouthHamsGaz said:
The sister in law absolutely smashed it on Sunday in Nice.
Over 15 minutes ahead of 2nd place and a new course record. Not bad for someone in her 40's
Fair play, that's a Over 15 minutes ahead of 2nd place and a new course record. Not bad for someone in her 40's
performance! Is she taking her Kona slot?Not sure is the answer, after many injuries and her age she is at the point in her career where she just takes it one race at a time. She also needs more points to qualify for Kona at the moment. Placing 4th in Sweden will give her the points required though.
Yesterdays triathlon at Banburgh turned into a duathlon due to a north easterly wind causing dangerous sea conditions. Ended up as a 1.1 mile run, 14.4 mile (646ft elevation) ride and finished with a 3.5 mile run. - 1hr 19 31 secs for me. Beat the wife by 12 seconds!
I came my usual nowhere 27th out of 128 finishers. Wife came second senior female.
Bit of a shambolic event again to be honest, zero transition security, I literally could have walked in and taken any bike i wanted, no pre planned contingency for the swim being cancelled, no trophies at all for any of the winners, A marshall who was meant to be logging time people were stopped at temporary lights who didn't appear to have the required stop watch, pen and piece of paper.
This is the third year I have been involved in this event and I won't be going back. There just doesn't seem to be any learning from previous years. Its such a shame because the setting is fantastic.
I came my usual nowhere 27th out of 128 finishers. Wife came second senior female.
Bit of a shambolic event again to be honest, zero transition security, I literally could have walked in and taken any bike i wanted, no pre planned contingency for the swim being cancelled, no trophies at all for any of the winners, A marshall who was meant to be logging time people were stopped at temporary lights who didn't appear to have the required stop watch, pen and piece of paper.
This is the third year I have been involved in this event and I won't be going back. There just doesn't seem to be any learning from previous years. Its such a shame because the setting is fantastic.
As promised, a race report from my Swedish adventure!
I'm afraid it goes on a bit so I'll split it into several sections and if you can't be arsed to read it all, I'll finish with a TLDR!
TRAINING
I entered this race after NOT getting in to Norseman at the fourth attempt! Xtri emailed me saying that this race was being held for the first time and because of that, I was more likely to get a place. Entered the ballot and sure enough, got in! That was back at the tail end of last November.
I didn't really start training until March (17hrs), had a belting April (42hrs), but as usual work then got mad busy and I only managed 20, 17 & 18hrs respectively for May - July. The vast majority of my training was bike & run - mainly because I'm still recovering from a shoulder injury, but also because I knew the bike was likely to be reasonably tough (2300m of elevation gain) and the run was in the mountains (2000m of elevation gain) so that wasn't going to be easy either. In total I only completed 4 swims before the event, because I was worried about exacerbating my injured shoulder (and last time it "went" was 3 weeks before IMCH which meant I had to forfeit that race).
All in all, I felt OK going over - not in stellar condition, but not too shabby. I don't think I've ever felt I've done "enough" training before an event, but my run has improved massively this year (I'm 10 - 12% quicker than I have ever been in my life, knocking on the door of low 40's 10k pace) and although every one of my rides was indoors in preparation, my bike legs felt OK too. The only thing I was worried about was my shoulder for the swim and I was praying for an easy one - it was in a lake with the gun going off at 5am, so I had visions of a glassy surface and with only 200 or so in the water (compared to 2,500 normally!!), hopefully there was likely to be far less aggro than you'd normally experience.
I'm afraid it goes on a bit so I'll split it into several sections and if you can't be arsed to read it all, I'll finish with a TLDR!
TRAINING
I entered this race after NOT getting in to Norseman at the fourth attempt! Xtri emailed me saying that this race was being held for the first time and because of that, I was more likely to get a place. Entered the ballot and sure enough, got in! That was back at the tail end of last November.
I didn't really start training until March (17hrs), had a belting April (42hrs), but as usual work then got mad busy and I only managed 20, 17 & 18hrs respectively for May - July. The vast majority of my training was bike & run - mainly because I'm still recovering from a shoulder injury, but also because I knew the bike was likely to be reasonably tough (2300m of elevation gain) and the run was in the mountains (2000m of elevation gain) so that wasn't going to be easy either. In total I only completed 4 swims before the event, because I was worried about exacerbating my injured shoulder (and last time it "went" was 3 weeks before IMCH which meant I had to forfeit that race).
All in all, I felt OK going over - not in stellar condition, but not too shabby. I don't think I've ever felt I've done "enough" training before an event, but my run has improved massively this year (I'm 10 - 12% quicker than I have ever been in my life, knocking on the door of low 40's 10k pace) and although every one of my rides was indoors in preparation, my bike legs felt OK too. The only thing I was worried about was my shoulder for the swim and I was praying for an easy one - it was in a lake with the gun going off at 5am, so I had visions of a glassy surface and with only 200 or so in the water (compared to 2,500 normally!!), hopefully there was likely to be far less aggro than you'd normally experience.
RACE DAY
The alarm went off at 3.10am which gave me a good half hour to get my kit together and get down in to the hotel foyer where we were meeting, before being coached the 30 odd kilometres to a remote beach at Öster-Noren lake. When I got up though, there was a noise coming from outside which I had to investigate - opened the doors to my balcony and immediately discovered the weather was horrendous. The sound I could hear was the wind absolutely ROARING. I can remember saying "Holy st!" - it was an easterly and straight away I knew that would mean the swim wasn't going to be the straightforward event that I was hoping.
Worse still, it meant a LOT of the bike was liable to be straight into the teeth of it. Ever being the optimist, I told myself, it's OK, it'll pass over and come 5am it'll all be fine.
SWIM
After jumping on the coaches, we were dropped off on the remote beach at 4.30am. It was dark, cold and the wind was still roaring. I didn't even want to look at the water, but the minutes passed and at 4.50am, we all made our way to the water's edge for the beach start. It didn't look good. Big waves & white horses. After a brief song by a women in Swedish traditional costume (which you could barely hear over the noise of the wind!), we were off!
Good news was the water wasn't the 12°C that it could have been - it was about 16°C apparently and actually quite pleasant. That was the extent of the good news though. First few strokes went something like, bubble, bubble, breathe, mouthful of water, cough and splutter, repeat. Very unpleasant. Not too much argey bargey, but the water was totally unpredictable - no swell frequency that you could time like you get in the sea, just waves breaking everywhere and most of them seemingly breaking when I went to breathe.
This was the first time of the day where I had to have a word with myself. I'd probably only covered about 200m, had probably kopped about 5 mouthfuls of water, didn't really know in what precise direction I was supposed to be swimming (it was that windy they couldn't put any buoys out), hadn't remotely established a rhythm, my left shoulder was tweaking trying to keep me stable in the very choppy water and I was acutely aware there was a CHUFFING long way to go. I did something I've never done in a race and switched to breaststroke - it worked. My breathing became more controlled, I could sight a lot easier and most importantly I could just relax.
Kept the breaststroke up for about 500m, by which time we were in some slightly calmer water approaching the lee side of the lake - still choppy, but nothing like what was behind us. Switched back to freestyle and from then on, actually began to enjoy a lovely swim in gin clear water. After what seemed an age (always does!), I caught my first sight of Tannforsen falls (Sweden's highest waterfall) at my 1 o'clock and knew I was nearly home and dry.
Exited the swim just downstream of Tannforsen over some big rocks (very inelegantly, with plenty of help from the marshalls!) and started the 400m uphill run to T1 . . . swim time 1:20ish
The alarm went off at 3.10am which gave me a good half hour to get my kit together and get down in to the hotel foyer where we were meeting, before being coached the 30 odd kilometres to a remote beach at Öster-Noren lake. When I got up though, there was a noise coming from outside which I had to investigate - opened the doors to my balcony and immediately discovered the weather was horrendous. The sound I could hear was the wind absolutely ROARING. I can remember saying "Holy s
t!" - it was an easterly and straight away I knew that would mean the swim wasn't going to be the straightforward event that I was hoping.Worse still, it meant a LOT of the bike was liable to be straight into the teeth of it. Ever being the optimist, I told myself, it's OK, it'll pass over and come 5am it'll all be fine.
SWIM
After jumping on the coaches, we were dropped off on the remote beach at 4.30am. It was dark, cold and the wind was still roaring. I didn't even want to look at the water, but the minutes passed and at 4.50am, we all made our way to the water's edge for the beach start. It didn't look good. Big waves & white horses. After a brief song by a women in Swedish traditional costume (which you could barely hear over the noise of the wind!), we were off!
Good news was the water wasn't the 12°C that it could have been - it was about 16°C apparently and actually quite pleasant. That was the extent of the good news though. First few strokes went something like, bubble, bubble, breathe, mouthful of water, cough and splutter, repeat. Very unpleasant. Not too much argey bargey, but the water was totally unpredictable - no swell frequency that you could time like you get in the sea, just waves breaking everywhere and most of them seemingly breaking when I went to breathe.
This was the first time of the day where I had to have a word with myself. I'd probably only covered about 200m, had probably kopped about 5 mouthfuls of water, didn't really know in what precise direction I was supposed to be swimming (it was that windy they couldn't put any buoys out), hadn't remotely established a rhythm, my left shoulder was tweaking trying to keep me stable in the very choppy water and I was acutely aware there was a CHUFFING long way to go. I did something I've never done in a race and switched to breaststroke - it worked. My breathing became more controlled, I could sight a lot easier and most importantly I could just relax.
Kept the breaststroke up for about 500m, by which time we were in some slightly calmer water approaching the lee side of the lake - still choppy, but nothing like what was behind us. Switched back to freestyle and from then on, actually began to enjoy a lovely swim in gin clear water. After what seemed an age (always does!), I caught my first sight of Tannforsen falls (Sweden's highest waterfall) at my 1 o'clock and knew I was nearly home and dry.
Exited the swim just downstream of Tannforsen over some big rocks (very inelegantly, with plenty of help from the marshalls!) and started the 400m uphill run to T1 . . . swim time 1:20ish
BIKE
Met my guys at T1 and they were amazing. What is it with T1 and losing all motor control/brain function? Tried to put my bike gloves on inside out and basically looked like Bambi trying its first steps. Eventually managed to get my kit sorted and on my bike. First kilometre, 6% climb - cheers Xtri!!
Got out onto the main road towards Åre (heading West) and with the wind on my back, felt I was flying. Just needed to rig a sail - this was all good! Even 2 - 3km inclines were despatched without any significant loss in speed or even realising the road was going up hill. Many times I looked down at my Garmin and saw 60 - 65kph on the flat. Despite a fair amount of elevation gain, I saw off the first 70k in a fraction over 2 hours. Naturally, I also convinced myself that the wind was either going to die off or switch and blow me all the way back to Åre Björnen.
Naturally, that wasn't at all what happened. At 70k we turned North and the tailwind became savage sidewinds. I didn't hear of anyone crashing, but I was amazed that didn't happen (there were several people running discs) - also had a deluge of rain during this period and then at 100k'ish the sidewinds became headwinds.
Now normally I can deal with a headwind. I wouldn't really class myself as a strong cyclist, but I'm OK. This was utterly ridiculous though. I have no idea of the official windspeed during the day - I know for a fact that it was 60mph on the mountain, so I'm guessing it was at least 30mph on the bike. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it were more though. It was horrendous. At 105km, the bike morphed into physical and psychological torture. I know that sounds like hyperbole, but that's exactly how it felt. There was no escape from the wind, no rest anywhere. You had to fight and work hard for every km/h on the flat let alone when the road started to rise (which it did a fair amount of).
The bike leg was unsupported, so I had to liaise with my support guys and we arranged a pitstop at 70km, 110km, a quick one at 150km (as my rear tyre had decided to deflate to 45psi!) and a last splash and dash at 180k. From 180k onwards I was WILLING the kilometres down, but my God they were slow in disappearing! The last 20 odd k back to Åre Björnen went uphill a fair amount and were proper hard graft. My Garmin signalled that we had finally completed
205k and I could see the signs for the right hand turn off the E14. I felt overjoyed, this torture was finally over! Made the right turn expecting to see T2 and instead looked up another hill. To be precise, it was a switchback road, 2.5k long @ 7%. The final kick in the nuts. After everything beforehand it hurt - an awful lot!
Met my guys at T1 and they were amazing. What is it with T1 and losing all motor control/brain function? Tried to put my bike gloves on inside out and basically looked like Bambi trying its first steps. Eventually managed to get my kit sorted and on my bike. First kilometre, 6% climb - cheers Xtri!!
Got out onto the main road towards Åre (heading West) and with the wind on my back, felt I was flying. Just needed to rig a sail - this was all good! Even 2 - 3km inclines were despatched without any significant loss in speed or even realising the road was going up hill. Many times I looked down at my Garmin and saw 60 - 65kph on the flat. Despite a fair amount of elevation gain, I saw off the first 70k in a fraction over 2 hours. Naturally, I also convinced myself that the wind was either going to die off or switch and blow me all the way back to Åre Björnen.
Naturally, that wasn't at all what happened. At 70k we turned North and the tailwind became savage sidewinds. I didn't hear of anyone crashing, but I was amazed that didn't happen (there were several people running discs) - also had a deluge of rain during this period and then at 100k'ish the sidewinds became headwinds.
Now normally I can deal with a headwind. I wouldn't really class myself as a strong cyclist, but I'm OK. This was utterly ridiculous though. I have no idea of the official windspeed during the day - I know for a fact that it was 60mph on the mountain, so I'm guessing it was at least 30mph on the bike. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it were more though. It was horrendous. At 105km, the bike morphed into physical and psychological torture. I know that sounds like hyperbole, but that's exactly how it felt. There was no escape from the wind, no rest anywhere. You had to fight and work hard for every km/h on the flat let alone when the road started to rise (which it did a fair amount of).
The bike leg was unsupported, so I had to liaise with my support guys and we arranged a pitstop at 70km, 110km, a quick one at 150km (as my rear tyre had decided to deflate to 45psi!) and a last splash and dash at 180k. From 180k onwards I was WILLING the kilometres down, but my God they were slow in disappearing! The last 20 odd k back to Åre Björnen went uphill a fair amount and were proper hard graft. My Garmin signalled that we had finally completed
205k and I could see the signs for the right hand turn off the E14. I felt overjoyed, this torture was finally over! Made the right turn expecting to see T2 and instead looked up another hill. To be precise, it was a switchback road, 2.5k long @ 7%. The final kick in the nuts. After everything beforehand it hurt - an awful lot!
RUN
I can remember my first words in T2 - "Jesus Christ!!". Now I had the task of making T2A (a second transition zone at Husa, 31k away) in 3hrs 30min in order to finish on the high course or 5hrs 30min for a low course finish. In any normal Iron distance race, 3hrs 30min would be an absolute breeze to accomplish, but as I had discovered, this wasn't any normal Iron distance race. I had a mountain in the way of me and Husa and I had no idea of the terrain or how long it'd take to get over it.
Set off on VERY dead legs, as usual, uphill. Had the plan of walking until my legs came back to me, then running the flats and downhills and walking the gradient. Got 1k in and my phone (in my backpack along with a bunch of other mandatory stuff we had to carry) went off. My bruv telling me I'd left my GPS tracker in transition!! Had to backtrack and meet him back up the trail. Set off again and within no time at all, we were climbing through the trees - steeply, over narrow tracks with loose stones, tree roots and mud slowing you down. How on earth you were supposed to RUN in this terrain, God alone knows. This went on and on and the kilometres were once again being ticked off very slowly. 6k in and at the start of the mountain, there was a small aid station where I had a delicious piece of cinnamon bun. Looked at my Garmin - it had taken me 60 minutes to do 6k!!!!
Pressed on and we were now above the treeline - over rocks, mountain streams, pools and peaty bogs. The wind was ripping into the mountain and it was freezing cold. Almost stopped to put on gloves, beanie and another layer, but didn't. Mustn't stop. The gradients increased to 25 - 30% and these sections were like a gym session, doing single leg squat after single leg squat over and over again. Finally made the summit of Lillskutan and started the descent. This was no easier to be honest. My legs had no spring in them at all. Tried running twice, ended up on my arse twice. The second time supermanning after tripping on some gorse roots. Looked at my Garmin - 12k in 2hr 5mins. fking ridiculous!! 19k to go until Husa and I had about 1hr 25mins to do it. Not remotely possible. At this stage I was with a Swedish guy and we both said fk it, lets just enjoy it, get off the mountain in one piece and go for the finish - that gave us an extra 2 hours to make Husa. The section after the mountain descent was over undulating moorland, thick with gorse, criss crossed by streams and with very narrow trails. Absolute nightmare to try and run on if you've never practised it (and I hadn't). Made me appreciate that fell running is indeed an art.
There was another small aid station at 19k on the edge of a forest (more cinnamon buns!) and we made that one in just over 3 hrs. Kept up the brisk walk through more gradient, more narrow trails and on the lower lying ground, massive bogs . . . ended up submerged up to my waist in several, having to literally drag myself out by clutching at plants and grass!!! By 22k my legs had finally come back to me and the trails through the forest were slightly easier to negotiate. My Swedish buddy was feeling a lot better too, so from here on in, we actually started to run (shock, horror!) a lot more. I had my Garmin so could reel off our kilometre splits and he had a conventional watch so could keep us appraised of the time.
The plan from here was to build up as much as a buffer as poss, so just in case there were some nasty surprises in terms of terrain, we could still walk those sections and not have to worry. The next 9k was actually really enjoyable - my legs felt OK (subjectively!!!), the kilometres were passing more quickly and I was pretty darn sure I was going to finish this thing!! Knocked off the last 2 kilometres with successive 5:30's (whoop, whoop!) and made T2A with time to spare
Finished the last out and back 10k with my support runner, applauding the guys we passed and high fiving the ones who were coming in the other direction. Crossed the line 16hrs 33mins after I started and to be completely honest I couldn't have cared any less about the time!!! That finish felt like a victory - 20% of the field didn't manage it.
I can remember my first words in T2 - "Jesus Christ!!". Now I had the task of making T2A (a second transition zone at Husa, 31k away) in 3hrs 30min in order to finish on the high course or 5hrs 30min for a low course finish. In any normal Iron distance race, 3hrs 30min would be an absolute breeze to accomplish, but as I had discovered, this wasn't any normal Iron distance race. I had a mountain in the way of me and Husa and I had no idea of the terrain or how long it'd take to get over it.
Set off on VERY dead legs, as usual, uphill. Had the plan of walking until my legs came back to me, then running the flats and downhills and walking the gradient. Got 1k in and my phone (in my backpack along with a bunch of other mandatory stuff we had to carry) went off. My bruv telling me I'd left my GPS tracker in transition!! Had to backtrack and meet him back up the trail. Set off again and within no time at all, we were climbing through the trees - steeply, over narrow tracks with loose stones, tree roots and mud slowing you down. How on earth you were supposed to RUN in this terrain, God alone knows. This went on and on and the kilometres were once again being ticked off very slowly. 6k in and at the start of the mountain, there was a small aid station where I had a delicious piece of cinnamon bun. Looked at my Garmin - it had taken me 60 minutes to do 6k!!!!
Pressed on and we were now above the treeline - over rocks, mountain streams, pools and peaty bogs. The wind was ripping into the mountain and it was freezing cold. Almost stopped to put on gloves, beanie and another layer, but didn't. Mustn't stop. The gradients increased to 25 - 30% and these sections were like a gym session, doing single leg squat after single leg squat over and over again. Finally made the summit of Lillskutan and started the descent. This was no easier to be honest. My legs had no spring in them at all. Tried running twice, ended up on my arse twice. The second time supermanning after tripping on some gorse roots. Looked at my Garmin - 12k in 2hr 5mins. f
king ridiculous!! 19k to go until Husa and I had about 1hr 25mins to do it. Not remotely possible. At this stage I was with a Swedish guy and we both said fk it, lets just enjoy it, get off the mountain in one piece and go for the finish - that gave us an extra 2 hours to make Husa. The section after the mountain descent was over undulating moorland, thick with gorse, criss crossed by streams and with very narrow trails. Absolute nightmare to try and run on if you've never practised it (and I hadn't). Made me appreciate that fell running is indeed an art.There was another small aid station at 19k on the edge of a forest (more cinnamon buns!) and we made that one in just over 3 hrs. Kept up the brisk walk through more gradient, more narrow trails and on the lower lying ground, massive bogs . . . ended up submerged up to my waist in several, having to literally drag myself out by clutching at plants and grass!!! By 22k my legs had finally come back to me and the trails through the forest were slightly easier to negotiate. My Swedish buddy was feeling a lot better too, so from here on in, we actually started to run (shock, horror!) a lot more. I had my Garmin so could reel off our kilometre splits and he had a conventional watch so could keep us appraised of the time.
The plan from here was to build up as much as a buffer as poss, so just in case there were some nasty surprises in terms of terrain, we could still walk those sections and not have to worry. The next 9k was actually really enjoyable - my legs felt OK (subjectively!!!), the kilometres were passing more quickly and I was pretty darn sure I was going to finish this thing!! Knocked off the last 2 kilometres with successive 5:30's (whoop, whoop!) and made T2A with time to spare
Finished the last out and back 10k with my support runner, applauding the guys we passed and high fiving the ones who were coming in the other direction. Crossed the line 16hrs 33mins after I started and to be completely honest I couldn't have cared any less about the time!!! That finish felt like a victory - 20% of the field didn't manage it.TLDR:
The Swedeman course would be incredibly tough in good weather. We didn't have that luxury - exceptionally high winds all day long. I underestimated just how tough this would be, but managed to be an official finisher in this inaugural event. Mega chuffed with that!
Brilliantly organised. Terrific atmosphere. Beautiful, unforgiving terrain. Great camaraderie. Extremely high standard - there really was a high proportion of exceptional athletes in the field.
This event has raised the bar for me - I've come back supercharged Must improve my bike. Must introduce trail running into my schedule.
Highly recommend this event - don't skimp on training for it though, this one will expose you!
The Swedeman course would be incredibly tough in good weather. We didn't have that luxury - exceptionally high winds all day long. I underestimated just how tough this would be, but managed to be an official finisher in this inaugural event. Mega chuffed with that!
Brilliantly organised. Terrific atmosphere. Beautiful, unforgiving terrain. Great camaraderie. Extremely high standard - there really was a high proportion of exceptional athletes in the field.
This event has raised the bar for me - I've come back supercharged
Must improve my bike. Must introduce trail running into my schedule.Highly recommend this event - don't skimp on training for it though, this one will expose you!
ED209 said:
The wifes just finished the Sundowner 70.3 in 5hrs 23 mins for second in her age group. Excellent time and approaching 15 minutes faster than my time from last year.
I make that 9 podium finishes in last 10 races!
Did Sundowner yesterday - great eventI make that 9 podium finishes in last 10 races!
My first at 70.3 5hrs 21 fell apart on the run after a good swim and bike. Food for thought.
Gargamel said:
Hey nice write up, dangerous. Sounds entertaining. The lake swim in particular. I have done a fair bit of trail running so know not look at the time to closely, you can make it back coming downhill.
Congrats on finishing, especially when so many others didn’t
Cheers! It's a great event - 3 weeks later I still haven't forgotten how tough it was Congrats on finishing, especially when so many others didn’t
I've been for my first trail run since though and they're now going to be a permanent part of my training - fortunately I live in a decent area for them, but it's a lot lot different to pounding the tarmac/track!
Already starting to look at 2019 events
ED209 said:
I make that 9 podium finishes in last 10 races!
It's just showing off really, isn't it? oddman said:
Did Sundowner yesterday - great event
My first at 70.3 5hrs 21 fell apart on the run after a good swim and bike. Food for thought.
Doesn't sound at all shabby to me, especially if your run wasn't so good!My first at 70.3 5hrs 21 fell apart on the run after a good swim and bike. Food for thought.
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