Raced my first 70.3 (half Ironman) in Antwerp on Sunday and had an absolute blast. The race itself is organised by Marc Herremans, a former Belgian triathlete who was paralysed in a bike accident, and it doesn’t take long to realise the race is run by athletes for athletes. Everything about it was spot on and if you’re ever looking for a 70.3 to do, this one is definitely it. As I’d only ever raced Olympic or sprint distance before and hadn’t really altered my training much ahead of Antwerp, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to being a little anxious come Saturday. Add to the mix that I also had a pro slot and it made for one slightly nervous EK. Once the gun goes, though, the adrenaline and nervous excitement has far better uses and I got on with the job in hand. The swim was a bit more chaotic than I’d anticipated, what with the pro men and women starting together, but things soon evened out and I enjoyed drafting Belinda Granger around the majority of the 1900m swim course.

Unsurprisingly she was like a rocket through T1 and, although we made it out onto the bike course at about the same time, I didn’t see her again! She’s an awesome triathlete and I was dead chuffed to see her go on to take the win. We trained with Belinda and Justin Granger last year while in Noosa and they’re great characters.

Before the race, I had feared the run course would be the place where I really felt the difference in distance, but it was actually out on the bike where this happened. The Chrono and I are a well-bonded pair now and I enjoyed the different challenges 70.3 presents - nutrition, for example, plays a crucial part, but I think before my next one I’ll do more near-race intensity work at longer distances. To add to the physical and mental challenge of the race, just as I was starting to feel fatigued on the bike, a huge storm broke out - a great test if ever there was one!

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We woke up and set off around 8.15 from Yogi Bear’s campsite in Haggers something along highway 40. It was a great campsite with loads of things to do for children including the American obsession for mini golf. Americans seem to take their mini golf seriously with amazing configurations of waterfalls, tunnels, monsters’ mouths opening and closing, all on the finest green astroturf engulfed by an obligatory grey concrete surround. They even have a leaning post after each hole to scribble your score down on your card. Adults and children politely queue at the 1st hole to take their turn, for most of them it would seem that this forms the core to their weekly training and weight loss regime, although the hot dog halfway house probably nullifies any calorie deficit actually taking place…..

We encountered rolling hills for the first 50miles which really scrambles any rhythm.. The temperature was consistently high but we are acclimitised to this now so not a major problem anymore. The scenery was beautiful as we followed highway 40 heading east. We passed a few other cyclists going the other way, some waved/nodded, others just stared straight; that’s the east side for you… We went through Baltimore and met with picked up some random cowgirl Amy who has joined us for the last few days in the US (whose speciality is motivational talks and ham and egg omlettes) and then I subsequently got a puncture in quite a dodgey part of the city.. It was a rapid change about 6 mins in total and arguably the fastest since we have started.

We were up to 100 for the day with the penultimate 50 mile leg of the journey taking us to Wilmington, a 6 lane highway and toll bridge with no bikes allowed. Thankfully the RV had sussed this and were waiting to take us over. We got dropped on the other side, it was about 7pm and we anticipated another 50 to Atlantic City. Almost immediately we passed a sign for ACity 58 miles…. ETA was therefore 10pm. The traffic was almost bumper to bumper coming towards us and away from the coast. As it got darker this proved to be a real help as the car headlights lit up the road in front of us. We really started to pick up the pace with a perfect prevailing wind, smooth roads and great drafting. We had 2 further water stops which took us within 20 of our final destination. As we rode close to ACity and the suburbs I started to think about the significance of this trip for me and what I have learnt about myself.. The loneliness of the long distance cyclist will be on the shelves in time for Christmas so all will be revealed then… I thought quite a lot about my mum and what she would have thought about this crazy adventure… She would have been worried like any mum but would have been driving me on through all of it, ticking me off for my cheeky end of day’s budweisers, but inwardly chuckling to herself about my individuality and aversion to comply with the norms…..

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Last week I raced in the National Championships in Bryn Bach Park, South Wales. It was good to be back racing, firstly and also to catch up with friends back in Wales. Training leading up to the race had been going really well even though I had done a limited amount of running due to my injury.

The day of the race was very hot so I ensured that I was adequately hydrated and I headed down the race site two hours before the start. I did my normal pre-race routine and then we were called into the water. I got a good start and after about 100 meters I was near the front of the pack but then my googles began to leak and it took the rest of the first lap to get them back on properly. So then the second lap was all about limiting the damage.

I got out of the water and had a good first transition, I got on to the bike and on the first hill I was very surprised as I seemed to have flown up it. I found someone else to work with and we took turns leading our pack. When I got off the bike, I didn’t know what to expect as I haven’t done much running. So I built in to it and was surprised when I started running down the rest of the field. I finished 10th and was content with the result and hope to build on that in the following weeks.

Next race is the London Triathlon….

Ritchie

Its all a bit of a blur now as its Saturday morning and we are just about to head off. I’ve been feeling more and more tired as the days have passed which is inevitable I suppose so missed a diary entry last night (sorry). When you read this I hope we will have finished in Atlantic City, some 3000 miles away from our start point. Today’s ride will be tough so I will make this as brief as poss. We ended up in Columbus on Thursday night, around 170 miles from the days start point. We had a bit of a nightmare again with the roads so had to come off the highway for a few miles until it was safe again. The RAAM guys are allowed to use the interstate roads and have escorts, we have no such luck so have to engineer a different route.. Sometimes the highways have evolved into interstates for a few miles so if there is no alternative then you have to come off.. Some of it has been quite dicey to say the least and not recommended for the faint hearted.. The trucks are monsters over here and scream as they go past…

We made it to Washington on Friday (not DC after following highway 40 for most of the day.. And within striking distance of the final destination. The good news is that Matt is cycling well again which means that meaningful drafting is back on…

Moving on.. Saturday has been the hardest day so far with effectively 120 miles of repeatedly riding up and down Ditchling Beacon. Awesome scenery through PA, but our legs and bodies have taken such a hammering.. Lots of stories from this day which I will recount later when I can muster the nrg. Last push and final day tomorrow so going to hit the hay. Night.
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Although its been a down period with not racing yet this season, I finally get to see the specialist I have been waiting on seeing next week to see what the verdict is for my back problems that I have been suffering with over the years. At the London triathlon this weekend I am one of the official speakers to do a daily talk for 20 minutes on my experiences as a Triathlete and injury prevention. You can find us at the Mazda Tent and a timetable will be handed out for daily schedules.

Also recently I am supporting Maggies cancer foundation who are launching some more of their new centres to help support people with Cancer. To help launch their new centres they are having a bike & hike event in October which I am helping them endorse and would encourage all levels and abilities to compete as its for a great cause.

I’m really enjoying my coaching too and helping others to achieve their goals is something that gives me great pleasure, more athletes are joining Team Dillon all the time which is fantastic.

I just received an email from Lisa, our other competition winner who is participating in the London Tri next weekend. Here’s her thoughts on the race:

Some might say I am ill prepared… I have no goggles, wet suit, racing bike or trainers… However, I have enlisted a friend as a coach (’Coach Sweetman’) and am currently sourcing triathlon gear. I have completed my first round of training- couple of laps of Jesus Green and 10 lengths of the 91m outdoor pool and will complete the cycle this evening. I will then have completed each event individually leaving next week for some ‘high octane’ training to ensure I am primed and raring to go come race day. I am still to attempt to slither myself into a wet suit… I heard whispers that baby oil/ vaseline is the key? Jokes aside, my general fitness is good and I am happy to take on the challenge. Any tips welcome.

The forecast was right and it didn’t stop raining all night. We awoke to more rain and grey skys.. Rain slows things up, including getting out of bed, so we didn’t get underway until nearer 8 this morning. Matt put his waterproof socks on and I put my feet into 2 plastic bags… Same effect in the end, you get wet but its a warm wet. We put neoprene booties over our shoes and ventured out into Dolly. We got going quite well and I thought that we would make good progress until we came across a gas station on highway 40 only 8.5 miles from our start point that apparently sold fresh doughnuts and coffee for a couple of bucks. A momentary glance later and Matt and I were scoffing and quaffing in our dripping lycra and waterproof outfits much to the delight of the cashiers… I suppose we looked a bit different from their normal daily customers. Several doughnuts later and we were back on highway 40 and the pouring rain.

Regardless of marketing hype, in my experience of outdoor work and play, nothing is waterproof other than the skin you were born with. If its raining hard and you are out in it for long enough you will get wet. The key thing is to keep warm and wet and to take things off as soon as the conditions permit so you can dry from the inside out.. We had a brief stop after 30 in Effingham….

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We ran a competition in July two give to lucky Wiggle customers the chance to compete in next weekend’s London Triathlon. All the entry places were filled months ago making the prize even more special than just saving the £75 entrance fee.

To enter the competition all you had to do was tell us why you thought you deserved to win. Lots did, and we picked our two favs and have given them a mere 10-days to get ready for the biggest triathlon in the world!

Our winners (coincidentally) were both from Cambridge and are Carl Myhill and Lisa Hall. I have spoke to them both and they are excited (and maybe a tad nervous) about the race but I wish them both the best of luck.

Carl’s posted his reaction on his blog:

Thrilled to win Wiggle Competition to Enter the London Triathlon

I’ve been doing quite a bit of triathlon training this year but have not entered any events yet.

I was buying some Aquasphere Seal goggles for open water swimming from Wiggle recently and noticed they had a competition with entry to the London Triathlon as a prize. All you had to do was tell them why they should give it to you.

Here’s what I wrote:

I think I should win the entry because the last event I did in London was the World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR). Cycling down Oxford Street naked has left an indelible scar on my memory which I would like to erase by participating in a fully clothed event. I’m just kidding really though because the WNBR was a great fun bike event and protest against indecent exposure to CO2 and car culture. OK, naked cyclists don’t buy much from Wiggle but how about it?

I’m thrilled that the folks at Wiggle have a sense of humour and have given me a prize entry to the Sprint Tri on 9th August. Of course what I wrote is not true - I’m not scarred by the WNBR at all. I think it was an excellent event, well organised, well received by the public and well policed (the Police joined us on bikes). I’m not a naturist by any means but I am an environmentalist and strongly believe that bicycles provide part of a solution to the rising cost of Oil, the coming of Peak Oil and our need to get about. The government are even supporting this (albeit not cycling naked) with their excellent Bike to Work scheme, providing an excellent way to buy a top quality bike cheaply…..

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The temperature was really hot and humid in addition to the rolling roads, combined with 2 punctures in the first 8 miles meant that the going was slow for the AM session. It would have been a lovely ride on a normal day and an interesting change from the normal straight roads. We followed the 140 alongside the Mississippi crossing over it a few times.

The ground is very green and fertile which is a welcome change from the various shades of brown. We crossed St Louis over the river again and encountered rush hour traffic with no soft shoulder. It was terrifying to ride through the traffic and after a couple of close shaves we decided to jump on the rv for a few miles. The RAAM riders have escorts on interstates and through cities, we just rely on nous and London riding experience…..

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Not ideal I know, but I decided to do the National Championships about 2 hours before the race last Saturday. I couldn’t decide if I should race for the third weekend in a row. I was tired, my Achilles was a bit sore and I really couldn’t face getting myself ‘up’ for another hard race. The only real attractions to race were convenience (it was down the road) and financial.

Surprisingly the race turned out to be quite enjoyable. The weather was lovely and I actually felt pretty good in the race. I wore my new sleeveless wetsuit as the water temp was supposedly below 20 deg and I had a good swim coming out just behind the leaders. I cycled up the first hill hard and reached the front of the group with ease. In fact so many people got dropped up the hill on the second lap that the lead group was whittled down to 5. I must admit I did chuckle to myself when I realised that both of the Olympic reserves (domestiques) lost contention on the hill. I attacked several times on the bike up the hill but planned to put in my biggest effort with a lap to go. However, my plans went out the window when I got a puncture on lap 8 of 9 (I wasn’t chuckling now!). When I did make it into T2 I’d lost 30-40 secs to the leaders. I ran well for the first 3 laps of the 5 lap run and closed on the leader (Hollie Avil) but tired on the final 2 laps. I was happy to settle for 2nd and eased off on the last lap but nobody had warned me about Liz B who sprinted past me in the last 400 metres. Serves me right!

The best thing though is that my injuries seem miles better and I’m really looking forward to racing in the London Triathlon on August 10th. Two weeks preparation for a race should be a lot better than 2 hours.