My 1st 100 miler

The title says it all……well 105 actually, we missed a turn!

I joined Rob again for the latest in the Wiggle Sportive series. This was the Spring Saddle based at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Race Course.

Out bright (for a change) and early hoping for a 8 o’clock start. Again, it was a chilly start to the day but you knew it would warm up and be a nice day.

The first 30 miles were a nightmare. We missed the smallest turning in the world and ended up doing the extra 5 miles, then Rob had a blowout which was quickly followed by another puncture of his own making. Fine cyclist he may be, cycle mechanic he’s not! Then my chain came off on a desent which meant we had a frustrating time up to the first feed station.

After the struggles of the last sportive, I felt much better matching Rob pedal for pedal. We were attacking all the climbs and maintaining good speed when we were moving and passing lots of other riders without being passed by many. It was at this point when we started to wonder what other peoples training consisted of. At the moment, we’re completing 10 sessions a week. Was this Sunday ride other peoples only exercise?

After the second feed station and another delay after riders started to follow signs put up by a local club for their sportive causing confusion, I started to feel it and my pace dropped. Rob shot off with my blessing and like your first marathon when you hit 20 miles, I started to wish for the finish. My stomach was now displaying its dislike to High5 energy drink, energy gels and too many flapjacks! The 3rd feed station at Clare came as a welcome relief. I couldn’t bring myself to eat anything so topped up the bottles with fresh water.

It took a couple of miles to get the legs going after this stop, but then I felt re-energised. The last 20 miles, despite a couple of nasty climbs, were highly enjoyable – safe in the knowledge that I was going to do it……complete to magic three figures for the first time.

The finish line is always a welcome sight in any event and this was no exception. This was a very tough ride, continually undulating, but it did make me realise what a beautiful place Suffolk is. This is the great thing about cycling, it takes you places you’d never go to either on foot or in the car. And if you ride slow enough, you may even see some of them!

What have I learnt to this stage? Well, apart from High5 energy drink does funny things to me, I knew I could run a marathon, now I know I can ride a bike 112 miles, just got to prove I can swim 2.4 miles…………oh, and a small matter of doing them all on the same day. Gulp!

Actual Ride time: 6:24:44

Official finish time: 7:13:53

Total mileage: 104.87

The route:

 

Stolen from the official photos:

 

Birthday weekend

Bank Holiday weekend, no rain and my birthday….let’s train!! 

Friday

Started out with a 61 mile bike ride to Haverhill, Saffron Walden & home. Still very cold and lots of snow hanging around, but very nice to be out on a Friday putting in the miles as I’ve got my first 100 miler next week from Newmarket.

 

Saturday

My Birthday!! As I’ve got older, I got in the habit of doing something different, particularly if it falls on the weekend, so this year we got up early and jumped in the car to Nottingham. Took part in my 41^st parkrun (on my 41^st birthday – little things please little minds) at Colwick. This was my 10^th different venue and completed in a not too shabby 23:23.

After bimbling round town for a bit, I left the girls to a bit of retail therapy and headed off to watch Forest draw 2-2 with Brighton thanks to an injury equaliser through the legs of the keeper.

After this, met up with the girls and car and set of for the intention of the journey, to check out The National Watersports Centre at Holme Pierrepoint – home of ‘The Outlaw Triathlon’. This is where the 2.4 mile swim will take place, and as you can see from the photo, its a flippin long way up there and freezing cold!

 

Sunday

Bike – 55 miles cross country to St. Ives & back.

 

Monday

Run – 10.5 miles of green (& muddy) lanes.

 

March has been a good month for training. Got the miles in (Swim 9.4, Bike 316, Run 69) in a total of 43 hours. A bit low on the run but I’ll concentrate on the bike as there’s no point in being able to run a half decent marathon if you buggered getting off the bike.

 

It is still very cold out there, but having been outside for quite a few hours this weekend, I can definitely say spring has finally sprung.

 

On the sponsorship front, Heathland’s do not currently have an arrangement with Just Giving so I will be running an old fashioned stylie sponsorship form. I will be pestering you all shortly.

 

Thanks for reading.

Stiggers.

Dakota – My New Training Partner

Many people have been asking me if I was going to get sponsorship for a charity. Initially I wasn’t going to, but realise that as this is such a big deal to me, it could also be a big deal to someone else. But who to raise money for?

There are many deserving organisations out there. Previously as a family we have supported MAGPAS and the East Anglian Air Ambulance as we have had cause to require their services.

I expect I’ll probably raise a couple of hundred quid (more would be nice folks, dig deep!) which, although helpful, wouldn’t make a massive difference to larger charities, so I have chosen a local charity, run completely by volunteers, to whom a small amount would be a massive help.

My chosen charity is……….drum roll………….

HEATHLAND’S ANIMAL SANCTUARY

Based in Royston, Heathlands Animal Sanctuary rescues, rehabs and rehomes unwanted domestic pets. They are a non-profit organisation run by volunteers who all have full time jobs, families and busy lives. Please see their website. If you can offer a home to any of these animals, please get in contact.

http://www.heathlands.org.uk/

As part of my fundraising awareness, I hope to take dogs with me on my weekly long run. First up this week was Dakota, a lovely Husky who would make a fantastic companion (running or not!). Can you give this boy a home?…..if not, we may have too!

 

We’re yet to finalise the best way to collect sponsorship so watch this space. I’ll let you know.

 

Wiggle ‘No Excuses’ Sportive

Today was supposed to be the first real test of endurance for the season. I should have done the ‘Epic’ 80 mile distance, but due to imminent storms, this was cancelled so we all had to do the ‘Standard’ 40 mile.

The early morning was crap. Got to Brampton race course and it was bloody freezing, the wind was howling and it has started to rain. When we learned that the long distance was cancelled we were all disappointed, some were maybe secretly pleased.

What should have been my longest ride turned out to be one of the toughest due to the conditions. My cycling buddy for the day Rob (and fellow Outlaw registrant) was going really well. Even though I am a few months older than Rob, I felt a bit like the younger brother who tried his best but couldn’t keep up with his older sibling. He would sprint up the climbs or accelerate away into the tough head winds, only to slow and wait for me to catch up. This would normally mean going past at full tilt with a ‘come on then!’ Rob explained that living in the Fens meant almost all his rides meant a strong head wind. I’ll stick with the undulating Roystonshire.

At the half way point, we stopped for nibbles. Although we had supplies and didn’t need the rest, the feed stations are as much a part of the event as the ride themselves. We helped ourselves to tea and flapjack then headed for home.

Rob looking like the seasoned pro and me……..like I was an event marshall.

We finished the 40 miles, wet and cold in 2:28. Hot bath required!

what is The Outlaw?

Ironman distance race

2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 run

channel 4 highlights from last years race are here:

wish me luck!

The Beginning…….

…….well not exactly. In fact more like a little way short of the middle.

I’m about to start week 14 of a 30 week training plan, all leading up to July 7th 2013 and The Outlaw triathlon, Nottingham, England.

I’ve been inspired to write this by Andy Holgate, author, ordinary bloke, and  Ironman.

Not sure if this will be daily, weekly, when I’ve achieved something or when I want a good old fashioned moan…….watch this space!