Posts
The support crew and I have now all arrived in Antwerp! 3 from England and 1 from Frankfurt, Germany.
Off reccy the routes tomorrow then to Ypes and the World War 1 memorials.
Thursday 30 July 2009
Wednesday 29 July 2009
5 days to go
Picked Sarah up from New Street Station, Birmingham, with more luggage for four days than we usually take for a month. Good job it is only a half Ironman - Lord knows what a full Ironman needs. Good job I had a big boot with seats that fold down. Now I know how much we have to take for her, we may find a corner for our own stuff so long as we keep it to one carrier bag.
Tuesday 28 July 2009
6 days and its race day!
Today was the day for packing and last minute shopping.
I laid out all my kit on the living room floor in 5 piles. I had a pile for pre-race, a pile for the swim, a pile for the bike, a pile for the run and a pile for post-race. Each bag is to be packed into it's own bag. It is so hard to know what to take.
I have decided to race in my tri-suit regardless of the weather. It is just so much more comfortable to race in than cycling shorts. That is in my pre-race bag along with a choice of bra's (I just know I will be race day picky!).
My swim bag contains my wetsuit. I have also packed my neoprene hat and three different pairs of goggles; blue, clear and cloudy - You never know what race day weather will be like!
My bike bag has leg and arm warmers, my windproof Gillette and jacket and my waterproof jacket (the forecast is for rain at the moment :-( ). These items can really make a difference to my comfort on the ride. I also have my cycle sunnies (I live in hope of sunshine), my race number belt, cycling shoes and socks, helmet, buff and gloves.
My run bag has my trainers, fresh socks and a change of outfit. I'm not sure how I will feel on race day after the bike ride but I know that I might feel like putting on something less salty. I bet I ignore it and go out on the run in my tri-suit but at least I will have the choice.
Finally my post-race bag has my compression tights, my premaloft jacket, hat and gloves! I always cool down very quickly after a race so I wrap up uber warm until my body temperature re-regulates.
I have packed about five water bottles! I'm sure I wont use them all but once again, at least I have a choice.
Most of my race food has been picked up from a run shop local to Mum and Dad so I'm just bringing a few extra bits and pieces. I'll sort my food out on Friday or Saturday.
All I have left to do is to pack my none race stuff and I'm sorted! Nothing quite like leaving everything to the last minute, when will I ever learn!
I laid out all my kit on the living room floor in 5 piles. I had a pile for pre-race, a pile for the swim, a pile for the bike, a pile for the run and a pile for post-race. Each bag is to be packed into it's own bag. It is so hard to know what to take.
I have decided to race in my tri-suit regardless of the weather. It is just so much more comfortable to race in than cycling shorts. That is in my pre-race bag along with a choice of bra's (I just know I will be race day picky!).
My swim bag contains my wetsuit. I have also packed my neoprene hat and three different pairs of goggles; blue, clear and cloudy - You never know what race day weather will be like!
My bike bag has leg and arm warmers, my windproof Gillette and jacket and my waterproof jacket (the forecast is for rain at the moment :-( ). These items can really make a difference to my comfort on the ride. I also have my cycle sunnies (I live in hope of sunshine), my race number belt, cycling shoes and socks, helmet, buff and gloves.
My run bag has my trainers, fresh socks and a change of outfit. I'm not sure how I will feel on race day after the bike ride but I know that I might feel like putting on something less salty. I bet I ignore it and go out on the run in my tri-suit but at least I will have the choice.
Finally my post-race bag has my compression tights, my premaloft jacket, hat and gloves! I always cool down very quickly after a race so I wrap up uber warm until my body temperature re-regulates.
I have packed about five water bottles! I'm sure I wont use them all but once again, at least I have a choice.
Most of my race food has been picked up from a run shop local to Mum and Dad so I'm just bringing a few extra bits and pieces. I'll sort my food out on Friday or Saturday.
All I have left to do is to pack my none race stuff and I'm sorted! Nothing quite like leaving everything to the last minute, when will I ever learn!
Monday 27 July 2009
7 days to go!
And I'm really excited!
I'm trying to organise a way for my fabulous support team to keep my blog up to date with my progress during the race. Watch this space!
I'm really pleased with my training, I have done as much as I can considering that I have had an emotional rolla-coaster of a year.
I did a practice of the bike to run about 3-4 weeks ago. We did 57 miles in 3hrs 30min on the bike over a hill course including pee stops, chats and traffic lights! I then took a long transition of 20 min and went out on a 12.5 mile run (2hrs 20 min). Again I went on a hilly course and had to stop for traffic passing several times on a road with no foot path.
I finished feeling great, really positive about the race and my ability to complete it. I am now hoping to finish within 7 hours!
Bring it on!
I'm trying to organise a way for my fabulous support team to keep my blog up to date with my progress during the race. Watch this space!
I'm really pleased with my training, I have done as much as I can considering that I have had an emotional rolla-coaster of a year.
I did a practice of the bike to run about 3-4 weeks ago. We did 57 miles in 3hrs 30min on the bike over a hill course including pee stops, chats and traffic lights! I then took a long transition of 20 min and went out on a 12.5 mile run (2hrs 20 min). Again I went on a hilly course and had to stop for traffic passing several times on a road with no foot path.
I finished feeling great, really positive about the race and my ability to complete it. I am now hoping to finish within 7 hours!
Bring it on!
Monday 6 July 2009
Edinburgh Marathon Race Report
Wow, where did the time go? Guess I'm pretty rubbish at this blog milarky! Lots has happened over the last four weeks. I'll start with the Edinburgh Marathon but I'll keep it short and sweet.
It was great day, 24C, really hot... for Edinburgh.
So here are the basics.
Food
I had a honey stinger or SIS energy gel ever 30 min from minus 5 minutes to 3.30. I didn't have one at 4 hours as I was sick of them! But I was also quite sure I had had enough by then to see me to the finish.
5km - 27min (by my watch)
This went well, 8.45 for the first mile then I settled down to a regular 9 min mile.
10km - 54.41 (Official and a PB)
Again I was going well but, in hindsite, maybe a little quick.
10 mile - 1.30 (by my watch and a PB)
It was all about to wobble!
Half - 1.59.37 (official and a PB)
At about 10/11 miles I had a ditsy watch moment that lasted for a least a mile. I looked at my watch and thought that it had taken me 15 minutes to do the last mile. Totally demoralised I slowed down and pottered on. At mile 12.5 ish, I realised that I was looking at the time on my watch, not the stop watch. I was still on schedule for a sub 2hr half! I dug deep and made it by 23 seconds!
My legs were starting to get sore at about 12 miles which wasn't a great sign as I was less than half way through. I knew I had gone too quick for the first half due to the dream of getting PB's. But what would the cost be?
30km - 3.02.05 (Official and PB, well I hadn't run that far before!)
How did that happen? After finishing the half on a PB I totally stopped trying. My goal now was to finish, what ever. I trotted along fairly well until 17.5 miles when I really started to hurt. I set myself some rules. I would walk 1 minute then run for 4 minutes and repeat. It gave me a new lease of life, and I probably went too fast on the run sections. 3 hours for 30k is great!
26.2 miles - 4.34.07 (official and a PB, again it was my first race at that distance)
After 30km my race started to deteriorate. The water station at 18 miles, just before 30km, had ran out of water. I was well hydrated at this point so wasn't too demoralised but on such a hot day it was going to be felt. My walks started to get longer and my runs shorter. I got more water at about 21 miles but I think the damage was done. I walked mile 24-25, determined to finish. At the 25 mile marker I decided that I was going to start 'running' again although to was more of a shuffle by that point! I successfully managed to run all the way to the end, but with none of my customary sprinting.
I am extremely happy with my time and my food/water intake. I will definitely be back to do another one when the time is right!
It was great day, 24C, really hot... for Edinburgh.
So here are the basics.
Food
I had a honey stinger or SIS energy gel ever 30 min from minus 5 minutes to 3.30. I didn't have one at 4 hours as I was sick of them! But I was also quite sure I had had enough by then to see me to the finish.
5km - 27min (by my watch)
This went well, 8.45 for the first mile then I settled down to a regular 9 min mile.
10km - 54.41 (Official and a PB)
Again I was going well but, in hindsite, maybe a little quick.
10 mile - 1.30 (by my watch and a PB)
It was all about to wobble!
Half - 1.59.37 (official and a PB)
At about 10/11 miles I had a ditsy watch moment that lasted for a least a mile. I looked at my watch and thought that it had taken me 15 minutes to do the last mile. Totally demoralised I slowed down and pottered on. At mile 12.5 ish, I realised that I was looking at the time on my watch, not the stop watch. I was still on schedule for a sub 2hr half! I dug deep and made it by 23 seconds!
My legs were starting to get sore at about 12 miles which wasn't a great sign as I was less than half way through. I knew I had gone too quick for the first half due to the dream of getting PB's. But what would the cost be?
30km - 3.02.05 (Official and PB, well I hadn't run that far before!)
How did that happen? After finishing the half on a PB I totally stopped trying. My goal now was to finish, what ever. I trotted along fairly well until 17.5 miles when I really started to hurt. I set myself some rules. I would walk 1 minute then run for 4 minutes and repeat. It gave me a new lease of life, and I probably went too fast on the run sections. 3 hours for 30k is great!
26.2 miles - 4.34.07 (official and a PB, again it was my first race at that distance)
After 30km my race started to deteriorate. The water station at 18 miles, just before 30km, had ran out of water. I was well hydrated at this point so wasn't too demoralised but on such a hot day it was going to be felt. My walks started to get longer and my runs shorter. I got more water at about 21 miles but I think the damage was done. I walked mile 24-25, determined to finish. At the 25 mile marker I decided that I was going to start 'running' again although to was more of a shuffle by that point! I successfully managed to run all the way to the end, but with none of my customary sprinting.
I am extremely happy with my time and my food/water intake. I will definitely be back to do another one when the time is right!
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