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The race went pretty well - the short bike and run did help my times but got around in 2.45 which I was very happy with. How short was it? Not sure due to signal loss on the gps in the Lime House tunnel for the bike and inside the Excel on the run but would say the bike was around 22.5 miles and run 5.6-7. Ended up pretty much halfway for all the olympic waves at 2200 out of 4400, again a pleasing result for someone of my stature shall we say!

Since then I have been in contact and now working with a coach - Russ Cox who has been great so far, I'm only on my 2nd week of coaching but looking forward to what is in store for me.

THE PLAN.......

So after Wimbleball I had the urge to complete my lifetime goal which is an ironman, so I have entered IM Austria for 2015. ARGGHHHHHHH!!! I am amazingly excited but also know this is going to be a long slog to just make it to the start let alone finish. Coaching is part of that plan along with addressing my weight, which has begun and is proving to be fruitful so far. I've also entered some warm up races, managed to get into the Outlaw Half and Windsor Olympic which will provide some race efforts closer to the IM.

The rest of this year is about dropping my weight and enjoyment really, I want to do well in a few local races so focused on those, especially the season ender at Marazion Olympic.

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What an incredible day/weekend, made better by great friends and some amazing encouragement from other athletes / supporters. We decided to camp and I was a little worried but we managed to borrow a camper van so we were a little more comfortable. Arriving late Friday evening for a BBQ with my group from the tri club was a nice relaxing way to begin, registered first thing Sat morning and got my nice new rucksack and then did a couple of laps of the swim familiarisation - it was warm! Sat night turned into a bit of a panic as one of the group seemed to have dehydration/heat stroke from the blazing sun we had all day and had to take him to the medical tent, luckily cooling down and water and he was fine for race day.

Race Day -

Up early 4amish to try and cram down some food, went with pan au chocolates but tasted like cardboard, coffee, re check everything again and off we went to the change tent, street gear bags in and then into transition for the walk down, enjoyed this mass walk down but not the hanging around, I just wanted to get in the water.

Finally allowed in, everyone goes right including the pros and seemingly everyone lined up behind them leaving a massive gap on the right which was in line with the first bouy! Questioneed myself why would they do that but never mind I was on the front row with clearish water. Hooter went usual carnage but nothing bad, settled into some nice feet and got myself a tow. Lost my hat and googles somewhere around the first bouy.... oops. Calmed myself down and just continued to sit on the groups feet as couldn't see much at all without them. Out the water in 31:13 to the timing mat. Jogged/walked up the stupid hill to transition where finding my bag went smoothly, opted to put on a jersey for a bit of protection on my shoulders and more pockets, loaded up with gels etc.

Out with the bike and begin the lovely uphill 4 miles to the main loop. Lap 1 uneventful, was cruising along nicely and not taking it too hard. Even managing a smile and high 5 at the top of Haddon. 2nd lap something went drastically wrong, not sure what it was as felt easy but began cramping, sickness etc and had to walk up every hill. Got to top of Haddon and had to get off with cramp again, luckily my girlfriend was there gave me hell for my tantrum of I can't do this and made me get back on! Slowest roll back to t2 ever, must of been under 10mph.

Tantrum number 2 in the change tent as I didn't think there was any way I would be able to run. Decided I could try the first lap, cramping continued to the point where any hard effort resulted in cramping straight away so had to walk all the uphill sections (Luckily so was everyone else around me!) lap 1 done in an hour, if I keep this up I will scrape in for the cut off. Lap 2 tried to push on, cramp again had to stop twice, lap 3 I'm going to have to push it got around an hour but I wasn't moving that fast! Managed to run a few of the inclines to get some time in the bag and got some bananas in me, maybe it was the potassium in those but cramp stopped for the next few miles. Got to under a mile and team mates shouting at me I had to go go go! I said I had nothing in me but dug in as much as possible on the last out and back, got to the corner before the uphill and was told I had around 4-5 mins, oh crap!! I could miss this by seconds I thought tried running up the hill cramp again cue hobble hold hamstring and power walk !! What a sight that must of been. Got to the final few 100m, saw the clock 8.27! Im going to make it!!! Screamed at myself and was so happy, rounded the final corner onto the carpet to the announcer going oh my god look at this!! Probably surprised to see such a big chap finishing in time haha. Gave him a huge high 5 and proceeded to continue down the magic carpet high 5'ing team mates and everyone down the sides! Huge smile on my face and shouting yes!!! I made it!!!! Total time was 8:28:16 I scrapped in by less than 2 minutes, it didn't matter I had my medal


Would I do Wimbleball again - No! But it was a great race, brilliant weekend and has inspired me to do an IM and another half on the way, discussions underway with the boss to see what is allowed :!:

Swim 31:13
Bike 4:39
Run 3:05
Total 8:28


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I want to show others that it can be done, against all odds etc and I think that is what is driving me. Its my own doing yes, but I am big guy - too big but if you truly want something you will work for it. I have dropped weight for this and I know theres more in the tank to get it down. I think this side of it really drives me, challenging the 'norm' and stereotypical picture of a triathlete.

Training has been going well, I managed to get up to Wimbleball to do the 2 laps and rolled in at 4 hrs 30. The 2nd half was tough but I got around and felt good knowing I can do it now. The run is going to be what it is and thats a slog but I am planning on run/walk and if things go to plan I should have over 3 hours for the run before cut off. I've not managed to get any more long runs in but feel they are in the bag as the previous month was run heavy. Swimming is ticking along nicely, with a good result at Hyde Park.

I managed to get a spot at Hyde Park for the Olympic as I was looking for a more substantial warm up race than a pool sprint which I had entered. Even though the courses are different the fact of racing for 3 hours compared to 1.5 and with a longer OW swim made sense to change. The race went well with a new pb of 2hrs 50 - Splits as 23.59 swim, 1.12 bike and 65 run. I even managed to make the ITU Facebook page this week which was crazy - my picture got over 3000 likes and 300 shares!

So just ticking over this week - half recovering from a stag do in Magaluf which wasn't ideal prep but never mind these things have to be done! Sorting kit, nutrition etc and then leave on Friday. Best of luck to all racing and give me a shout if you see me - Big chap, red black and white tri kit - Mounts Bay Harriers Cornwall.

"Do what others will not today, so that you can do what others cannot tomorrow"

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Weight is down, 15 kilos since starting this back in January I would like to get another 5+ kilos off this month if possible as well to take me down to my lowest weight since my teen years.

Training is going pretty well, some good indicators that I am getting fit. Still need to get some more hills in on the bike and plan to address that with a trip to Wimbleball this Sunday to ride 2 laps. I have been doing a fast mid week 35 mile ride with a group which has seemed to push my cycling up a level too, very pleased with this. Running is coming on well, I suspect due to the weight loss, need to get a 10 miler in this week as well which will probably be my last one before the race.

I raced at the British Sprint Championships at Eton last weekend and had a great day. I was a bit apprehensive due to the quality of the field but got to race my good friend who went on to win overall! The swim was an experience for me, I am usually out in the top 10 of most swims but knew I was going to be no where near that in this quality. I placed myself on the front row but got edged out a bit so switched to the side and this paid off actually with a straighter line to the first bouy. Came out in 18th with a good swim time for me of 12.30. The bike was crazily fast, we don't get so much flat in Cornwall so it was great to give it a blast, averaging 19.4 which is a PB. The run I really wanted to go for and ended up with my fastest ever 5k, in 30.52 slow I know to some but a big improvement for me especially after a hard fast bike. I ended up about 450th I think out of 600 so not too shabby for a big guy.

Moving on I have the London ITU Olympic on June 1st where I think I can have a crack at my PB there too, before starting my taper for Wimbleball in a perfect manner - a weekend in Magaluf for a stag do......



Magpie - thanks for the comment, I don't feel like I do enough compared to some!]]>

Targets - at least 3 more 50 mile bikes with 3000ft + climbing, 3 x 10 mile runs 3 x 3k OW Swims.

Training has been going pretty well, some of my biggest ever months in March and April, approaching 38-40 hours in both. This has seen some good performances as well, in my first tri of the year in early April equalling my pb for the course in horrific wind and rain. I also took part in Plymouth half marathon a couple of weeks back and broke my PB there, but what was most pleasing was the fact I negative split the course by 2 minutes quicker on the second half. I have also been up to ride the Wimbleball course :evil: We did 1 lap and the in/out of transition for 33 miles and 3000ft of climbing. Those hills are going to be a killer on the 2nd lap. I have sensibly gone and got a 11-32 for the back and its proving useful in training so far so hopefully get me up that Plyon Hill and the middle one. Strangely I found Haddon Hill a lot easier. We also did a loop of the run which was more off road than I thought, hoping for dry weather or it could churn up a bit.

Moving on I have a couple more warm up races, Eton Sprint next weekend for the British Champs (What am I doing!) and then London ITU Olympic in Hyde Park on the 1st June. Looking forward to seeing what I can do in those. I will possibly enter a couple local TT's as well but not decided yet.]]>
Things been going pretty well, especially in the last 3-4 weeks everything seems to have clicked and the race face is on! I have found a greater focus recently perhaps being scared out my mind that I won't finish or make the cut off has something to do with it.

I had a half marathon at the beginning of the month and was hoping to be near PB time but was well off the pace over 10 minutes down, even after the previous week managing a 10 miler at the anticipated pace. In hindsight that may have been the problem, at my weight long distance running takes a lot out of me and I did feel fatigued going into it. Combine this with a lack of nutrition or fuelling up enough and we had a crap outcome. Reviewing it I can see it was stupid, getting caught up in the weight loss and not fuelling and not respecting the distance or time I am on my feet (2.30+)

Since this I have cracked on and got some solid training in, re arranging my plan as such to suit me better rather than trying to bend myself to fit into a 'one size fits all' type of thing. I have also had some great support from friends, swim training 3 times a week with a group of us and being accompanied out on the long rides as well which is really great and I appreciate it as it makes it more interesting. Next week I am off to Lanza on holiday, but hired a bike out there so hope to at least get a couple of 50 milers in from PDC and take in the Femes climb and fire mountains, have been in contact with the shop who have advised on some routes and sent me google maps which has been fantastic. Im taking my trainers and swim kit to so will likely swim the IM course as its on the doorstep. This will be followed by an easier week leading into my first tri of the year a local 400m/15mile/4mile affair which I hope will give an indication of where I am with my fitness.]]>

Fairly uneventful week, managed to complete all the sessions and ended the week with a 10k race yesterday. Felt pretty tired Thursday so took Friday as a rest day, 2 hour bike in the rain and hail on Saturday then into the race Sunday not really knowing what to expect after a big week for me and the ride the day before. I had a figure of 11 min miles in my head to target and pleased to say I was smack on at 1.08 and 10:58 pace. The race is a hilly 10k and wasn't made any easier with an incident involving horse riders charging onto the course right in front of me, having to stop but then one rider decided to try to go through the whole field (550!), charging up the hill and knocking and injuring a competitor from my club who wasn't in a good state. Don't want to say anymore but feel there is going to be major repercussions.

This week will be a chance to be consistent and get 2 good weeks in the bag, no races now until Bideford half marathon on March 2nd.

Training 27th-2nd

M:1800m Swim 41mins Run Coaching 1.2 mile 17 min
T: 19 mile 90mins Bike
W: 3.6 mile 45 min run
T: 1.3 mile 19 min Run Coaching 1800m 47min swim
F: Rest
S: 22 mile bike 110mins
S: 10k Race 68 mins.

Total 7 hours 17 mins.

Replies -

Soooz- Hope your training is coming along nicely, struggling a little with the bikes in this weather but feel I have an edge after 2 rides in wind and rain this week.

KP- Indeed, I think I am quite strong mentally, which is no doubt going to be useful at Wimbleball!

Cyanide - Thanks! Are you going to be at any of the tri series this year?

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