No longer pointless

I had a good race today. It was the 3rd race of the Imperial series. The sun was shining (sort of), and the wind was strong but steady.

I'd spent the night before getting the bike 100% for the race, so it was shining and whirring along perfectly as I turned onto the track for the warm up. I felt good, helped no doubt by time on the exercise bike at the Dartfod Hilton, but it was colder than I'd thought so I had to switch to full gloves from the mitts I thought would be OK.

The race started fairly slowly, and I found myself close to the front wanting to drive the pace a bit, but knowing I didn't have the legs for anything too crazy. Next thing I know I'm off the front with the group a good 20m back. I was tempted to sit up and wait for them, but then I thought the better of it and put my head down. I decided that I'd stay out for at least a lap, which I managed, but it was futile, there was no way I was going to ride out solo until the end. Gasping for air, and with my heart rate on the red line, I was relieved to be caught and settled back into the cover of the group.

After about 15 mins, by knee started playing up again. It was hurting quite a bit, and I considered packing it in, but decided to see how it got on. It must have eased a bit, because I noticed it less and less so it wasn't an issue for the rest of the race.

The race was fairly uneventful and soon enough the 5 lap board went up, and the pace went all stupid - mostly it was absolutely mad turning on the finish straight uphill, but almost ground to a halt into the wind on the back straight, no-one being willing to work. This played right into my hands, allowing me to pick my position - the pattern continued with four, three and then 2 laps to go. I positioned myself in the perfect spot to attack, so on the last lap I was chasing right into the thick of it - and I was able to use my momentum to get a jump on the group for the sprint.

I started the sprint in 3rd, but sadly daft gear choice and legs that simply weren't up to it saw me fluffing the sprint badly and a few riders managed to scoot through.

After the race I hunted down the official and found that I was recorded 10th. Ok, it is the last points paying position, but still in the points.

So I've opened my 2009 BC account and now plan to make many more deposits. Bring it on!

Imperial #2

Stinking weather keeps away crowds. It made a change from the first race and what was apparently a record for a Cat 4 event at Hillingdon. The wind was howling from the South East, the rain was unrelenting and it was bloody cold.

I arrived early to sign-in and fortunately had a lot of time to settle myself and warm up. That said, given the stinky weather, I sat in the car as long as possible before braving the track for a recce and "warm-up".

Despite the weather, the track was clean, with little debris or mud and it felt good to get out and turn my legs. I chatted to a few of my fellow competitors during warm-up - all in all it was quite amiable. The group on the start line was small, which had me thinking that we'd be in for a hard race. With the wind beating us up on the straight, and with a small field, it was a great opportunity for a small breakaway group to take advantage and ride away from the main group.

And so it happened, the pace was really hard, with attack after attack. I found myself battling to keep in the group and once I had to work really hard to get myself back in as the wheel I was on splintered off the back. Then a few more vicious accelerations, the main group was split and was trying to make up ground. My legs just weren't up for it and started to cramp. I tried to massage it out but it wouldn't go away, so I decided to just ride on.

I fought hard to get back in, getting fairly close to the group, but I couldn't make it stick and soon found myself in that awful zone just off the slipsteam without enough juice to get back in. Onto the back straight I fell back and wanted to just make it stop. I tried massaging my calves again, but again with no benefit. I approached the "pit entry" but decided to stick it out and hang on. You never now what may happen and with a willing partner or two, getting back in the race wasn't too far fetched. So I kept pushing.

Another rider ahead had been dropped, and so I started chasing to try to get onto his wheel - and it seemed to be going well until my legs said "no" in a big cramping fit. "Argh!" But it was after 35 mins, into the last 5 laps and I was going to stick at it.

The low was being lapped, two laps from the finish. I thought that at that stage I was out, but after stopping I was told by an official that I did not have to stop, so I got back out. By this stage my legs were screaming, and even the gentle acceleration out of the "pits" triggered bolts of cramps.

The finish was thoroughly anticlimactic, but it was brilliant. I had not only broken my Hillingdon block, but also won a battle against myself. The experience was invaluable and it will help me next time. I can't wait for the weekend!

Knee & the Imperial Winter Series

So, this blog hasn't been very active at all lately.

Since the Royal Parks my knee has been buggered and I've been largely out of action. The physio reckons it is an over use injury - basically 2 half marathons with little training is a bad thing.

This year has been very disappointing for me - I'd had high hopes but many things - both under my control and beyond - have conspired to make it highly unsuccessful. Bother.

So the knee is getting better, but it still aches and I'm not even going to try to run on it yet. So I've taken to some winter cycling and have decided to enter the Imperial Winter Series at Hillingdon. The first race was this past weekend. I arrived about 35mins before the start only to find a ridiculously long queue! I got to the start with a minute or so to spare, and I estimate that there must have been at least 80 riders in the 4th cat race! Most were novices which was to prove a bit of a problem.

At the start I was in good shape and enjoyed my time at the front. After 25mins or so (it was a 35mins + 5 lap race) I started to lose concentration and ended up somewhere in the middle of the group. This is where it all went pear shaped. I got caught up in a fall and went straight over someone's bike. Fortunately I was able to vault off my bike and do a running landing on grass. My bike also took the landing well, and apart from skew bars and a loose headset, I was still in action.

The slightly wonky bike and shock of the crash got to me a bit and started to make me feel really nervous in the group. My plan was to get some air, and then get stuck in again. Then another crash which I narrowly missed going down in, followed by another which forced me to a complete stop. By this stage it was a lap and a half to go, so I had no chance whatsoever. So it was a slow walk to the finish.

I'm going to give it a whirl again this Saturday - the forecast looks gloomy, so I hope it will keep away a large part of the novice field. I'd really like to get a placing so I can start to gather some points together! That said, my form isn't great, and my knee is still sensitive, so I'll have to just make sure I get myself in the right place at the right time.

Looking forward.

Running in the Parks

I've been doing a bit more running lately, but sadly not as much as I'd hoped to - a hurt knee, work travel and fatigue conspiring against me.

A few weeks back we ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon, Tasha taking up a spot in the npower team from a colleague who couldn't make it. The event itself was wonderful; really well run and the route was beautiful and fun. The weather was perfect, if a bit hot (not that I'm complaining) which added to the atmosphere.

Sadly I got caught in terrible "traffic" at the start, and battled to get into a nice quick rhythm. I felt really strong up to about 10 miles, but then started to really struggle - my hips and knees feeling pounded. I finished feeling absolutely awful, and it showed in the time - a 1:42 or thereabouts. I was gutted.

A week later I discovered that we were the fastest corporate team - by 6s! Incredible. I am so glad I fought the urge to walk the last km or so! It would have been even worse to have lost by a tiny margin and know that if I'd just dug a bit deeper...

Ifs and buts aside, it was a great outcome to what was overall a lovely run. Still a disappointing experience for me in that I know that I should have done much better. Lessons learnt - it has been a bad year in terms of keeping in competitive shape; I can only make sure I do better next year.

My training runs, when I've found the time, have been good apart from yesterday morning when my knee felt like it wanted to explode. Now it is just throbbing and I sense I need to be gentle with it for the next month or so. Which is extremely frustrating with Cross Country starting next weekend! I'll see how it shapes during the week - and hopefully I'll have some good news to post in a week from now.

Bye for now!

Jogging around Wiltshire

This Sunday past was the Chippenham Half Marathon. Tasha had entered so I thought I'd also do it for moral support, and in the process put my name down for the Corporate team.

Having spent the summer mostly mooching (and occasionally riding around the countryside), I wasn't and am not in such great running shape - but I still felt good about trying for a 1:30.

The short if it is that I suffered over the last 3mi/5km and in so doing, missed my target by 6 mins. Otherwise it was great fun indeed, and I am now thoroughly motivated for the winter cross country season.

I'm still a bit sore today, but I've been using the bike to loosen my legs up again after Sunday, and might do a little speed work in prep for the MCAA 6-Stage Road Relays on Saturday up in Birmingham. That should be a fun event too - but I'm looking at all these events as training for the upcoming XC season. Good to be back!

Neath, a place on the list of trains stops

I had been all fired up for the Castle Combe Summer Series race, but being at Aberthaw (in South Wales) for the week and the 2 hour drive to Chippenham for the race meant I had to find a local event to ride instead. I found a the President's Trophy Handicap Road Race, a 67km event, run by Port Talbot Wheelers in Neath just up the road that looked to be perfect.

Until now, all I knew about Neath was that it was one of the stops on the Swansea train from Paddington – a train that typically I’d hop on at Reading and off at Swindon on my way to work. It would be quite exciting to put a face to this name that is monotonously read out after every stop!

I packed all my gear into the car in the morning, and inevitably spent much of the day fretting about the one item (my bike computer) that I realised I’d left in the hotel. I really do need a checklist! Fortunately the hotel was on the way to Neath, so no serious problems.

Another unexpected bonus came with the afternoon’s tests going pear shaped, giving me a good reason to leave the station early to get ready or the race. I got back to the hotel, packed and made sure I had everything I needed, and then had a short half hour nap.

I woke feeling incredibly calm, so I hopped into the car and put on some Mark Knopfler to help get me into the racing frame of mind. I was really amazed with how calm I was feeling. Even the days before, I was feeling absolutely no anxiety which is unusual. Not bad, should be a doddle then.

The signing-up table was in a sports hall – when I arrived I was one of the first competitors there, and we had to wait a little while for the organisers to get ready for us. The usual suspects were there; the young stallions, cocky as hell and too cool for their carbon wheels. I had to smile, the poses and banter were all too familiar – it could so easily have been Ryan and I apart from the modern trend of poking the shades into the helmet holes.

Entry fee handed over and number in hand I was suddenly overwhelmed by a massive wave of anxiety. Huge. I stumbled over the car and started unpacking the bike. I was a mess; it was like the minor anxiousness that I should have felt in the week before was hitting me all at once. All unpacked, pinned, dressed and bike test ridden, I took a few minutes to gaze into space and feel more nervous before hopping on my bike to warm up.

From there on time flew. Before I knew it we were listening to the completely unintelligible starter’s orders and we were off after the lead car. The clouds were looking evil, but most of my competitors were in shorts and short sleeves. I’d opted for warm tights and arm warmers; was this the right choice? I didn’t have too much time to ponder this, the pace was crazy and my heart rate went through the roof. We were heading up a gentle uphill at well over 40km/h and this was the first few km! I was now starting to wonder if I had possibly bitten off much more than I could chew. No problem, I’d stick to my plan which was effectively to do as little work as possible until the finish.

The first lap went by quickly, and to be honest I have no idea how many laps of the course we did. I did get validation of my clothing choice when we got lambasted from the heavens. There really is something special about being in a peloton with the spray of the bike in front in your face! And even with this, the pace hardly let up. To make matters worse, every time I checked the Heart Rate Monitor, it was 170+ which made me a) think I was soon to be in trouble and b) decide not to look at the HRM anymore.

A few times there were breakaways that looked like they may be dangerous; I chased two down and tried to make sure the bunch didn’t split. I knew I didn’t have the legs to work with a breakaway group, but that I’d stand a chance in a bunch sprint. The new bike was just perfect for these fast accelerations, responsive, stiff and almost weightless. It was a joy!

There were a few exciting moments in the corners. In the first a rider in front braked unexpectedly which had me locking up the rear and sliding sideways into the corner. The second was a slick drain cover that caused me a huge slide that I somehow managed to survive; I put it to the hours spent tearing around on my BMX.

Before I knew it, now joined by the E/1/2/3s, we were headed at ridiculous speed to the finish. I knew there was a short climb not long before the finish line, so I decided to have a go there and give it stick up the hill I came flying over the crest, but it was too early as there were still a few hundred metres to the finish. The bunch surged but my legs were cooked and there was no way I could get into a position for the sprint. I found myself spinning my 53x12 (+60km/h) but making no headway at all.

Apart from the mistimed surge at the end, it was an awesome race. The stats from my computer say it all: average speed – 42.7km/h, maximum speed – 62.6km/h, distance 67.5km, time 1:34.

I felt strong and my legs felt loose and smooth. I could keep my cadence high and even. It all felt efficient and steady. Looking back at the HRM data, my heart rate wasn’t quite as bad as I’d thought; I think I’d probably glanced at it after every hard session rather than when I was relaxed, so not too much to worry about there.

And as a first outing for the race bike it was great, it felt perfect, rode fast and reliably and fit like a glove. I have been cured of bike lust. Well temporarily anyways.

Excellent pictures by Brian Smith

I've added a few images (retrospectively to old posts about events past) from Flickr taken by Brian Smith, at this point without permission - I like them. Tks Brian.