Well today is our first day on the big island of Hawaii, after a long 27 hours of travel yesterday. Happily through we, bikes and bags all arrived in one piece. Probably half the people on the plane from LA to kona were compression clad ironmen and ironwomen. My plan of sleeping on the first flight and staying awake on the second was completely reversed as i found myself wide awake pretty much the whole way from london and had a marathon movie watching session instead. I think I managed to annoy the lady next to me with my incessant giggling throughout the A team.
After a long wait at the hire car place we crammed 3 bikes, 4 large bags, 4 carry on bags and 4 people into the dodge! caravan and found our apartment or condo as the Americana's call them. Which is beautiful - just off Alii drive, on the seafront. The surf is up at the moment, so waves are crashing up over the first sea wall, hope it settles down for next weekend.
Today has been a quite day. A treat of first day of holiday breakfast at Lava Java (the triathlete's cafe - Jo Lawn and Craig Alexander sat down at the table next to us, both looking very race fit. Simon's pretty much in Heaven, being a complete tri geek.) a stop at the farmers market for fresh fruit and veg. Then followed a confusing and drawn out trip to Safeway's and a lovely swim in the sea before lunch. My Cd 0.1's now built so going take it out for a short spin in a bit, to hopefully loosen off our legs from our day of forced inactivity yesterday. I'm very excited this will be the first ride with race wheels on :-)
I think that having been here before in 2008, i feel more relaxed knowing what to expect and how everyone is eyeing each other up. I don't think i am in the best shape i could be in having struggled with injury since Ironman UK. But despite this i am looking forward to racing and pulling off the best day i can.
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Saturday, 11 September 2010
My New Ride
It's been 3 weeks since my last post, mostly due to the monsters living in our computer only being banished last week, but mostly i'
ve been holding out to be able to show a picture of my new bike. My lovely Quintana Roo Cd0.1 frame arrived 3 weeks ago, but I have been waiting (in)patiently for the brakes to arrive, which they finally did last Monday. I love riding my Lucero and was definitely sad to be parted from it, but this bike is fantastic. I'm not a bike geek, so will not be using any mumbo gumbo to describe it, but it feels fast. It is really responsive, it goes uphill well and descends well, feeling really stiff, which i am kindly informed by Simon that it's because of the size of the bottom bracket! My second ride today was in the rain and wind (so it now needs a clean :-(!!) I rode 110 miles, mostly on the tri bars and was so comfy and fast. As a bonus when stopped at traffic lights, a number of people commented how good it looked. I 'm looking forward to riding it with race wheels on now - Roll on Hawaii x
My preparations for Hawaii have not been going to plan, but are hopefully getting back on track. The 100 mile Time trail was a complete disaster. It was a miserably wet and cold day and at about 30 miles in my left glut and back tightened up and steadily got worse. I pushed on until the 50 mile mark, when i just decided to ride steady, rather than race. By that point i was pretty much only pedalling with my right leg. I still don't know what triggered it, possibly the fall i took in T1 at Ironman UK, combined with complete rest then building back up training) or the slight knock/bruise on my glut which i gave myself by falling into a plinth at work, which at the time felt minor. For whatever reason my glut medius and piriformis muscles have been causing me a lot of pain and I've not be able to run since. At the beginning of this week i was completely feed up, as it hadn't really got any better. But I now feel a corner has been turned. on Thursday I asked a friend and physio lecture/practitioner to take a look, unable to find anything major only some tightness, tenderness and scar tissue in piriformis and glut medius, and a slight weakness in my left hip internal rotators and glut/hamstring combination, he advised a go for a run, (stopping if the pain increased). So Friday morning, for the first time in 3 weeks i headed out for a proper run. I could feel tightness in my left glut but to my surprise the pain didn't get any worse. nor did it get any worse throughout the day. If anything it got better. It was only a 30 min run yesterday and 10 minutes off a long bike today, but definitely feel a corner has been turned. Good job since Kona is only 4 weeks away.
Since my last post i have been at another Ironman triathlon, but this time in a supporting capacity. Simon raced the Big Woody Triathlon, on the 28th August. A last minute
swim venue change, due to blue/green algae meant the swim was held in an old quarry, which was spectacular at sun rise, but also gave the athletes a steep and stoney run up to transition. The swim was on the short side, but the athletes then faced a 109 mile hilly bike ride, before a 4 lap trail run. Simon looked strong and comfortable throughout the day. I performed my race day duties of cheering and handing up bottles, with precision. I even managed to get a couple of sneak
y bike rides in around these duties. The only time i started to worry that Simon's day wasn't going to plan, was when he came back to the turnaround after the 3rd lap. He was looking a bit pale and my words of encouragement, were meet wi
th what can only be described as a grunt. Happily through Simon confronted and defeated his Ironman demons and finished in 10:18 and in 3rd place.
I've got 2 1/2 weeks of training left, before we fly out to Hawaii. I'm getting excited. Flights - check. Apartment - Check. Insurance - check. Visa - Check. ridiculously oversized SUV hired to lug Simon, myself, Yvette and Steve and 3 bikes (Simon's taking his P4! ) around Hawaii -Check.
Happy Training
Sarah x
ve been holding out to be able to show a picture of my new bike. My lovely Quintana Roo Cd0.1 frame arrived 3 weeks ago, but I have been waiting (in)patiently for the brakes to arrive, which they finally did last Monday. I love riding my Lucero and was definitely sad to be parted from it, but this bike is fantastic. I'm not a bike geek, so will not be using any mumbo gumbo to describe it, but it feels fast. It is really responsive, it goes uphill well and descends well, feeling really stiff, which i am kindly informed by Simon that it's because of the size of the bottom bracket! My second ride today was in the rain and wind (so it now needs a clean :-(!!) I rode 110 miles, mostly on the tri bars and was so comfy and fast. As a bonus when stopped at traffic lights, a number of people commented how good it looked. I 'm looking forward to riding it with race wheels on now - Roll on Hawaii xMy preparations for Hawaii have not been going to plan, but are hopefully getting back on track. The 100 mile Time trail was a complete disaster. It was a miserably wet and cold day and at about 30 miles in my left glut and back tightened up and steadily got worse. I pushed on until the 50 mile mark, when i just decided to ride steady, rather than race. By that point i was pretty much only pedalling with my right leg. I still don't know what triggered it, possibly the fall i took in T1 at Ironman UK, combined with complete rest then building back up training) or the slight knock/bruise on my glut which i gave myself by falling into a plinth at work, which at the time felt minor. For whatever reason my glut medius and piriformis muscles have been causing me a lot of pain and I've not be able to run since. At the beginning of this week i was completely feed up, as it hadn't really got any better. But I now feel a corner has been turned. on Thursday I asked a friend and physio lecture/practitioner to take a look, unable to find anything major only some tightness, tenderness and scar tissue in piriformis and glut medius, and a slight weakness in my left hip internal rotators and glut/hamstring combination, he advised a go for a run, (stopping if the pain increased). So Friday morning, for the first time in 3 weeks i headed out for a proper run. I could feel tightness in my left glut but to my surprise the pain didn't get any worse. nor did it get any worse throughout the day. If anything it got better. It was only a 30 min run yesterday and 10 minutes off a long bike today, but definitely feel a corner has been turned. Good job since Kona is only 4 weeks away.
Since my last post i have been at another Ironman triathlon, but this time in a supporting capacity. Simon raced the Big Woody Triathlon, on the 28th August. A last minute
swim venue change, due to blue/green algae meant the swim was held in an old quarry, which was spectacular at sun rise, but also gave the athletes a steep and stoney run up to transition. The swim was on the short side, but the athletes then faced a 109 mile hilly bike ride, before a 4 lap trail run. Simon looked strong and comfortable throughout the day. I performed my race day duties of cheering and handing up bottles, with precision. I even managed to get a couple of sneak
y bike rides in around these duties. The only time i started to worry that Simon's day wasn't going to plan, was when he came back to the turnaround after the 3rd lap. He was looking a bit pale and my words of encouragement, were meet wi
th what can only be described as a grunt. Happily through Simon confronted and defeated his Ironman demons and finished in 10:18 and in 3rd place.I've got 2 1/2 weeks of training left, before we fly out to Hawaii. I'm getting excited. Flights - check. Apartment - Check. Insurance - check. Visa - Check. ridiculously oversized SUV hired to lug Simon, myself, Yvette and Steve and 3 bikes (Simon's taking his P4! ) around Hawaii -Check.
Happy Training
Sarah x
Saturday, 21 August 2010
Reflecting and looking forwards!
It's been a while since my last entry, the main reason for this has been my lack of computer access. Our computer has been attacked by Internet Gremlins! aka a Torjan virus. I'm now sitting in Eastbourne Library making use of free computer access, which takes me back to my student days and the time before broadband Internet was not necessity in every household. Reminiscing on my student days will not be for much longer, as i will start my part time Masters degree in early September. I'm sure that this degree will not result in Gallivanting in Eastbourne Night Clubs Monday to Thursday! But watch this space!
Since Ironman UK i have had ups and down in recovery and training. It's taken me almost 3 weeks to be happy with the outcome of the race, and this only happened after a bit of a telling off from Coach - Sarah Cooope, and my Boyfriend pretty much telling me i was acting like a spoilt brat! Yes my race at Ironman UK had not gone 100% to plan, but i had only entered 4 weeks before and i had come away achieving my goal of winning my age group and securing that Kona Spot. I have been most frustrated by my stomach/ nutritional problems i encountered in both Ironman Nice and UK, something i haven't had problems with in the past and not pulling off the run i think i am capable of. Since I have accepted this my focus and drive have returned and training has been going well. A couple of days riding to work and back early this week, left me a little shattered and needing an unexpected rest day, but on the whole I'm building the training back up. This weekend I'm doing a 100 mile Time trial to test out my revised nutrition strategy - I'm not sure if East Sussex will provide the weather which will replicate that in Hawaii though. Considering today's wet and windy ride it's unlikely.
On Thursday i had a lovely large bike sized box arrive from the US- My new Quintana Roo CD 0.1! I will post a picture as soon it's built - the new 2011 colour is definately exciting. I'm a bit sad to be putting my QR Lucero away, as we have had lots of adventures together over the past 5 years. It will have one last race this weekend, before being stripped down. I hope it's a good farewell race!
Happy Training Sarah x
Since Ironman UK i have had ups and down in recovery and training. It's taken me almost 3 weeks to be happy with the outcome of the race, and this only happened after a bit of a telling off from Coach - Sarah Cooope, and my Boyfriend pretty much telling me i was acting like a spoilt brat! Yes my race at Ironman UK had not gone 100% to plan, but i had only entered 4 weeks before and i had come away achieving my goal of winning my age group and securing that Kona Spot. I have been most frustrated by my stomach/ nutritional problems i encountered in both Ironman Nice and UK, something i haven't had problems with in the past and not pulling off the run i think i am capable of. Since I have accepted this my focus and drive have returned and training has been going well. A couple of days riding to work and back early this week, left me a little shattered and needing an unexpected rest day, but on the whole I'm building the training back up. This weekend I'm doing a 100 mile Time trial to test out my revised nutrition strategy - I'm not sure if East Sussex will provide the weather which will replicate that in Hawaii though. Considering today's wet and windy ride it's unlikely.
On Thursday i had a lovely large bike sized box arrive from the US- My new Quintana Roo CD 0.1! I will post a picture as soon it's built - the new 2011 colour is definately exciting. I'm a bit sad to be putting my QR Lucero away, as we have had lots of adventures together over the past 5 years. It will have one last race this weekend, before being stripped down. I hope it's a good farewell race!
Happy Training Sarah x
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
Ironman UK
Ironman UK wasn’t on my race plan initially, but I entered 4 weeks ago, after a disappointing race at Ironman Nice. I knew that racing two Ironman races close together would be tough, but hadn’t quite anticipated how tired I would be post race. It’s now Wednesday, 3 days after Ironman UK and I can honestly say that I am shattered.
In the 5 weeks between Nice and UK I felt like I had recovered and was ready to race again. I’d been up with Yvette Grice to have a look at the bike course and decided I had enough time to get training and reacquainted to my Quintana Roo Lucero. I had also tweaked my nutrition a little to ensure I carried all I needed and just picked up water. I arrived in Bolton on Friday and registered and took a little walk around T1, before heading to the premiere inn, avoiding the rain outside and enjoying a complete rest day, being glued to the television, namely watching the Athletics. The rain and the television continued on Saturday, interrupted by bike and bag racking, race briefing and some stretching!! Having had problems being sick during Nice, I decided to ensure I eat early, so immediately after the race briefing at 6pm I was tucking into chicken and pasta. Bed at 9pm for being up at 3am.
Race morning preparation went without hiccups and I had plenty of time in transition to get myself sorted and relaxed. At 5:30 all the athletes were paraded out of T1 to the lake for the 6am start. I got in the water with some time to spare for a quick warm up. The water was pretty grim, visibility less than Eastbourne sea water due to algae! Hard to believe I know. I managed to position myself well for the start and found a good combination of clear water and feet to follow. I did manage to go a bit off course on the second lap. I didn’t feel like I was swimming particular fast, but exited the water in 1:03. Just shows that being relaxed whilst swimming is the key. After quite a long a long run I entered a heaving and disorganised transition tent and had a slalom course to contend with weaving in/out of changing athletes to exit. On route I managed to slip on a muddy patch and land on my right hip, no injuries just a bruised ego and getting a bit muddy. The rest of transition went smoothly and I was quickly out onto the bike. As I left I heard Steve Clark (Yvette Grice’s Husband and fantastic supporter) shout out that he thought I was first in my age group, which spurred me on. The first lap of the bike went well and I felt good, at the start of the second lap, just before the climb up sheep hill lane, my stomach started to feel funny, so I eased back up the climb hoping it would settle. I did feel a bit better but my tummy was not 100%. My bike split was not a quite as I had hoped/planned, but my easing back, seamed to have helped my stomach and I had been able to keep down gels and drink on the 3rd lap. I came into T2 feeling good and ready to start the run, optimistic that my pre Nice training would see me through. Onto the run I soon regretted putting on my white compression socks immediately, when we hit what can only be described as a 4 mile boggy loop. Squelching through the mud, I lost a shoe in one particularly deep section and spectacularly fell forward, getting covered in yet more mud. I was actually glad to hit the tarmac and start the run down to Bolton. At about 5 miles my lack of hard training on my TT bike began to show as my back started to tighten and spasm, forcing a bit of a stretch stop. Once this was sorted I got back into a bit of a rhythm, but was definitely running slower than I had planned. A couple of miles later my stomach started to rebel again and every time I pushed the pace I started to feel sick. Seeing Yvette (fellow Bodyworks XTC athlete) just a couple of minutes back on what appeared to be a fading Bella motivated me to keep running as much as possible. At the turn around I contemplated pulling out as was feeling so dreadful, but the thought of a DNF, all the money spent and the possibility that my stomach would come right again I carried on. I had been passed by a number of girls at this point and did not know if they where in my age group or not. After mile 15 and a bit of coke, the proper vomiting started. I stopped at the side of the road, so don’t score points for puking whilst running I’m afraid. At this point Yvette came past in the opposite direction in 1st place, looking very strong and running well. I was so excited for her, this being her first Ironman win. The rest of my marathon was a mixture of walking and running when I could. My stomach did eventually come around again 3 miles from the finish and I ran continuously from then on in. I crossed the line at 11:20, well off my goal time and sure that I had not won my age group. A phone call from my boyfriend saw me jumping up and down in front of Bolton town hall, screaming as he told me I had won my age group and I had my Kona spot, having been following the race on Ironman Live.
I went into the race with a number of goals – To have a swim which I felt reflected the swim training hours I had done with Bodyworks XTC over the past year, rather than near drowning experience I had at Nice. To ideally go under 11 hours on what I knew would be a tough course, to win my age group, and get my slot for Hawaii. I should be happy that I did have a great swim, won my age group and qualified for Kona, but a large part of me is disappointed with my performance and overall time.
One of the best parts of the day was actually going back to the Ironman Finish between 15 and 17 hours to cheer on athletes. This was my first time going back to the finish. I had not in Florida – looking after sick boyfriend, Hawaii – gutted having walked with stress fracture, Nice – being in medical tent still! I will definitely be going back and cheering on the finishers at future races. I was so much fun cheering, clapping, dancing and sharing everyone’s post race excitement/ relief. Yvette was giving out finishers medals, but I managed to drag her up the finish chute for a quick dance, for which I’m sure never to be forgiven for. Especially since my choice of song was the Cha Cha Slide and the Macarena, and the young teens were outshining us.
Enough said – Hawaii Bound
In the 5 weeks between Nice and UK I felt like I had recovered and was ready to race again. I’d been up with Yvette Grice to have a look at the bike course and decided I had enough time to get training and reacquainted to my Quintana Roo Lucero. I had also tweaked my nutrition a little to ensure I carried all I needed and just picked up water. I arrived in Bolton on Friday and registered and took a little walk around T1, before heading to the premiere inn, avoiding the rain outside and enjoying a complete rest day, being glued to the television, namely watching the Athletics. The rain and the television continued on Saturday, interrupted by bike and bag racking, race briefing and some stretching!! Having had problems being sick during Nice, I decided to ensure I eat early, so immediately after the race briefing at 6pm I was tucking into chicken and pasta. Bed at 9pm for being up at 3am.
Race morning preparation went without hiccups and I had plenty of time in transition to get myself sorted and relaxed. At 5:30 all the athletes were paraded out of T1 to the lake for the 6am start. I got in the water with some time to spare for a quick warm up. The water was pretty grim, visibility less than Eastbourne sea water due to algae! Hard to believe I know. I managed to position myself well for the start and found a good combination of clear water and feet to follow. I did manage to go a bit off course on the second lap. I didn’t feel like I was swimming particular fast, but exited the water in 1:03. Just shows that being relaxed whilst swimming is the key. After quite a long a long run I entered a heaving and disorganised transition tent and had a slalom course to contend with weaving in/out of changing athletes to exit. On route I managed to slip on a muddy patch and land on my right hip, no injuries just a bruised ego and getting a bit muddy. The rest of transition went smoothly and I was quickly out onto the bike. As I left I heard Steve Clark (Yvette Grice’s Husband and fantastic supporter) shout out that he thought I was first in my age group, which spurred me on. The first lap of the bike went well and I felt good, at the start of the second lap, just before the climb up sheep hill lane, my stomach started to feel funny, so I eased back up the climb hoping it would settle. I did feel a bit better but my tummy was not 100%. My bike split was not a quite as I had hoped/planned, but my easing back, seamed to have helped my stomach and I had been able to keep down gels and drink on the 3rd lap. I came into T2 feeling good and ready to start the run, optimistic that my pre Nice training would see me through. Onto the run I soon regretted putting on my white compression socks immediately, when we hit what can only be described as a 4 mile boggy loop. Squelching through the mud, I lost a shoe in one particularly deep section and spectacularly fell forward, getting covered in yet more mud. I was actually glad to hit the tarmac and start the run down to Bolton. At about 5 miles my lack of hard training on my TT bike began to show as my back started to tighten and spasm, forcing a bit of a stretch stop. Once this was sorted I got back into a bit of a rhythm, but was definitely running slower than I had planned. A couple of miles later my stomach started to rebel again and every time I pushed the pace I started to feel sick. Seeing Yvette (fellow Bodyworks XTC athlete) just a couple of minutes back on what appeared to be a fading Bella motivated me to keep running as much as possible. At the turn around I contemplated pulling out as was feeling so dreadful, but the thought of a DNF, all the money spent and the possibility that my stomach would come right again I carried on. I had been passed by a number of girls at this point and did not know if they where in my age group or not. After mile 15 and a bit of coke, the proper vomiting started. I stopped at the side of the road, so don’t score points for puking whilst running I’m afraid. At this point Yvette came past in the opposite direction in 1st place, looking very strong and running well. I was so excited for her, this being her first Ironman win. The rest of my marathon was a mixture of walking and running when I could. My stomach did eventually come around again 3 miles from the finish and I ran continuously from then on in. I crossed the line at 11:20, well off my goal time and sure that I had not won my age group. A phone call from my boyfriend saw me jumping up and down in front of Bolton town hall, screaming as he told me I had won my age group and I had my Kona spot, having been following the race on Ironman Live.
I went into the race with a number of goals – To have a swim which I felt reflected the swim training hours I had done with Bodyworks XTC over the past year, rather than near drowning experience I had at Nice. To ideally go under 11 hours on what I knew would be a tough course, to win my age group, and get my slot for Hawaii. I should be happy that I did have a great swim, won my age group and qualified for Kona, but a large part of me is disappointed with my performance and overall time.
One of the best parts of the day was actually going back to the Ironman Finish between 15 and 17 hours to cheer on athletes. This was my first time going back to the finish. I had not in Florida – looking after sick boyfriend, Hawaii – gutted having walked with stress fracture, Nice – being in medical tent still! I will definitely be going back and cheering on the finishers at future races. I was so much fun cheering, clapping, dancing and sharing everyone’s post race excitement/ relief. Yvette was giving out finishers medals, but I managed to drag her up the finish chute for a quick dance, for which I’m sure never to be forgiven for. Especially since my choice of song was the Cha Cha Slide and the Macarena, and the young teens were outshining us.
Enough said – Hawaii Bound
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Ironman UK just around the corner.
I can't quite get my head around the fact that Ironman Nice was over 4 weeks ago and in less than 3 days I'll be on the start line of Ironman UK. I recovered well from Ironman Nice, I'm sure the IV's had a large part to play and have been able to get back into a bit of training. It's a new experience doing two close together, recovering from one, only to start taper for the next.
Last minute preparations taking place. Simon's been fab despite being unwell, tweaking my bike and making sure I have spare Tubs etc. Unfortunately he has to work this weekend at The Tri Store as Loz is on his hols..
Ashprint in Eastbourne squeezed in my Zoot tri top for printing after a last minute realisation that i had forgotten to get it done. It looks fab thanks boys!
Weather for this weekend is looking favourable, might still pack arm warmers and Gilet!!! All that needs to be done now is pack and pick up Yvette Grice for our road trip up to Bolton!!
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