Archive for May, 2007
May 27, 2007 at 4:49 pm · Filed under Apparel, Equipment
Yesterdays ride was only supposed to be stage 1 of the workout, my intention was to get home, bundle the bike in the shed and get the running shoes on for a brick session. The idea is that if you regularly run directly after a long ride you get used to the peculiar feeling of running on rubber legs.
Unfortunately I couldn’t be bothered for anything that sounded as painful as a brick, I wanted a warm bath. Good news, is that despite a 24 hr transition my legs still feel like jelly and I reckon I could get exactly the same benefit by going out for a run now. It’ll also make me feel better about going to the pub this evening.
I haven’t mentioned running (in an active sense) for a while but I have still be getting out there. I’ve dropped the mileage a bit as I have patellar tendonitis and all advice points to rest and inactivity. It actually seems to hurt more at rest than it does when I’m running, (perhaps because I find it hard to dig my thumb under my knee cap and run at the same time) so I’m going to quit the rest. If I stick to flat runs and keep a steady stride, I don’t even notice a problem, admittedly I need a big stick to help me get up the steps to cross to the other side of the Thames but thats just working my upper body strength.
Today will be my first run, sporting the new Cho-Pat knee strap. What a lovely fashion accessory this is, should blend wonderfully with the tan tights I wear for every run.
Now I have it sitting in front of me it looks like a big old con and I can’t understand how I duped myself into it. Still, I suppose I should give it a go. I have to tighten it around my knee, and it will in return provide a bit of tension across my tendon, supposedly protecting it from further damage. Not sure how tight, I’m working backwards from blue toes till I find the optimum effect.
Popularity: 23% [?]
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Tags: knee, thames
May 27, 2007 at 8:11 am · Filed under Cycling, Event, Road, Running
I tried to capture the essence of todays stampede but I just ended up getting in the way and the movie ends as the camera gets knocked out of my hands. Don’t you just hate home movies anyway?
After the run (that I didn’t do – again), I went off on the bike in search of hills.
Looks like I found one.
I just stopped halfway up to let those lot catch up and took the opportunity to take in the views – not my breath, in case you were wondering.
I’m not a fan of hills but I’ll definately be back again, as just round the corner from here is the bestest ever cake shop. My eyes were bulging out of their sockets at the massive, sweet, treacley delights on offer. Certainly worth the effort and the bonus prize is finally a route that warrants the terrain feature in google earth.
My homicidal GPS thingumy didn’t let me down either, before I knew it, the blinkin thing had directed me onto the slip road of the M25. I had to hit my max speed of the day, 36mph, trying to get myself back on course, which in this case meant the middle of a particularly hairy dual carriageway, before the huge truck barrelling along behind me, forced me to reach even greater speeds. I didn’t enjoy that one bit, shame I didn’t have my heart rate monitor on as I’m sure it would have recorded a new panic induced max.
Total distance: 75km (46.6 miles)
Popularity: 23% [?]
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Tags: BPTT, GPS
May 25, 2007 at 10:42 pm · Filed under Commuting, Cycling, Gadgets
A whole new commuting challenge lies ahead of me. My new job is flippin miles away, just teetering on the edge of the metropolis called Greater London. If I lose my balance I’m liable to stumble into the central reservation of the M25.
Thought I better take a ride out today to check out my route – don’t want to turn up both sweaty and late on Tuesday.
It’s a heck of twisty, turny trail that’s gonna take me forever to memorise, luckily I have a host of GPS gadgets in my bottom drawer or I think I’d still be out there shredding my paper map in a fit of frustration. Todays choice of handlebar thingumy is the GPSMap 60C, a pretty cool mapping device, that lets you get completely lost, confident in the knowledge that you can just follow a trail of dots back to your house. I always come very close to death when I ride with this though, I spend too much time chasing the arrow on the screen and too little time checking what the other nutters are doing on the roads.
Total round trip comes out at just over 26 miles, which means, if I want to stay in the running commute club, I’ll have to build myself up to half marathon distance pretty sharpish. Good grief.
Popularity: 26% [?]
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May 20, 2007 at 8:37 pm · Filed under Cycling, Event, Road, Running, Triathlon
Not much to report on the running front this week, it’s all been quite a struggle. Deege explains the runners eternal battle with the mind body dichotomy better than I ever could. I’m afraid to say that while Deege managed to win her battle, I just bailed. Out on my long run my body started grumbling and managed to convince me that it was only 2 km away from self-destruction. Strangely, that happened to be the exact distance between my disintegrating body and my front door, so thats where I took it. Long run turned into the shortest run this year – pants!
I went to Bushy Park yesterday but I didn’t even manage a run there. It was my turn for volunteering. Great job that, I can imagine it catching on, and I got an event t-shirt for my new page. It’s quite good fun watching sweaty, staggering blokes struggling to remember their names as they come to register their finishing positions.
It’s also quite impressive to watch the start from the front, I thought I was going to get gathered up in the stampede and carried to a new pb along with my laptop. I might try plonking myself at the front next time I run and see how far I get before I actually have to start running.
Photo by Rodiogirl
So a frail running week but I have been building back up with the cycling, managed 100 k this weekend. After BPTT my intention was to conduct a reccy of the Thames Turbo Triathlon bike route. I must have taken the wrong exit out of the park as it took me 6 k to find the start at Hampton Outdoor pool. I never manage to find that place I think they shift it each time I visit, which wouldn’t be too much trouble at all.
Great route, jolly scenic and all that, just need to remember to turn left as you pass the Southwark and Vauxhall waterworks. I think thats what its called – crazy name considering its in Sunbury.
I cut the route a bit short as I was caught short and I was miles from home. I think I’ll try and get the full route sorted next weekend, if I can find the pool a bit sooner.
Here’s the official route map, nicked from the Thames Turbo race pack. Still two more left this season I think.
Popularity: 42% [?]
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Tags: BPTT, t-shirt, thames, Triathlon
May 19, 2007 at 3:17 pm · Filed under Running, Software
I’ve been playing around with google earth trying to get some snazzy topographic viewpoints but even after I’ve discovered the button to exagerate the vertical displacement even my hilliest of routes look flat.
Here is an example of my assorted Broadmoor routes, where my max ascent must top a whopping 35 metres!
I then stumbled across a blog that explained my problem – my routes actually are as flat as a pancake. Check out the elevation profile for the run Krissy is currently contending with – is that crazy or what??? How can you run up a 3000m ascent and then continue going for 50 miles? Nuts!
Talking of nuts, has anyone caught the new advert for snickers, with B.A. Baracas? Coooool.
Popularity: 20% [?]
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Tags: Broadmoor
May 14, 2007 at 5:32 pm · Filed under Event, Triathlon
The official results are up now, so my gadget catastrophe didn’t matter too much in the end.
I’m not familiar with the way triathlon results are recorded but I’m assuming they include the transition time immediately after each event. It’s quite an achievement to capture everyones stage results without the use of the timing chips, but then the organisation for the whole event was exemplary. Certainly one to recommend!
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Popularity: 27% [?]
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Tags: Triathlon
May 13, 2007 at 11:49 pm · Filed under Event, Triathlon
Stratford 220 Sprint Triathlon
400 metre Swim – 23 kilometre Cycle – 5 kilometre run
Did I give the impression I was apprehensive about this tri-affa-lon thingy?
‘Twas a piece of cake and an absolute buzz to boot! My legs are killing me but I have had such a great day and I didn’t have to strip off in public once! I’ve been beaming all day.
I really didn’t think I was going to make it. My mum was suggesting I ought to throw a sickie and I was seriously tempted! Then I hired a Streetcar which hadn’t been filled with petrol and found myself coasting down the M40 in dire need of a petrol station – the car literally conked out as I pulled up at the pump. I had a bit of moral support though as Shakti decided to come along with me and that really does make all the difference, along with all the positive messages sent my way via the blogosphere – thanks so much folks!
In the end I arrived safely in Stratford but I was still near shaking with fear as I allowed someone to scrawl some number on assorted parts of my body. I think this number will have to become part of my life now, it is practically tattooed into my flesh! Still, I’m prepared to live with it, I felt such a pro walking out of that hall with my arm suitably tagged.
I didn’t actually get round to drawing up a transition list but I did stay awake til 3.30am “visualising” and the result of this was pure exhaustion when my alarm went off at 5.30 but a hassle free transition – you takes your choices.
I snook off to the start of the swim in my tracky bottoms and t-shirt and it was here that life started getting a bit more comfortable for me. Everyone in the 59 min estimate zone was terrified. There were even tales of people vomiting. Nothing like a bit of terror to make people chatty and nothing like other peoples fear and paralysis to make me feel cool, calm and collected!
The swim went like a dream, never mind 59 mins – when I popped out of the other end my declared time was 7 mins and something. Woohoo! Great start and now on to the bit I was looking forward to.
It was raining, but as an all weather commuter I think this acts in my favour. I’m also a seriously competitive biker! I had a blast but in the end I had a bit of a too and fro with a woman who finally got the better of me. You can’t draft in triathlon so you either have to overtake or drop right back, a shame as I think we were well matched for a bit of mutual support. I finished in just under 50 mins, I think. The approximate times are due to my complete incompetence with todays gadget of choice, the polar RS800SD. I’m hoping that the 220 guys are going to release official times soon so that I can actually see how I did against the pack.
The run was slow and seriously slippy but at least it was flat and so didn’t cause my knee any bother. I found it difficult to get in my stride, my hamstrings were really tense after the bike slog. I’m used to running after riding but maybe the intensity and distance made all the difference, it all felt quite peculiar. There was a great atmosphere on the run, the double loop meant you passed the same people at least twice and there was plenty of positive banter flowing. The marshalls were great too.
My time for the run was around 35 mins so now I just need to find out the overall time to get an idea of how efficient the transitions were.
I finished before the worst of the weather hit but those starting after me had a terrible time of it. Rodeogirl set sail through an absolute torrent that didn’t let up til it was all over. Didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s spirit though and it made those hot showers at the end so much more delightful.
Just need to book myself into the next one now!
Popularity: 35% [?]
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Tags: commute, knee, polar, RS800SD, t-shirt, Triathlon
May 12, 2007 at 9:51 pm · Filed under Running, Triathlon
Missed yet another BPTT today as I was away on “family business”. Didn’t stop me running though. Dad dropped me off at Bridlington beach and my task was to get myself back home before my mum had vacated the bathroom.
Its odd running oop north. Absolutely everyone I passed said hello to me. I have a tendency to stop breathing when I approach another human so they don’t hear my wheezing and assume me to be from the ultra unfit club. Jolly hard to squeeze out pleasantries when you’re half asphyxiated.
I’ve had a pretty naff week as far as running is concerned so I was glad to get out and test myself. The last km was was a relieving downhill stretch that enabled me to clock a delightful 6 min/km pace. I love that pace, it really feels like running. Just need to keep it up for a whole 10k’s and I’ll be overjoyed.
I managed to inflame my patellar tendon again though and ended the run limping. I’m struggling to climb steps and deal with hills so hopefully tomorrows tri is pancake flat.
Oh grief, tomorrow is so close now. My flat is strewn with little sporty piles, I don’t know where to put it all now. I wonder if it is a bit naff to turn up at transition with a wheelie suitcase.
Popularity: 16% [?]
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May 7, 2007 at 10:31 pm · Filed under Triathlon
I’m having a fairly serious anxiety moment. I always get cold feet during the build up to a race event but this weekends triathlon is a whole new kettle of panic and paranoia.
A typical running event will see me pitching up in full running attire and in a state of planned dehydration so I’m not tempted to use the stinking portaloos. All I need to do then is concentrate on avoiding the forced team bonding/stretching exercises for half an hour, until the whistle/gun/man lets rip and all I have to do is plod forward til its all over and I can go home.
With this triathlon thingy, the worries just don’t seem to stop. First thing I’ve got to concern myself about is how to get there. When the whole Stratford triathlon joy was first mooted I felt as if I was signing up for a little jaunt across to East London. Not a 100 mile expedition towards the Stratford of Shakespeare fame. I suppose I can cope with this though, at least it gives me an excuse to pull out the nicely spoken GPS lady.
When I get there I have to register and pin my number to both front and back of my running shirt but I’m gonna be pushing my bike and carrying about 30 different outfits and bottles and pumps and puncture repair kits and rucksacs and towells and as yet undetermined stuff cos I can’t park my bike up until 30 mins before the start of the swim. Its going to be a a complete baggage disaster zone.
Next is the worst bit. I get to my racking area and allow all the rucksacs and trammel to spew out onto the floor around me. After frantically trying to organise all the junk into some kind of prescribed T1/T2 efficiency combo I have to get prepared for the swim. So I’ve travelled down in my costume so it can’t be so bad but do I really have to strip off and parade around in my swim wear for 30 mins????? I can manage 30 secs I think, but no way can I manage this sort of exposure for 30 mins.
I made a bit of a mess of my entry as well. You had to put in your estimated swim time for 400m. Not knowing whether I could swim a length or how long a length was, I didn’t have a flippin clue. I tried entering my time as SLOW hoping that it would mean something to the organisers but it wasn’t accepted. I then opted for the largest number it would accept, this was 59:99 mins. I have since discovered that 12 mins is slow but 59 mins would take a monumental effort. This number was also the decider in your race starting position, with all the slowies going out first.
So it’s fair to say that I am not looking forward to Sunday.
I am going to have to stand half naked in public for 30 mins before jumping into an empty pool as all the other swimmers will be jumping in at least 47 minutes after me. Either that or I’ll be behind a bunch of swimmers who will actually take 59 mins to do 12 laps and I’ll be dead of hypothermia before I get to the good bit.
Can I go home yet?
Popularity: 26% [?]
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Tags: GPS, Triathlon
May 5, 2007 at 3:26 pm · Filed under Running
No BPTT update for today.
I got up as planned, pushed the muesli to the back of the cupboard and opted for my new secret running weapon: the banana and hemp power smoothie. Packed bag, wired myself up with iPod and heart rate thingy and then grabbed my keys. On the way to the door Heisenberg seemed to enter my flat. I felt myself splitting as infinite pathways opened up before me. I’m sure there is supposed to be an infinite number of possible pathways but in truth I only saw two, one was heading in the direction of a warm soft bed and the other towards excessive physical exertion in some way off park. Sorry to say I followed my slob self back to bed. I’m hoping my sporty self might have managed her own way to Bushy Park so I’ll log on and check the results later, maybe it is truly possible to have a race run its self?
I couldn’t fall back to sleep anyway as all the wires kept digging into me, instead I opted to play around with my heart rate monitor. My resting pulse is normally about 60ish but today I was watching it drop beat by beat to 49! What the heck is happening? My immediate thought was that my god damn expensive watch was duff so I scrabbled around the floor for another gadget and corroborating evidence. My blood pressure monitor told me I had a bp of 100/63 and a pulse of 47. That’ll teach me to be so slob like, even my heart is sluggish today.
Dragged myself out of bed before the ole ticker decided to give up completely and dragged it around an 8k loop of the Thames.
Popularity: 11% [?]
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Tags: BPTT, thames
