Job Done

I've completed the London Triathlon!

On Saturday we went down to see the Sprint (Half) distance event. Checking out the course that we were to swim in the Victoria Docks we were a little concerned - it looked ridiculously far! All the way down to city airport (aka the horizon) and back. Thrilling to watch the race start the day before you do it though – exactly as described with all you can see being foam accompanied by the din of 200 people kicking the water hard. After this and a morning swim with the Serpentine club, we were itching to get to race time.

We woke up after a surprisingly refreshing sleep at a ‘refreshing’ hour of the day – 4:30 am on Sunday. Managing to force some muesli down and starting the long hydration process we got into the taxi at 5 and set off through the West End, noting that most people on the streets were returning home and about to get to bed, which made us seem like we were in a completely different timezone. Interestingly our driver took us along the entire route we were to follow on our bikes later on, which seemed long, very long. The road was starting to come alive with the presence of race marshals who would be closing off the road for our esteemed procession.

The London Tri is bigger than you could imagine. The transition area has to cope with 10,000 bikes over two days. It is enormous, utterly enormous. Arriving in what we thought was good time, we had to end up rushing around trying to get our bikes lined up: - bike racked, helmet perfectly on the seat, race numbers attached, power gels taped on, boots tied in, elastic band to keep the boots stationary, running shoes next to everything, race belt ready to slot on. Then we had to remember the actual row we were lined up in (B2).

We started late and by this time I will admit to being in quite some nervous state. It’s fantastic walking out to an expectant audience and jumping into the docks. Hmmm, salt water, where from? And, heck, am glad this was still a wetsuit race – it was cold. We had to wait in the water a few minutes but this gave us time to line up in a good swimming position. I may not be the very best, but I expected my time to be strong enough that I could start at the front – not gonna waste time getting hit by people’s feet if I can help it!

And then BANG, we’re off. I settled into a good pace early, and although it’s hard to see too much when you are pounding along in freestyle, was aware that I wasn’t too far off the pace. Rounding the buoy at the end was tougher as I had gotten so excited with my pace that I swam a few metres past it without realising. Dammit, a few seconds lost. I think I lost a bit of my pace on the way back, although turned it up again in the last few hundred metres as we started to cruise past the backdrafters of the previous group (who had left 20 minutes earlier).

Getting out it gets fun. Having practiced transitions at dawn all week, I was intent on scoring a fast transition time. I almost ran past the plastic bags where we were to put our wetsuits, but sped upstairs to be greeted by a huge cheer from Nick and Claire (thanks guys!). Bike mounting worked smoothly and I was out of transition in the 7^th fastest pace (out of 420) of my age group. Practice paid off. Then the bike leg hit. Swallowed a power gel immediately as I had been feeling a bit off at the end of the swim and that helped immediately. I was enthused by the fast pace I had been holding for the first few km, and tried to build on that. First lap, back to the centre and then on to the second lap – direct to Big Ben. This is where the fun kicked in. Brilliant tunnels where my top speed hit 57kmh, and the smooth sound of bikes speeding through in a train was quite ethereal. I kept with the same few guys all the way down to big ben, and just before arriving there noticed Ian coming back – I wasn’t far off his pace (his swim had been awesome). I headed back to ExCeL. I have never felt that good on a bike, just thoroughly enjoying going the fastest I had ever been. Sped back to the centre into T2, dismounted the bike and got screamed at by Fran and Helen from the sidelines. I’ve said it to them already but I cannot emphasise how brilliant the support coming out of T2 was. My legs were running heavy (although happily I can say not cramping), and I had a 10k run ahead. The run continues from the centre around the docks – this is where the support is, and I was lifted to see Mum and Dad, Charlotte, Steve, Nick and Claire, and Laura and Adam – all who had gotten out of bed early on a Sunday just to give their support. It was kindly taken and helped inordinately.

I shouted out to Nick on the first lap to ask what my time was and was dismayed to hear 2hrs – there was no way I would ever get my sub 2hr30 dream time. Picked myself up quickly though and concentrated just on finishing. There was still some ways to go and it was getting hot outside – glad to have had the early start time now!

The race finished at the end of the second lap – the elation I felt crossing the finish line was incredible. Finding out that I was in the 2hr20 region was sheer exaltation! Looking back at my first blog entry on April 22^nd, I wrote “The aim is to keep track of the goals - 1) finishing the triathlon, and 2) finishing in the upper half of competitors. I may be pushing it a little with the second but not the first”. Well, I finished it. And you know what, my 2hr 23 finishing time was not only in the top 25% of competitors (93^rd out of 420) in my age group, but compares well with the semi-elite in the sub 2hr 30 group. And Ian, needs his moment in the spotlight – 2hr19 45^th out of 420 people is a remarkable achievement.

I can’t believe it’s over, and writing this a week later, having had time to settle back into ‘normal life’ I find myself missing it a lot. I’ve swum most days this week, been out on a couple of jogs and basically kept very active. I don’t want to gloss over what was an amazing result, but I can’t help but hope that this continues next year and for longer. There are more challenges to tackle – Ironman is one that I hope to do one day (4 times the distance of the Olympic tri – ouch!), but I suppose I do need to step back from it for a few weeks and enjoy other things.

All I can say is that if you have never done one, do it. Following a strict but plenty do-able work routine I reached a level of fitness I had never been close to before. I was so fit that on Monday, the day after a race, I was back in the pool. That’s an amazing feeling. Endorphins kept me high for four months, and they feel just as good as booze. We trained in beautiful summer weather in the best surroundings. I ate loads, but lost weight!

This may be the end of Al’s Triathlon Bid, but I hope it isn’t the end to crazy challenges. Bring on the next one! Thanks for reading

Taper Week

Tapering sounds like a nice activity. You stuff yourself with high carbohydrate food (to give you more reserves), try and sleep lots, and cut down on all the hard sport that you've been doing recently.

It sucks! You don't make sport the centre of your life and then take it away and expect to enjoy the vacuum. It's like a drug - I keep wanting to jump on my bike and pound out four high speed laps of the hyde park circuit, or get some hard swimming lengths in. It may suck, however it's crucial to aid muscle repair and to give you the energy you need for the day. But please, may the day come quickly!

Well, it is coming quickly. Sunday is nearly here, and when work finishes the only thing I can think about are tactics for Sunday. I'm so energised I'm going crazy!! This is the culmination of over three months of work, of giving up 'normal' life and of having committed everything to this Sunday morning. I cannot believe the discipline which I have kept in all this. I really love this Triathlon lark! Ian and I have been so lucky with training - we've always been at a similar standard of cycling and running and have improved at the same rate. We've been blessed with awesome sunny, warm and peaceful mornings. We've put 1000km on our bikes since May alone.

Yesterday topped it off. Practicing swim/bike transitions (literally running out of the water and getting onto the bike as quickly as possible; trust me it's more complicated than it sounds), we swam in the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park and hung out with the 'crazies'. These ladies and gents (mainly elderly) probably swim in the giant duck pond all throughout the year, and I am sure scoffed at our wetsuit wearing! One crazy scoffed at us even being there - pond hogger. I'm calling them 'crazies' but I suppose there is an element of our craziness in swimming in a pool of duck turd at 6:15am. OK, no turd. It was great

So this will be my last entry before Sunday. The day starts early - 4:30 wake up, 5:00 taxi (cheers Ian!), 5:30 arrival at ExCeL, and dossing around until the race starts at 7:00. I have an overly ambitious race time of sub 2:30 which is so overly ambitious for a first timer that I am not taking it seriously. Just a target. I'm so grateful for the people who are kind enough to get up at stoopid o'clock on a Sunday morning to watch grown men try and knacker themselves, and I hope I'll do you proud.

I also hope I'll do WaterAid proud. I now have £650 collected online and another £350 or so donated/pledged offline, which means that the amount I have collected will top £1000. The generosity shown has been fantastic and I am genuinely touched by this. The one thing that always gets said when I say I am collecting for WaterAid is "oh yes, I know WaterAid - that's a great charity". I think it's their simple no nonsense mission - to provide water to people. That's the most basic thing in life, yet a lot of people don't have it. I hope the money I provide makes a difference, and I look forward to seeing the team on Sunday.

And so that's me signing off till then. Eat, drink and sleep Triathlon till then. Afterwards, I suppose I better get back to seeing people and having some semblance of a social life again! But I hope this has had some lasting, even a little, long term change for me. Whatever, even if it hasn't it's been worth every second. Try it yourself sometime - you might like it!

Nearly There

Well, it's nearly race day and I am in best behaviour form at the moment (also known as boring form, to friends!). Starting to slowly taper down, although this week saw the earliest start of all training sessions - 6AM meet in the park, getting me up at 5:25.

Took part in the Clapham Common 10k series on Sunday which I had scored a 45:56 in back in my first ever competitive race in May. Good news is that I sliced 3 mins off that time, running on legs made dead from a brick and all day football on Friday! I was setting a good pace over the first lap which tailed off a little in the second, Ian following just behind over the first two laps. However he turned it on big time on the final lap, whereas I had nothing left to give. Both of us were very pleased and I came 57th out of 368 in 42:43, so top 15%, with the Bru's storming last lap bringing him in at 38th in 41:16

A fantastic wedding of a friend on Sunday spelt the last alcoholic drink until after the Tri. I feel great but I can't deny that I am looking forward to a slightly less disciplined lifestyle in 10 days time. I'll prob miss the Tri more! Until then, I have one more brick to do, then early morning swims in the Serpentine and transition practices. The weather is thankfully starting to cool, and that should make it easier. Bring on taper week!!

A quick look back

A friend of mine asked me yesterday if I could write somewhere on this blog about how things have changed over the past few months. So on a Sunday night, having run and swam hard, with another impending early night ahead, I'll have a go.

Well, 'initiate' was written back on April 22nd, about one week after we decided to enter, and the day before the London Marathon. Long runs and cycle rides were all new to me back then. Heck, I didn't even have a bike. We were considering buying mountain bikes. Looking back at that now, I can't believe we contemplated those fat-tired clumsy lumps. A road bike may not be designed for real comfort (it can feel like your backside is balanced on a knife edge) but these things do move.

I remember going for my first run (in years) about a week after I wrote 'intitiate'. Last time I think I ran, I was living in a small fishing town in Japan - I kinda struggled round the rice fields, which were in full flow. I came home sweating like a pig, moved to the big city and didn't run again. So back in late April I was down at the parents house on the South Coast and went off for a 20 minute run which I hated. But I knew back then that a ridiculously hard training schedule would give me a chance on the day, so Ian and I set to building that schedule.

I started running during lunch breaks and after work with some good friends. This made running enjoyable at last - we'd head over Lambeth bridge, past the London Eye and all its tourists, and head over the 'wobbly' bridge, to St.Pauls. It suddenly became easy, and I entered a 10k race in early-mid May, hitting a very reasonable 45:56 - my first competitive race.

Around this time I took delivery of my boke, which, when it came took some getting used to. I think the first 'hard' laps around the Hyde Park circuit took in the region of 9:30. On Thursday this week, we hit the fastest time - 8:00. Of course, little additions like cleat pedals make a difference, but shaving 1:30 is a pretty impressive acheivement. Bike rides started to take centre stage and a couple of away trips, where I hit up 60-80k on a day, up and down Devonshire hills, helped build a solid base.

Swimming took somewhat of a backseat, especially in May as the improvement was already there, and the common consensus is that Swimmers don't win Triathlons - cyclists and, to a lesser extent runners do. Still, I kept up at least three times a week in the pool, and my weekly long swim peaked at 2100m (around 85 lengths) in late June. I'm confident in my swim - I came 8th out of 120 in the sprint tri last week, and I love swimming in the wetsuit. Still, 1500m racing is nothing to be sneered at

I have lost weight, although I haven't bothered to keep track of it. It hasn't been drastic, but I can definitely notice a difference. One thing that has changed is that my hamstrings are permanently tight, and this can result in nasty back ailments when cycling. I hope this doesn't strike too hard on the day as it can be paralysing. I do feel fit as anything and it is great. I sleep far far better than I did back in April, I'm permanently high on endorphins, I rarely feel lethargic, even though I am training twice a day, and I feel stronger. It's all to be expected, but it's great nonetheless.

So is there room for improvement? Somewhat. Training is all about peaking now - I swim, cycle and run race distances as often as possible, and try to brick (successive sports) a couple of times a week. I have just finished the most successful week of training so far, with consistently fast bike times and better swim times. Running has fallen behind a touch, but I will be working hard for the next Clapham 10k, next Sunday.

FIRST TRI!

I'm writing this having done my first official triathlon today. Wicked. Ian got me into a corporate sprint distance Tri at the very last minute so we could compete together. Venue was Dorney Lake - just outside of Windsor (it's where the Olympics rowing will be held in 2012). It's a quality venue - a large lake with a cycle track around it and perfect for Triathlon. The event was small, with 118 entrants, but that was perfect for a first Tri - compared to the 6000+ who enter the various events at the London Triathlon.

There's a bunch of stuff that differs between training and the actual event, most notably the transitions. These take place in the Transition Area, where beforehand you lug your bike over the rack, and then take care to ensure that you have everything ready for boths transitions - swim to bike, then bike to run. Bike shoes are left open for easy access, t-shirt laid out ready, helmet easy to get on (dammit, remember to make it easier next time..), trainers for the run etc etc. The swim is the slowest event to get ready for and luckily is first. I nearly sent my body-snug wetsuit back a few weeks ago but it just needed some getting into and is now perfect.

If you're a regular swimmer you can be pretty confident early on, because swimming is generally the weakest leg for most. We were the final group (of about 30?) to set off and having seen a few floaters trying to round the buoys with breast stroke earlier, Ian and I placed ourselves at the front to get an unobstructed start. Being a small event the start was not to rough (check back in four weeks to see what it will be like in the Docklands..), and we were clear, Ian getting the lead you'd expect from a lecker world-class swimmer. 400m and the swim was up - well short of the 1500m Olympic distance, but a heck of a lot of fun. Ian first, me 3rd or 4th (dunno)...

You blast it out of the water ripping the wetsuit off as you go and speed into the transition zone to get on the bike gear. No time for breaks - my head was spinning by this stage and I was pretty disorientated but i think I transitioned well and was off on the bike ride - 4 laps of the lake. I enjoyed the ride - totally flat and I think about av. 32.5 kph over the course. Jolly good fun pegging it past the guys on mountain bikes! I'm not sure if I went my fastest and it probably wasn't up to Thursday's Hyde Park speed (sub 8:30 on the circuit once i think), so next time I do a sprint distance I' might wanna push harder.

Came into transition just as Ian was exiting on his run, threw my bike in some crazy fashion on the rack, changed shoes and I was gone. But not gone quickly - immediately by calves failed to respond and I was trotting along at half pace hoping i could run off cramps. Legs were going all kinds of directions and I had to stop and stretch - not cool - however it helped. Enjoyed the run - 5km is a solid distance to go hard at and it was over soon enough, and i made it through the finish line to sheer joy. First Tri done and a great feeling

Completed in 1:10:28 (some crazy fast guy managed to hit a sub 1:02) which was 12th in my age group with Ian 9th. Next time roles reversed HAHA! The thoughts after the race between us turned to August 6th. A sprint tri is good, and do-able, but Olympic distance is a different kettle of fish. The swim will be four times as long (how disorientated will I be then?), the bike twice as long (how knackered will legs be) and the run twice as long also. If I was almost disabled through cramps today, what will happen then? Training isn't complete and we are gonna have to get more race specific - BRICK BRICK BRICK.

Was a great day, and everyone who entered did very well - a lot of people hadn't trained for it and I was really impressed by the performances in general

I was gonna write a blog entry earlier this week moaning about just how little time I had now. A quick diary example:
Sunday night 10mile run (90 mins), eat, then sleep.

Monday: 5:55 alarm goes off. Need espresso fast. Get on bike to meet Ian in Hyde Park (5 mins late as usual). 4 times circuit - 18km FAST. Back home (3km more). Breakfast rushed down, go to work. Work till 5. Rush to London to swim. Swim. 2 hours chinese lesson (30 mins late coz needed to swim). Race back home - eat sandwich, relax for 20 mins, then to bed at 10:15

Tuesday, 5:55 alarm goes off. Need espresso fast! Walk up to Ken Swimming pool (Notting Hill is gorgeous at this time). Max O2 sets (hard) +66m sprints. Rush back, breakfast, go to work. Work. Rush back. Buy supper (need to eat healthily). Off to Hyde Park. Bike Run brick (crikey it's busy on a summer night, try not to frighten the bike lane floaters too much by screaming, hehe!), ouch my calves are cramping. Back home, cook quickly, sit outside for 30 mins, then bed.

Wed: 5:55 alarm DOESN'T go off. I'm shattered so I take a lie in till 7:30. Feel like a new man. Work, then race back from work. Tonight's an important session - 1500m swim at race pace. Takes 26 mins. Happy with that. Race back home, eat, 1hour rest, sleep.

Thursday: 5:55 alarm goes off. Back in the park. Fast Bike 18km. Back home. Breakfast, work. Late working day (till 9:30) so get home nearly 11. Allow myself a beer. Go to bed at 12.

Fri:- Up at 6:30 to go in early to work. Friday = day off sport. But have a tri tomorrow so go to bed just after 10.

Sat:- Up at 5:45. Force a muesli brekkie down. Out of the house at 6:25 (late....) with my kit. Race off to Paddington. Arrive at Windsor at 8am. Triathlon at 9:20. Finished by 10:30! Rest of day - well earned relaxation. Allowed my self a beer dammit!

The point of this is not to complain- all brought on myself - but to give some indication as to what an tough commitment triathlon is. By Wednesday I had enjoyed less than 2hours relaxation time. Build phase = commitment phase and it's testing my commitment, however I'm nearly there, and the first Tri has proved it's worth it. Bring on the next four weeks (and a well needed sports massage.....)

WaterAid

OK, so here's the request.

I'm running this race for a charity - WaterAid . They have very simple sounding goals - to provide clean water and sanitation to the world's poorest. All they need is £15 to provide one person with water for life.

I had high hopes when I started this Triathlon and put my target at £1500. I might have been a little over-optimistic and have so far to go but I don't care! If I miss it I miss it, but it's worth trying hard for this undoubtedly crucial charity

So PLEASE, if you haven't already, do go to my charity site - www.justgiving.com/alexlondontriathlon and give what you can. It really doesn't take long to set up an account, is very safe and easy to use.

Right, back to sleep - more training in morning. Excellent run tonight (Holland Park is a GEM - small but with so many different corners to run to and turns to run around, you never get bored. Addt the peacocks into the mix and the summer opera practice and you have Christmas!)

Injuries unfortunately are starting to rear their ugly head. I have a pulled back when cycling which seems to be getting worse and will take that up with a physio on Thursday.

If anyone else you know would like to donate, please let them know the address! Thanks

Catching up

Heck, it's been a month since I wrote. Actually it feels more. Something is ironic about writing today - it's my birthday and I have, for the first time in what feels like months, lost restraint on mid-week boozing.

It's interesting what this does to you - OK, so i haven't stopped drinking (although I'm currently contemplating what July is going to bring) - but no longer do I go to bed caring just HOW good I will feel in the morning. NO, I wonder just how fit I will feel at 630 when i meet Ian in Hyde Park. And drink is just a small part of it. What happens if i go to bed after 11? I'll tell you it makes a big difference.

So, last time I wrote, I was 'getting those 12 a week going'. The good news is that they are now better than ever. Have I kept to 12 a week? I don't think so, but I am not far off. My new plan says 5 bike, 4 run and 3 swims each week. Tough weekends change it all though. Last weekend - 60km ride Saturday and 1km sea swim. But 60km in Devon is hard. Up down up down. Great for aerobic build.

I am now in build phase. The first phase was 'base' and this meant increasing our aerobic capability - long rides, easy runs, endurance swims - anything that would get our bodies using oxygen more efficiently and storing energy better. Build is (obviously) about getting strength and, ultimately, speed up. Sessions are sprint based, they aren't easy any more, you come home feeling, well, buggered

Regardless, this has become the life that I knew it would. And, minus the fact that I don't go out as much as I did THIS IS GREAT. I love being in Hyde Park at 6:30, I love timetrialing to see just how fast we can get round that great park first thing. I love swimming and being faster than most of the others in the lane. I love eating 4000kcal worth of food each day. I love sleeping well. Triathlon is expensive in both money and time, but I can't stop thinking about the 6th of August - the competition and the drive to do well and the sheer enjoyment of taking part. Bring on July!

(picture is the Bru and I trying to look well 'ard before we dive into the Devonshire sea. My sponsored wetsuit makes me look better than I am!)