So my season was going great......NOT! I decided to go back to the Outlaw Triathlon, a race which I'd won the year before. I was one of the favourites for the race because I'd won it the year before. You'd think there would be loads of pressure on me to win again but a felt super relaxed and confident. I'd changed a few things after Lanzarote, my diet and the way I was training, so was hopeful as to what these changes would bring.
The race itself had a slightly better field than the year before with 4 of the previous 5 winners all racing. I started ok and came out the water in an ok position but slower that I'd hoped even though I was swimming really well in training. But when I got on the bike I felt great, back to what I'm used to feeling on the bike, the power that had been missing all year in races had finally arrived! I was moving through the field pretty quickly and was up on leader Harry Wiltshire after 30km. We pretty much rode together for the remainder of the ride and I felt comfortable. We were taking time out of the guys behind us. I also knew that Harry wasn't finishing due to a foot injury so I wasn't too fussed about what he was doing the rest of the race.
We came off the bike together and Harry darted off, but he dropped out after 15km to leave me in the lead. I didn't know but I had close to an 18min lead which I held to the finish. It was cold wet and windy but I was so pleased to win.
Finally a race to save my season!
Friday 18 September 2015
Ironman Lazarote
So from South Africa and back home to recover and then to get ready for Ironman Lazarote. I took a break before starting training again and got back into it pretty quickly. I seem to pull up really well from races and can get back to full training fairly rapidly. I felt ready and headed off to Lazarote. Was feeling ok before the race and was looking forward to having a good go.
Swim went very average, the bike started ok but like South Africa I just didn't seem to have my usual power. I was holding my position and then started to pick riders off and was moving well through the field. It was when I got to about 90km that I just seemed to blow for no reason. I'd stuck to my power zone, taken the required calories but just fell apart. From there I'd given up! I rode to the finish but I literally rolled back to T2 and didn't go out on the run. Gutted again and very frustrated!
Swim went very average, the bike started ok but like South Africa I just didn't seem to have my usual power. I was holding my position and then started to pick riders off and was moving well through the field. It was when I got to about 90km that I just seemed to blow for no reason. I'd stuck to my power zone, taken the required calories but just fell apart. From there I'd given up! I rode to the finish but I literally rolled back to T2 and didn't go out on the run. Gutted again and very frustrated!
Ironman South Africa 2015
My first race of the year was yet again out in South Africa. I was spending 5 weeks out there to prepare for the race, training with South African legend, Raynard Tissink and his group. I went out there in pretty good shape, and again stopped at the same place I'd stopped at in previous years, Endless Summer Guest House, run by the fantastic hostess Colleen. She really goes out of her way to make you feel at home. So I was settled and training well. Raynards group were a great bunch to train with, they trained hard but we also had a laugh and they took me into their group like I was their own.
I had Gareth to swim with, who is a fantastic swimmer and really gave me a good kicking each lunch time. We did quite a few group rides where Ryan would try and ride away from all the time, the boy really does need putting on a leash! We also did group track sessions which were good to get stuck into. I really had never prepared better for a race.
The race itself started ok and was out the water with quite a few of the favourites but had started cramping in my calf about 2km into the swim. It didn't really slow me as I managed to stay with the group I was swimming with. But I got cramp again going into T1 and tripped up, from there the group I was with just went! I lost the group right there and then! Start of the ride and tried to get into my rhythm but it just wasn't there, my calf was tight and kept going into spasm during the ride. I rode ok but not where I wanted to be or should have been.
So onto the run and the less said about that the better........I finished but it was a case of run/walk to the finish. Not what I wanted or should have achieved......Gutted!
I had Gareth to swim with, who is a fantastic swimmer and really gave me a good kicking each lunch time. We did quite a few group rides where Ryan would try and ride away from all the time, the boy really does need putting on a leash! We also did group track sessions which were good to get stuck into. I really had never prepared better for a race.
The race itself started ok and was out the water with quite a few of the favourites but had started cramping in my calf about 2km into the swim. It didn't really slow me as I managed to stay with the group I was swimming with. But I got cramp again going into T1 and tripped up, from there the group I was with just went! I lost the group right there and then! Start of the ride and tried to get into my rhythm but it just wasn't there, my calf was tight and kept going into spasm during the ride. I rode ok but not where I wanted to be or should have been.
So onto the run and the less said about that the better........I finished but it was a case of run/walk to the finish. Not what I wanted or should have achieved......Gutted!
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