Great North Bike Ride - Sunday 25th August.
Well under normal circumstances this would have been a breeze, but unfortunately after the Druridge triathlon my body seemed to become a breeding ground for bugs - I didn't manage to get a coke afterwards and was consequently off training for a fortnight with a bad stomach and very low energy levels. After this I managed to get in a few days training before another flu bug hit and a bad cough - however I was not going to let this beat me. I filled myself with drugs and rested up so I was ready as I could be for the ride.
I was apprehensive to say the least as to whether my legs were up to the 57 miles ahead. Although I did have one weapon against the tarmac - my new bike!
Bought through the cycle to work scheme thanks to my bosses at Countylife! I had only managed a few test rides on the run up to the GNBR due to feeling so rough, but the time off had allowed me to spend some hours customising my new flying machine. Full carbon fibre, tri-bars and now suitably pink and 'very lottie'. A roll of vinyl costing £4.50 covered up all the red decals making it exactly what I wanted - 4hrs of tracing, transferring and delicate cutting later and I had my dream machine!
Back to the race - So I had my faithful steed and I was dropped just around the corner by my boyfriend Scotty's lovely mum who saw me off with multiple hugs and good luck messages. I was feeling positive but slightly alone, despite the hundreds of cyclists milling around Seahouses. I had a text from a friend (Thanks Claire) asking if I wanted to cycle in a group, but I just didn't want the pressure of holding others up if I needed to drop my speed.
I reached the start line and couldn't believe my luck when I saw a familiar sight - the red and gold of my club - Tri Northumberland. Chris Birch was sporting his club cycling gear and I headed over for a natter before the race started. All I can say is thank god for this chance meeting... We started in the same group and decided that cycling together was a much more appealing idea than cycling alone. I knew Chris' ability was much greater than mine, but in true club spirit he stayed with me the whole race...he endured my insistent chatter, constant coughing and the two accidents which occurred during the race.
The first accident happened whilst travelling up a reasonably steep bank in Warkworth. An angry wasp decided to fly full belt into the side of my jaw - which I can tell you smarted somewhat! I let out a huge and loud blast of expletives, much to the confusion of a female spectator standing at the side of the road - I must have looked like a mad women. I took my dad's advice from a childhood spent playing outside with the boys in our village 'give it a good rub and it will feel better soon' - Thanks dad.
The second altercation a was mechanical error (possibly caused by user ) going up another bank in Amble. I was still getting used to the gearing on the new bike and this resulted in a slip of the gear, leading to a sideways fall. Chris and I were right in the middle of a conversation - he said he got about 400meters down the road before he realised I was gone. It was quite a spectacular dismount - thankfully I have plenty of padding around the backside/thigh area. I was picked up off the ground by a very kind chap and after a dust off and another 'word with myself' Chris and I were reunited and carried on our merry way.
I am pleased to say that there were no more accidents after Amble. The remainder of the ride was relatively pain-free and we finished in a time of around 3 1/2 hours. I'm quite sure it would have been more like 3hrs had I not been quite so unlucky and my normal energetic self.
I was pleased with our time but I was glad it was over - some good training miles in the legs and a morale boost from a great team mate got me round. Not my finest hour, but many positives to be taken.
Newbiggin Triathlon - Sunday 1st September.
With a week to recover and build myself up again (normally not a problem) I had another triathlon the following weekend. This time it was Newbiggen - A lovely 750m Sea swim, followed by a fast 23k on the bike and a 5.3k run along the promenade. It's a popular race and sold out so quickly they had to add some more entries which also sold out within 24hrs - Testament to the organisation and execution V02 Max racing events and Tri Northumberland.
Still not feeling 100% (this bug was taking some shifting) I resolved to undertake the race as another training exercise. I knew I wasn't going to get any PB's but I'd give it my best shot and use it as a chance to see my fellow team mates and spy on some pro bikes (The race was a European qualifier so there was some quality bike perving to be done).
The race was in 4 waves and I was in wave 3 with all the other lovely ladies. It was a later start than the norm, which gave me plenty of time to set up my space in transition and have some crack with the guys from Tri Club. I was also approached by the lovely Kerry Gowland (Coalfields racing) who said she had read my blog and asked how I was getting on...I'd never met her before but she gave me some advice and encouragement that made me feel a lot better about my recent lack of training. She was recovering after months out due to injury and it was her first race back - it made me think that sometimes you just have to roll with the punches. I know I will get there eventually. Thanks Kerry.
10.45 saw the start of our wave. The sea was cold and I was worried about cramping up, but thankfully the airhorn sounded and my worries disappeared as the race concentration started and I 'got in the zone'.
I had a great swim and despite the wind the sea wasn't too choppy...I felt relaxed (well as relaxed as you can be whilst running and ragging a wetsuit from your body) - I ran/wobbled up the ramp and into transition.
I went straight to my bike and had a convenient spot on the end which made locating my trusty steed very easy. A quick change and I was off on the bike - This is where the fun really started. 23k's on the bike. Wow - it was a hard 23k...probably harder than Druridge that was twice the distance. My legs felt tired cycling into the wind and it was cold, but I wasn't giving up...everybody else was doing it and I was being negative - keep at it Woodcock. The second half of the 3 lap bike course offered slightly more respite and was less windy which was reassuring. Amazing support as always...Thanks to 'The Mooneys" and "The Singletons' for their cheers on the bike course helping to keep me going.
After a gruelling and slow 23k I arrived back in transition to more cheers from my team mates as I went down the ramp and out onto the run (Thanks Iain and sorry you got in trouble).
The run was as always - slow and hard...when I started my energy felt so low that I just couldn't imagine getting through to the finish - These bugs had really taken it out of me. So I did what I always do when things get really tough and thought of dad. I'd done double the distance before and what he is going through on a weekly basis is way harder...keep going Triathlotte keep going...Ironwomen NEVER give up.
I heard so many cheers from familiar voices spurring me on - fantastic team mates and friends making me determined to not give in to the devil on my shoulder telling me to stop and walk. Chipping away at the miles, it was a game of cat and mouse with another runner for the final 2miles, and I resolved to grit my teeth about 400m from the end...I gave everything I had left in the tank and didn't look back (Something my Grandpa always told my mum to do when she is racing). For the first time ever I managed a running first - I overtook another runner! HA HA HA! It wasn't exactly Usain Bolt, but it was a minor victory for a very, very tired runner.
I finished and it had been excellent mental training for Ironman.
Thanks again to all my teammates for their fantastic support and morale boosting cheering skills!
I have a huge amount of training ahead, but I must remember Ironman is not a sprint, it's a marathon and you have to start somewhere...I am slowly getting strong again and undertaking some seriously hilly training rides as well as trying to improve my running. Also altering my nutrition to try and help boost my immune system so I don't get beaten by the bugs! I WILL be an IRONWOMAN!!!!
Dad is still managing to get out on his bike and for some short runs - he continues his fight and we even managed to get out together for a ride last weekend. This was an amazing feeling - it's been nearly a year since our last ride together. He is a true Ironman and continues to be an inspiration for my training.
I don't have anymore events now until 2014, but I will keep you all updated with my training progress - there is much to do!
Back again soon.
Love Triathlotte xxx
One for the bike pervs...my trusty steed. Still waiting for the pink tyres to complete the 'pink bullet' - copywrite Lee Baker.
