The Big Woody Race Report - Dominating the Dojo!

I actually wrote this on Sunday morning, but unfortunately I've been lost in the Forest of Dean for two days!!! A broken exhaust on the van prevented us heading back out to civilisation and down to Devon and Cornwall.

I'm writing this feeling unexpectedly stiff and sore, drinking coffee and eating pastries! Yesterday was the Big Woody Ironman Distance race. Having had a Tibia stress fracture during Ironman Hawaii, last October, (and more importantly lacking in cash to go abroad for an Ironman) it was good to feel like I could race Ironman again. My goal was just to put in a solid performance. The day before the race it was blowing a gale and very cold – had fingers and toes crossed that the weather would improve. The crossing of all digits obviously worked as race morning was pretty much perfect – cool, with just a light breeze. After a 20 minute delay to the start the 4 laps of Drummonds Dub. Swimming up the lake, into the low sun was a nightmare. I swear I swam in a zig zag fashion adding on 100m each lap. My orange lenses probably didn't help (In that 20 minute delay the sun came up and stayed out!!). But I've been reassured by my boyfriend who did the Little Woody that with dark lens it wasn't much better. Some how my 1:10 swim got me out as 1st lady, must have been by Zoot Wetsuit (shameless plug). Looking at swim times think it was a bit long. Out of transition saw us going straight up a hill – nice to wake the legs up. Before joining the course, of which i'd do 2 and a bit times. The course was winding and hilly, typical British - “I'm riding along, then who put that steep, out the saddle climb, in my path” making it hard to maintain pedalling rhythm. I'll shamelessly admit that I used by 29 sprocket on each of the three times going up the 12% climb out of English Bicknor. Better to save my legs for the run. I was sensible on the bike – my coach Sarah Coope will be proud. I came off the bike still in first place. To be cheered by my boyfriend Simon, who on finishing the Little Woody, had become my support crew. Out on the run, my back was feeling tight, but I quickly found my run legs and settled into a comfortable pace. The run was a lumpy! mainly off road run, of 4 out and backs. I'm not sure where I first saw the 2nd lady but knew I had a comfortable lead. Each time heading back through transition, I was greeted by cheers, encouragement and new bottles for my fuel belt from Simon. By the 3rd lap, my soles of my feet had become really sore (something to do with wearing new Birkenstocks to walk to work, then from work to the seafront and back home on the Monday before the race, stupid!). I passed up the offer of new socks and trainers on the last lap, I've been told I looked liked I was going to burst into tears, but then just trotted off again. If I can try to run with a stress fracture, I can run with sore and blistered soles. In the last mile I lapped the 2nd place lady – I could see her up ahead, she was too much of a target. I finished in 10:55:05, in 5th overall. Swim 1:10. Bike 6:17. Run 3:23 (run a bit short!) Still can't quite believe that my performance and result. Being injured last winter, had put a lot of doubt into my running ability, but had also given me a lot of focus and determination.

Thanks to Trevor and Julian, at Black Sheep Sports for putting on a good event. Challenging course to say the least! If you're after something a bit different from the M dot events this is definitely one to test yourself on, both physically, but also mentally due to minimal crowd support on the course.

Thanks to Martin Branfoot, DJM Products/ Zoot sports from continuing his sponsorship of me this year. Providing me with lots of lovely Zoot training and racing kit – Ultra Tri Shorts are just fabulous!! (girls, you know what I mean).

Also thank you to The Tri Store (Eastbourne), Lawrence and Simon for continued support and interest. Especially thanks and kisses to Simon for all his support both at the race and in training.

Thanks to Sarah Coope, Bodywork xtc, for coaching me this year and being a constant source of encouragement and enthusiasm and also to Glen Cook, for letting me join his morning squad sessions. I'm sure the trashing by speedy 10 – 12 year old swimmers, had built my mental toughness and I definitely came out the water feeling fresher, than previous races, if not faster.

So now for holiday, 10 days in Devon and Cornwall, this time I might get to have a go at surfing. Not quite the north shore of Ohau, Hawaii but at least I can stand and balance after this Ironman!

3 days until The Big Woody!

I should be in bed 10:30pm! but sorting and packing and now wide awake. Also ate way too much Homemade Pizza for dinner and might be sick if I lay down!

Pic of my new Cervelo - race ready! Hopefully I am too!

Keep fingers crossed for me.

Our vans looking fab and very live-able, if I get a chance will take a few pics tomorrow.

Sarah x

Genius!!!!!!

This is brilliant!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn29DvMITu4

Thanks Guy and Helyn (King of the Mountains) for the link. Loving the Portland backdrop - makes me want to go back - two of the best things coffee culture and cycling/ running (Nike home town) culture in one place!!!

Happy training

Sarah x

2 weeks to go!

Two weeks till the Big Woody - Excited? Yes, strangly. I'm looking forward to seeing what I can put together on race day, given the training and the racing season i've had so far.

Training has been going well over the past couple of weeks and my running just feels strong at the moment, so I'm happy. Looking forward to riding my new bike, which is just the lovely - ist bike ever. We rode the bike course a couple of weekends back and there are few steep sections, where i know I'll be glad of a nice light road bike, that just zips uphill, especially on the last lap!

Simon and I both rode the WCA 100 mile Time Trial last Sunday - tearing old PB's to pieces. Simon rode 4:04 and I a 4:22, lets hope not peaked too soon? Doubt it my legs felt dreadful for first 10 miles and then didn't really come to life until the last 50 miles!

Our van conversion is coming along too. Beds now in, we had our first weekend away last weekend - Forgot the Hot Chocolate, Doh! Just awaiting windows to arrive, so they can be fitted and then we can do the soft furnishing bits! Curtains ordered - Toy Story ones!! Simon's Choice - Never a dull moment with my 38, going on 11 (3 + 8) year old boyfriend.

Training and the Ford Transit!!.

I started writing this blog almost 2 weeks ago! My life has been hectic as normal! I don't know why I'm not surprised. 5 weeks out from an Ironman and life's going to get a bit crazy. Plus Simon and I have a new project - converting a Ford Transit into a camper van.

I took a week off work a couple of weeks back to get in lots of quality cycling miles and ensure i recover well too. The week started by having to say goodbye to our Suzuki Vitara. For the past couple of weeks it's been guzzling petrol and putting out black smoke, polluting the environment making the ozone hole bigger by the minute. The garages opinion after £100 of tweaking was that it was a little better, but on it's last legs. The Suzuki never quite got the same reputation as being a tardis, like my old Citreon AX, which we crammed 2 bikes and 2 weeks of camping gear, including large tent and camping hob into!! But nether the less sad to see it go. So instead we are now proud owners of a ford transist (white - of course!), which we are going to convert into a camper van, with optimal bike/ race kit storage. I'm going to be in heaven designing storage spaces once the boring insulating and lining stuff is done, - that's if Simon will let me loose. His first purchase for the van was a dustpan and brush - you can see where its going! Not sure Simon's used the dustpan in the flat!.

Leaving the Vitara and becoming a white van Lady!!

I'll pop up some pictures of the work in progress below - So my time has been consumed gutting the van and assisting in the refitting. Have to admit that the tour de france hasn't help my blog writing!

Stripping the van back taking up the old flooring and putting new baton up ready to insulate the walls, Simon's head injury, once stopped bleeding from standing up into the light fitting.

Simon and his Dad, Tim hard at work in the drizzle cutting and fixing new ply walls to the van. You can just make out my skillfully laid vinyl flooring.

Oh yes - back to training and racing - Rode a 50 mile TT to summarise it HURT!!!

Riding WCA 100mile TT in couple of week, so aim to write after that. Then its the Big Woody at the end of August.

Happy training

Sarah x