Back on the Bike

I haven’t posted in a while, mainly because I had an exam 6 days after the Brighton Marathon, which meant that I spent a lot of time with my nose in books revising. Thankfully that’s all out of the way now and I can get back to fun stuff, specifically cycling.

After the marathon/knee debacle I have decided to take a few weeks completely off running, instead spending the time getting back in the pool and on the bike.

Its only about 6 weeks until London to Paris now, which means I will be steadily increasing the mileage each week to get all the soft parts used to sitting on a saddle again.

That being said, even though I was supposed to be easing my way back into the distance, the emergence of spring last Sunday prompted a foray out on the bike(s) last Sunday. During my meanders around the Sussex countryside, it turns out that a town nearby holds a festival/fete each year involving residents creating scarecrows and posing them in different styles around the town. The actual fete thingy took part the day before I rode around, but I was still able to find three of them:

I originally decided to take the road bike out on this ride (as I will be using this for L2P), but as the sunshine was so bloody lovely that day, when I got I home I decided to head out again for a little spin on the TT bike. The total duration was about 2.5 hours (very helpfully helping rid me of the hockey dinner dance hangover).

Monday meant splashing around in the pool again at the local masters session, due to a number of reasons I haven’t made it to the pool at all in over a month.

This was not the session to return to. Speed work!

For those that may have done speed work before, its idea is to go fast for a certain distance before recovering with an easy stroke. This is ideal for swimmers who can vary their pace. I cant. Like a mini metro, I have slow and slower. Especially after 4 weeks out of the pool.

Wednesday was back on the bike again, combining the commute home with a spin with a friend around Beachy Head. A couple of weeks ago I posted a photo on the top of Beachy Head with clear blue skies, well this is what greeted us today:

Olli was not wearing a onesie!

It was like cycling in a cloud. Descending was particularly exciting, especially with the bunker-like potholes scattered around. A decent 2 hour ride though with a few hills thrown in for good measure!

To complete my gentle easing (?!) back onto the bike, I turned up at the local clubs time trial. Unsure of the course, and briefly scanning the online course profile, I decided to reach for the road bike rather than the TT bike as the 14-mile route included a few climbs. I think EVERYONE else went for the other option, and EVERYONE else finished before me.

All 20 of them!

Oh well at least there is something to aim for!   

 

I started in 8th, i was overtaken...a lot

Brighton Marathon Race Report

What a race! It went really well…. and then I woke up.

Actually that was a bit harsh, the day started ok, the rain disappeared and the sun looked as though it may shine through, suggesting that the weather forecasters may have actually predicted this one correctly.

Once at Preston Park, I hit the portaloos before the queues started and then participated in the mass warm up looking like a uncoordinated puppet (it turns out aerobics is not my thing!)

Warming up like a pro

After lubing every body part in risk of chaffing, I was persuaded by my mum to go against the majority of other runners and abandon the idea of wearing the baselayer before heading to the race start and positioning my self between a peacock and a bee.

The race itself started ok with only a very slight niggle from my troublesome left knee, this stayed fairly minor until the race ran headed around the Old Steine at around miles 3-4.

It was at this point that the knee started to decide that it didn’t want to play today.

Despite the discomfort, the thought of a DNF didn’t cross my mind, and as I had paid, trained and turned up for the run decided I would just HTFU and keep running. In fact I was able to keep to my planned pace and was feeling ok up until mile 12, when the knee really started to complain and I had to stop and stretch at the water station.

Mother Nature did appear to take pity on me at this point, and decided to make the sun shine on the south coast. This was lovely, for all of about 20 minutes before it went from mild through warm, straight to hot. Lucky all my training had been done in freezing conditions, so I was well adapted to these conditions: oh wait!.14 miles to go.

The stretching seemed to help (although this could have been mental) and I continued running, stopping to trade my visor for a slurp of coca cola with Mum, The Girl and the Girls Dad who were enthusiastically waving at me from the sideline. Like professional cheerleaders they all informed me im that I was on a good time…little did they know of what was to come! After calmly explaining (stating forcefully) of my discomfort I was ushered on.

13 miles to go

These last 13 miles hurt. A lot.

After passing the massive crowds on the seafront we headed up into hove, and then I was restricted to an ungainly hobble. In a bid to keep going, I desperately began searching around for things to look at/read, including

A man running in Greek style sandals overtaking me….

Peppa Pig overtaking me …..

A fairy overtaking me ……

A banana overtaking me …..

A carrot overtaking me ……

Well you get the idea.

At around 15 miles I stopped at a portaloo, I didn’t actually need to go the loo but I took a couple of minutes to have a little sulk in the confines of the tardis impersonator before continuing on my hobble.

After the turn around point in hove, I was stopped by race volunteers to let an ambulance cross the course and speed away with its siren’s blazing. I remember acknowledging how that was a not a good sign...

Despite some wanting me to, I cant really justify giving a mile by mile explanation of the pain I was experiencing for the remainder of the marathon, but as a quick explanation when I could run I was managing a fair pace but as soon as I developed any resemblance of speed, my knee pain forced me to a walk, and allowed the rest of my body to cramp up.

 

Thoroughly fed up

I cant even begin to list the fancy dress costumes that flew past me in those last few miles but with my A and B goals (A: Sub 4hrs, B, Sub 4:22) well out of the window, I combined limping, hobbling and walking to the get across the finish line in a final time of 4:46. 

I remember hurting during last year’s marathon, but not this much. I don’t think I have ever experienced pain like it. It has been a family joke that I was an absolute delight after my marathon experience in 2007 (I didn’t really understand the importance of sugar and mood swings back then), and in a bid to avoid adding to this rumor, I decided to lay on the cobbles for 10-15 minutes to allow for the cramping to subside before seeking out family.

Unfortunately as you have probably gathered the race didn’t go to plan, but im pretty happy with the fact I struggled through and completed it rather than DNF. Im keen to avoid that sort of discomfort ever again, although now I think I will be able to gain some mental strength having experienced it.

My result was also put into context when the news was broadcast that evening. I think the ambulance I saw may have been for the 23 year old chap who had a cardiac arrest on the course. Such terrible news, and all thoughts go out to his family.

In addition, with the awful news of the complete w*nkers planting bombs at the Boston Marathon, I can only be grateful that I finished safe. Especially as they were timed to go off exactly at my goal time of 4 hours.

The next week will be spent with my feet up revising for my exam before getting back (slowly) into the swimming and cycling. Oh I also need to get my knee fixed! On another note, the marathon entries opened up today for next years race. After this year’s ordeal, I decided that im having a year off!

Thank god thats done!

Taper

This weekend’s plans are focused upon one thing: the Brighton Marathon.

This will be the second time that I have run the Brighton Marathon and my 3^rd marathon having also run London in 2007.

Due to a lack of specific training my first marathon was a complete suffer fest of 5hrs 30 mins, resulting in a full 5 years of recovery before I made the decision to enter Brighton. In last years race (2012) I managed to complete the course in 4:22, which I was happy with, especially considering the wall hit me full on in the face around mile 18. I also managed to record the darkest wee in my life around miles 19-20, prompting me to consume everything liquid in close proximity for the next few miles.

This year, I hope to improve on the 4:22 time with the simple aim of running the entire race with no walking. Training has gone well with a decent amount of long runs and tempo runs logged over the last couple of months, however preparation has hit a slight blip in the last few weeks with the arrival of a niggling knee pain. As with any one with an illness/injury and access to doctors (I work In a hospital) I did what anyone would do. I Googled it.

 The top answer directed me to a physio forum on the Runners World website which featured 10 questions of which 7 were all based on symptoms very close to my own. The physio (very patiently) provided the same answer to all 7 enquires; that quadriceps tightness was pulling on the knee and irritating the sheath covering the kneecap, resulting in the pain (he put it a lot more eloquently), a problem commonly called Runners Knee.   

Queue a visit to the sports masseuse, who basically came to the same conclusion and then caused me a great deal of pain for the next 45 minutes. The result was a slightly less tight quad, a lighter wallet, numerous tears, a lessening of the knee pain and strict instructions to stretch in the next few days.

As a result, I have spent a fair bit of time grimacing on the foam roller and in strange poses stretching and no time running. In fact I haven’t run for 10 days (although I did play hockey and go for a ride), but im hoping that this time out of the trainers will all come good on Sunday!

2 days to go!  

Spring?

 It’s the first week of April and it finally appears that spring has arrived. In celebration I joined a fellow Green Army member in donning the Lycra and hitting the roads early on a Sunday morning. With the marathon just 7 days away, I have been nursing a slight knee issue and thought it would allow me to do a bit of sport without pounding the tarmac. It also allowed me to give the new bike its debut ride of the year.

We had arranged to meet nice and early, specifically 9am – which was surprisingly suggested by 18-year-old George (the son of team captain Bob). The meet time was mainly agreed on to ensure that I could get back in time to watch Paris-Roubaix from the comfort of my sofa.

Unfortunately, despite arriving at George’s House nice and early, I very quickly discovered (it took few million attempts at clipping in) that I had made a monumental cock up and somehow put my peddles on my bike backwards…brilliant! Cue 30 minutes of struggling with a multi tool unscrewing the pedals and refitting them the correct way (although made slightly less annoying by the provision of a nice cup of tea from Georges Mum Maxine – we almost got a bacon sarnie too).

Finally with the ability to peddle the correct way on the bike, we embarked on our ride. George decided on the route, a popular one with minimal traffic through the Southdown’s. Starting in Eastbourne before heading to Polegate and taking in a few gradual climbs past Friston Forest, Birling Gap and finally heading down the Beachy Head road and back to Eastbourne.

On a horrible day, this route seems to have a headwind whichever direction you can turn, and when combined with rain this can be a truly horrendous experience. But on a nice day, it is quite simply a beautiful ride with smooth roads, minimal traffic and a few climbs. And today was one of those days.

 

Sunshine!

The ride was a fairly nice tempo, with me reluctant to go too hard with the marathon date fast approaching and George claiming a lack of fitness. Although this declaration didn’t stop him from standing in the saddle and shooting past and completely demoralizing, a couple of lady cyclists near the top of one particular climb (leaving me to spin past them offering them a hello and slight word of encouragement).

 

George, slightly relived the climbs are over

For those that haven’t used this route before, when ridden in this direction it takes in a long slow climb from Birling Gap to the top of Beachy Head, rewarding you with some spectacular views over the cliffs and sea. A couple of years ago we rode this exact route during Eastbourne's Airborne festival, reaching the top just as the Red Arrows began their show.

With the Red Arrows not informed of our ride, it was left to a group of paragliders to give us a show instead. Although impressive, I do question the reasoning behind paragliding on a cliff edge?!

The distance today was just over 20miles, and although not the longest, served to shake out the cobwebs and provide us with some beautiful riding. As hockey season has now ended, this next week will be continuing with the running taper and trying to work out just how many layers I will need for the marathon next week (is a duffel coat acceptable?)

For those who haven’t seen or heard of Paris-Roubaix before and don’t quite understand my desire to get back and watch it. Google it. Its an incredible race, a total of 254km with 27 sections of cobblestones, if you have never seen a bike race before, Google it. Just do it. Phenomenal).

  

John Wayne in a Penguin Suit

The week since my last post has been spent mostly walking like John Wayne following last Sundays Hastings Half Marathon. With only 3 weeks until the Brighton Marathon the main aim for the week was recovery and as such I took a few days off training completely before getting on back on the bike on Thursday.

Friday was my first run since the marathon, and with mum expecting me back for her birthday party that evening, the decision was made to do an easy 4 miles to loosen up the muscles before a longer effort later in the weekend. I would have to admit here that although the mind was ready to do the run, neither my legs or Garmin; which took 5 mins to find a satellite before promptly running out of battery, were prepared for the run, and I can only say I managed a slow plod around the route.

BUT run done and now Party Time! As I headed back home for my Mums party, a plan so cunning that even Blackadder would have been impressed popped into my head: To fundraise at the party! More specifically, coherse my sister to do the fundraising for me whilst I socialised (and only cost me the sum of two drinks).

Like a bull to a red flag, she took to the task admirably and at the end of the night she had raised a total of £150 from unsuspecting (and perhaps slightly reluctant) friends and family at the party. Her efforts left me free to be dressed up as a penguin and display my drinking prowess against my little brother – an unexpected surprise idea from my dad, who will be forgiven as he raised £350 sponsorship in one day!

Hockey Tour Antics at a Family Party

A combination of the late night, beer and lack of sleep led to the development of a brief bout of man flu on the Saturday and Sunday, meaning the weekends run was postponed until today (Monday). Instead of running, Sunday was spent watching the Tour of Flanders whilst completely failing to adjust the gears on my bike, instead making them slightly worse than when I started.

One of the talking points of Tour of Flanders...Sagan must have been speaking my friend Malfoy recently!

With only 2 weeks to go until the marathon, I felt that it was important to squeeze in a slightly longer run this weekend to get the training back on track. Inspired by the sunshine (its now apparently summertime), I was so excited by the promise of donning my new Oakley shades that I forgot to apply the usual dollop of Vaseline to the vital areas (runners will understand), and 12 miles later headed home with grated skin. Not the best run in the world but the first decent length run since the half, and despite the remnants of (very mild) man flu got some miles under the belt to remind the legs what they are supposed to do!

Hasting Half Marathon Race Report

On Sunday it was the 29^th edition of the Hastings half marathon and my first attempt at it. 

It was very much a spur of the moment decision, one that I made at about 11pm the evening before the race. This was mainly due the fact I wasn’t even aware it was taking place (until a friend at my hockey game on Saturday mentioned that his wife was running it the following day).  

As the girlfriend was due to work and I had only planned some study and a training run I thought to myself that taking part in the race would give me some race day practice for the upcoming marathon. So in an (belated) attempt at post match recovery I put the calf sleeves on and set the alarm for 7am.

As I didn’t have a race entry, I thought that it would be best to turn up early to ensure that I could get in to the race on the day. Surprisingly, despite the weather, a number of people obviously shared my thoughts and the entries were flying in.

Once my money was handed over, it was time to decide on the appropriate clothing for the race. Im a big fan of running in shorts, but even I could see that was a ridiculous decision to make on a day when the weatherman was estimating a temperature of 2 degrees with wind chill making it feel more like -5.

So instead of shorts and singlet, I opted for t-shirt, thermal base layer, running tights, gloves, and wooly hat…. And yes, I am waiting for the magazines to come flocking all wanting to put me on their cover, as you can see from the picture below.

seriously..hot!

Previously, I had completed one official half marathon a couple of years ago and recorded a time of 1:59. From my recent training, I was optimistic that I could beat this.

However, this belief changed when I started the running up THE hill…. and kept running. Now, I had heard about the hill (read mountain) from people that had previously completed the course, and yes they had said it was hard, but what they had omitted, was the minor detail that it lasted 8 miles!

This, alongside the maneuvers required to overtake the normal selection of walkers/fancy dress runners who always seem to toe the start line with the elite runners, slowed my average pace.

Fortunately, the support was amazing, with a huge amount of people defying the arctic conditions to offer oranges and jelly beans to keep us motivated bar the way to the bushes to chunder. The cold conditions also spurred us on, as finishing would mean a cup of tea!

After 8 miles of incline, the combination of the descent and the tractor-beam-like draw of the next orange segment prompted me to keep the pace high, finally finishing in 1:52 - a PB!

After stumbling across the line, and receiving the rewarding brass medal I hunted down the tea tent and gratefully threw hot sugary tea down my throat. I then searched (in vein) for a goody bag. Mini rant - im used to triathlons where receiving goodies is almost mandatory, but seriously this race was EXPENSIVE and there wasn’t even a flyer!

My disappointment was short lived however, as when I was sat/collapsed in the changing tent, I glanced up, to see, no more than 3 foot way, a very athletic female runner whip off her running top before replacing it with a t-shirt. Not quite a goody bag...but well done Mrs. Runner, disappointment quashed!

Tongue returned, and clothing donned I made the walk back to the bus stop and

I must here note that the worst part of the whole day (including the hill) was the 50 minute wait in the freezing temperature for the park and ride bus. A 50-minute duration made much worse by my decision to skip the visit to the bakery in search for a quick return to the car.

Finally, frozen and tired, I was returned to my car, pleased with my day’s effort. On reflection, I now think that on a flatter course and with not playing a game of hockey the day before, I think I can get my time down to around 1:45. A summer target perhaps…

As with all events, as the pain begins to subside, and with the race meeting its intended aims, my mojo is now reinvigorated and im defiantly looking forward to the marathon. Job Done.  

A Tribute

Michael Wilkinson (The girlfriend's grandad) in action!

The date of this week was much anticipated; a break from training, a break from revision and the dates for a french road trip. Although camouflaged as a holiday the primary aim was to pick up a shiny carbon beauty that belonged to my girlfriend's grandad. Unfortunately for him, he didn't gel with his new steed meaning that reportedly he would rather reach for his trusty hand built racing cycle rather than his new purchase. This meant he was only able to log a few miles on his new bike before he suddenly and sadly passed.

Michael and Marie (The 'Grandma')

As a result his bike has been hanging in his garage at his house in France, only glimpsing the sun drenched hills of the dordogne through the garage door. A sad situation.

Last year however, on our visit to 'The Grandma' and the Tour de France, I was pre-informed of this situation and in hot anticipation packed up my Lycra, peddles and helmet with the aim of releasing this steed from its gloomy resting place.

After the mandatory tour of the spectacular 'maison' and an interesting fish supper, the garage doors were flung open and the bicycle lifted from its hanging place and into the sunlight. What a beauty!

But like any beautiful woman, she needed some preparation for her outing. A thorough wash, a bit of oil, tyres inflated and a little tightening and adjusting and she was ready.

And boy did she fly!

With performance matching her looks, she destroyed the local hills; sweeping down the descents and eating up the inclines with her rider clinging on in pure glee. In fact the only inhibiting factor was the rider!

A few days of hitting the miles in glorious sunshine around the beautiful scenery soon came to an end and the bike was carefully wrapped up and sadly returned to its perch in the garage, to await its next release into the wild.

With the return of the bike to its resting place, a longing to again fly along on its saddle grew in the rider. A longing that grew deeper with every month, until one day in November when 'The Girlfriend' turned to me and announced 'my Grandma liked that you enjoyed the bike and liked the fact it was being enjoyed, she would like you to use it more.'

And it is from the deck of the dieppe to newhaven ferry that this post is penned, with the steed carefully packaged and transported. It sits ready to be unleashed on the shores of England and ready for its journey from London to Paris.

A clue... its not the girlfriend in the bag.