New Blog

Hi all

I've started a new blog for next years adventures & you can find details here

www.70-3.blogspot.co.uk

Crowborough Tri

Well last Sunday I was joined by the 2 Tony's & had another early start & drove down to Crowborough in Sussex for another Tri.  It was a 400m swim, 20k bike & the usual 5k run.  I had been shield training Thur & Fri the previous few weeks & my legs were heavy before I event started & by god the cycle nearly killed me off.  The first 4k were downhill & I reached nearly 45mph.  The bike ride was a tale of 2 half's, with the adage of what goes down must go up.  The second half of the ride nearly killed me!!!

The machines at the start

The other machines at the start!!

Racked & ready to go

The speed & profile of the ride.  God I hate hills!!

The run was another hilly circuit but it didn't compare to the bike ride.  A bacon sandwich to finish & another excellent organised & run event that I will do again next year.

Another one chalked up!!

I'm now looking forward to next year & I have entered a half distance, which is a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride & a 13.1 mile run.  I'm hoping this will take me about 6 hours.  I need to work on my swimming & running & to help with the cycling I have ordered myself a new bike

My new baby!!

I've only got 2 more events this year that I've entered, a 100 mile bike ride this Sunday & then Eton Downey Tri on the 29th September.  I think I need a rest after that!!!!????

Royal Tunbridge Wells Tri

Well it was another early start, getting up at 4am isn't good!!  The drive down to Royal Tunbridge Wells was interesting, there was loads of surface water & a couple of times the car aquaplaned which I feel always adds to the excitement!!!

Racked my bike & I was given the only number I truely deserve in any event I do!!

Don't need to say anymore!!

Went & got squeezed into my trisuit & duly reported at the poolside 10 mins before my swim.  It was here that I discovered that because of the torrential rain overnight the bike section had been cancelled because the course was flooded. One of those things, safety must come first so it turned into a aquathon.  I was better in the swim today, which was held in a pool & the run was hilly & I ended up walking the really steep bits!!  I did make it back in time for spin though

I actually have a weekend off next weekend at the moment, I'm sure I can find something to do this week to fill that gap!!

I'm running out of places to put all my medals!!

Henley-on-Thames Tri

I never realised how far Henley-on-Thames was away from my home & in hindsight I wouldn't have entered it.  Getting up at 3am to drive there was no joke!!

I got there at 5.30 in the morning & racked my bike ready to go

I still think I need a time trial bike??

The tri went well, the swim is getting better but still has a lot of room for improvement, the bike was OK (it always is) & the run I did a PB so over all was happy.  The actual course was a little choppy & there was one bar-steward climb, short but really steep.  Have I mentioned before that I hate hills??

The swim was interesting too, I have never done an open water swim in a river before, no one told me about the current.  It was an out & back swim (you should just be able to make out the yellow buoys) & it seemed to take an eternity to get there, I turned round & it was like a champagne cork out of a bottle, admittedly a very flat bottle of bubbly!!!

The lovely River Thames

Looking forward to Tunbridge Wells Tri next weekend!!!

Just a 2 hour drive home now!!

I did make it back to the gym & managed the last half an hour of the spin class too!!

Bewl Water Tri

Well it's Sunday, so I must be doing an event???

This morning I got up at 4am, no you didn't read that wrong to drive to Bewl Water in deepest Kent (I think it's in Kent??) to do a sprint tri.  The distances involved her are 750m open water swim, 20k bike ride & 5k run.

I can say that this was my worst tri by far.  I had a panic attack about 50m into the swim & then couldn't put my face in the water.  It was shocking 

The bike was OK & the run was another howler.  I shall forget this tri & hope I do better at Henley-on-Thames next Sunday.

Racked & ready to go

The route
 

A lovely location

Just glad to finish!!!

London Surrey 100 miler

Yesterday was a great day, well organised, considerate riders (all 20,000 of us), lovely weather & one of the best events I've ever done.

Kelly & I started early at drove to work to leave the car, we then cycled across to the Olympic Stadium & waited our turn to load into our pens to start

Waiting for the off

The route was fantastic & took us through the city into Westminster & then along to Chiswick. The crowds were amazing & I seemed to get swept away with the event & did the first 40 miles in a little over 2 hours. 

The Route

The actual ride was pretty uneventful, Leith Hill is a killer & just how I remembered it a few years ago when I last went up it.  Very steep & I was amazed the amount of people who walked it, I didn't before you ask. I may not have got up it quick, but I was buggered if I was going to get off & push my bike.... Is this why they are called pushbikes?????

I was suffering in the last 20 or so miles.  For some unknown reason I have developed problems with my feet.  Last weekend when I did the London Tri on the run I had to stop & take my shoes off, on this ride I had to do the same as my toes had gone to sleep???  Mind you it did amuse the other riders when I stopped & lit a fag!!

The last hill of the day is into Wimbledon Village & I was so pleased to see an old friend Sarah at the top.  Stopped & had a quick chat with her & it's the only picture of me cycling on the route

Thanks Sarah, lovely to see you xx

The run in from Wimbledon is a fast downhill & then along the side of the Thames, into Parliament Square, into Whitehall & then into the Mall to finish.  Again the crowds were fantastic, 10 deep & making so much noise.  I felt like a pro & had goosebumps!!!

Crossed the line in a shade under 7 hours, which for a fat bloke isn't too bad.  My moving time (ie without fag/shoe stops) was 6hrs & 6 mins

Well happy, we both finished!

The work crew

Well done Tracey, her first ever event xx

The all important finishers medal

I had a fantastic day & will definately be entering the ballot for next year.  An event well worth doing & if it's on your bucket list....DO IT!!

London Surrey 100 miler

Well what can I say, it's Sunday so must be another event.  I'm doing the London Surrey 100 mile ride with a few friends from work.  How hard can 100 miles be???!!!

Kelly & I registering today at the Excel.

I'll post pics & a report on Sunday night... The weekend after is Bewl Water Tri in case you think I'm having a rest!!!