Lisbon Tri
My first winners tape
Monday, August 12, 2013
A very sad time
I lost a dear friend this week - my running coach and mentor Bob Ashwood. Bob has coached me and my daughter Charlotte for a number of years and has also supported me with my own coaching. He has been a constant part of our lives - always so positive and supportive. He taught us to believe in ourselves. He also taught us both to run fast. I will miss him.
Monday, August 5, 2013
July 2013
After all those big races in June, this month was all about enjoying myself and taking a holiday with Mark and Mia (our dog) in our campervan. When we found out that the Tour de France would be going up Alpe d'Huez twice on the same stage we couldn't waste the opportunity and planned our holiday around that - and naturally we couldn't miss the Alpe d'Huez triathlon a week later could we?
I think I may have underestimated this event somewhat. I have been to the Alps and the Pyrenees before so I knew how tough the climb would be but I have never added on a swim and a run either side!! It was also really, really hot. That freaky weather we had in England followed us to France and at 9 am on race morning it was 90 degrees in the shade!
For some reason the race doesn't start until 2pm but that did give us time to sort out the double transitions, which are 30km apart (that has to be some sort of record). So off we set to drive to the finish in the ski resort at the top of the mountain. It is such a stunning place I can't describe it. The mountains are huge, with snow still on the highest ones, the sky was bright blue and the air was so fresh. I absolutely love the Alps. Transition was still quiet when we got there so we had a quiet moment - a ski lift went right over us and it felt like we were on the top of the world. Then it was back down to the lake to set up T2 - along with 1200 other athletes. The temp in the valley was now 105!
The water was only 14 degrees but it felt great to get in and cool down and then we were off..... Everyone starts together in this race, including the Elites, which was really scary. 1200 swimmers all fighting to get clear so you could actually swim. I started too near the front and was swum over and bashed about a lot. It is the only race I have ever done where I consided rolling onto my back and getting rescued but then I though if I do that at least 1000 people are going to swim over me, so I battled on. I actually had a good swim in the end coming out in 165th place overall (I thought I was nearly last!)
The bike leg is absolutely the best bit of this race. Firstly you swoop down the valley on perfect Tarmac at about 30 mph. I felt really good and soon started passing other women (including British elite Liz Burrows which I was quite pleased about) Then after 15km you go round a bend and the climb starts. ....and then I was doing about 5mph! The only way to get up these climbs is to find a really low gear and pace yourself up. I got into a rhythm and just kept going. There were so many people watching on the roadside it was amazing. They all shouted and passed up water, it really helped take my mind of the pain. The heat was the main problem and lots of people had to get off to walk. It took me 1 hour 19 minutes to do the climb and I drank a bottle of energy drink, 2 bottles of water and took on 3 gels. It wasn't enough. As I got to the top I was told I was the 26th female so I was really pleased with that. A girl I knew from back home, Alison, was racing as well and although I swim faster she usually beats me on the bike but she hadn't come past so I was happy. All I had to do now was a little 7km run and I was done, no problem.
Oh dear how wrong can you be? I started the run feeling great but I didn't go off too fast as it was over 2000m high up there and I didn't want to run out of oxygen. And then my legs started to cramp and they just wouldn't work. I had to stop and just stand there whilst my quads took on a life of their own. It was like I had an alien in them, it was awful. A lovely French family came over and gave me some water and I tried to walk but I couldn't even do that! I must have stood there for 5 minutes with loads of people running past. So many of them asked if I was OK and some stopped to help but I couldn't move. Eventually I started to walk and then jog and thought I was OK - yay! I am back in the race - but no it just came on again. I could have cried as I just had to stand and watch everyone run past. And it really hurt!! Alison ran past me at this point and that's when I just gave up - Alison has never beaten me in a run, ever.
After about 10 minutes it did go off enough to allow me to start running again and I managed to
run in at a decent pace with a lovely French man who stayed with me all the way to the finish line. Neither of us could speak each others' language but we didn't need to as we both understood what we had achieved. I was exhausted and very dehydrated but I was so proud that I had finished. Mark was still running at this point so I went to cheer him on and he had a huge smile on his face. He had loved every minute (well maybe not all of the climb) - what a great experience.
I later found out that I had been in first place in my age group going into the run. All I had to do was a decent run and I would have won! I recorded my slowest 7km run ever - 42 minutes!! Total time 2 hrs 52 mins. In the end I came 3rd (well done to Alison for clinching 2nd place). Ah well, I have learnt ever such a lot from this race and Mark and I both had a fantastic time.
I think I may have underestimated this event somewhat. I have been to the Alps and the Pyrenees before so I knew how tough the climb would be but I have never added on a swim and a run either side!! It was also really, really hot. That freaky weather we had in England followed us to France and at 9 am on race morning it was 90 degrees in the shade!
For some reason the race doesn't start until 2pm but that did give us time to sort out the double transitions, which are 30km apart (that has to be some sort of record). So off we set to drive to the finish in the ski resort at the top of the mountain. It is such a stunning place I can't describe it. The mountains are huge, with snow still on the highest ones, the sky was bright blue and the air was so fresh. I absolutely love the Alps. Transition was still quiet when we got there so we had a quiet moment - a ski lift went right over us and it felt like we were on the top of the world. Then it was back down to the lake to set up T2 - along with 1200 other athletes. The temp in the valley was now 105!
The water was only 14 degrees but it felt great to get in and cool down and then we were off..... Everyone starts together in this race, including the Elites, which was really scary. 1200 swimmers all fighting to get clear so you could actually swim. I started too near the front and was swum over and bashed about a lot. It is the only race I have ever done where I consided rolling onto my back and getting rescued but then I though if I do that at least 1000 people are going to swim over me, so I battled on. I actually had a good swim in the end coming out in 165th place overall (I thought I was nearly last!)
The bike leg is absolutely the best bit of this race. Firstly you swoop down the valley on perfect Tarmac at about 30 mph. I felt really good and soon started passing other women (including British elite Liz Burrows which I was quite pleased about) Then after 15km you go round a bend and the climb starts. ....and then I was doing about 5mph! The only way to get up these climbs is to find a really low gear and pace yourself up. I got into a rhythm and just kept going. There were so many people watching on the roadside it was amazing. They all shouted and passed up water, it really helped take my mind of the pain. The heat was the main problem and lots of people had to get off to walk. It took me 1 hour 19 minutes to do the climb and I drank a bottle of energy drink, 2 bottles of water and took on 3 gels. It wasn't enough. As I got to the top I was told I was the 26th female so I was really pleased with that. A girl I knew from back home, Alison, was racing as well and although I swim faster she usually beats me on the bike but she hadn't come past so I was happy. All I had to do now was a little 7km run and I was done, no problem.
Oh dear how wrong can you be? I started the run feeling great but I didn't go off too fast as it was over 2000m high up there and I didn't want to run out of oxygen. And then my legs started to cramp and they just wouldn't work. I had to stop and just stand there whilst my quads took on a life of their own. It was like I had an alien in them, it was awful. A lovely French family came over and gave me some water and I tried to walk but I couldn't even do that! I must have stood there for 5 minutes with loads of people running past. So many of them asked if I was OK and some stopped to help but I couldn't move. Eventually I started to walk and then jog and thought I was OK - yay! I am back in the race - but no it just came on again. I could have cried as I just had to stand and watch everyone run past. And it really hurt!! Alison ran past me at this point and that's when I just gave up - Alison has never beaten me in a run, ever.
After about 10 minutes it did go off enough to allow me to start running again and I managed to
run in at a decent pace with a lovely French man who stayed with me all the way to the finish line. Neither of us could speak each others' language but we didn't need to as we both understood what we had achieved. I was exhausted and very dehydrated but I was so proud that I had finished. Mark was still running at this point so I went to cheer him on and he had a huge smile on his face. He had loved every minute (well maybe not all of the climb) - what a great experience.
I later found out that I had been in first place in my age group going into the run. All I had to do was a decent run and I would have won! I recorded my slowest 7km run ever - 42 minutes!! Total time 2 hrs 52 mins. In the end I came 3rd (well done to Alison for clinching 2nd place). Ah well, I have learnt ever such a lot from this race and Mark and I both had a fantastic time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)