Fleet Half Marathon

Another year, another Fleet Half Marathon.

I love this race for so many reasons. And I also hate it because it is a painful half marathon. As it is the Inter service and RAF Championship event it is always in my calendar. I think I must always be one of the first people to register in October, and I start planning training. Like all good plans its all about different colours, and highlighters and symbols, I think of all the revision planning I did during my A levels, and how much time I could have actually spend revising! In this case my training plan took a lot of re-writing due to being injured, and not running at all from Aug- early Nov.

Over the winter training dribbled on, and come the beginning of march I was feeling pretty good. I raced a duathlon on the 8th, and then….2 weeks of illness. I got a stomach bug and then a virus which mean almost 0 training for the 2 weeks leading up to the race. So in the lead up to the race I cant say I was in the best frame of mind. I just kept telling myself rest is good, then the over training deamon on my shoulder kept telling me that it was terrible….and I might as well not bother! Common sense won in the end! A great session of yoga the day before really helped, and some wise words resonated in my ears, about accepting my body where and how it is today.

Race day came, which meant big yummy breakfast and being chauffered by my ever supportive other half.

I was very pleased the sun was shining. My warm up went well and I exchanged hello’s with the other RAF runners.

I vowed not to make the mistake I did last year which was to start in my predicted time area. All that happened was I spent the 1st mile weaving in and out of joggers, and

bannas. This time I started more towards the front and had a bit more clear space, which allowed for better pacing in the first few miles. I was pretty happy with the pace and progress was good. I was definitely feeling heavier than I would have liked due to my 2 weeks off, and I was certainly carrying around a couple of extra kg’s I didn’t need.

The first loop was over very quickly which was great, this means running through the town again and seeing the fantastic crowd! The RAF vest always gets lots of attention and cheers which is great to experience and be a part of.

Off into the countryside I was running with a group of Gurkahs who were impeccable at pacing! 6 min miles every mile….perfect! I then got some quite bad stitch and dropped off their pace abit. Come mile 10 I thought “this would be a great place to stop”. I hung on for the last few km. in the final km seeing out TM cheering on her bike was great.

The revised finish lay out was much better, although I totally missed where the clock was! Never mind, I pretty quickly received a text with all the info.

Thanks a million to the organisers, the lovely people of Fleet for cheering, and being patient with the road closures!

The first Multisport race of the season!

As the first ever 'proper' triathlon I did, the Dambuster Triathlon will forever have a special place in my heart (aaaw). However I have never done the duathlon. This was definitely a race of firsts for me, as someone who is still relatively new to the tri/duathlon scene. I had not attempted a standard distance duathlon before, and I had not done a race quite so early in the season

Early March is pretty early and I was expecting it to be very cold! It also crept up on me, and I hadn't been prepared enough to ride my TT bike, I thought the first time on it this year in a race, probably wasn't going to be wise, and it was blooming windy! Hats off to those who braved it! 

As always its a nice early start, register and get everything set up in transition. Duathlon always confuses me a little, as you start with your trainers and race belt on already...sounds simple, but with race brain engaged, anything can happen! 
 The fact it was the beginning of march made me a bit paranoid about the cold, and possibly the addition of a jacket on the bike was too much, but better too hot than so cold you are delirious (which I have experienced before, and it was not pretty) The race itself went OK ish. Unfortunately I was a little worse for wear, which I just thought was general tiredness after a busy week at work, but on Sunday I discovered it was a full blown virus. So after being a little disappointed with my performance on Saturday, and pretty horrified about the standard of my bike effort. When reflecting on Sunday in between vomiting and sleeping, it didn’t seem half bad! 


It was great to see the other RAF athletes out too and as always there was loads of support from the spectators and general public pottering about. One man even shouted Royal RAF Air Force, which made me smile at least! J This was also the first outing for my birthday present to myself, my Garmin 920XT. Since user error and me thinking about racing, rather than my watch, meant I didn’t get any splits or anything, the event is now logged as one giant 55km run, until I can work out how to edit it on Garmin connect….cant be that hard surely! Things I can say about it though are it is beautifully slim compared to the 210 I was using before, which means sleeves on and off are no drama (I can see this being a massive plus when it comes to a wetsuit). The display is beautifully clear too.
 

More rest for me until I'm 100% better, and hopefully a good run in a few weeks!

Spring is here!

Tired - very tired 

Eaton Dorney,
2012 Olympic rowing venue

March is apparently the first day of spring-hurrah, so here is the Jan/Feb update.

These past 2 months have been full of ups and downs. I very much felt like I was emerging from my winter cocoon all through Jan, and I was really wondering if I was going to train and compete at all this year. Injury, coupled with quite a vicious illness which meant I couldn't eat properly for nearly 2 months in 2014, along with being diagnosed with depression have all been a huge strain. I am going to write about these in more detail later.

Alsager 5 

I am very pleased to say I pulled my man up pants on, with the help of my closest friends and family, and I am now in a much happier place. A new non shift, non underground job is also helping me manage my depression a lot easier, and I finally have some continuity in my training. I have raced a couple of times too which has been really good, no pressure and just enjoying running again, relief! 

I have been incredibly fortunate this last month to spend 3 weeks at the regional rehab unit at RAF Halton, with the hope of getting my achilles back on track. I can honestly say it has probably been some of the best weeks I have spent in the RAF. I have learnt so much about my body. Both in the book learning sense, but also in terms of how much I can push myself, not the sweaty lung busting pushing, but in terms of stretching and intricate control work. Just because you are not working your ass off with your HR nearing 200, does not mean what you are doing isnt beneficial! I have been well and truly reunited with my glutes! Lots of clams, bridges, mud walking...pain!


I have learn the importance of stretching and foam rolling. Yep it hurts, but its a necessary evil people!

I have also been experimenting with other recovery stuff, magnesium and beetroot juice. More to follow on these soon so watch this space :) 

Bike box packing

I thought I would write a really helpful post (with pictures) about how to pack your bike, since I think its one of the most daunting thing about competing overseas. However even though I have now done it countless times, I still got it a it wrong while preparing for this post, so I might keep it as my own reference too!!

Step 1

Take off all the accouterments you have attached to your bike and give it a good clean, chain included.

Step 2

*This is the part I always forget!!*

Take of the pedals at this stage. Yes you can do it later, but it is LOADS easier to do it now, especially if they have been over tightened or you have really been generating some big wattage!

Step 3

Turn the bike up-side down, this makes the next bits much easier.

Step 4

Take the wheels off and deflate the tyres. My bike box came with some wheel bags, however they were just thin flimsy canvas, so I lined them with some bubble wrap.

Step 5

Some bike boxes come with a spacer to keep the chain taught and out of the way. I lost mine so I have improvised with some nylon ties.

Step 6

lay the bike in the box. you can now take the seat post and handlebars off without the frame getting damaged on the floor, and the chain getting grease on carpets and any soft furnishings.

Depending on you box and bike depends on what part of the handlebars you need to remove, a bit of jiggery-pokery and you will work out what fits best.

Step 7

Most boxes come with straps, so strap your bike in nice and securely. Mine also came with these foam spacers. I like to wrap one around the seat post, so that if it comes loose and rattles around the box it limits the damage to the other bits in there. The other one I put around the top tube, simply because it fits nicely there.

Step 8

Fill you box with other bits and bobs. How much you can et in will depend on the combined bike and box weight. This is where there is a false economy with cheap boxes, as they are generally heavier, and if you don't have a feather-light bike, you might find only bike and box are under the weight prescribed by the airline. Usually 23kg is allowed, but obviously you need to check with your airline.

Step 9

Make sure nothing is handing out, or going to get trapped in the hinge. I nearly severed a gear cable as I was trying to squeeze the box shut, and didn't realise it was trapped in the hinge!

Bike Box by B&W http://bike-cases.co.uk/product-bike-box.php#sthash.TNPPAxvu.oVhBT7e0.dpbs 

The rest of the week at Playitas, Fuerteventura

Breakfast was indeed all one could have hoped for and more!

Athletes, especially triathletes happen to be the fussiest bunch of eaters I know. Well, this breakfast had something for EVERYONE. Every kind of bread you can imagine, gluten free, rye bread, white brown and everything in-between. A smoothie bar manned by a guy churning out smoothies like no-body’s business. An egg area, for whatever kind of egg you would like! Omelettes, that Spanish thing I have forgotten the name of, like quiche without the pastry. My fave is the ‘make your own museli’ station which has load of different dried fruits and nuts. All kinds of milk, soya, even no lactose milk! And of course cooked breakfast including fried courgette and all kinds of strange stuff along with all the faves. Basically everything!

The staff also seemed to have warmed up a bit and have been helpful and friendly. Someone even kindly showed me around the apartments as I think that might be nicer (and easier for food etc) when I come back for the Challenge race in April.
 

This is pretty much the landscape!

 My thoughts on the bike course (The Challenge Fuerteventura bike route) is it basically has 4 distinctive parts;

Undulating

HILLY/mountainous

Undulating

Flat and fast



Hydrating on the beach!
 Nearby café with great
coffee and free Wi-Fi!

I think that hydration and feeding are going to be critical on the bike, its very hot and humid even now in December. The wind ads anew problem to the equation too, since taking a bottle to drink from, at the same time as a strong gust nearly sent me tumbling into a ditch!

I have found there is a wild cat feeding area in the hotel! Some very friendly kitties seem to mooch about here. This provided a nice distraction from the pain in my legs for about 5 minutes!
 

Dinner was as good as breakfast, everything you could hope for and lots of it! My only criticism is that drinks are pretty pricey, and they don’t let you take your own bottles in, even just water.
 

Day 2 and the rest of the week

Went for a little dip in the sea which was lovely. The sea temp is about 19 degrees centigrade. There were a few little tropical fish floating about, but after they had gone the seabed was pretty barron! Just black and volcanic! It’s a really good beach for OW swimming as there are a number of bouys fairly near the beach so great for sighting practice.

Off on the bike again after breakfast and I went on a short-ish ride down to the south. It must have been hotter than yesterday, but the wind masked that. I only realised how strong the sun was when I got back and saw my lovely red arms and crazy tan legs in the mirror!

I ran off the bike today…cripes! Windy and hilly made for a fairly miserable run…however I got some new tan lines. Ehem….I mean burn lines!
 

I swam in the evening in one of the later sessions, and now I know why no one swims then…it gets freeing! I couldn’t finish the session since my head was pounding and I started getting black spots in my eyes! 10 mins in a hot shower and normality was restored.

The pool is an extra EUR2.70 for an hour. It was really clean and 8 lovely wide lanes in the sunshine :) Very nice for someone who hates swimming.

One day I decided to try out the small fishing village adjacent to the resort. I went to a lovely restraint and decided sea food would be the best option given the nature of the location. I had a delicious meal, and cheeky EUR2.00 glass of wine! The dinner was lovely and on the seafront. Perfect place and way to unwind after an intense day in the sun! And it was really reasonable. The dinner was also accompanied by the local kitties, fine for me as a cat lady, but others weren't so keen!
 

Last day

I had a late flight which meant after checking out at 1100, I had some time to kill. I did a swim and sesh in the gym (which is free to hotel guests). The gym is large and really well equipped. Lots of eights and machines, plus all the foam rollers and thera-bands you would expect in a top-class gym. The staff kindly stored my bike and luggage for me so I was free to swish about the resort as I pleased. A bit of trg and a lot of book reading, and then it was time to leave :'(

Concluding thoughts

The resort is really clean and well set up for runners, triathletes and generally active people. The weather in Demember was lovely, not too hot, but sunny enough to top up the vitamin D levels and get a bit of a pre-Christmas tan! The staff were actually very friendly and helpful, I think they were just having a bad day when I arrived. The food is good and plentiful! The cycling is as challenging as you want it to be, but beware, its not called the windy island for nothing.

I would definitely go back for a week, or more of training. The long flight time (4h +) makes it a little too far for any time less than a week. Looking forward to being back for the Challenge event! And by looking forward....I mean totally terrified by the hills, the heat and the sheer enormity of 70.3 (for the Sprint and SD distance girl anyway!)



 

First Fuerteventura thoughts

I hopped on a plane this morning over to rather misty Fuerteventura. I only have a few days here due to work and other commitments, but a few days in the sun is definitely better than none!

In good holiday and triathlon tradition the flight was at 0715 (not too bad) but that did mean leaving home at 0330 (quite bad). However once at the airport Easy Jet were brilliant! You herd it here first kids. The bike was no hassle, staff were very kind and polite, and I witnessed my bike being handled carefully by easy jet and the Gatwick ground crew. Good start.

I also used the valet parking at Gatwick which I booked online with them, cheaper than the long stay car-park miles away and it was super easy! Drive in, give them a car, 2 mins and you are at check in! Deffo one for the future, so much less stress, and the less humping about of a bike box the better! 

 

Not so good start was that in my bleary eyed state, after feeling quite smug at buying some intellectual books for the jaunt, I left my debit card in the WHSmith card reader at the self check out!

The flight was pain free and I slept most of the way, my aircraft essentials are;

                The trusty neck pillow that looks a bit like a cushion for people with piles, but oh so worth it to not wake up and feel like you have been in a 10 car pile up!

                Sleeping eye mask – no daylight, and no one tries to talk to you

                Newly found fab item – the cape/coat come blanket, snuggly sleepy warm heaven!

                Of course some comfy trews and shoes you can slip off easily (preferably with socks underneath!)

                Wet wipes, mini mouth kit (toothbrush and mouthwash) and a mini perfume, all = freshness!

Meow - there is a cat feeding area in the hotel complex!

I arrived and at the moment I have mixed feelings about the hotel. The rooms are quite basic but comfortable, but EVERYTHING is an added extra. You have to hire a kettle! But there is a fridge in the room and you don’t have to feed it euros to keep it cool! The room I have is a good size for one, but with two it might be a bit cosy.

Wifi is an added extra and horrendously slow.

50m 8 lane pool - lush

Use of the pool is extra, and despite me trawling the Playitas website before coming I could find no mention of a fee.

There is even a charge for maps which I have found are normally given out freely.

However the bathroom is really well fitted out, with a fab shower, and a bath which I’m sure I will be soaking my legs in towards the end of the week, and decent complimentary toiletries (at least I think they are complementary!)

Christmas decorations in the local town

There are a couple of sports shops on site (quite expensive too) but useful if you have forgotten something essential. A gym which looks great. A spa, and even a fish pedi place. A couple of on-site restaurant and a few bars dotted about the place. There is also a really decent bike workshop, and I think most people who come here just hire a bike as they have the place packed out with Di2 Cervelos and alike.

I didn’t manage to do any training today due to being soooooooooooooooo tired! I decided to head into the nearby town instead since I probably won’t get a chance/will be too knackered to go later in the week. It is quite sweet, and the Christmas decs are all out which I find quite novel, being next to palm trees and the sea! There are a few shops and a couple of supermarkets, plenty enough to stock your fridge if you were staying in the self catering apartments.
 

So, I’m not overwhelmed as yet, the staff were not terribly helpful or accommodating…but its all about the phys, so we shall see what tomorrow brings. Oh and the buffet brekkie….that could change things! 

Learning is taking place - injury

Things I have learnt having an injury. 

There have been a few different phases of mood associated with the news that I couldn't run due to pain in my achillies.  

Stage 1 

Relief! This was probably an indicator of over-training too. I was honestly relieved to have the pressure of competing and relentless training removed from me.

Stage 2 

Jealousy. I love to race. So after I got over the initial feelings of exhaustion,  and had a bit of R&R I was then itching to get back out there.... But I couldn't :( I then had to stand on the side-lines and witness ever one else continuing with their amazing seasons!  Made worse my the constant information streams from Facebook and Twitter! 

Stage 3 

Boredom and loss of interest. After a couple of months of swimming and cycling only,  I definitely lost my mojo. I find the threat of a competition looming on the horizon a good motivator, and there was no option of doing this. So another week off was in order.  

Stage 4 

Realisation that sport isn't everything!  I began to remember that I have some other interests!!!  And I have a family and friends who have suffered between mild and significant neglect at the hands of my obsession with triathlon and running.  I started to draw and paint again,  saw friends and family I hadn't seen in ages and tried out a few new things too.  

I think that one of the best was to approach an injury is to think of it as an extended off season. Focus on your form and weaknesses in the things you can do. I am lucky I can still swim, cycle and do S&C. Do all the things you don't have time for when you Adele training, working, looking after the kids etc.  

Yes it sucks. And no one wants to have an I jury, be in pain,  and generally not do what they want, but you really do have to look for the silver lining, else you will go mad!