tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43711192735479984672024-03-05T11:08:29.204-08:00100Km... and beyondmartin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-52102980346082982072017-02-06T12:41:00.001-08:002017-02-06T12:41:13.227-08:00L'étape du tour 2016They made it easy!! Without a doubt the easie... ok the least difficult of the 4 étapes i've done so far. The 4-col étape route was redrawn due to a high-rock-fall risk on the Col de Ramaz (a Cat 1 climb), a climb that was therefore removed from the route. This meant 123km from Megève to Morzine via the Cols des Avaris, de la Colombière and la Joux Plane.<br />
A beautiful hot summers day welcomed Jeje, Veve and myself in Megève on Saturday after a long drive from Rouen. I was picked up at home at 5 in the morning and said hello be-y vomiting in the garden...I think I ate something that didn't agree with me the night before...oh yes i did - i re-vomited on the motorway in a plastic bag a couple of times. What preparation!!<br />
Things had settled down by the time we arrived 6 or so hours later...thankfully.<br />
We picked up the numbers, left the van at Morzine, took the shuttle back to the start and after a plain pasta meal settled sown to sleep.<br />
I slept really well, woke at 6, set off at 7 and with the 5112 number set off around 7h25. It was a beautiful day and after a long descent we were over the first col without even noticing. The Colombière came up soon enough - not difficult and i felt fresh as we approached the summit. The descent was another matter though. After my fall in April and the broken ribs I was very wary - the top of the descent is very steep (10 - 9 - 8 % per km)...there were also a lot of riders - it was scary to be honest, especially as a helicopter landed to pick up a serious-looking casualty sprawled across the road - gendarmes holding up the cyclists as we crawled past....another was splayed under the safety barrier on one bend!! My fingers were twitching on the breaks constantly. This really slowed down what was otherwise a nice jaunty pace.<br />
The 20km faux plat to the foot of the Joux Plan ascent was very quick as I latched onto a quick group with a couple of very handy girl riders....we took turns and passed a LOT of cyclists...<br />
I'd been up the Joux Plan before - it is a tough climb. I'd fallen at the top and broke two ribs in 2013..so i had a score dos settle - get up and down without any problem. The sun was really beating by now though and there was little shade. I stopped at the food zone at the foot of the climb and helped myself to an Isostar carrot purée - delicious!! "Nobody likes these," the lady helper told me. "It's delicious!" I said. "Mind you, I am English, so that isn't a reference !". She thought it was funny anyway... :)<br />
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I burped half way up the climb and re-tasted the carrot ! Not a nice sensation ! I thought the vomiting was going to start again. I was actually climbing well and passing a lot of riders...mind you, others were whizzing past me as well. I was enjoying the climb though, despite the heat and effort. The summit came quickly enough, and the descent into Morzine - although carefully taken - was speedy.<br />
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I didn't feel drained as I had in the past n the étape routes...and the number of finishers arriving with a smile, as well s the very few who I saw walking, was proof to the relative ease of this reduced étape.<br />
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<br />martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-27196539960631013782016-06-30T10:56:00.002-07:002016-06-30T10:56:27.792-07:00Meanwhile, back at the ranch...I really haven't paid attention to the passing of time this year.<br />
What have i been up to? Since July 2015 I went crashing onto the Spanish tarmac in a storm in August leaving a good amount of skin and blood, ouch, but repaired myself and took part in La Ronde Picardie in September - improving my PB on that course: finishing in 138th/577 position (26th age grouper) of the 130km course. It is on the list for this year too. Then I had a long break to get over my injuries - back, calf, achilles...a seemingly endless list of ailments that I put down to wear and tear.<br />
The Spanish crash, the fall down the stairs on the eve of the Marmotte, added to the inevitable increase in years had taken, and continues taking its toll.<br />
I had my back pulled and twisted back into place, my achilles hammered with ultra shock therapy, my calfs stretched and massaged...and spent the winter complaining about everything from the weather to City's lack of inspiration in the PL.<br />
Come April this year though I was ready to spend a week training with MSA Triathlon in Argèles in the South of France, in a region renowned for its strong winds, or "cloud chasers" as one of the locals informed me. The highlight or memorable point was my crashing on Day 5 - coming down the Col de la Brousse and into the town of Cerets I took a bend, probably too quickly and as i braked on seeing a woman step into the road - a classic combination of speed, bend, brakes and gravel - and i went flying with my chest straight into my bars. Result = 3 fractured and one cracked rib, broken bars (yes, literally broken in two), 2 damaged derailleurs, one broken pedal and a damaged right shifter, and the morale in shatters. I knew immediately that the ribs had gone. I flet them pop. Not a good way to end the training week. Eight weeks later i was still having difficulty moving. Now the ribs are OK but my back took such a bang that when I started training again my running had changed and so it is the knee which has suffered. So tomorrow it's back to the osteopath who will hopefully knock me back into shape. I need it !<br />
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<i>15 minutes before the crash we were halted by a herd of goats...wonderful :)</i></div>
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I'm now desperately trying to get ready for the étape du tour (July 10) and the Alpe d'Huez LD Triathlon (July 28). Yes, another slog in the mountains for me this year. Don't ask me why. I want my revenge on the Alpe d'Huez i suppose - i didn't suffer enough last year on the Marmotte, obviously.<br />
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L'étape - means a return to La Joux Plane - where i fell and broke two ribs in 2014. Hoping to keep out of trouble this time round.<br />
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The triathlon Alpe d'Huez has been on my to do list for a long time. SO this year, fingers crossed, the knee will be ok for the run - 2Km swim, 115km bike (finishing with the Alpe d'Huez, and 22km run).</div>
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I am looking for fun, fun, fun this year. Times and positions have become irrelevant after my crash(es)....:)</div>
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martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-38112259658588542712015-08-20T02:50:00.002-07:002015-08-20T03:08:42.155-07:00LA MARMOTTE 2015I picked up Mike, my brother, at Geneva airport on the Thursday before the race and he welcomed me with the remark : "they've taken the toughest sportif in France and made it more difficult!".<br />
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The closure of the Tunnel du Chambon due to an impending landslide meant the descent from the col du galibier was now off the menu. So the organisers had modified the route to include the ascension of the Col du Glandon for starters, the famous Lacets de Montvernier, les cols du Mollard and de Croix de Fer for the main course whilst keeping the Alpe d'Huez for the desert. Wonderful - 176km long and 5100m of climbing. Oh yes, and there was a heatwave on, meaning temperatures would be soaring into the high 30°cs....!</div>
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Picking up the numbers at the top of the Alpe d'Huez on Friday, 3 July was hard work with the heat and high-ish altitude. I'd slipped down the stairs on Wednesday evening and had a sore back and a very swollen left elbow, so i had a funny feeling about this race...something wasn't right!<br />
Anyway, I enjoyed a nice swim at the hotel pool and had an early and comfortable night before a 5h30 breakfast. It was warm at 6h15 when we drove the 15km from les Deux Alpes to Bourg d'Oisans, and the start. We were due to set off at 7h30, second group to go, and the sight of thousands of cyclists winding down the narrow streets was impressive.<br />
We flew to the foot of the Glandon and started the climb. Getting to the summit in 2h from the start was the projected target - keeping a steady pace, HR at 140-144. Got to the top in 2h01. It is a tough climb, with a steep downhill break, which only serves to make the following climb harder. The road seems to just creep up the mountain, is relatively straight and ridiculously steep in parts. The 34-28 set-up I have was a wise choice i thought. The sun hadn't popped it's head over the mountain tops yet, so the temperature wasn't too high. At the summit though, i just knew from the view of the deep and clear blue sky that this was going to be a scorching day. I saw Mike at the food stop, stocking up on calories - i did the same.<br />
The descent was neutralized - to protect cyclists from themselves as the first kms of the descent are really steep and dotted with hairpin bends. My first recollection now is that it sounded like a popcorn factory with types exploding all over the road - due to overheating probably. I passed and stopped when i saw Mike on the roadside - his Aero Carbon 60s hadn't withstood the heat and his rear rim had warped and ripped open the tyre. I wished him good luck, hoping he'd sort out a wheel from somewhere, and set off - gutted for him because it looked like "Game Over". The tyre popping carried on all the way down, so i tried to avoid braking as much as i could. My Easton 40s and their aluminium rims held up fine though. It is a great descent - beautiful surface, and clear vision for long stretches. I was singing "<i>oh oh oh , oh, oh ooooh, yes, I'm the great descender</i>" and smiling to myself as i raced down.<br />
Down in the valley the heat had become oppressive, and it was only 10h30-ish....next up, the beautiful Lacets de Montvernier:</div>
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Short, sharp, steep, narrow road....around 3.7km at 8%...nothing too difficult, but with the road full it was almost everyone at the same pace...and by now it was slowing down.<br />
The descent back to the valley was fast, but once on the flatter road - a 1% false flat towards St Jean de Maurienne - the heat was intense. A head on wind, not strong, was actually just hot air moving. My throat was constantly dry and i was drinking a lot. By the time we swung round to the foot of the Mollard, the 3rd climb of the day, it was stifling. Crowds of cyclists were pushing up against a fence at the bottom of the climb as a kindly resident had offered to fill bottles from his own hosepipe... i thought he must have been out gardening and saw one or two thirsty cyclists so offered to give them a drink - but then this finished with his fence being swarmed - he was very pleasant and smiled at all the thanks - but people were beginning to push and jostle when i pulled free, so I was happy to be back on my way.<br />
The Mollard winds through a forest, but there was little shade as the sun was directly above by now.<br />
I noted my calories on the Garmin - 4000 - which read 5000 at the top - incredible! I made sure i kept eating - bars, bananas, and it was a relief to find a food zone at the top. I was still feeling fine and felt like i was moving nicely. I checked my phone before setting off for the Croix de fer, and saw Mike had sent a text - 'borrowed a wheel, on the move'.<br />
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<i>Croix de Fer seen during the Tour</i></div>
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The descent off the Mollard was great in parts - new road surface - and dodgy in others - gravel. My arms were beginning to ache and my back wasn't feeling its best. The bottom of the Mollard marked the start of the ascent of the Croix de Fer...this meant an easy start and a tough finish as the gradients ramped up. As we hit the hairpins around 7km from the summit a thin veil of cloud floated over the mountain tops - it felt fresh and cool; i thought the temperature would drop, and even a welcome drizzle would cool us down. It lasted about two minutes, because the sun soon evaporated the cloud. It was cooling because we were getting higher, but the drop in oxygen levels was also felt.<br />
Arriving at the summit was a relief.<br />
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<i> it's tough at the top</i></div>
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There were too many cyclists looking for water so i just carried on down. What a descent - fast and spectacular. I remember descending from the top of the Croix de Fer to the Mollard a few years ago and needing to wrap up due to a bitingly fresh wind; but today even with the shirt open i was feeling warm.<br />
I was down on the bars and hitting 65/70km/h - topping at 75km/h further down. I was still being passed by others as well! The descent ends abruptly at one point and there is a steep 12% climb. I knew it was coming and was ready for the heavy leg feeling - it hits you like a brick in the face as you slow down to a near standstill. As i began the ascent i heard a pppppfffff sound, yes, it was my turn - the front wheel was flat. I stopped and began the change - ouch! I handled the rim and burned myself - it was so hot !! I actually doused the wheel with water from my bottle. Mike rolled up and stopped - he'd caught up an hour on me !!! Amazing. He took a gel from me and I slotted the wheel back in - a fast change. I stuck to his wheel for a while - until the next sudden ascent. I caught up again on the descent into Bourg d'Oisans and hung onto his wheel at 37-38km/h, but i knew i couldn't keep it up and as soon as we began a short ascent after passing the lake i was dropped. That feeling when you know you can't do any more saps the morale. There is a long straight road into Bourg d'Oisans and the ascent of the Alpe d'Huez - it was scorching with dense heavy heat, it was like riding in the desert. I joined a small group that grew into a big group as we swallowed up others and others joined us. We were at an easy 30km/h pace - with everyone feeling the effort and quite probably in fear of the final climb : the wonderful Alpe d'Huez.<br />
I stopped off at the foot of the Alpe and filled my battles - energy drink and water. I made my way out and stopped briefly to put my bottles on the bike - a rider was leaning against a van in the shade next to me. "Ready?" I asked. "I've already started but came down - it's 40°c up there!!" He looked drained and fed up. "Ah well, there's only one way to see...", and i made my way onto the road. "Good luck!" he shouted. 16km of hard effort to come and I was already well and truly cooked.<br />
'Get to the first hairpin and the most difficult is done,' i told myself. The first few kms are around 10% and are tough at the best of times, but today the heat was dripping from the sky. I drank at the first bend - the water was already warm. The bends were full of resting cyclists. I pushed on - thinking that as long as i kept moving i was getting closer. I wasn't going at any kind of speed but i was advancing. All the bends are numbered, with number 1 being the last at the top, so you always know how many you have to do - i'm not sure if this is a help or a hindrance to the morale - probably a help on a good day, but that wasn't today because I had a burning desire to just stop and sit down. I stopped in the shade and contemplated quitting. It was so hot, my throat was so dry, i was so uncomfortable, and i simply was not enjoying the effort. Why go on? Once the demons start like this it is not good. A lot of cyclists were sitting in the shade. They looked half dead. But as you and i know : "suffering lasts an hour, quitting lasts forever!"<br />
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<i>Alpe d'Huez (screenshot of the Tour)</i></div>
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So, I sprayed myself with water, except it was energy drink - warm and sticky...what an idiot, i'd taken the wrong bottle ! I rinsed myself with the now hot water and thought - "get to the next bend and see how you feel". To my relief there was a water zone - an oasis - and i just stuck my head under the running tap...what a feeling. How brilliant water is !!!! I drank, filled the bottles and set off again, refreshed and positive again. I wasn't enjoying this but i was determined to finish. I chatted with a Brit with 5km to go. He said the heat was just ridiculous - i agreed. A girl was actually lying in the gutter trying to make the water, which cascades down the mountain at certain points, onto her legs. Yes, the heat was ridiculous. At 3km to go a cyclist in front of me stopped, stood on the road and let out a huge wail of a sound...it was comical, but I felt his pain. A few spectators were pouring bottles of water over us if we indicated to receive the shower - i nodded and felt the cold race down my back, shorts, legs and into my shoes...nice ! Many cyclist were walking and every corner was littered with shade seeking competitors.<br />
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Final bend in sight, and i could hear music at the top. Nearly done. I stood to push my way round as the % cranked up. My elbow was in a bad way and i had to sit again. The music that greeted me as i arrived at the village was the Human League's <i>"You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar..."</i> but i couldn't find any connection, and just thought to myself that i didn't feel human one little bit!<br />
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Final effort for 3km up to the finish line. It wasn't getting easier. I just wanted to stop pedaling. The Semnoz 2013 was in my head. I got over the line somehow, made my way to the food tent, took off my helmet and lay down. Exhausted. One of the organisers ran up, "Ca va?" "Oui, un peu fatigué".<br />
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Mike was behind her - he didn't ask how i was, he was too busy taking photos and laughing, "for the record". I was not looking my best, let's say :<br />
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<i>Death by Marmotte</i></div>
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To conclude.<br />
A very difficult day. It was the extreme temperature, more than the actual route which was fantastic, which made the event so gruelling. Ascending the Alpe d'Huez in 40°c temps with 160km already in the legs was not my idea of a nice day out.<br />
I have an overwhelming feeling of not enjoying myself - which is the first aim of such an event for me. Pity. Glad to have finished and overcome the demons of Quitsville, because seeing so many cyclists on the way down climbing into cars having given up was something...<br />
Having said that (don't you just hate that expression?), i'll probably be back again - i still haven't done the Galibier!!<br />
Oh yes, the aftermath of my falling down the stairs - a chipped bone in my left elbow, which explained the swelling, and a displaced vertebra in the back, which explained the pain...!!<br />
Apart from that....the alps is a fantastic place to ride a bike.<br />
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martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-60366848294315092832015-07-11T23:28:00.000-07:002015-08-20T03:19:36.198-07:00Half the year gone ! Half de Compiègne and La VikingHalf the year gone ! Half de Compiègne and La Viking<br />
<br />
I finally got my running into shape by the end of March - a few 5km runs, a few longer and slower jaunts, with the Half in view for May 17. But it wasn't the legs that were a problem in the end.<br />
Thursday 14th May a few club members organized a lake swim and a short ride....2.5km in the lake at Jumièges, 40km on the bike along the Seine - nice and steady, with my aero bars for the first time this year - and back home i followed up with a 9km run at a good pace. I felt a slight discomfort in the side and thought i'd pulled or overstretched something...nothing serious.<br />
Saturday morning swim session i pulled up with a short sharp stabbing sensation in the side...i really had pulled something. The coach thought i'd had a cardiac arrest - but would this stop my triathlon the next day ? You'd think so, but....<br />
Compiègne is about 2 hours from Rouen by car, meaning a leisurely drive to arrive in time for the 12h30 start. My side was not feeling right so i strapped it up with kiné tape. I felt better, though the medical benefit was somewhat dubious. Driving along with Guillaume and Arnaud meant we could chat about the race and other things and i could avoid stressing about the swim start. On the website from last years race there was a film of a swimmer not moving as he battled the counter-current of the river....i was not amused!<br />
Transition was a football field, and with the sun shining, the atmosphere suggested a family picnic - everyone was in good humour - and the fact that 13 or so MSA triathlon club members were present made it more familiar and fun.<br />
Swim start - a slow walk along the river to the start line. The current didn't seem strong looking at it, but the water was cold though. The wetsuit held my side together and i felt fine. As I swam back towards the start 'line' the gun went off - i had to turn round and go - so i had no time to think. Yes, the current was strong and i felt like i was flying. I was constantly kicked, hit and swum into - i gave as good as i got though - but this was due to the relatively small space - the river was about 20m wide, maybe. Passed quite a few - swimming over, around, under, but always forward... i was actually enjoying it...this is how i felt when i first started triathlon... 1400m with the current went quickly - swimming at the same pace as the spectators walking on the banks - a strange experience. Turn round point and the counter-current - everyone seemed to be at the riverside where the current was weaker...this changed when we had to swim round a fallen tree and i found myself in the river centre - i was advancing, so the image of last years stationary swimmer wouldn't be me this time, a relief at least.<br />
Out of the water in 31.32 mins for 2km, i was amazed - it's amazing what a fast current and a wetsuit can do for the morale !<br />
Onto the bike - after a lot of messing with the wetsuit, and trying to get arm warmers on...not easy with wet arms. i say arm warmers, i really mean sun protection. The sun was out and it was quite warm. All i remember about the bike was:<br />
1. passing people.<br />
2. Not seeing a lot with my head down<br />
3. long straight roads through the forests<br />
4. 2 big climbs and equivalent descents<br />
5. my side ached on the descents<br />
6. a water and banana refreshment - that i missed first time because i was going too fast ! and this two times - though i managed to snatch a banana second time round.<br />
7. the volunteers telling you your position.<br />
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I enjoyed the cycling - even better with the position updates. I remember hearing 97 - then 88 - then 80...so i know i was doing well.<br />
2h38 for the 90km - 2x45km loops. Not bad. Averaging at 34km/h, or thereabouts, and 74th position out of 340. 1st loop in 1h17, the 2nd in 1h21 - and yet i felt i was faster the second loop... . I only saw the occasional drafting - teams working together, which is always annoying - but i was happy to have been alone from start to finish.<br />
Getting to transition i was apprehending the run, not knowing how this would go - despite having done quite a few training run sessions off the bike. Vincent - injured, so here a spectator, shouted me to "alleeeerrrr"- "this is the start of the race" i replied. I felt good, and was soon into a steady, albeit slow, pace. The run was 3 loops of 7km - along the river, through the forest and then into the forest before returning back along the river. This meant MSA triathletes would be able to see each other... suffering, which is always a boost. My sides ached as i turned the corners and the bends, and i wasn't feeling comfortable, but i felt light enough on my feet.Two sips of coke and two sips of water at each feed station and a red tonic gel at 7km and 14km was all i needed to finish the final 3 km in accelerated mode...i still had something in the legs. Finishing with a sprint in 1h37 - my best time yet...and with an overall place of 87 in 4h53:45. Satisfied, tired, and with a pain in the side.<br />
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Next day the pain was more persistent and an x-ray revealed two fractured ribs. What? And i just managed a Half Iron Distance PB !?!<br />
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Bad news is that i had to pull out of the Geneva to Nice trip...the less i say about that the better i think, as it hurts more than the ribs ever did ! But when the doctor describes the possible complications of physical effort with broken ribs - punctured lung, collapsed lung, both lungs infected...you start listening to reason.<br />
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After a complete week of no activity other than watching Contador smash the Giro Italia, I climbed onto the Home Trainer and then the road bike after three weeks. And then Sunday, June 21 i took part in my second real cyclosportif - La Viking 76. 153kms along the coast via Dieppe to St Valery (the route for Stage 9 of this years Tour de France) and back to Mesnières en Bray.<br />
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As we were waiting for the start towards the back of the 153km race pen, a spectator shouted - "they've gone". I looked up and saw some cyclists riding away. I, and the others around me, began to weave our way through quite a lot of others who were waiting for the shorter race (90km) 9am start!!<br />
Result - i missed the leading peleton. I actually set off thinking that i'd catch them soon enough - but after 3 or 4 km of hard pedaling i realized it simply wasn't going to happen. I could see the large group up the road, speeding away round the bends. I was so disappointed. I could feel the wind against me, and the fatigue in my legs already. I knew that this was therefore going to be not just a long day, but a VERY long day. So, no choice, head down and pedal.<br />
It wasn't until i got to Dieppe - 30km down the road - that i started to catch small groups - all going way too slow for me. Riding up the hill out of Dieppe and reaching then coast plateau the wind was fierce and head on - the windsocks were completely horizontal and pointing directly parallel to the road. I wanted to stop and turn round by now. But i kept on. At one point i turned round to find 6 or 7 cyclists stuck behind me. They weren't offering to take the lead, so i had no choice. I moved over to the left and one went in front. The speed dropped from 29km/h to 24km/h, so i took it up again.<br />
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Finally at ST Valery we got to turn out of the wind, after 40 km or so. I was feeling well and truly tired. There is a steep climb out of the town, and the wind was now sideways. My Aero 60 wheels were being blown all over the road.<br />
15 km to Cany Barville with the side wind, but then we hit a left again and the wind is behind. We had just completed the Tour de France Étape 6 segment...they would head on to Le Havre, into the wind. Now there was one rider behind - n° 22 - blue top. He thanked me for the shelter adding "you are a strong rider into the wind, well done, chapeau!". I smiled and offered him to take the lead. He looked like a hardened rider, around my age, maybe a little younger...or less old i should be saying now!<br />
With the wind in our back, a downhill section we were at 55km/h in no time.<br />
The return leg - 75km - to the finish was a lot like this - me in front, pushing hard, catching more and more stragglers dropped from the lead group, and a lot doing the shorter race...only on the final climb did i wobble and was left behind by n° 22. I had no food left, a bit of water, and a lot of emptiness in the legs. As we got to the line though, i'd caught up again, and n° 22 turned, thanked me for the help, shook hands and let me pass the line before him - a true cycling gent. So i finished with a huge smile and a feeling that i had done everything i could but knowing it wasn't my day - 153km at 32km/h average speed (no power reading unfortunately - i need to invest!).<br />
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Next up: La MARMOTTE - the queen of cyclos...<br />
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<br />martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-66312220131256936932015-03-27T14:26:00.001-07:002015-04-06T11:54:20.410-07:002015 - spring has sprung...It seems like yesterday that i was writing the same thing - spring has arrived !! Strange how the year seems to have past by quickly, although i must admit that when i was coming down the Col du Tourmalet in July it felt like a year itself, and the marathon at IM Barcelona felt like an eternity...Einstein has an explanation i'm sure.<br />
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But anyway, it's that time of year again - the birds have started waking us up as early as 6 again with their singing...the flowers have begum to bloom, a little later than last year, but the color is as refreshing a sight....the air is slightly less chilly, and the sun hangs around a bit longer at the end of the day. Yes, it's springtime.<br />
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Yesterday i treated the Boardman Air 9.8 to a spin with the Aero 60 wheels for the first time since October. The whipping wind blew me all over the place at times but gave me a real buzz and a real update on where a i am fitness-wise.<br />
Winter hasn't treated me kindly - niggling injuries every few weeks have halted my running, although cycling and swimming have come along nicely.<br />
With the swim i have spent the winter months working solely on technique, which has led to many hours spent slowly moving from one end of the pool to the other, with one arm, with arms under water, with a float, not moving at all and just repeating the gestures... It is slow and painful but I am finally feeling some progress in position and slide as i now know where my hands and arms need to go and move if i am to advance efficiently and smoothly. I never learned how to swim - i remember going to the pool as a seven year-old with my brother, i was pushed in and i swam. Simple as that. I think i've just been swimming in the same way ever since - as a reaction, so i don't sink and drown. But now i'm learning. One day i am determined to be able to say, "i <i><b>can</b></i> swim," rather than, "i <i>know <b>how</b> </i>to swim". Yes, as the Ironman slogan boldly states :anything is possible - or : You <b><i>can</i></b> teach an old dog new tricks!<br />
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For the bike, well a lot road has passed under the wheels, i was happy to be out on both December 25 and January 1 in the freezing cold, with the ice and the wind wearing my red Rapha rain jacket which allows no cold air or humidity inside. No holidays for me there....So i've managed to maintain a good level of form... I only wish i could say the same for my running !<br />
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I have no idea why my calfs constantly plague me. I've tried stretching, massaging - i even bought a foam roller to help recovery and preparation. Nothing doing. I am now trying strengthening the calfs and legs and back by using an elliptical machine - not the most interesting way to spend an hour, but at least i'm moving and hope to be back on the track very soon.<br />
I will need to because coming up very soon - May 17 - Long Distance triathlon in Compiègne, followed by the cycling trip Genève to Nice, put off a few years ago, but now very much a reality, before taking on the toughest of all the cyclosportifs - La Marmotte.<br />
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No Ironman this year - i'm saving that for 2016. You have to wait for desert, so they say.<br />
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<br />martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-25299871024539217072014-10-22T23:59:00.001-07:002015-03-18T23:51:39.616-07:00Ironman Barcelona 2014Here i am again, bike and bag packed up, stressed and nervous, heading off to the airport for Ironman Barcelona round 2. This time though, i was looking to compete and improve my performance - aided and pushed by the fact that 15 other MSA Triathlon athletes were also competing.<br />
Training had gone well enough over the year apart from breaking 2 ribs following a fall in June meaning i'd only been running normally again since the start of August - two months. Whether this was enough...well, i'd know soon enough !<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Et me voilà encore, le vélo et le sac prêt, moi stressé et anxieux, sur la route de l'aéroport pour Ironman Barcelona. Cette fois-ci je voulais être compétitif, et améliorer le résultat d'il y a deux ans - le fait d'être accompagné de 15 co-équipiers du club MSA Triathlon était assez motivant. Mes entrainements se sont bien passés, à part les 2 côtes cassés suite à une chute de vélo fin mai, ce qui m'avait empêché de courir avant le début du mois d'août. Suffisant? J'allais le savoir bientôt!</span><br />
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The Friday and Saturday pre-race were warm and sunny, but the forecast for Sunday, race day, was for rain. Up at 6h for a 8h34 start time - big breakfast - banana, fruit juice, coffee, cereal biscuits, energy bar and energy drink...and a gel pre-swim.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Il a fait beau le vendredi et le samedi avant la course, mais on a annoncé de la pluie pour le dimanche 5 octobre. Je me suis levé à 6h pour manger (mon départ est prévu pour 8h34) un grand petit déj - banane, jus de fruit, café, gateaux céréales, bar et boisson énergétique...et le tout suivi d'un gel pre-natation. </span><br />
Full, Esther drove me to the start as the clouds burst - it was dark and eerie. I was totally drenched by the time i'd arrived at the Bike Zone. I was even beginning to shake with the cold - Étape du tour all over again !! - so i simply put my water bottles on the bike, not even checking the tyre pressure - they weren't flat, and that was enough ! I got into the wetsuit to keep dry and warm and headed down to the swim start - a 1500m walk, with David and Tony from the club. The rain was easing but the lightning was scary, lighting up the entire sky and cutting the electric lights around us. I jumped into the sea - warm at 22°c - but the lightning danger was obvious putting the swim in question. There was an announcement to this effect, but finally the start was just delayed by 30 minutes as the storm headed away. 2500 athletes sighed a sigh of relief.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Repu, Esther me dépose près du départ au moment où le ciel décide d'ouvrir - il faisait toujours nuit, tout avait un aspect un peu sinistre, et j'étais complètement trempé en arrivant au transition. Je laisse les bouteilles sur le vélo, mais je ne vérifie même pas les pneus (ils étaient pas au plat, donc ca me suffisait) tellement je tremblais avec le froid (étape du tour encore!). Sous la tente de la transition je mets la combinaison afin de me protéger du froid et de la pluie, et pars à pied vers le départ à 1500m, accompagné de Tony et de David du club.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">La pluie commençait à ralentir, mais les eclairs allumaient le ciel. Impressionnant. La mer était toujours bien chaude - 22-23°c - mais il y avait danger à cause de la tempête, et on nous demandait d'en sortir. Le départ dans l'eau était en question, mais l'annonceur nous informe, au bout de quelques minutes anxieux, que l'orage s'éloignait et que la natation aurait bien lieu, mais avec 30 minutes de retard. Soulagement massif des 2500 athlètes.</span><br />
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<b>The Swim</b><br />
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<i><span style="color: #ea9999;">this look says it all....la tête !!</span></i><br />
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I was anxious, as usual, but happy that the start was in waves rather than the notoriously spectacular mass start - spectacular for the spectators, a massacre for the swimmers, well, for the less strong swimmers like me. But as soon as i hit the water i felt fine. It was warm but quite choppy. I got to the first 200m marker quite quickly and with no problem. Turning left at the 800m buoy was ok too, only 3km to go.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Je m'inquiète toujours au départ dans l'eau, un peur inexplicable, </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">mais j'étais quand même heureux d'y être...et en plus soulagé que le départ était en vague de groupes d'age, et non pas en départ unique - ce qui est sans doute spectaculaire pour le public, mais reste un massacre pour les nageurs comme moi. Mais une fois lancé tout se passe bien - et je trouve le calme et contentement que je connais </span><span style="color: #666666;">- j'ai fait comme David m'a expliqué - au départ tu comptes jusqu'à 10 et puis tu y vas, ca donne le temps de trouver une place et un trajectoire parmi les 300 partants...ca a bien marché et j'arrive vite au premier buoy à 200m, avant de virer vers le droit et le deuxième. La mer était </span><span style="color: #666666;">assez agitée, mais les vagues n'étaient ni forte ni haute. Le deuxième et troisième buoy arrivent et 800m sont déjà parcouru - que 3000 à faire!</span><br />
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The long straight line along the coast - 2450m - was more difficult. The faster age groupers soon caught us and i got quite a few knocks. I moved to the left of the marker buoys to avoid being hit again. There were a few cold currents and a lot of debris - always the case after a storm - bits of wood, plastic. The med isn't the paradise it is made out to be. <br />
<span style="color: #666666;">La longue ligne droite longeant la cote - 2450m - était assez difficile...les nageurs plus rapide des groupes qui partaient après nous, les vieux, nous rattrapaient et j'ai pris pas mal de coups. Je me suis positionné sur la gauche des buoys, et là ca y était. Il y avait quelques courants froids et beaucoup de débris - comme toujours après une tempête - des bouts de bois, plastique. La mer de la med n'est pas le paradis qu'on peut croire!</span><br />
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In the summer i swam here on holiday and was stung by jelly fish quite a few times, maybe 6 - on the arms, legs, and face... sharp electric stinging shocks. Luckily, the medusas kept away today. Ironman events have the swim indicated every 500m, so i was happy to see where i was - 2000m, 2500... going well, not tiring, but drinking quite a bit of the sea with the waves, being bumped by other swimmers. The final buoy in sight - they look small, but are huge once you get close to them - again a lot of knocks here with the age groupers bunching to make the final 300m dash to the bike zone. I was relieved to feel the sand under my feet. I didn't feel tired and even ran up the beach, bu t it wasn't the most enjoyable swim i've done.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Cet été j'ai nagé ici et me faisait massacré par les méduses - au moins 6 fois j'ai pris des coups qui piquent comme un choc électrique. Heureusement il n'y en avait pas aujourd'hui. J'étais content de voir les distances indiqué sur les bouts tous les 500m...c'est un événement Ironman, donc mon premier, et ca fait un point positif au moins - 2000m, 2500m - si l'on trouve le moyen de calculer la quantité d'eau avalée.... j'aimerais bien le savoir! Le dernier buoy était devant - ils semblent tour petit mais une fois à coté, ils sont énorme. 3000..3400...3500 et le dernier virage vers la gauche et le sprint vers la plage. Beaucoup de nageurs ici, et donc des coups à nouveau - j'en ai donné aussi, j'étais bien présent et battant...mais c'est pas agréable. Donc j'étais bien content de me sentir le sable sous les pieds - pas fatigué, j'ai même couru en enlevant la combi - mais ce n'était pas la partie de la journée la plus agréable. </span><br />
1h14 - 3 mins quic...less slow (:0) ) than before...<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">3mins plus rap///moins lent qu'il y a deux ans...</span><br />
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<b>T1 </b>- still way too slow - getting dry to avoid the cold. problem with a broken shoe, forgetting the Garmin...gggrrr - will i ever learn? <br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Toujours trop lent, en me séchant pour éviter le froid, une chaussure cassée, mon garmin oublié...j'apprendrai un jour !</span> <br />
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<b>The Bike</b><br />
Looking forward to this. New wheels - Full carbon Aero 60 clinchers - fast and compact as they whizz round. This is a relatively flat and notoriously fast course and i was ready to go out and find my limit. I rode this in 6h 2 years ago with a damaged crankset and without pushing myself. I was quickly into my Aero position and simply got my head down and pedaled as fast as i felt possible - often at 38/39km/h, feeling comfortable and in good shape.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">J'ai hâte de faire ce parcours, connu d'être plat et rapid, avec mes nouvelles roues à la fois rapide et compacte....il y a deux ans je l'ai fait en 6h, avec un pédalier endommagé et sans me pousser. Je trouve rapidement une position aero, me baisse la tête et pédale aussi fort que je pensais possible sans aller dans le rouge. Souvent à 38-39km/h, confortable et bien.</span><br />
It's important to eat and drink - the plan: every hour a solid cereal bar, and a gel - carbs and salts - and energy drink and water at will, with a banana at the food station (for the taste as much as anything else) - and remain focused. The sun was out, but the road was strewn with debris and mud and huge puddles in places, and steam was rising as the rain evaporated. The number of cyclists bunched together was incredible - groups, defying the no-drafting rule, were flying on both sides of the road, making it impossible for the referees. I was careful overtaking and keeping my distance - i didn't want a penalty ruining my time today.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCHGTcSo4jfnKQ7t_DFOp4szL7J5Vkgo4KJLikTbr4DTxU6dzZdXPotaIR-ijqAEgJwhd4wb1RFZXdGiyChLmuYl5vp-NydWIzQhD_znzPSbshGJV7-SPEI4NP-VwuYEPWdSc40kllPY/s1600/Capture+d%E2%80%99e%CC%81cran+2014-10-23+a%CC%80+08.53.46.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCHGTcSo4jfnKQ7t_DFOp4szL7J5Vkgo4KJLikTbr4DTxU6dzZdXPotaIR-ijqAEgJwhd4wb1RFZXdGiyChLmuYl5vp-NydWIzQhD_znzPSbshGJV7-SPEI4NP-VwuYEPWdSc40kllPY/s1600/Capture+d%E2%80%99e%CC%81cran+2014-10-23+a%CC%80+08.53.46.png" height="320" width="247" /></a><span style="color: #666666;">L'importance d e manger et de boire sur le vélo est primordial: le plan - chaque heure un bar céréale (</span><span style="color: #666666;">des carbs),</span><span style="color: #666666;"> et un gel (sels et minéraux), et de l'eau et boisson énergétique....et une banane à chaque zone de ravitaillement ...juste pour le goût! Rester concentré aussi, très important. Le soleil est sorti et faisait monter de la fumée en séchant les flaques sur la route, qui est couvert de débris et de boue suite à l'orage. Le nombre de cyclistes était incroyable - des pelotons - malgré le règle no-drafting - étaient partout. C'était impossible pour les arbitres..je faisais attention à garder mon distance et en doublant - je ne voulais pas de pénalise aujourd'hui.</span><br />
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90km in and i'm starting to feel the effort. A group passes me - at least 50 riders. I'm at 32km/h with the slight headwind proving uncomfortable. I was digging in to find the effort, knowing this was just a normal phase. I took a gel and a banana. "Keep with us' a voice shouted. It was a Russian rider hanging onto the group. Without thought i caught him - curious to know the speed the group was at. An effortless 39-40km/h. I chatted a while - what about the no-drafting rule ? Everybody is riding in groups, he said. True - there were mini pelotons everywhere. A referee passed, whistling the riders a warning to separate - i dropped back, thinking how this was possible - it is cheating, and anti-triathlon. Earlier i'd chatted to an English rider who'd spoken to a referee about the danger of the groups - there were simply too many cyclists bunched together, and triathletes are notoriously bad peloton riders. I replied we should do away with TT bikes and just have everyone riding the course like in a sportif. At least the rules would be clear to everyone - but it wouldn't be a real triathlon, a non-assisted race involving 3 disciplines.<br />
But this is Ironman - increase the number of participants, and the entrance fee ! Simple economics !<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">À 90km je commence à me sentir fatigué. Un groupe me passe - une bonne 50aine de coureurs. Moi à 32km/h avec ce léger vent en face qui rend l'affaire peu confortable. J'ai pris un gel et une banane afin de nourrir mon effort pendant ce qui n'est qu'un passage momentané, je le sais. Une voix m'appelle - "reste avec nous"....sans penser je rattrape le groupe - curieux de savoir leur vitesse - 39km/h, sans effort! C'est un russe qui s'accroche derrière ce peloton. "Et le règle </span><span style="color: #666666;">no-drafting</span><span style="color: #666666;">?" je lui demande. "Tout le monde le fait," il me dit - ce qui n'était pas faux. À ce moment une arbitre nous passe, sifflant au groupe de se séparer. Je ralentis et reste derrière. Il y avait simplement trop de coureurs sur le parcours. Mais c'est la triche, pur et simple, et surtout anti-triathlon. J'avais déjà parlé avec un anglais que s'était plaint à un arbitre. Je lui ai dit qu'on devrait interdire les vélos CLM et laisser tous rouler comme dans un sportif - et là le règle est clair. Mais ainsi ce ne serait pas un triathlon - une course de trois disciplines non-assisté!! </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Mais là, c'est une épreuve Ironman, et on augmente le nombre de participants et les prix - la loi de l'économie est simple!</span><br />
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Riding in a group means you are assisted. I spent maybe 4 minutes with the Russian rider group and it was easy, and i had a good rest. It got me over the brief difficult phase - but it is too easy.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPECwpNG5BxIzKJpsxAL8xkUZ9jXVYPiIAiHeF4IwsVWxlwiUqExHZ7mzq33vPYftPuqFIJdPf2KD8_Y2A2be0R-S1KzQ-AQgG0L15HttpO18SiX39wdtuI5U24c8W6wFYMFOXyXbw7A/s1600/Capture+d%E2%80%99e%CC%81cran+2014-10-23+a%CC%80+08.54.06.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPECwpNG5BxIzKJpsxAL8xkUZ9jXVYPiIAiHeF4IwsVWxlwiUqExHZ7mzq33vPYftPuqFIJdPf2KD8_Y2A2be0R-S1KzQ-AQgG0L15HttpO18SiX39wdtuI5U24c8W6wFYMFOXyXbw7A/s1600/Capture+d%E2%80%99e%CC%81cran+2014-10-23+a%CC%80+08.54.06.png" height="182" width="320" /></a>So, tough luck for me when 30 km later , hanging maybe 8m behind a rider i'd caught, but decided not to overtake because it was time to eat, and taking a cereal bar, taking my eye off the road for a second, i hear a motorbike and catch a glimpse of a black card...penalty !!! The 'legal' limit is 10m between riders. As this happens a group whizzes past on the opposite side of the road. I indicate to the referee how ridiculous it is - she shrugs her shoulders and the motor bike speeds away. I refuse to let this get to me. I'm still going well. Final turn at 150km. The penalty box is in 15km, before the final turn back to Transition. I get my head down - i need to go as fast as i can to compensate the 6 minutes i was going to lose. I was calculating as i fly over the hills, onto the flat - into the 40km/h - i was still under 5h30 - what i was aiming at.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Courir en groupe est plus facile et j'ai passé 4 minutes avec ce groupe - je me suis reposé un peu et la phase difficile est passé. Donc, autant pour moi quand un arbitre me montre un carton 30km plus loin. J'étais peut-être 8m derrière un autre coureur, en train de manger un bar céréale, je ne regardais pas trop, je ne me concentrais pas...et ca se pardonne pas. L'ironie est qu'au moment où je vois le carton noir, un groupe de 30 nous passe sur l'autre coté de la route. Je le signale à l'arbitre qui hausse les épaules et s'en va...donc 6 minutes d'arrêt dans la zone de pénalité, à 15km de l'arrivée. J'étais pas content, mais je me disais - va à fond pour rattraper le tels perdu. J'étais quand même sous les 5h30 que j'ai visé au départ..donc ca va. </span><br />
I pulled up and gave my number to the referee - 123 - noted - 6 minutes to go. I ate a banana and she saw me with half sticking out of my mouth. "No eating," she said, but i had no option than to stuff the rest into my mouth, so i could speak to say, "ah! no se !!". Smiling at my attempted Catalan - "OK, she said, "Puedes...." Molt be - Gracias - Adeu...<br />
I pulled out and tried to speed up - it was difficult after this break, but only around 18km to go. I was now looking at a 5h15 time - plus the penalty. STOP thinking about the time and pedal - you still have a marathon to run !!! I'd forgotten about that - Transition arrived. I ran off the bike and into the tent.<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #666666;">Je m'arrête et donne mon numéro - le 123 - à l'arbitre. Je prends une banane - l'arbitre est là: "non, non, interdit de manger et boire." J'avais une moitié de la banane qui sortait de la bouche - je l'avale vite et je souris, "lo siento .." L'arbitre rigole. C'est bon - elle signale que je puisse partir...... Je pars et essaie de mettre le gaz..pas facile après l'arrêt. Il me reste 17km - je calcule le temps.... ARRÊTE de penser au chrono et pédale!!!! - il y a la petite question d'un marathon aussi...j'en avais oublié. </span><br />
5h15 + 6<br />
5h21<br />
Satisfied, but a hint of disappointment all the same. <span style="color: #666666;">Satisfaisant, mais un peu deçu de la pénaltie - j'aurais pu faire moins que 5h15.</span><br />
34,1km/h average speed<br />
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<b>T2</b> - shoes off, change of socks, jacket off, shoes on, 4 gels in my belt. ready - here we go. 2 minutes....<br />
<span style="color: #999999;">chaussures enlevées, changement de chaussettes, veste cycliste enlevé, baskets aux pieds, 4 gels dans la ceinture, prêt - on y va. 2 minutes....</span><br />
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<b>The run</b><br />
I hadn't run more than 20km in any one session in my two-months of running since August, but i knew i had the distance in my legs. At what speed i had no idea. I'd trained at 10km/h - often doing 15km-17km at 11km/h. I was confident, but i could feel my insides turning as i headed down the beach to the finish line and turn round point.<br />
Steady pace, breath deeply. Esther shouts me - i 'd only done 2km, so i was happy to see her - HOLAAAAA - quick bisou for the morale boost and i'm away.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Je n'ai pas couru plus de 20km à la fois pendant l'entrainement, mais je sais que j'ai le distance dans les jambes. À quelle vitesse, par contre, aucune idée. Je me suis habitué à courir à 10 à l'heure, plusieurs séances de 15-17km à 11 à l'heure. J'étais assez confiant donc, mais mon ventre commençait à tourner dès 1km au bout de la plage de Calella - ligne d'arrivée et le début d'un tour de 10km.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><i>41km to go...sourire :)</i></span><br />
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Drink zones - water, cola energy drink...two sips, rinse out with the water, i'm away. I repeat this every time. AT 5km my stomach is not right - toilet time - not easy with a tri suit - this is a first for me - but i feel better - lighter more than anything. Turn round - 7km - i hear the MSA triathletes as we pass on the loop - it's encouraging and gives me something to do as i search a green athlete - Allez - from time to time i receive a "vingaaaa martiiii" encouragement - i had a Catalan flag bandana for the sun, which was now shrouded behind the clouds, so it stayed around my wrist. Visca Catalunya...the locals shouted to me. The weather was perfect for running. Turn round - 11 down - Esther again - the time was passing quickly. Steady rhythm, but it was getting gradually more difficult. 17, 20, 21, half-way...Esther - "i'm heading to the finish line now'....so when i see her at 30km, i'm surprised, but happy - morale booster again just 10 to go - she told me later that i was looking as white as a ghost at 20km, she wasn't reassured - so stayed to<br />
make sure i was ok. Tough tough - but final loop -<br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><i> </i></span><i style="color: #444444;">Still 20km to do - getting tough !</i><br />
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31...should i walk ? NO !!! I walk through the drink zone - just to the tree ahead, start up again - it's hard to get the legs going. I plod on - keep running - pain is inevitable, suffering optional...not pain, discomfort, 2 more km gone. The beach area in Pineda is deserted.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Zones de ravitaillement - 2 gorgées de cola énergétique, de l'eau pour rincer, et je repars. À 5km mon estomac n'est pas bien..j'ai peur d'avoir des crampes, donc je fais une pause aux WC - ca marche. Pas facile avec un combo de tri, mais le résultat est efficace et ca va mieux, plus léger en tout cas! Point demi-tour à km7 - j'entend l'encouragement d'autres MSA - ca fait du bien - je retourne le message et ca fait passer le temps aussi. J'avais pris un bandana en forme du drapeau catalan pour me protéger du soleil, maintenant voilé par les nuages (parfait pour courir), donc il restait autour du poignet, il attirait l'attention des spectateurs qui me criait 'viiiinngggaaaaa.....martiiii'. Je lève la main, 'visca catluna!!!'. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VEwPvhUk_fshLKvU7_3kBssjnFh4yCbaBGtfMbi0BR18Cu2yvVrxfHikZxIcrAcwsDMNtHfZ1ySMrC_vX-PfmPSpseUqwOevihZo4099ivX9NoX3aN6BbcDNuG9I75T5Itl8GGPIEng/s1600/Capture+d%E2%80%99e%CC%81cran+2014-10-23+a%CC%80+08.52.47.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VEwPvhUk_fshLKvU7_3kBssjnFh4yCbaBGtfMbi0BR18Cu2yvVrxfHikZxIcrAcwsDMNtHfZ1ySMrC_vX-PfmPSpseUqwOevihZo4099ivX9NoX3aN6BbcDNuG9I75T5Itl8GGPIEng/s1600/Capture+d%E2%80%99e%CC%81cran+2014-10-23+a%CC%80+08.52.47.png" height="170" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #666666;">Mon rythme est lent mais régulier, et je me sens assez bien, si un peu fatigué. Les km passent assez vite...17, 20, 21 - la moitié te je revois Esther et sa mère - "viiiiinggggaaaa maaaarttiiiii" - elles repartent vers l'arrivée..."déjà?? je n'ai pas fini"....mais je la revois à 30km toujours là - elle me dira plus tard que j'avais le visage d'un fantôme, qu'elle n'était pas rassuré, et voulait me revoir encore...c'ets vrai, je lui dit à 30km que "c'est vraiment dur là"- encore 10km à faire. 31km - je marche? NON. Bon, je marche au zone du ravito. Je bois et je pars. Dur. 'la douleur est inévitable, la souffrance optionnelle'.... non, pas 'douleur' mais "l'inconfort", ca change tout!!! et je suis à 33km. La plage à Pineda est vide...étrange avec la nuit qui tombe.</span><br />
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<br />
The sea is calm, i can hear the waves breaking in the dark to my right. . It is an eerie feeling. Turn round - no cola - Final<br />
gel - red tonic - it takes 1 km to feel the effects - 36km - i'm home and dry. Well, almost. I'm still running and still passing runners - now walkers - some pass me - younger than me - chasing a qualifying time - qualifying for what ? Hawaii - i doubt it - anyway, i'm NEVER doing this again. It is too painful - the last time i will EVER run on this street in Pineda... never ever again will i pass under this train track, run up this steep incline....i like the beach here though, and passing the bike zone, Tony and David pass on their final loop out - Allez allez - only 2km to go for me. I'd run here in August in the heat and humidity - now it was easy - the final drink zone - 1500m to go - Tom from the club shouts encouragement - he finished 2 hours ago - incredible - i can hear the finish line announcer - turn round point, not for me - i head right, and onto the blue carpet and the ramp to the end - Esther is there, she is beaming and happy i'm still in one piece - but not as much as me !! The final 100m is a blue light zone, crowds shouting, and i hear the voice shout "You are an Ironman" - yes !! I raise my arms - satisfaction - the clock is well below the 11h 30 - the time i was hoping i'd beat...<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">La mer est calme vers le droit, mais on entend les vagues. Il n'y a pas de cola au dernier point de retour, pas grave - il me rest que 5 km..je cherche mon dernier gel. Red Tonic - c'est bon, frais - c'est pas normale que j'aime ca, mon 10ème de la journée....mais un km plus tard je ressens l'effet. Je continue à courir et de passer d'autres coureurs qui marchent! D'autres me passent - ils courent après un temps de qualification? Ils sont en train de s'encourager - une qualif pour quoi? Pour Hawaii?? - je le doute!! Aie c'est pas simple là - c'est la dernière fois que je cours sur cette rue à Pineda, que je passe cet arbre là, que je passe sous cet voie ferrée et monte cette côte là - c'est top dur. Profites-en Martin car tu ne feras plus jamais ca! Mais cette plage juste avant Calella, j'aime beaucoup, les palmiers sont beaux, le vent qui se lève, c'est sympa. Je vois Tony et puis David encore, qui partent pour leur dernier tour. Zone de transition. La fausse pelouse du stade de foot est douce sous le pied. Encore 2km - je suis là. J'ai couru ici au mois d'août - il a fait chaud et lourd, mais là c'est facile. Vas-y. J'entends la voix à l'arrivée. Je prend une gorgée d'eau - encore 1km. Tom du club m'encourage - il a fini il y a deux heures - trop fort. Je ne me retourne pas au bout de la plage. C'est la fin pour moi - la rampe bleue qui descend. Esther est là - "bravo mon ironman" je souris. L'arrivée est un arène baigné en lumière bleue - "You are an Ironman". Je lève les bras - soulagé et satisfait - la pendule indique un chrono bien en-dessous les 11h30 que j'ai visé.</span><br />
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Run Time 4h35 - nothing to write home about, but considering my training, i'm happy enough<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Marathon: 4h35 - rien de spectaculaire, mais avec le peu d'entrainement, ca passe.</span><br />
Final time :<br />
11h13 without the penalty<br />
11h19 with the penalty, so official.<br />
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Conclusion<br />
"i'll never do this again!!" - so how will you break below 4h30 on the run? I guess i'll just have to go again. When and where ? Not decided yet, i'm not convinced by the Ironman label that's for sure...Challenge was more, i'm not sure, smaller, yes, probably friendlier, less "in the face, loud" than Ironman. But it is the distance and the thrill of finishing...and you can't stop after two Ironman races - 3 is the minimum for this discipline, which i am getting to know better - and knowledge is the key !<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Je ne ferai plus jamais ca ! Donc comment vas tu passer en dessous les 4h30 à pied? Il faut encore un IM pour voir...Où et quand ? Je sais pas encore, mais il y aura un 3ème, le nombre minime à faire. Je ne suis pas convaincu par l'orga IM - Challenge est plus petit, cette, plus amical peut-être, moins "criard" peut-être, mais la sensation à l'arrivée, c'est introuvable ailleurs... et je commence à le connaitre le distance, et la clé c'est la connaissance!</span><br />
I met and chatted to so many people in Calella - Irish, German, English, French, Danish, Spanish, Catalan, New Zealanders, Australian, American, Canadian.... a world united by triathlon, all running against themselves and their own personal clocks. Is that why i do this? Maybe, but it's probably more that the effort - both physical and mental - the adrenalin rush, the search for motivation when it is hard, and it does get hard, the sense of achievement at the finish..., really make me feel alive....and that is reason enough to continue !<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">J'ai rencontré tellement de gens différent, de partout dans le monde à Calella, un monde uni dans le triathlon - tous qui courent contre eux-même, contre leur chrono. C'est pour cà que je suis là - à y participer. L'effort physique et mentale est tellement exaltant, ca donne une sens de la vie, d'être en vie...et c'est pour ca que je le fais.</span><br />
Next up ? <span style="color: #666666;">Prochainement: </span><br />
La Marmotte sportif<br />
Le LD Triathlon Alpe d'Huez<br />
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<i><span style="color: #444444;"> ....and after the race.....la recompense</span></i><br />
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<br />martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-74556028299210688822014-10-17T07:44:00.003-07:002015-01-21T22:37:31.277-08:00L'étape du tour 2014 - Pau-Hautacam <span style="color: #999999;"><i>just found this in the 'draft box' - should have been published months ago...the étape was on July 20th 2014.</i></span><br />
<br />
I recently read an article describing the Étape du Tour as an opportunity for cyclists to emulate the pros, which reminded me of another journalist who ridiculed the amateurs for wanting to emulate dope-driven, juiced-to-the-gills pro riders.<br />
<br />
So i asked myself - why are you driving 900km on Friday, to spend Satrurday stressing about the mammoth 148km ride up the Tourmalet (17+km at 7.1% average) and Hautacam (13+km at 7.8% average) on Sunday, and in the rain to top it all ? Well the answer couldn't be further from the journalists' claims about 'dreaming of being a pro' ! No i just wanted to ride in a beautiful place, on closed roads, with other cyclist nuts, over a tough, testing route.<br />
<br />
Question of the day on Saturday - how much will it rain tomorrow ? The forecast was not good - it was warm and heavy all day and when the alarm sounded at 5 in the morning it was dark, but no rain... and even on the start line at 7.30 the sun was threatening to burst out from the grey clouds...but still, the question everyone was asking was "when will the clouds burst?"<br />
I set off at 7h50, with number 6051. This meant i had over 6000 riders in front of me (and another 5 behind). It was a quick opening 50km - i skipped from group to group like a pebble skimming across the water... passing a lot of riders, latching on to a new group, passing, doing my bit on the front - you know because with a quick glance behind, a line has formed on your back wheel....it's exhilarating because you cannot break your speed.<br />
The groups were quiet and concentrated all the way up to the foot of the Tourmalet - the monster of the Pyrenées. I had been extremely anxious about this for some reason, not helped by Jon who said he had driven up it on Saturday and said "It is a real beast of a climb...really really steep in places, dangerously so..." . Not the confidence booster i'd been looking for. As we entered the feed zone at Saint Marie de Campan I ungraciously stuffed a banana in my mouth and looked up at the sky - it was now very dark, and the rain was beginning to fall... i quickly got my rain coat on (didn't want to get my Rapha top wet now, did I ?) and set off ready for a long uncomfortable slog<br />
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So here we were - St Marie de Campan - the foot of the Tourmalet. It was not cold here, but the rain was starting to really fall. The black clouds in the distance meant there was nothing to see - even the hills to the left had become shrouded and veiled by the dark mist. Only one thing to do - pedal. The gradients weren't too hard here....but the ramp started to stiffen and the Garmin was reading 9 and 10%.<br />
With the compact FSA crankset (50-34) and the SRAM Force 12-28 cassette behind, i felt well-equipped with a steady circular foot movement i continued to pass many riders.<br />
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<i> cold and wet on the tourmalet</i><br />
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The first tunnel appeared, and the gradient was steep. A few riders stopped to shelter a while, but as yet nobody was walking. Occasionally a higher numbered cyclist passed on the left...with a strong purposeful pedalstroke. I breathed regularly and continued on the trek. I ate every hour - Isostar cereal bar, Isostar fruit bar...i had studied the advice on GCN - eating solids was important before, and on the Tourmalet, after there was not much use as it wouldn't be digested. La Mongie was approaching at 2km, which meant a feed zone. The air was thinner already and the breath was visible as the temperature began to drop. The rain was lighter and so i stopped and removed my jacket. I wanted to have the benefit on the descent. Was i thinking clearly ? I thought so. No time to waste at La Mongie - i didn't need anything anyway. There was another feedzone at the bottom of the Tourmalet - so if i did feel peckish i'd get something there. People were out in force here, singing and cheering us on... 2 km more to the summit. The Garmin had stayed around the 8 and 9% it seemed for the past 4 kms but i was feeling strong.<br />
<br />
Finally the summit - but there was nothing to see - the mist had gathered and the rain was starting again. I passed the Col sign, and the legendary cyclist statue - and stopped - time to dress for the 35km descent. Mike, my brother, had kept his Zipp 808s for this part - he'd spoken about the long winding, fast road, and was dying to ride fast, but i could feel the wind and cold already - so had it been a wise idea ? I knew he'd probably be at the bottom already, if not on the Hautacam at the end of the valley road, so i was curious to know how he'd done. I took off the helmet, put on a muffler, a hat, arm warmers, and raincoat and luckily the gloves i'd stuffed in my jacket as i left the hotel. I was ready. 3°c at the summit. It was going to be a long, cold descent, i knew it. Gendarmes were stationed at the first hairpins and with flapping arms warning riders to slow down, to be sensible....but once these first dangerous bends were out of the way it was a long winding way down, almost straight.... the rain was doing its best to slow us down - each drop like a dart on the face. I was cold already and could not feel my hands; my shoulders were also seizing up. I shook my arms back to life. It was dramatic. I was literally freezing - my legs had gone numb, and my feet had all but disappeared. This was crazy. What was i doing here ? It wasn't the ascension that had killed me but the descent. Get to the Hautacam in one piece and you can warm up there, i thought... i was actually riding quicker so i could get to do one of the toughest climbs in the region ! Was i mad ? I hit 63km/h on the descent....but with my hands constantly tweeking the brakes, and becoming numb as i did so. I knew that if i slipped and fell i would not be able to get back on the bike. I saw myself lying in a ditch and drowning, as cyclists whizzed by !<br />
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The road began to flatten - we arrived at the water stop. I checked my bottles - empty. I turned back and held out my bottle to one of the girls serving. She laughed as i could not stop my arm from shaking - and i had to place it on the table. It was funny but i couldn't even feel my face as i laughed. This was madness - did the pros suffer like this? I don't think so - they'd have the best gear - unlike my flimsy jacket with tears in the arm (tears as in rips, not 'tears' - they were running down my face!! ha ha) I started to shake uncontrollably....but i managed to take a sachet of energy drink from my back pocket - Isoxan which has a nice taste and passes easily for me. With a couple of gels - overstim's Red Tonic in my pocket i had all i needed to get me going again. The temperature was warmer here and you could feel the heat from the road. The rain continued to pour but as i shook myself back to life i knew i was riding an epic ride. The next 20km or so were fast as groups began to form again. I was with a group going at 45km/h through the torrents sweeping over the road and over bridges of the valley, we were almost at the same speed as the river running by us.<br />
<br />
Suddenly though the rain eased and the clouds turned white, there was even a bit of blue in the sky. The garmin read 129km distance ridden. In two km the foot of the Hautacam. We arrived quickly. The crowds were dense here. I stopped and undressed and to the amusement of a crowd of spectators i wrung out my gloves - it was like turning on a tap as the rain water flowed out... i smiled and quipped how there'd been a light shower on the Tourmalet. Here the crowd was dressed for summer, tee-shirts, shorts. It was very warm now. I checked my bottle - ok for the final 17km ascension - so i didn't waste anytime at the water/feed station. <br />
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<i>warmer on the Hautacam</i><br />
The crowds at the foot were swarming on both sides of the road and formed a tunnel - they were cheering and shouting - "Allez, Rapha, Allez," (I was wearing the top and the shorts, so I smiled, this is what you see on the Tour - it was very uplifting. Ah!! It would be nice to be a pro sponsored by Rapha, i thought - so it was nice to feel like a pro for a while....i took this thought to the end of the village. and the road began to lift.<br />
The Hautacam was a strange climb - many tough ramps at 8-9-10-11% punctuated by easier 6 and 7%s and even a couple of flat sections. Nothing as relentless as the Semnoz of 2013 - and as i had survived that, and the Tourmalet, and the torrents, and cold, i felt confident. I carried on pedalling and passing riders as i had on the Tourmalet - taking care not to cross onto the opposite side of the road where the finishers were descending, chatting and happy....i was glancing at their numbers - they were all high and none were in the 5 or 6 thousand - so i was going well.<br />
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<i> up the Hautacam - i'm in the Rapha shirt on the right</i><br />
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<i> looking a bit fitter than one year ago on the semnoz</i><br />
Signs on the climb indicate the number of km to the summit and the average gradient of the next km. With 9 to go i heard my name shouted - "go on Martin"... it was Mike coming down. Too quick for me to reply, but as i tried to calculate the time difference, i was at 8km to the summit. I knew there was a really tough 2 or 3km section coming - and i kept my eye out for the average gradients -- 9.5%;10%; 9% -- then 7% - relief...only 7%, i'd been expecting higher. The race was almost done. The sun was disappearing as we climbed, behind grey clouds. Rain again. The air was thinner and my breath was now visible as i blew. The summit was above, final 2km, the road surface was new....a few drops began to fall - the red flame - can i get there before the deluge. Flattening out i put my head down and pushed again - final effort. Finish. The rain starts to really fall. Coat on, wet already, turn round and head down. The cold of the Tourmalet returns. What a feeling to get to the Village at the foot of the climb. Hot coffee, pasta, change of clothes in the bag i'd left - that was the best move i made all day - dry socks !!!!<br />
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6h55<br />
263/1210 age category<br />
2104/8558 finishers<br />
Over 10000 started<br />
less than an hour behind mike, and only 10 minutes behind Jon (6h45)<br />
Our Mike - 6h00 - the Zipps couldn't fly in the rain ! pity.<br />
when you consider that when i finished the Étape two years ago they had already waded through wo pizzas and god knows how many beers, by the time i arrived !<br />
Conclusion - much better - improvement all round<br />
The Boardman Air 9.8, the Rapha kit, and the training all help :)<br />
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<br />martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-54726238455805679392014-03-22T09:57:00.002-07:002014-03-22T10:10:12.144-07:00Spring is in the air...Springtime just seems to have been delivered, one morning, out of nowhere - warm air, flowers, singing birds. Winter didn't really seem to happen this year. The cold and snow of 2012 have not returned. Being injured during the darker months of December and January has also meant i didn't get to do many night forest runs with the headlight on - something i relish - so i suppose that explains it all. Still, it's not a bad thing to take an afternoon off work and ride a new bike in the warm sunshine and 17°c in March !<br />
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My achilles problem which has plagued me since the end of October 2013 has finally subsided, leaving me free to run without pain or problem. I finally got to put my runners on by March 5, which is almost 3 months without wear.<br />
<br />
So what have i been doing ? Well, i have managed to keep busy at the pool and swim at least twice a week, and also get a good few kms either on the Turbo trainer, or outside. PLus i now have the new Boardman 9.8 to ride around on. The dact that i it built myself simply adds extra pleasure to the ride. Well now not only do i have myself to blame if something mechanical goes wrong, but at least i can fix it myself!!<br />
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The frame is light, stiff, comfortable and very fast....even without the final luxury of new wheels (i am waitiing for the bank account to fill up again before a new set of zipp 404s can be bought). But for now i don't regret the time and effort of bargain hunting and haggling on troc-velo.com.<br />
The Boardman has a SRAM red gear set up, with brand new SRAM force brakes, DEDA Presa bars, and a FSA Carbon slk light compact crank set. The SRAM Red is quick, smooth, light and very comfortable to use - especially after many years with a 2008 Ultegra/105 mix - I would never have thought that the difference could be so great...<br />
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The only problem now is that Boardman framesets are going to get better, which is very very tempting - seeing the Brownlees win the Abu Dhabi Tri on the new AIr 9.8 TT doesn't help !<br />
But for now i'm just enjoying every second i get out on the road - either riding or running.<br />
It's going to be an enjoyable season... well, if i can stay injury-free ! <br />
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<br />martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-89212014881261978642013-12-15T02:20:00.001-08:002013-12-16T00:01:46.083-08:00Girls v BoysEsther was redecorating the walls at home, unbeknown to me, and so i came back to find this typically estheresque expression on the stairs :<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Esther a refait les murs à la casa, à mon insu, et donc je rentre la semaine dernière et je trouve ce joli mot, tout expressif, et typiquement 'esther' :</span><br />
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Esther then came back a little later to find :<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Et puis un peu plus tard, Esther revient et elle trouve :</span><br />
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I am laughing a bit less now though - i saw a sports doctor on Friday 13th Dec who ordered me to rest for a month : a tendon problem in my right shoulder, and my left achilles and a tightening right calf muscle = what he calls 'over-reaching', going too far and not resting and recovering in between training sessions and competitions. When he saw my face drop he said, "you can pedal, a bit, but on your own, not in a group, i know triathletes, always competing with each other, and only in the small crank; or on the Turbo trainer, just to turn the legs." So it's not quite the end of the world but there'll be no KOMs on Strava for a while for me, but at least i have a valid reason now.<br />
As i put my feet up and rest i never realised how long a Saturday could be - as i'm normally swimming in the morning and cycling in the afternoon...;and today is Sunday ! How long is today going to last ???? Who said Friday 13th was lucky ?<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Je rigole un peu moins aujourd'hui néanmoins, car un médecin de sport m'a mis au repos complet pendant un mois - et oui, je l'ai vu le vendredi 13 !! J'ai un tendinite à l'épaule droit, au tendon d'achille gauche, et un mollet droit qui serre....je suis un exemple classique de 'surentrainement' - je ne laisse pas assez de temps de récupération entre les entrainements et compétitions. Lorque le médecin a vu le changement sur e visage il m'a dit- 'ok tu peux pédaler un peu, mais seul, et sans forcer, et surtout pas en groupe de triathlète car vous êtes tous toujours en compétition; ou bien sur le Home Trainer, en douceur, histoire de faire tourner les jambes." Donc pas de KOMs sur starva pour l'instant pour moi - je me repose; mais qu'est-ce que c'est long un samedi sans piscine et vélo !! Aujourd'hui, on est dimanche, qu'est-ce que ca traine !!! et qui a dit que le vendredi 13 est un jour de chance ?</span>martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-12688610293016992402013-11-27T06:47:00.004-08:002013-11-29T02:15:53.847-08:00End of one season...start of a new // La saison est morte, vive la saison !<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b>Complete or Compete ? That is a question... </b></u></div>
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As 2013 comes to an end with its all too common wave of cold wintery weather, my mind is already turning towards the warmer spring days 6 months hence .<br />
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Having said that i really wanted to reflect briefly on the end of this mixed bag of a year. <br />
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After the étape in July i'd planned to do the Ironman/XXL Barcelona Challenge again - but it was not to be. Persistently niggling calf injuries kept me from running throughout the summer, meaning i had little training, if any at all, on my feet. I even pulled out of a 10km in Malgrat de Mar, Spain in August, knowing that i wouldn't be able to compete in the state it was in. So the thought of a marathon after a 180km bike-ride wasn't as tempting as it could be.<br />
"Compete" was a big word this year. I wanted to <i>compete</i> in rather than just <i>complete</i> any race i was in.One such was my very first cyclo-sportif : the Ronde Picardie, Senior event (132km), September 14, which really was something else compared to any run or triathlon. I'd trained well over the summer on the bike and was ready to have a go. It rained all Friday and the Saturday morning as i drove the 90km to Abbeville, but come the start at 8am, the rain had stopped, leaving a very deep-grey sky, more reminsicent of my Manchester home town.. Victorian-lead colour springs to mind. Anyway, I managed to latch on to a fairly fast group, which included Jimmy Casper, a recently retired pro rider, and finished the course in 4h04, 123rd overall (of 560 finishers), 20th in my category age (of 134 finishers) - 8 places and 45 secs behind Jimmy, who was probably just out to stretch his legs !<br />
Even more impressive for me, my brother Mike, who'd made a cross-channel jaunt, and his Pinarello Prince were only 2 places and 18 seconds in front... mind you, he had lost a lot of time with a puncture and ridden most of the course on his own....still, the result is there. Same with Jon - a flat had also pegged him back to just two places (my age category)and 3 minutes in front; Phil's race ended with two flats - a long way to come for that - but 'c'est la vie'... and although i was still a good 35 mins back behind the winner, i was more than satisfied with my effort.<br />
A great rolling, albeit very windy course, made for very interesting riding. It was a fantastic experience and brought that question back to mind - why hadn't i discovered cycling before now ? - 30 years ago, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz6YMrJt7xk" target="_blank">i could have been a contender </a>:)<br />
Here's the Strava info : <a href="http://www.strava.com/activities/82363204" target="_blank">La ROnde Picardie 2013 </a><br />
Never mind, i still got a Gold category medal - bigger than my front wheel....well almost.<br />
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<i>La Ronde Picardie v L'Étape du Tour 2013 - biggest medal i've won</i></div>
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With the decision to not compete in Barcelona i was somewhat at a loss come October. So, as two years ago, i registered for the local Bois Guillaume semi-marathon. Two years ago i ran this a)because it was the French championship event b)i had been forced to pull out of the Barcelona Olympic Distance triathlon. That day I ran round the course in 1h41. In1999 i had run the same in 1h30. <br />
This time i really wanted to run, and really try and make an effort but not having any real time objective other than as well as i could do. Kick-off was 14h30, and the rain and wind were at the meeting. It was cold too...hailstone began to fall as i made my way to the start. I found myself in a small group of my age-group runners, as well as some who were quite a bit younger. It was very windy as we made our way into the forest area, and again up-hill into the commercial zone. It was a nice pace and probably around the 1h35. I was quite surprised as we passed the half way point (start line) in exactly 46 minutes. The group stuck together until km16 when i passed in front, alone, feeling we were slowing slightly. I paid the price though as a strong headwind was blowing from km18-19,5 and i was without any shelter. This meant i had little left coming to the final km false-flat (1%) run-in. I finished in 1h33m08secs. I felt i'd given it a go. So i was happy enough :117th (of 735 finishers); 6th (of around 130) in my age category. I was close enough to my time of 14 years ago to keep me happy - plus the split time was 46mins-47mins, again indicating a steady pace. The effort demanded though was much higher than the past - so i conclude that age does take its toll, and the achilles tendon trouble i've had since this race only proves the point further. So rest for me for a few weeks... he says. yeah !<br />
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<i>rolling along </i></div>
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So i turn to 2014. Already penned into the diary are the Étape du Tour, July 20th (Pau-Hautacam via the legendary Tourmalet) and Challenge Barcelona XXL Ironman on October 5th. So it looks like it'll be a competitive 2014.<br />
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<br />martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-30505094988054553122013-07-17T02:59:00.000-07:002018-11-02T12:12:12.674-07:00L'Étape du Tour 2013 Annecy-Annecy-Semnoz Yes, always one for going a bit further, I came back for more after last years gruelling slog over the Madeleine, Glandon and La Toussuire. L'étape du Tour for worldwide cyclist-lovers was to begin on July 7 2013 in the fantastic town of Annecy which sits paisibly at the top of the Lac d'Annecy. It is an absolutely stunning, postcard scene for what is to be the penultimate stage of the real TDF 2013.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Toujours prêt de me pousser un peu plus loin, je suis revenu faire une étape du tour de France après l'édition suicidaire 2012 sur les cols de la madeleine, Glandon et La Toussuire. L'édition 2013 pour les amateurs internationaux de vélo partait de la ville pittoresque d'Annecy, paisiblement situé sur le nord du lac, le 7 juillet. Le vrai Tour prendra le même parcours le 20 juillet, l'avant-dernier étape.</span><br />
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<i>hotel on the lake - 19° swim to begin the day :)</i></div>
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In the 2012 étape we cycled over 150 km over some of France's legendary cols, and so the announced 128km for 2013 edition seemed like a picnic in comparison. What was i thinking ? Granted, there wasn't as much climbing - only (<i>only!</i>) 3600m - compared to the 5000+ in 2012 - but the final ascent of the Semnoz (10.5km at 8.7%, with long passages at 12, 11, 10%) was nothing to be sniffed at - as i was to find out.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">L'étape l'an dernier était 152km, et donc quand on a révélé le parcours choisi pour cette année - 128km - on faisait le commentaire que ce serait un pique-nique par comparaison. Quelle blague ! D'accord, il n'y aura que 3600m de montée à faire (comparé aux 5000m+ en 2012), mais la montée finale du Semnoz serait plutôt un voyage au bout de l'enfer.</span><br />
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<i>the route</i></div>
The summer had finally arrived in France on the Friday 5 July, when i took a TGV eastwards from Paris. Sunday was no exception to the soaring temperatures and endless blue skies.<br />
The first wave set off at 7.00 and my wave at 7h45, the last at 8h30 - 11,500 of the 13,500 registered had turned up.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">L'été était finalement arrivé en France le vendredi 5 juillet, le jour de mon départ de Paris en train vers l'est. Dimanche se présentait sous les mêmes cieux bleus et températures élevés. Les premeirs coureurs partait à 7h, et mon sas (numeros 4000-5999) à 7h45. - on était en tout 11,500 (sur 13500 inscrits).</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCn-xpTbRloJwlmXt0A7SY37P_8mGypD5B1i5kpCnSNo5ZfTp5HY28y2e4uDmmYCbvfjSFGUadui2NmBzd9ftLZ1GNkrG1xoR1QzUhn5q5abN_7LC_sAAWiVw6D7pufiUUpSMSQ2M4AA/s1600/Capture+d%25E2%2580%2599e%25CC%2581cran+2013-07-15+a%25CC%2580+10.04.14.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCn-xpTbRloJwlmXt0A7SY37P_8mGypD5B1i5kpCnSNo5ZfTp5HY28y2e4uDmmYCbvfjSFGUadui2NmBzd9ftLZ1GNkrG1xoR1QzUhn5q5abN_7LC_sAAWiVw6D7pufiUUpSMSQ2M4AA/s320/Capture+d%25E2%2580%2599e%25CC%2581cran+2013-07-15+a%25CC%2580+10.04.14.png" width="320" /></a>The start was a nice easy first 20km, and effortless climb to the cols du Puget et de Leschaux.... and the nice rolling countryside was really enjoyable. The long descent and rolling climb to the des Prés went by quickly and without incident - everyone relaxed and going at a reasonable speed for me. The fast descent to the foot of the Revard was a different story - i passed quite a few accidents, one in particular looked nasty with one rider immobile in a pool of blood, surrounded by security and medics (checking the admin later i was relieved that there were no fatalities) - this is the other side of cycling, the danger when the slightest error on a hairpin descent can be fatal - a tyre blowout, a small rock, gravel, another faller.... anything unforeseen. SO arriving at the half way point the riders were all a bit more cautious and solemn - the fatigue beginning to set in and the sight of blood ! Jon, who'd come along with my brother, Mike, had a blow out and was forced to abandon as the tyre was split...he was not happy at this, but puts it down to bad luck and a philosophical "well, it happens".<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Le début de la course était assez simple et avec des montées régulières (cols du Puget et de Leschaux)..et avec un paysage très agréable. La longue descente et montée roulante vers le col des Près passait assez rapidement et sans incident - tout le mode détendu et roulant bien. La descente vers le Révard était une autre histoire, avec les premiers virages en épingle à cheveux - j'ai passé à coté des plusieurs accidents, dont un assez grave - le cycliste allongé immobile par terre entouré du sang, un soigneur appelant les secours à la radio - il avait l'air grave, mais je suis rassuré de savoir que la course s'est terminé sans fatalité...j'avais bien peur ! Ceci révèle l'autre face du cyclisme - le danger - la sensation de la vitesse en descente mais il suffit de quelques graviers, une pierre, une crevaison, au mauvais moment, et c'est la fin. Donc, j'approchais le mi-point de la course, prudent et un peu inquiet pour ce cycliste. Jon, qui est venu avec mon frère, s'est trouvé avec un pneu éclaté sur la descente du Revard, et a été obligé d'abandonner - "ca arrive", il disait. Il vaut mieux être philosophe lorsqu'on est cycliste !</span><br />
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Putting that aside, the climb to the top of the Revard was slow but steady - some steep gradients, but nothing insurmountable. Although the sun was beginning to beat down, the forest-lined route gave some shelter. The roads were quite full here which allowed for a bit of cyclist banter and chit chat which helped pass the time and take the mind off the effort. The descent from the top of the Revard was spectacular and very quick - i was cautious but managed to not overuse the brakes - i really enjoyed leaning into the bends and letting the wheels roll round...brilliant.<br />
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<i>hairpins</i></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">C</span><span style="color: #666666;">eci dit, la montée du Col de Revard était lent mais sans difficulté, il n'y avait que le soleil et la chaleur qui pesait mais les arbres au bord de route nous protégeaient bien pendant des longues périodes. Le fait que ca montait voulait dire qu'on se trouvait très nombreux sur la route, ce qui permettait beaucoup d'échanges et de discussion...plutôt sympa quand il y avait des nationalités de partout :) La descente était très très vite te spectaculaire, une route large et lisse, me permettant de bien avancer - et même avec une priorité sur la prudence, je suis resté économique avec les freins.</span><br />
My brother, Mike, who had set off with the first wave, wearing the 276 number, told me to make sure i was in a group from Montcel to the foot of the Semnoz - and avoid finding myself alone because it would be quite windy. He was dead right. With this in mind i fought my way on to the back of a group before looking round to see an empty road - lucky me - i hung on and soon felt the advantage of the peloton effect.... which meant i felt fine as we rolled through the town of Gruffy and over the bridge to the foot of the Semnoz.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Mon frère, Mike, qui est parti à 7h portant le dossard n° 276 m'avait conseillé de rester en groupe de Montcel au pied du Semnoz, et d'éviter à tout prix d'être seul car il y aura du vent...il avait raison. Je suis resté avec un groupe d'une vingtaine de coureurs et heureusement car en me retournant, je constate que si je ralentis, je suis seul..l'effet du peloton est vraiment sympa car on économise énormément...et arrivant au village de Gruffy je me sentais prêt à affronter le Semnoz.</span><br />
This was important - the course really started here. I knew the Semnoz was going to be tough - it's only 11km, but with an average gradient of 8.7% - this means that every flat, easy bit would be paid for with an equally hard section. There are no hairpins like on the Alpe d'Huez, which give a regular breathing space and a chance to recover and relaunch, the road simply winds straight up - 8%, 9%, 12%, 14%, 10%.... relentless, with the sun beating down.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Ceci était très important car c'était à partir d'ici que la course commençait pour du vrai - être fatigué là, il n'y avait pas d'espoir...même si le Semnoz ne fait que 11 km, la pente moyenne est de 8.7%.....ce qui veut dire que pour chaque partie à 5%, il y a la même à 12-13%....et c'est là que ça fait mal, et sans les épingles à cheveux, comme sur l'alpe d'huez, ce qui te permet à respirer quelques secondes avant de te relancer..ici c'est sans arrêt et sans pitié, et en plein soleil.</span><br />
The side of the road was littered with people standing resting, heads down wondering why they were here, very probably, others were lying exhausted - one covered with a silver security cover and an ambulance nearby. It was like a funeral procession going up - sharply contrasted with the finishers coming down whizzing by towards Annecy, smiling and happy to have survived. Stories filtered after the race - one person had fallen, cleated into the pedals and when asked if he needed help quipped, "no, leave me to die!". I laugh now, but i was digging deeper than ever before - 5 km to the top, 11% reading on the Garmin, and the gradient wasn't flattening out - I was counting down the 100m passed, rather than the kilometers... ironman was tough, but nowhere near the sheer physical effort required by this climb.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Les 2 premiers km sont à 12%, et le bord de route était déjà plein de cyclistes en marchant, ou assis, même allongé et épuisé - un enveloppé avec une couverture de survie..ça rassemblait à une procession funéraire - silencieux et solennelle, ce qui était en fort contraste avec la descente des "finishers", en vitesse et en sourire, vers Annecy. Il y a eu des histoires qui circulaient après la course : de celui qui est tombé, toujours accroché au vélo, et à qui on a demandé, "tu as besoin de l'aide?" et qui a répondu, "non, laisse moi mourir là" me faisait rire après...mais là sur la côte, décomptant plutôt les mètres que les kilomètres , sur mon Garmin, j'aurai pu le comprendre ! L'effort que j'ai fourni pour terminer le distance Ironman </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">n'a rien à voir !</span><br />
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<i>alléééééé martaing !! c dur l'arrivée !!!</i><br />
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<i>dur la fin</i></div>
Finally the 1km red flame appeared, and passing under i actually wondered whether i could make it to the end..... i resisted, resisted hard, to not stop - but 500m from the finish i just had to put my foot on the floor and breathe hard - just for 15 seconds. Others were walking passed me towards the end - so i pushed myself up once more and let the momentum carry me to the finish line. What a course - i needed to sit, to eat, to drink, to die !!! What really struck me at the summit was the lack of smiles - nobody seemed happy to have finished - it was more relief than anything, a die-hard attitude of survival.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Enfin la flamme rouge et le dernier km, mais en passant en-dessous, j eme demandais si je pouvais vraiment arriver au bout...j'ai poussé et j'ai résisté, mais 500m plus loin j'ai été obligé de poser mon pied par terre, et de respirer pendant 15 seconds...15 longs seconds...avant de me remonter et de me repousser à la ligne d'arrivée...j'avais besoin de m'allonger, de boire, de dormir, de manger....ce qui m'a frappé aussi était l'absence de bonheur - personne ne souriait - je pense que tout le monde était épuisé, comme moi et l'effort d'une sourire était vraiment trop.</span><br />
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<i>je veux de l'oxygène !!!</i></div>
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Several drinks and energy bars, bananas, salty biscuits later i looked up to see an older man, 60+ leaning on the cross bar of his bike immobile. "Are you ok?" i asked. He moved his head and smiled before dropping the head back again - immobile once more. An Irish rider next to me asked whether a certain "steed" was mine, nodding to a bike against a fence nearby - "no," i said, "but it's a nice bike so i wouldn't mind if it was mine.... "yes," he said, "so nice it'll have ridden itself up." Only the Irish could have come up with that quip :)))<br />
Ha ha - i wish my bike had done that !!!!<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Plusieurs verres de coca, d'eau, des gâteaux salés plus tard je me suis levé la tête pour voir un vieux homme (60-65 + ans), la tête immobile, reposant sur le bras, qui tenait le cadre de son vélo. "Ca va," je demandais. Il m'a regardé et il a souri, et puis a laissé sa tête retomber sur son bras....immobile à nouveau.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Un jeune irlandais assis à côté de moi m'a demandé si un certain "cheval" m'appartenait, indiquant un vélo à côté d'une barrière..."non, " je lui ai répondu, mais c'est un beau vélo..."; "oui, il dit, tellement beau qu'il serait monté le col tout seul".... et comment j'ai rit !!!! Il n'y a qu'un irlandais qui pourrait dire çà... :))</span><br />
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I'll be back next year for more, having sworn that all endurance sport was over for me, that i was selling the bike and taking up chess - but that was on the final KM of the Semnoz, a monster of a climb.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">je reviendrai l'année prochaine, malgré le fait que j'allais abandonner toute épreuve d'endurance, vendre mon vélo et commencer à jouer aux échecs ! - mais ca c'était sur le Semnoz !!</span><br />
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Some numbers <span style="color: #666666;">Quelques chiffres</span> :<br />
13500 registered<br />
11465 starters<br />
10623 finishers<br />
My time : 6h52 :<br />
4800 Gen. Class.<br />
1053/2432 category<br />
My brother, Mike<br />
5h07<br />
410 Gen Class<br />
130 category<br />
way faster than me, but his bike rides itself up, being a Pinerello Prince :)<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Mon frère est beaucoup plus rapide que moi, mais lui il a un vélo, un Pinerello Prince, qui monte tout seul !</span><br />
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martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-76668448267634099202013-05-26T22:00:00.000-07:002013-07-17T02:26:48.920-07:00too long in France - trop de temps en FranceThe weather has been so mixed this past week that i don't know if i'm coming or going, if it's spring or winter, autumn or summer.... it hasn't stopped my training as the record shows (right), but it has made me turn into a French person. How ?<br />
To put things into context - May is not a month in France, it is an extended holiday. May1, May 8, May 9, May 20 are all Bank Holidays.. but more interestingly, when these days fall on a Tuesday, the preceding Monday becomes the bridge - so a long weekend; if it falls on a Thursday, it's the friday that is bridged to the weekend, and every so often it's on a Wednesday, like May 8 - and because the Thursday is also a holiday, the Friday is also a holiday = a two day work week, which means lots of running, cycling and swimming !! yeaaaah<br />
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So yesterday, May 9th, i went for an early morning run in the warm sunshine, and although the air was a bit chilly, it was a lovely spring day. Ideal. I stopped and took a panoramic photo aiming to capture my happiness...i felt so good that i ran the near 20km hilly course, which i normally run in around 1h45-1h50, in 1h36m24secs.<br />
It was never going to last though, was it - this is Normandy after all.<br />
Today, May 10th, i'd planned a long ride on the bike but on waking at 7h10, was unhappy to see the grey sky, the rain, and worst of all, the swaying trees , which meant wind ! The worst kind of weather for riding - cold, rain, wind. I still got up and got out - dressed like it was December, with shoe covers, gloves and beany hat under the helmet.... It was this weather which made me turn into a French person - the video i shot riding up the hill made me laugh when i realized it ! Here i was, not at work, enjoying a ride out in the Normandy countryside, albeit wet and windy, but still managing to complain about it all - the eternal French complainer, always moaning about something.<br />
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Having said that, i have been training well, and thoroughly enjoying it all - an dhave managed to do quite a lot of brick sessions, meaning i'm getting used to running off the bike. So hopefully, i'll get a better time at the Half Ironman tri next week in Barcelona. The bike leg is going to be tough, with a bit of climbing, but if i can run faster than my previous LD attempts, i'll be happy.martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-3810920351338377662013-05-24T08:06:00.004-07:002013-07-17T23:00:40.279-07:00Barcelona LD Challenge After a good 12-week preparation the Barcelona-Calella LD Tri could not come quickly enough.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">12 semaines de préparation, le jour-j n'arrivait pas assez vite :)</span><br />
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To keep this brief :<br />
Friday 17 was a windy, stormy day - i went for a sea-temp-check swim but it was impossible to swim in the heavily wavy sea. Plus it was very cold - sub 14°.<br />
Saturday 18 : picked up the number and race info. The wind was unrelenting and the sea very stormy. As this was a European Championship we were told that the swim had to go ahead, whatever the conditions, which was a relief because it's the part i both dread and look forward to :)<br />
We bumped into Javier Gomez very briefly, he was looking very relaxed and cheerful. He would be happier later when he crossed the finishing line first in 4h05.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Je vais essayer de rester bref :</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Vendredi 17 : un vent très fort soufflait sur la cote, et la mer était complètement déchainée - et c'était impossible de nager (j'ai bien essayé) - et à 14° - froid !</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Samedi 18 : je suis allé chercher mon dossard et les derniers infos sur la course - malgré la météo orageuse, on nous annonce que la natation ne serait pas annulé, vu que c'est le championnat d'Europe. Je me sentais rassuré car c'est la partie natation que je crains et aime le plus ici.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">On a croisé Javier Gomez - détendu et souriant - mais il souriait plus lorsqu'il traverse la ligne d'arrivée en premier après 4h05 de course.</span><br />
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Sunday 19 : chilly morning, but the wind had dropped off, and the sky seemed clear. The sea was far from still though - the waves were strong enough to knock you over, which happened to me as i warmed up :))<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Dimanche 19 : matin frais, mais le vent ne soufflait plus, et le ciel s'était dégagé - mais la mer restait mouvementée et les vagues assez fortes - je me suis fait écrasé en me réchauffant :)</span><br />
<br />
Swim<br />
My age-group set off at 7h24, 24 minutes after the Gomez and McCormack group, and 2 minutes before the final relay group. I had some work to do if i wanted to catch them :)<br />
Strategy - straight line to the first buoy at 200m, then stick as close to any group as possible for the 1500m straight line parallel to the coast, and as fast as possible for the final 200m back to the beach.<br />
Reality - Difficult to get beyond the first strong waves, but i managed to get a straight line, without any bumps. I latched onto a group, feeling for feet ahead of me, quickly enough. Only problem was that we were swimming into the rising sun, and what with the swell of the sea, it was impossible to catch sight of the marker buoys ahead. So i stayed close to the group, but after a while i hear a whistle and a referee in a boat indicating "the yellow buoy" over to the right. Yes, we'd strayed off course... which added a good 100m+ to get back on track... pity because we were going well.<br />
Getting to the final turn back to the beach, i don't know how but i got a hard kick in the face - stunned me for a second..ouch ! But what can stop an Ironman ??<br />
38mins - a bit disappointing, but at least i came out running, and not tired. More efficient, not quicker.<br />
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<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Natation </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">On est sorti à 7h24, 24 minutes après les élites (Gomez et McCormack...), donc j'avais du travail si j'allais les rattraper !! ( :°) )</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">La stratégie - suivre une ligne droite jusqu'à la première bouée à 200m..comme d'habitude, et puis essayer de rester avec un groupe jusqu'au dernier virage à 1700m, avant d'aller le plus vite que possible jusqu'à la plage (les derniers 200m).</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">La réalité - les premières vagues étaient fortes, donc difficile à passer, mais ceci fait j'arrivais sans coup au virage, et ensuite, je cherche les pieds d'autres nageurs et je m'accroche à un groupe; le seul problème - le soleil se levait droit devant, et avec le mouvement de la mer, c'était difficile de reperer les bouées... et 10 minutes plus tard un arbitre en bateau nous siffle pour nous signaler qu'il fallait aller vers le droit - eh oui ! on s'était égaré du parcours - bien ! 100m de plus pour nous... Ensuite, au dernier virage je reçois un coup de peid dans l'oeil - un vrai..je suis un peu assommé, mais je me rappelle que je suis un ironman, et j'arrive bien à la plage, et sors en courant vers T1</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">38mins, un peu décevant, même temps qu'avant, plus ou moins, mais je me sens pas du tout fatigué. Je nage pas plus vite, mais je nage sans doute avec plus d'efficacité.</span><br />
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<br />
Bike<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDymyFMBQtFKYOL2whxfwbXURwKPZK19gDHrTQcqMaNZWuRP4CgSF_lni-N2nmqUj2e-reIfO_Iribx10hDS5gaWRH5D9_KyClXIomvimfQJmzJtyqEu8HWyzrjv5g20GqgxDwqmmfP3k/s1600/CBFE2189.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDymyFMBQtFKYOL2whxfwbXURwKPZK19gDHrTQcqMaNZWuRP4CgSF_lni-N2nmqUj2e-reIfO_Iribx10hDS5gaWRH5D9_KyClXIomvimfQJmzJtyqEu8HWyzrjv5g20GqgxDwqmmfP3k/s320/CBFE2189.jpeg" width="320" /></a>The new course had 3 steady climbs and i was looking forward to it. The sun was out, the air was a bit chilly...the first climb came quickly, from km9 to 20, a steady 4-5-6% but without any real difficulty. The second - from around km30 to 42, was more testing with some higher gradients (flirting 8-9% at times), which brought back memories of the Col de la Madeleine...but i was going well, and passing a lot of riders. This descent was fantastic, with some really tight bends. The final climb was shorter and easier, but i could start to feel the fatigue - which meant i quickly ate a gel !! The final descent before the final 15km back to the coast was quick, with easy bends. Right at the end there was a sharp right turn and an steep uphill (10%), just as i started up this the rear tyre exploded - literally making a huge banging noise...yes, it was mine !! This is my first ever flat on a course - so i quickly started getting things together for a change - wheel off, tyre off, inner tube out, new one out, on, tyre on, air bottle in, attached..no air gets in teh tyre - another attempt - nothing !! aaargh - pump - is air going in ? yes, wheel on, back on bike - the rear is still flat - start again - new inner - ok - the referees are with me now watching every move - but they kindly push me back up the hill. I've lost at least 15 minutes here - and the sight of all the cyclists whizzing by is a killer for the morale.<br />
Still, i got back to transition and felt good getting into the running shoes.<br />
Time : 3h23 (i in fact lost 13 minutes with the punctures).<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_0SsO7v3nW2goux5zA3zzev_r9BYN0YMihudProQqj8V7lXityHkoEucO_odQjb08C0AdUmoeT3HFGrQRb1HOdEhv9SR7YkJ_dgUygTNTnBQ2zmKRmy5fT2X9qTy7S3PxvTHrvxirQU/s1600/CBFJ1616.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_0SsO7v3nW2goux5zA3zzev_r9BYN0YMihudProQqj8V7lXityHkoEucO_odQjb08C0AdUmoeT3HFGrQRb1HOdEhv9SR7YkJ_dgUygTNTnBQ2zmKRmy5fT2X9qTy7S3PxvTHrvxirQU/s320/CBFJ1616.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Vélo</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">j'avais très envie de faire ce parcours. Le soleil brillait, mais l'air restait frais.. la première montée (de km9 au 20) arrivait vite mais était sans difficulté (4-5-6%). Le deuxième (du km30 à 42) me rappelait le col de la Madeleine, avec des pentes de 8 et 9%, mais j'avançais bien et dépassais beaucoup de coureurs . La descente était magnifique avec des virage très serrés, et assez technique. La dernière montée était assez court, et sans difficulté encore, avec une descente assez vite, sans difficulté...mais à la fin, en arrivant dans un virage et une montée assez raide, j'entends une explosion - eh oui, c'est mon pneu arrière - complètement éclaté. C'est la première fois que ca m'arrive, mais je réagis vite - je sors les changes, mais l'air ne rentre pas - la bombe ne marche pas ou quoi ? une autre - pareil... ggggrrrr. La pompe marche, mais en partant, le pneu est à nouveau à plat - je recommence - sous la surveillance des arbitres, car il ne faut rien laissé, et on n'a pas le droit d'aide...on me pousse pour remonter la pente, c'est le bienvenu. C'est terrible de voir et entendre tous les coureurs te dépassent...mais je fais les 15 derniers km sans pépin, et arrive à la transition assez bien - sans fatigue.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Chrono : 3h23 - avec 13 mins perdu avec les crevaisons.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
Run<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG97kSPFSvTqU9fRE6A-Y0e9vjRxAbsfOXLYwMPayLeAE2EJ5qxuFY98yFYV76DoOO4icULDIph4DWTQRSxnEyVdtF0WQknZFaYTrb52bVMfRZpnVmtScYaTZ9MM0j6JunRzzIMRVv-yc/s1600/DSC_5802.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG97kSPFSvTqU9fRE6A-Y0e9vjRxAbsfOXLYwMPayLeAE2EJ5qxuFY98yFYV76DoOO4icULDIph4DWTQRSxnEyVdtF0WQknZFaYTrb52bVMfRZpnVmtScYaTZ9MM0j6JunRzzIMRVv-yc/s320/DSC_5802.jpeg" width="228" /></a>The sun was higher now and the air warmer, around 19-20°c max, so nowhere near the 30°c+ temperatures of previous years here. I have trained well for the run, adding many faster sessions to the schedule, and it felt like it had paid off by the end of the first 1500m - i felt i was really running, rather than trying to complete the course.<br />
Also, mentally this was only a 21km, and not 42km - so i know i have the endurance, i just needed to up the tempo. I took a Gel at 5km, and i was soon at the Pineda station and km 7, heading back to the Calella beach front. My main preoccupation was when to take a second gel - and a 3rd if needed. This came at km 12 - a red tonic menthol flavour - yum ! I was passing many runners, all of whom had probably whizzed past me as i struggled with the punctures - this made me feel good, and i was still feeling strong, even if the legs were beginning to burn - but that's supposed to happen, right ? I finished passing more than 300 in this run).Turn round at the end of the Pineda beach came quickly and the the station again - km 17 - 4 to go. I tried to up the tempo again, there was still something in the legs... 18, 19, bike zone, drink zone, 20km, Calella bridge, the cliff and the Catalunia flag hanging proudly... the end - final sprint. No time to stop - Esther is there, but i see her too late - i sprint to the finish line and the medal is hung around my neck - it's big and shiny and heavy :)<br />
run time : 1h47, which is more than 15 minutes quicker than all my attempts here on the Half course.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">La CàP</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2vI2RTwDG4VORx0Kh2FL3u_cFMXk1Cx9HezXj_tqw0I_krnLpHzATr7ZBhnC7nTYT8Ghusw25XNjYmMHunZBcUuQwjl_LLQYf3cyu16nE-6wEo8yVGG-RWlsCCRXEy6bULN0wXTtWDU/s1600/DSC_5826.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2vI2RTwDG4VORx0Kh2FL3u_cFMXk1Cx9HezXj_tqw0I_krnLpHzATr7ZBhnC7nTYT8Ghusw25XNjYmMHunZBcUuQwjl_LLQYf3cyu16nE-6wEo8yVGG-RWlsCCRXEy6bULN0wXTtWDU/s320/DSC_5826.jpeg" width="213" /></span></a><span style="color: #666666;">Le soleil était plus haut dans le ciel, mais les températures élevées des années précédentes - 30°c+ - étaient bien absentes. On était à 19-20° max. J'ai augmenté mes séances càp avant la course, avec beaucoup plus de travail de vitesse, car je voulais vraiment améliorer mon temps. Au bout de 1500m c'était certain que ce travail avait payé. J'avais la sensation, pour la première fois ici, de vraiment courir, plutôt que simplement avoir l'objectif de terminer. Psychologiquement, ce n'était que 21km, et non pas le marathon...J'ai pris un gel tonic à km5, et bientôt j'étais devant la gare de Pineda (7km) et sur le retour vers Calella - combien de fois ai-je fait ce parcours...? aie! Ma pensée préoccupante ? Quand est-ce que j'allais reprendre un 2° gel, ou un 3°, si besoin - et d'un coup j'étais à l'arrivée et au début des derniers 9km - j'ai pris un red tonic gel au menthol - mmmm délicieux ! et continuais à dépasser beaucoup de coureurs (j'ai fini par gagner plus de 300places sur la càp). Je me sentais vraiment bien, même si les cuisses commençaient à bruler - mais c'est normal ça! Encore à Pineda, km 17, le petit pont à 18, puis le transition et 19, puis 20, le pont sur la plage, le drapeau catalan tournait avec le vent sur la falaise à la fin de la plage, et puis le dernier km en vitesse, avec un sprint à la fin...j'ai vu esther trop tard, donc je n'ai pas pu m'arrêter....et là - l'arrivée et la médaille est au tour de mon cou, grande, lourde et brillante...</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">1h47 - plus que 15 minutes plus rapide que mes derniers efforts ici - donc je suis plus que content :)</span><br />
<br />
Conclusion<br />
5h58 - 496 out of 1050 men in the open race<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhyD44q7i4rcdO3zA5vjuliS3qhBKm52S7fLpPclRX9YdNuL1b-C5tHFy6_bjdTkwhAEnQsQ8WvLPCIopFtjq2um3x_qTsDHfzXXm32Pp9RljDCrj7TVXX5bsr-yxuP9kct7A7lVj2eA/s1600/DSC_5913.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhyD44q7i4rcdO3zA5vjuliS3qhBKm52S7fLpPclRX9YdNuL1b-C5tHFy6_bjdTkwhAEnQsQ8WvLPCIopFtjq2um3x_qTsDHfzXXm32Pp9RljDCrj7TVXX5bsr-yxuP9kct7A7lVj2eA/s320/DSC_5913.jpeg" width="212" /></a>Swim -<br />
i'm not a great swimmer, and i don't think i ever will be - although i am getting more efficient.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">je ne suis pas un bon nageur, et je ne pense pas que j'y arriverai; mais je me sentais plus fort à la fin, donc pas plus rapide, mais plus efficace.</span><br />
Bike -<br />
i felt really good on this much tougher, more interesting course - disappointed with the time i lost with the flats.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">je me sentais vraiment fort sur ce parcours, plus intéressant et technique, mais je suis super déçu avec le temps que j'ai perdu en crevant...</span><br />
Run - very happy, as my main objective was to run faster and better - both achieved, and i felt i could have continued....<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">très content avec la càp - mon objectif de courir plus vite est bien atteint.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>
Thursday i took part in a "run against cancer" and covered 13+km in an hour....feeling good <span style="color: #666666;"><br />Jeudi j'ai participé à une "course contre le cancer" sur le campus de mon école, j'ai couru 13+km en une heure.....ca va bien...</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666;">Molt bé</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Back for the Full in October ? Probably, and looking forward to improving everywhere :)<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Je reviens pour le Full distance IM au mois d'octobre, je pense...avec le but d'améliorer mes performances de l'an dernier...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMvpY7ZLxeBwk8bvTcQ_H3ox7EVdiANQfmaANvp1wIwra04AZaNlO_pzAQSFVDdVjRtvyWSDJXEU1X33Uav0OIW_mWKp6sw0bAQcmB-uKw-TPcuFrD6QqRh8-0LSLp0pk42Ym9v6YFlY/s1600/DSC_5935.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMvpY7ZLxeBwk8bvTcQ_H3ox7EVdiANQfmaANvp1wIwra04AZaNlO_pzAQSFVDdVjRtvyWSDJXEU1X33Uav0OIW_mWKp6sw0bAQcmB-uKw-TPcuFrD6QqRh8-0LSLp0pk42Ym9v6YFlY/s320/DSC_5935.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
the fan club : Léa, Iaia, Tété, Esther :)</div>
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<br />martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-61687666261383527532013-03-29T07:32:00.002-07:002013-07-17T23:01:04.396-07:00Typical me.... ! Ca c'est bien moi !No sooner have i drawn up a plan, i go and change it !<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Dès que le plan est établi, je dois le changer.</span><br />
<br />
My planned Sprint triathlon end of March - cancelled : it was too cold, i haven't trained for running fast, iron levels still not high enough. Yes, this winter is not going to go away soon - it is still near freezing temps with a bitingly cold wind; my running has been more about getting in the kms at whatever pace, with one or two faster sessions - but nothing i could call sprinting... ; i am feeling better with the iron treatment, but not back to normal yet - from time to time i am too easily out of breath.<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Le triathlon sprint prévu fin mars - annulé : non seulement a-t-il fait trop froid, mais je ne le suis pas entrainé pour un tel événement, et de plus, mon niveau de fer reste faible. L'hiver a bien du mal à nous quitter, et les températures restent près du 0°c accompagné d'un vent glacial. Je cours bien, et je compte des kms, mais sans vitesse. Je me sens mieux, c'est sûr, mais de temps en temps je me trouve vite essoufflé. </span><br />
<br />
And i have registered for the Barcelona Half Challenge, again, for the 4th time :) I couldn't resist the change in the bike course, and the thought of running alongside (well, ok, behind) Macca and Javier Gomez, to name but two of the favourite triathletes :)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Mais, je me suis inscrit, pour la 4ème fois, au HalfChallenge Barcelona : impossible de résister à l'opportunité de courir avec, ou bien derrière, les athlètes comme Macca et Javier Gomez... </span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/P6rQbIwjFcE" width="560"></iframe> <br />
<br />
<br />
Other than that - the training is coming along nicely - some very good sessions in March which i'll be building on in April with more brick and back-to-back sessions...can't wait - and if the sun actually starts putting in an appearance, all the better.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Sinon, l'entrainement progresse bien - beaucoup de petites sessions de qualité, et je vais commencer à ajouter des sessions double (bike-run etc) pendant le mois d'avril. Et si le soleil me rejoint, tant mieux :))</span>martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-63028305991504032142013-03-08T00:02:00.000-08:002013-03-19T00:48:58.390-07:00The irony of an ironman without iron ! L'ironie d'un Ironman en carence de fer !!I wasn't sure i'd be continuing the blog after the Ironman objective was reached, but like so many other things it's not so easy to just give up....<br />
I had a fantastic week in Mexico with Esther at the end of November to celebrate my 50th birthday, which helped rejuvenate my aging limbs, although my very first treadmill session in the hotel gym ended with a strained calf muscle... i won't be renewing this experience. Although i can understand the Home-trainer / turbo bike sessions - when the weather just won't allow for effective cycling, i can't imagine any weather condition forcing me to stay home and "run" on the machine.<br />
<span style="background-color: #4c1130; color: #666666;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: #666666;">Ce n'était pas sûr que je continue avec ce blog une fois mon objective Ironman atteint. Mais, c'est difficile de simplement arrêter, comme beaucoup de choses, je crois... </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #666666;">j'ai passé une semaine formidable au Méxique avec Esther pour fêter mes 50 ans, une remède incroyable pour remettre du gaz dans mes jambes fatiguées...ceci dit, j'ai fait un essai sur une machine à courir et au bout de 20 minutes j'ai arreté avec un mollet blessé ! Je peux comprendre qu'on se sert d'un Home Trainer en vélo, je le fais, et j'aime bien, surtout quand la météo n'est pas idéale, mais je ne peux pas me voir éviter le froid ou la pluie pour courir et opter pour une session sur cette machine !!</span><br />
<br />
Since this fantastic break my training has had its ups and downs - injury, tiredness, and a new one, ionically for an Ironman, iron-deficiency - possibly due to my physical exertions and added to my vegetarian diet. I haven't eaten meat (red or white) since the mid 1980s, and have never had a problem, but a recent blood test has shown a poorly inadequate level of this essential oxygen carrying mineral.... i've read that this is common among endurance athletes, of which i have to consider myself. The symptoms i've had - tiredness, shortness of breath, difficulty sleeping...and obviously i've not been paying enough attention to my diet. So it's been lentils, beans, dried apricots, broccoli for me recently !<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #666666;">Depuis ce séjour mexicain mon entrainement se passe avec des hauts et des bas - blessure, fatigue, et maintenant : carence de fer ! Pas mal pour un homme de fer / Ironman ! Le fait d'être végétarien ne facilite pas la situation non plus. Je ne mange pas de viande depuis les années 80, sans aucun problème, j'ajoute, mais une analyse de sang récente indique une carence importante de fer, assez commun parmi des athlètes d'endurance, apparemment. Les symptômes : fatigue, être à bout de souffle, difficulté à m'endormir... et sans doute, je ne fais pas assez d'attention à ce que je mange. </span><span style="color: #666666;">Donc, un régime de lentilles, haricots, abricots secs, et brocoli pour moi !!</span></span><br />
<br />
On the training front, i've been swimming well and feel i've made a breakthrough in terms of technique - discovering how sliding through the water makes the activity more fun and less tiring - it's been a lot of work and although i'm not necessarily any faster, i am less tired after a good 2-hour/4km+ session. I have found a more effective and efficient technique - that's what i wanted to say !<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #666666;">Sur le front de l'entrainement, je crois que j'ai fait enfin des progrès en natation - j'ai découvert que c'est un sport de glisse, et j'ai trouvé la sensation de glisser plus loin dans l'eau - je ne nage pas plus rapidement, mais je suis beaucoup moins fatigué après une session de 2 heures/4km+. Oui, c'est ça, j'ai trouvé une technique plus efficace.</span><br />
<br />
On the bike, my Turbo Trainer has been on overdrive in the garage - where i've been trying to increase my cadence and improve my technique. I'll be going for a <a href="http://franky-batelier.onlinetri.com/index.php?page_id=20525#.UTmZu6U1BLY" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">complete bike-fit soon</span></a> - to help gain maximum efficiency through positioning on the bike. I should have done this a long time ago. 'll be doing a write up here on this as soon as..<br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #666666;">À vélo tout va bien, le Home Trainer a fait beaucoup d'heures supp dans la garage dans le but d'augmenter mon travail de cadence et de technique - et je vais m'offrir <a href="http://franky-batelier.onlinetri.com/index.php?page_id=20525#.UTmZu6U1BLY" target="_blank">une session d'ergonomie cycliste </a>afin de trouver un positionnement parfait et donc améliorer l'efficacité et le confort. Un rapport ici dès que...</span><br />
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Running has been on and off due to recurring calf/achilles problems, but after a 3-week break i am back on track and enjoying the pleasures of the forest trails again. I was doing hill sprints this week and really felt the effects of my lack of iron - out of breath very quickly - gasping like a 20 a day smoker at the top of each hill !! I've never smoked in my life, and i am so glad because i can't imagine what this session would have been like !!<br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #666666;">La CàP - oui et non - quelques petits problèmes de mollet, rien de grave, et un arrêt total de 3 semaines au mois de janvier m'a fait beaucoup de bien. Là je retrouve les trails de la forêt verte avec beaucoup de plaisir. Cette semaine j'ai fait une session de fractionnés sur côte, et j'étais à bout de souffle comme un fumeur de vingt par jour, dû à la carence de fer bien sûr ! Je n'ai jamais fumé de ma vie, et heureusement, car je ne peux pas imaginer mon état autrement !!</span><br />
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So it's on towards another Ironman event in October, a half distance in June (Deauville), <a href="http://www.letapedutour.com/ET1/us/the-route.html" target="_blank">the étape du tour in July</a>, and warming up with a sprint distance at the end of March.<br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #666666;">Donc j'ai en vue un deuxième IM pour le moisi d'octobre, un Half au mois de juin à Deauville, <a href="http://www.letapedutour.com/ET1/us/the-route.html" target="_blank">l'étape du tour</a> au mois de juillet, et un tri sprint fin mars.</span></span><br />
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Run, bike, swim.. and eat well :0)<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #666666;">Cours, pédale, nage...et mange bien :))</span><br />
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<br />martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-9652858194167257592012-10-24T13:28:00.000-07:002012-12-20T06:23:24.794-08:00CHALLENGE BARCELONA - MARESME : I AM IRONMAN Flashback. March 2009. Sitting on the plane back from the Barcelona marathon, where i had been an unhappy and reluctant non-starter, i saw an ad for the Garmin Barcelona Triathlon. It could have been the logo that caught my eye, or possibly the pictures of the triathletes in action, or the golden finisher medal.....but whichever it was, when i got home i was compelled to register for the race to be held at the start of October. A few hours later i had also entered the Paris triathlon set for the end of August. Both were Olympic distance triathlons, but they were massive events for me all the same - I was going to become a triathlete. And so began my journey to Ironman, my ultimate goal.<br />
Well this goal finally became reality on Sunday September 30th, 2012 at 8h36 when the starting gun went off for my age groups (45-69) at the Challenge Barcelona-Maresme long distance triathlon (3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42.2km run) and almost 300 silver-bonneted triathletes ran into the waves to begin the 226km trek to Ironman.....<br />
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Backtrack to Saturday : it was unusually cold, rainy and windy in Barcelona ! Storms had lashed the region and even caused extreme flooding further down the coast in Malaga. The race wasn't in danger but the bike zone was closed, meaning we'd have to leave the bikes early Sunday morning. I went to pick up my chip all the same and walked onto the beach to inspect and anticpate the swim zone - the sea was rough and the water whipped up by the wind made visibility difficult. I couldn't even see where we were to swim to. I was certainly feeling anxious and nervous now.<br />
Sunday morning. Race day. I slept well, got up at 5.45 and ate bananas, cereal bars, cereal biscuits, coffee, energy drink... so i felt well-nourished when i left at 7.00. Esther dropped me closer to transition and i rode the final couple of km. It was still dark and a bit chilly, but the wind and rain had dropped off. There was a long wait to get into the bike zone as 1400 bikes needed checking in. The atmosphere was strangely relaxed and yet tense as we anticipated the day ahead. Lots of stretching going on, last minute adjustments to bikes, tyre pressure being checked, preparing running shoes and laces, and counting gels.....<br />
The forecast was sun, but not high temperatures, which was a relief.<br />
Warm-up : I finally left the bike zone and watched the pros start as i swam out to check the goggles and wetsuit. The water temp was perfect - 18°c. I then realised my start was just 6 minutes after the pros, so i raced up the beach to enter the start zone - no time to even consider what in earth i was doing there before the gun went off and i found myself swimming in a straight line to buoy number one. My past strategies had been to go wide left or right and avoid the kicks, but not this time. I had decided i would go straight and endure whatever was thrown at me - knowing it would not last long anyway. As soon as i hit the water and began swimming i felt relaxed. All the stress of the build up just melted into the Med. There was more than enough space for everyone, so no knocks or bumps. The first buoy was at 200m - veer right and straight on for 1450m. <br />
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I am well aware that my swim technique isn't perfect and swimming straight is never easy ! I really wanted to get as close to the marker buoys as i could, and i could see other swimmers quite a distance to my left and others, though less, to my right. The first was away to my left and getting closer was not so easy with the under current. This wasn't a problem in itself because it meant i was clear of other swimmers. I was smiling by now and really enjoying myself. I could see the beach in the distance to my right as i took a breath, every second stroke, and the town of Calella and the mountains behind... i thought of the July holiday and all the swimming i had done in this sea. The next turn. By now i was close to the buoy, almost half way, 100m before the left turn and a straight run of 1750m, followed by another left turn and the final 300m to the beach. The group was closer together here and the current was more head on - nothing too strong, but it was quite a swell. Fantastic. I was loving this - feeling myself raised by the sea swell. Occasional bumps here, as the other wave starts caught up, or we caught up with the weaker swimmers of those who started before, but nothing a quick left or right movement didn't resolve. The final left turn towards the beach came quickly. I was starting to relish getting onto dry land and the bike. The number of swimmers here suddenly grew as everyone tried to get a straight run-in to the beach. I must have swum under somebody because i found an arm over my shoulder - we looked at one another, smiled, probably, and separated....strange meeting. I should have said "Hola, bon dia", but it all went too quickly. Back to the beach. The clock read 1h23 - which gave me a 1h17 time. "I'll take that", i said to myself as i calculated. I'd imagined a 1h20 swim time, so i was ahead of schedule.<br />
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<i>quick time calculation, yes, that'll do...</i></div>
T1.<br />
I took my time getting out of the wetsuit. No point in running, this was only the start of a long day. The swim is the warm-up, i'd been told by a tri-colleague. He was right. Helmet on, socks and shoes, number belt, jacket... i hesitated. If it gets hot, i'll be taking teh jacket off, then it may be cold so i'll need a shirt. Back into the bag and I run out with the shirt in the jacket pocket... time wasted. I'd arranged evrything in order for the bike and run. At least 5 mins for T1.<br />
The Bike.<br />
I'd given myself a 6h target for the bike. The Garmin was on and ready - It was exactly 10h00, which meant i'd be back by 16h.<br />
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The training i'd done had given me a lot of confidence, especially completing the Étape du Tour in the Alps. My greatest concern, after the problems i'd had during the Half-Challenge in May, was fuel and not allowing myself to run out of energy.<br />
My plan on the bike : every hour a gel (including one isostar caffeine) = 6 in total; eat a banana at every drinks station (24km), take energy drink every 15-20 minutes, water whenever, isostar cereal bar when hungry and sporteneine every hour. Well it worked and i felt great throughout. I kept an eye on the Garmin - 33km/h, without pushing it. I tell myself to ease up, that i still have a marathon to run after the 6 hour bike ride. I feel good on the tri-bars, and compact on the Lapierre. Then it started. A cranking noise with every pedal stroke - and it wouldn't go away. The bike had obviously taken a knock during the flight. By the first turn round at around 42km it was really irritating me. I tried adapting my pedal stroke, and found that at 33km/h on the flat without too much effort the noise disappeared, but not for long. How frustrating - 180km with this. It made things really unpleasant.<br />
I was still passing quite a few cyclists, and seeing, rather hearing, others whizzing past me. Some made comments - all encouraging. In the Half Challenge back in May i was given a penalty for drafting (unintentionally), so now i was paying attention. The referees here are renowned for their strict adherence to rules. At one point i heard a motor bike slow down behind me, which meant one thing : referee. I'd just been overtaken and the cyclist had slotted in just in front of me. So as not to appear to be drafting i moved out to the left... the refereee called me and was about to say penalty. I rode alongside and explained that i'd moved out to NOT draft. I was told then that if i move out and don't overtake i am gaining an advantage and stopping others overtaking. If i move out i have to overtake. AAAh i said - OK. SO - "no penalty ?" "No, ok, you understood". Relief.<br />
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<i>mmm referees !</i></div>
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I was still feeling good by the second lap - despite the headwind from the sea. My average speed was still around 30km/h so i felt relaxed enough. I had spent so much time just pedalling away on the Home Trainer, and i could feel it paying now - i managed to just continue at a constant speed and effort. The only time i did stop was to take off the jacket as it was warming up, not enough for me to not put on the shirt though. We were even treated to refreshing shower on the final lap as we turned round at Calella and back out to Saint Andreu... less than 40km to go. it was 14h50. Would i make the 6h? I put my foot down and with the final stretch was up to 36-38km/h. I still had something in the tank - which would help with the small question of a marathon still to run !<br />
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The T zone in sight was i going to make the 6h target? Stopping the Garmin at the arrival i was at 6h00m06secs. Job done for me, and i felt fine - except, as i dismounted, for a shooting pain in the underside of my right foot.<br />
T2<br />
Quick enough. Change of shoes and socks, shirt. Do i put a dry shirt on ? No. I don't want to overheat, and Esther has one in my bag i left with her, if i do need one. Cap yes, blue, so Esther will recognise me at the first turn-round point at Santa Susanna - 5.2km away. I set out - the foot pain wasn't showing any sign of relief. It would, i told myself. I joined the line of runners heading out along the beach - and the steep up and downhill under the train track. It was hotter now and i could feel myself heating up quickly, beads of sweat running down my face. The plan for the run was a 10km/h pace. Slow and steady and to be able to continue to the end. I'd done quite a few 2 to 2.5 hour runs at this pace and felt great. The foot pain wasn't subsiding though. KM2.5 - Pineda and drinks station.<br />
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My fuel plan : one gel every 10km (between km 3 and 4 including one caffeine
gel), water and cola flavored energy drink at every drinks station (2,5km), water a few gulps of water to rinse the taste away, run on. Every drinks station went like this.<br />
At Santa Susanna Esther was waiting. What a welcome sight. I left her my cap and glasses, took a drink of Vichy (salty) water and an energy sachet (Isoxstan) that i'd been using in training. I suppose i spent a good few minutes chatting and getting her encouragement - not exactly time wasted, but on reflection i should have been advancing.....<br />
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<i>encouragement à la esther :)</i></div>
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I set off again - only 37km to go. 8 laps of 5.25km, or 4 laps of 10.5km ? I wasted at least 2km debating which calculation gave more advantage, psychologically speaking. I didn't give myself an answer, but told myself - one down, 7 to go, or number one lap of 4. But in this way i was already back at Pineda. I repeat the drinks routine. The music was playing loud here and the crowds shouting encouragement. I was actually enjoying this !! I was at the start of the marathon and still smiling. Is this normal ? 2km from the start line there is a small bridge to run over - quite a steep little climb at this stage, but from here you could here the speaker at the finish line and the cheers of the crowd. It drew me on - every step getting closer as the sound gets clearer. Soon back along the beach. The crowds were great - encouraging every runner. 10km down, 30 to go. The foot was ok by now and i was probably running at around 10km/h. I was soon back at Santa Susanna and looking for Esther - and more encouragement, which meant more time chatting...then back to Pineda. I was counting the kms to each drinks station. Take each one at a time, i told myself. Next, Calella - half way there. Only 21km to go. ONLY. The worst thing about these events is that you pass by the finish line and actually see some finishers. It is encouraging in that you can't wait for it to be your turn to go left and make the final 200m to the finish line, but it's a killer because you run away from this turn and go straight on back into obscurity and anonymity because the crowd is watching the finishers.</div>
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My time will come i said, smiling as the runner in fornt of me dashed left, and took his young son into his arms and made his way to the finish. How do they do it so quickly ? This question took me to Pineda and just after i treated myself to a caffeine gel - a thick sweet paste full of energy with the taste of thick strong coffee.... it was delicious. I smiled thinking that i was actually relishing a gel, and worked out that this was my 10th of the day (which meant only two more) - another statistic to contemplate as i arrived back at Santa Susanna. Esther told me she'd be heading to the finish line, so wouldn't be there at my next visit - in 15km time, i said. I added "yeah - <i>only</i> 15km". I was getting closer. Get back to Pineda, then Calella, turn round and it's <i>only</i> 10....<br />
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<i>the end in sight</i></div>
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Same routine. Run to the drinks station, walk with drinks and then run on again. This is the Cyrano method - walk and run for specific time periods and you conserve so much energy. The light was beginning to fade and the temperature to fall. I still felt ok, but was definitely getting tired. After the final turn from Calella i could hear the Amy Winehouse song "Valerie" - i love that one, and wished i could have finished at that moment. I sang along inside my head and i was at Pineda again. I was at km 33 and felt the need to walk. I decided i'd walk 100m every km until km40. Only 7km more to go....I knew that once i got to 40km, i was home and dry. The sky was darkening and the specially installed floodlights were on between Pineda and Sanata Susanna where there are only fields along the train track. The sea to the right was dark and quiet. This was eerie. One part of the road was in complete darkness. It was surreal. A girl ran behind me making gasping noises with every breath. I thought she'd collapse, but she went ahead - i was happy because i didn't like the idea of her falling down. Then it was gel time for me - the last in my pocket. It wasn't as nice as the isostar caffeine gel, but it would help me get to the end. Santa Susanna appeared out of nowhere and there were now only 5km to go. Cola drink and water, and a quarter of an orange - to drink, not eat. 36km - walk 100m, 37km, 38km walk 100m - the drink station at Pineda agian, already. The same kids rushing to hand out the drinks - so enthusiastic, and always smiling. "Molt bé" "gracias, tété"....my catlan isn't fluent, but enough to win smiles. Km39 and i decide not to stop - i am almost there. The sound of the finish line, the bridge, 40km....i can make out the first building of Calella and the turn towards the beach, under the train track, still running. The music clearer, less people on the beach. The Transition zone, back onto the Bike park area, KM42.... this is it. There are still a lot of people waiting and cheering. Electric. Esther.. i see her. I hear her. Finally i get to turn left onto the final straight run - bisouxxxx to Esther la guapppaaaa in the crowd, and la iaia, la Carmeta, sa maman... on to the finish line itself, up the small ramp. I can stop. "Congratulations. You are a finisher".<br />
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<i>I am an IRONMAN.</i></div>
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12h24 was the time -minus 6 minutes for the wave start = 12h18.<br />
My goal had been 12h30-13h00, with me being realistic... so i was well within this. happy?<br />
yes !! (1h17+6h00+4h50)<br />
I'd told myself, and esther, that i would do this once - being such a demanding test of strength, and needing so much time for preparation. Well i guess it took me one and a half cans of Limon - alcohol free beer - in the recovery area to decide that i'd be doing this again - and better.... i was already thinking about where i could shave off minutes.... this was madness.<br />
I made sure i had a massage - felt so good. And i was radiant when i got out to see Esther...impossible to guess i'd just covered 226km in just over 12 hours.<br />
But i'll be back, to go below 12h...a new challenge, a new objective.<br />
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<i>all for this :)</i></div>
Thoughts :<br />
So pleased to have finished...<br />
Really enjoyed the event - from beginning to end.<br />
Organisation is everything - Challenge is an efficient event organizer.<br />
I feel i did everything right (food intake especially) - i know i could have given more on the bike, and taken time off the run...but hey, who cares !<br />
It's strange what goes through the mind during this challenge...weird calculations that you don't control<br />
I still want to continue.... i need a new challenge, constantly....<br />
Effort and pain felt is very similar to that at the 100km de Millau... <br />
It's probably more difficult to write about than to train for and to actually do !<br />
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<br />martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-71901086534365959132012-09-19T07:16:00.000-07:002012-09-19T09:12:12.628-07:00L'ÉTAPE DU TOUR Acte 1 Albertville-La TouissièreWhen i entered this 'race' i really had no idea what i was letting myself in for. I have only been to the Alps twice before - once for grape-picking in the late eighties, and once for a holiday in August 2006 when i rode up the Col du Télégraphe on a mountain track and ran half way up the Galbier in preparation for my first 100km Millau.....<br />
My preparation training had me, for the most part, doing two hour stints on the Home Trainer, and scrambling up and down the hills of Normandy - but NOTHING could really simulate the climbs of the Alps.<br />
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AN 8 hour drive took me to the hotel in Muguet, 30km from Albertville on the fRiday (race day Sunday) where i caught up with my two brothers - Simon had pulled out due to a lack of preparation, and Michael was raring to go....this being his 7th Étape. "You'll be fine," he kept saying as i shook my head once more at the mountain profiles. My initial thoughts were that the first of the 4 Cols was difficult if only because i'd heard it mentioned many times - the Col De la Madeleine; the second, the Glandon (Croix de Fer), can't be as bad as it isn't as long, and the last two - well, the third (the Mollard) is only 6km - piece of cake - and the last, well the last is always going to be easier, psychologically. Didn't quite happen like that though. But i told myself to stick to my plan - just ride and enjoy it, which was never going to be difficult with this kind of view :<br />
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Saturday was a scorching summer day in Albertville as we picked up the numbers and ate in a brasserie watching the Tour de France. But by the time Sunday morning came by it was cold, windy and rainy (the Etretat tri had come in handy preparation, i thought). After a sleepless Saturday night - not due to nerves really, but simply not being able to nod off (though i rested very well) - we were off to Albertville and the start.<br />
9000+ registered, 6700 starters announced... the speaker put this down to the bad weather. The start was easy enough - slow and steady (35-40km/h) all the way to the foot of the Col de la Madeleine. SLOW down - steady drizzle acompanied us - the gradient was getting to 7, 8% but it felt fine. Mike had pointed out that the climbs are given an average gradient, which was 6-7%, but they include the downhill and flat parts, of which teh Madeleine has two significant sections... and so i should remember that when it feels easier, then it would be paid for later. As we reached half way and the straighter, flat part - everything was fine still - funny, why isn't this hurting ? I rode alongside and chatted a good 15 minutes with a member of MSA tri club - my club - small world. I stopped at the feed station, filled the bottle and wound my way up to the top - it seemed to come quickly enough, and ii actually started wondering what all the fuss was about. Then i remembered - i was going at tortoise pace, with absolutely no time or ranking objective. This included a quick summit stop for a photo (i wasn't going to miss this chance)... and i wasn't alone.<br />
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<i>am i pleased with myself !!!</i></div>
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The way down (18km) was not as difficult to handle as i had imagined either, though i was very nervous on the brakes, and really focused on not falling. Nonetheless, the descent was as tiring as the ascent for me. I hadn't expected it to be so cold, but with the wind jacket back on it was just ok because the crisp wind at 40km/h+ gets under the skin and into the bones very quickly. A welcome food stop at the bottom - salty biscuits were on offer and went down very nicely indeed - and it was on<br />
to the Col du Glandon.<br />
Mike had said this was not an easy climb - and after 6 or 7 km at 8% i was starting to understand - final 6km to the summit were going to be even steeper, hitting 12 and 13%, averaging out at around 9,5-10%. I looked up the sheer height of the mountain and could see the cyclists way above.... this was impressive, some were beginning to walk with their bikes, i just carried on pushing away - the gradient was relentless - so happy to have added the 29 cog the week before (i'm using a Compact pedal set with a 11-29 cog set) - so it's not too bad. The rain has stopped and the sun is now out - wonderful. Clouds float around the summit way above, it is beautiful. The only downside, apart from the 9 and 10, and 12%s is the strong wind as we turn each hairpin, a real killer.<br />
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<i>over half-way there !</i></div>
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But I breathe deeply, smile to myself, exchange an encouraging word with the other cyclists and occasional caravan - i am enjoying this. It is very, very hard though and i know i will earn the medal, if i get to the end and escape the fate of being picked up by the "broom wagon". I ask an official if i'm in danger of this - "no, you'll be OK". I'm not convinced and push on to the Col de la Croix de Fer, a further 3-4 kms. An easy ascent, but with the wind head on, and the tiredness now in the legs...ooof.<br />
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<i>feeling it !</i></div>
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Another, shorter descent this time - no need for the wind jacket - but as the road flattened out at the bottom, the sun was really starting to heat - i joined a line of 20 or so sheltering behind a friendly motor bike who took us a good 4-5km at a steady pace - this was great - the peloton sensation. I am starting to really like this sport :)</div>
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The Col du Mollard was a short 6km climb - short yes, but climb all the same - with the heat, and with so many cyclists now lying, energy-sapped, at the side of the road, waiting their inevitable pick up by the big bus, it was certainly tough. I pedalled away, steady and determined. The km milestones indicate the gradient and it starts to play on the mind when it is constantly telling you 8%; 9% and with passages at 10% - when will it get easier ? The fact is it doesn't ! </div>
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The final descent was the most difficult - extremely technical, with 40+ hairpin bends - quite a few fallers as i wound my way cautiously down. This kind of descent really takes it out on the arms. It was even hotter now, and my head was starting to spin - i really thought i wouldn't make it and started to worry.... i calmed myself down by concentrating, breathing deeply.... before arriving at the final food stop. I pulled up, took a bottle of Vittel emptied it over my head - "douche de riche", "luxury shower" - it worked and i felt better - i was overheating, the altitude, the lack of sleep, the accumulating tiredness....</div>
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I chatted with the helpers giving the water - i asked if the last climb was less difficult... "they all go up" was the answer i didn't want to hear... but it was true - there was only one way from here - UP.</div>
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A final 18km and i will have done what i wanted - finish. I was still determined i wouldn't walk, i wouldn't stop, and i would get there.</div>
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The first 6 or so km of the climb to the Toussuière were as difficult as the top of the Glandon - a straight uphill... no shade...torture ! Again the constant reminders that we were at 9% didn't help - only when it read 7% did i feel there was some kind of relief. Still i was smiling and enjoying the fact that i was here, still pedaling and getting closer with every stroke and push of the foot. 10km to go - a water trough - cold water - i stop and put my head under the flowing tap - only 10 more... The 9, 8, 7.... counting one by one, standing, pushing, passing to the 27 cog knowing i had a reserve cog, just in case...5, 4 3 - and trhe arch, signalling i was almost there.... but still the road climbed . The spectators were shouting - it gets flat round the corner - they never said which corner though. 2 to go, then 1 the famous flame of the final km -... people behind the barriers clapping encouragement. </div>
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My challenge was complete : i finished, i finished feeling good, no problems or injuries, and i really enjoyed it. Again, because i can.</div>
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<br />martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-83106346330281018882012-08-06T06:41:00.002-07:002012-08-06T10:52:02.939-07:00The Le Havre Olympic (CD) distanceTwo events in June and July have kept my training alive. Having completed the Le Havre Olympic distance triathlon and the mighty Étape du Tour Acte 1 I am feeling very content with myself.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">J'ai terminé deux événements au mois de juin et juillet, afin de maintenir ma préparation pour mon Ironman as mois de septembre - le tri du Havre et l'étape du tour acte 1. Donc je suis assez content.</span><br />
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The very first Le Havre Fitdays Triathlon was never going to be easy with the lashing rain, the howling winds and the ever falling temperatures. This was supposed to be June, summertime !! Add to this the nightmare logistics of having T1 and T2 at 40km intervals, on the pre-race Friday I found myself wondering what I'd let myself in for.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Le tout premier Fitdays Tri du Havre n'allait jamais être facile - avec une météo pourrie, digne d'un mois de décembre plutôt que juin. En plus, j'ai opté pour le tri CD parce que je voulais absolument nager en mer à Etretat, et non pas au Docks du Havre,ce qui voulait dire que la logistique et l'organisation était assez compliqué.</span><br />
Nonetheless, I drove to Le Havre on the Saturday to register and leave the running shoes in T2, and then to Etretat on the Sunday morning with the bike for the swim and bike start. Saturday was actually a beautiful sunny day, and we ate lunch on terrace in the Docklands, site of the Long Distance (which i'd opted not to do because i wanted to swim in the sea, not the Dock). It was strange to be sheltering from the heat because the news during the week was that we were to arrive at Etretat with an extra pair of running shoes as there was a risk that the swim would be replaced by a run - gale force winds had been predicted, which would make the sea swim impossible.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Malgré mes réservations vis-à-vis l'organisation je partais pour le Havre le samedi déposer mes chaussures dans la zone T2, et ensuite le dimanche à Etretat avec le vélo pour la natation et le départ de la zone T1. Il a fait assez beau le samedi, ce qui semblait bizarre car les derniers infos qu'on a reçu nous demandaient de prévoir une deuxième paire de chaussures car une tempête était prévu pour e dimanche et la natation serait, sans doute, remplacé par une course à pied. </span><br />
Sunday was not Saturday though and after an hours drive I arrived at around 9 for a 10am start, under a rain-soaked lead-grey sky and a lashing wind whipping the sea into the air. I found the T1 zone by following the other athletes (only 85 for this event) who were all looking as puzzled as myself : would the swim take place ? Would we get to swim under the cliffs as planned ? It wasn't until 9h45 that the news was finally announced - the swim would take place, but with a new course - 3 times round a 500m triangle marked by 3 huge buoys. No under-the famous-cliff swim = disappointment, but at least we could all get the wetsuits on - which allowed us to warm up and be protected from the cold rain.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Le dimanche n'était vraiment pas comme le samedi - et après une heure de route sous la pluie, j'arrivais à la T1 au front de mer...le ciel était d'un gris de plomb et un vent parfumé au sel de mer soufflait fort. On n'était que 85 pour cette distance, et aucun entre nous savait si on allait nager. Il n'était pas avant 9h45 qu'un arbitre m'informe avec une signe de tête que la mer allait nous accueillir - mais pas sous l'aiguiile comme on avait espéré - trois tours de 500m autour de 3 bouées jaunes. On était tous un peu déçu, mais au moins on pourrait s'habiller en combinaison, nous permettant de nous protéger un peu du vent et du froid.</span><br />
The sea temp was 14-16° - that is NOT warm ! The sea was extremely choppy, and it was not easy to get round the course with the strong undercurrents pulling in every direction. Difficult and tiring to keep in a straight line - but i loved every second of it - being lifted out of the water and feeling the crash of the waves as i almost fell back in .. what a feeling. I don't remember being kicked or hit by anyone, but with such waves I probably wouldn't have noticed anyway - I do remember thinking - "Martin, you must be mad - it's cold, wet, uncomfortable, difficult", but with a huge smile as i swam onto the pebble beach at the end. Time ? No idea, but i was somewhere in the middle in position terms judging by the number of bikes still in T1.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Température d'eau - entre 14 et 16° - PAS CHAUD ça ! ET des vagues, des courants - pas simple non plus. C'était difficile de garder une ligne droite avec les changements de directions, mais la force des vagues me sortait de l'eau et je rentre avec une "claque" - géniale :). J'ai évité des coups des autres nageurs, mais les vagues ne m'ont pas manquées :)... Mais j'étais très très content d'y être et je nageais en souriant. Le plus difficile par contre était de sortir de l'eau et courir les 100+m sur la plage de galets au pieds froid...et avec les mains presque gelées, j'avais vraiment du mal à me déshabiller et mettre mes chaussures de vélo - j'ai passé un bon 10 minutes ici.</span><br />
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<i>things had actually calmed down by this time (this is at around 3pm)</i></div>
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<i>but note the cliff we were meant to swim under at the start of the film - </i></div>
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<i>i'm still a bit disappointed this didn't happen...no trace of the race whatsoever..strange.</i></div>
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The run up the beach was more difficult than the swim itself - huge pebbles and stones... and with cold feet and hands ! It took me what seemed like forever to get the wetsuit off and into the cycling gear - with my fingers white from the cold i couldn't fasten the shoes.<br />
Onto the bike, no drafting permitted due to the treacherous conditions - rain, wet roads (which were also open to traffic), and quite a strong head-on wind - which lasted the entire 40km hilly route back to Le Havre. I maintained what felt like a good rhythm, and i felt strong enough winding up the first long 7km climb onto the main road back to Le Havre. I passed six or seven riders, but was passed by at least 5 others.<br />
I'm in about 40th position as i get back to Le Havre, where the roads have been left closed for the triathlon. The cars on the opposite lane were all beeping - not in support, but in frustration at being made to wait in a long line. HA HA - i waved as i took up a sprint position and thundered down the empty boulevard smiling. Just before arriving at T2 i braked slightly to take a bend and putting my hand back on the bar it slipped with the wet and i almost crashed (as<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yq3lMhpBcM" target="_blank"> Fabian Cancellera </a>recently did in the Olympic road race), but miraculously stayed up.<br />
Le Havre docks and T2. Again the cold hands made things difficult as i struggled to get the bike shoes and rain jacket off as well as tying the laces of my Asics. I was soaking and cold and the first 500m of the run felt strange as i could hardly feel my feet. Two laps of 5km to go. Here we joined the LD triathletes who were on the 4 lap distance. It wasn't easy to get a rhythm going with the cold but I felt fine enough until the first turn round at 2.5 km straight into a headwind (funny how you never notice when the wind is behind you)... well, head down, teeth gritted - this was one uncomfortable way to spend a Sunday morning. First Lap done, a colored band collected, I passed the T2 zone again for more of the wind and rain - it was unrelentless.<br />
Feeling quite strong I passed 4 or 5 runners in the final km as i managed to up my tempo slightly - which felt very satisfying - to finish 43 out of 85, and 4th in my category (though i think there were only 8 of us :) )<br />
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<i>post-race with "dry" t-shirt</i></div>
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Satisfied, happy, very wet and very cold... i drank several hot coffees and a huge plate of pasta before boarding the bus back to Etretat to pick up the car for the hour-long trip home where i took a COLD shower because the boiler was not working !!! aaaarrrrggggghhhhh noooooo !<br />
One thing really struck me about this triathlon was the lack of people - competitors and crowds - no photographer, no medal, no welcome on the finish line, and these athletes just finishing and disappearing home.... the weather did not help, admittedly, but it was strange.<br />
SO why do i do these things ? Why do i put myself through so much discomfort ? Well, because i can and because I like it ! What a day - uncomfortable throughout, but worth every second !<br />
<br />martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-19254337059916676792012-06-13T11:32:00.001-07:002012-06-15T13:57:02.639-07:00Half Challenge n° 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wasn't going to write about the Half Challenge as i completed it in mitigating circumstances.<br />
Esther's dad passed away unexpectedly the week before the race, which made the context very different to previous years. It was unsure whether i would actually compete even as i boarded the plane on Friday evening.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Je n'avais pas l'intention d'écrire au sujet de cette course. le papa d'Esther nous a quitté la semaine avant la course soudainement...donc le contexte a beaucoup changé par rapport aux années précédentes. Ce n'était même pas sûr que je cours quand j'ai pris l'avion le vendredi soir.</span><br />
The race went ahead nonetheless, and it was made clear to me that i should run.... so i went along to Calella on the Saturday afternoon, a bit heavy-hearted, and not very focussed, to collect my number and leave the bike. I was so absent-minded that i was making huge mistakes all the time, and i decided to write this it is so i can avoid repeating these errors next time round.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">La course aura eu lieu de toute façon, et on m'a bien dit que je devais courir. donc, avec l'esprit distrait je suis allé à Calella le samedi déposer le vélo et chercher mon dossard. Je n'avais pas vraiment le coeur à faire la course, et cette manque de concentration allait me coûter cher plus tard. J'écris donc pour m'aider à mieux préparer la prochaine course !</span><br />
<br />
Saturday night pre-race - little sleep, as usual. Waking at 5h30 for an 8h30 swim start gave me enough time to eat breakfast. I had no appetite at all. So i ate very little. Mistake 1.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Samedi soir, je n'ai pas bien dormi, comme d'habitude. Je me réveille à 5h30 pour un départ à 8h30 - j'aurais assez de temps de bien manger, sauf que je n'avais pas beaucoup d'appétit, et donc n'ai rien mangé, ou presque.... Faute 1.</span><br />
Pre-race swim. The weather was extremely pleasant as i arrived on the beach an hour before the swim. I took to the water to warm up - aiie - 15°c !! This was a shock. I actually had difficulty getting my breath and said to myself : "i can't't do this". Panic attack ! One minute swimming later everything was fine again as i acclimatized - the sea was still, and extremely relaxing. I was ready.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Pre-natation : il faisait très beau en arrivant sur la plage à 7h30. Je me suis mis à l'eau - aie - 15°c ! il faisait froid - panique pendant que je m'échauffe, car je n'arrive pas prendre mon souffle - "je ne peux pas faire cette course je me dis," je paniquais un peu là. Je nage, je respire bien, je me chauffe, et bien une minute plus tard - c'est bon , et tout est rentré en ordre.</span><br />
At this point i normally take an energy gel - Mistake 2. I had forgotten to buy my regular gels during the week, as i usually do, and so had nothing with me. I had none for the bike either (just an energy bar that i had brought along). I was drinking energy drink as i waited, but it's not the same.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Normalement je mange un gel énergétique à ce moment - mais j'avais oublié d'en acheter et donc je n'avais rien avec moi. Idem pour le vélo. Faute énorme n° 2.</span><br />
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The swim. I stayed to the left of the pack to avoid the kicks - i wanted no trouble ! As soon as i started swimming water leaked into my goggles... this has never happened before. I stopped, redressed them - but this was to happen throughout the race... unexplainable. Mistake 3 ? Yes and no - i had tested the goggles pre-race, so why this? This caused me direction problems, and i strayed off course a few times. Only the final 300m back to the beach went well - i was strong and fast. I got out of the water feeling strong, but with almost 40 minutes effort - not my best time by a long way.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Natation. - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">j'ai évité le pack et les coups en restant vers la gauche, mais dès que 50m l'eau commençait à rentrer dans mes lunettes. J'arrête et redresse les lunettes, mais sans succès - et l'eau continue à rentrer pendant toute la course. Faute n° 3 ? Oui et non - car j'ai quand même bien réglé les lunettes avant la course, pendant que je m'échauffe dans l'eau. Pas d'explication, mais ça m'a donné des problèmes d'orientation. Ce n'était que à la fin, et les derniers 300m vers la plage que j'ai bien nagé - vite et droit. Je termine sans être trop fatigué, et avec des très bonnes sensations. Mais à presque 40 minutes, pas mon meilleur temps, de loin !</span><br />
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The bike. No problem getting away, and i was going strong and fast enough, taking the energy drink as i began. I still had little appetite, and couldn't take any food - tried a banana but it didn't go down. This was not normal. I picked up an energy gel - NutriSport. I had never tried this - and no, it didn't sit well at all. Mistake 4 and 5.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Le vélo - pas de problème et je roulais bien et vite au départ, buvant une boisson énergétique. Je n'avais toujours pas d'appétit, et n'arrivais pas manger quelque chose de solide - j'ai essayé une banane, mais ça ne passait pas. Pas normal. J'ai ramassé un gel Nutrisport (fourni par le sponsor), mais je n'avais jamais essayé avant, et ça non plus, ça ne passait pas. Fautes 4 et 5 ici !</span><br />
No solids on the bike, no energy gels... not a recipe for a fast time.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Pas de nourriture, pas de gels - ce n'est pas une recette pour un bon chrono.</span><br />
What's more after 25km i hear the judge behind me - "Marti, Penalty Box." "por que ?". i didn't get the explanation. "no entiendo !". "Penalty Box 12 minutes penalty. 10m distance". I had allowed a bike to overtake me and pull in at about 7 or 8m in front and i didn't adjust - so i was, according to the rules, getting an advantage ! I was not happy about this because i had no intention of drafting, and it was hardly wheel to wheel... i just didn't pay attention ! I had to wait 5 minutes, not 12 as i thought... but was a 12 minute penalty time added ? I have no idea, and haven't checked this out. Mistake 6.<br />
I pulled into the penalty box at Km49, and waited, frustrated and resigned to a slow time. I adjusted my thoughts - just do this as a practice run for the Ironman in September and try and enjoy it. Mistake 7 - no race strategy in place at all, in fact !<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Au bout de 25 kms, j'entends une moto sur ma gauche et un des arbitres me disant "marti, Penalty Box".. "Por que... no entendio"... "twelve minutes penalty box, 10metres distance". Je regarde devant et vois un vélo à 7 ou 8m - je l'avais laissé me doubler, et se mettre devant moi, sans que j'ajuste le distance entre nous - et c'est à moi de le faire. Donc, les règles sont les règles. je ne suis pas content - je n'ai simplement pas fait attention, et j'ai payé cher. Faute 6. j'ai arrêté à KM 49, et j'attendais mes 5 minutes, comme on me disait - donc pas les 12 que l'arbitre avait annoncé. C'était frustrant et énervant, car je ne cherchais pas d'avoir un avantage...je ne faisais pas attention. Il faut toujours rester concentré. J'ai réfléchi et décidé de continuer comme si je faisais le full Ironman - et d'essayer de prendre plaisir...Faute 7 - je n'ai pas eu une vraie stratégie de course !</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mNmg6rVDnKqKq64yirheeZfIyP1-pR5FRmv33opxEoxiTuxM8MlDWRDL4hBDFj9wncookzMUl_c_BWUDI-NJmbFU4lIX3PkjxO-PsE5vwWP3gb3q2MR47fnUkCnXWNoM3mJIACT3EpY/s1600/run.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mNmg6rVDnKqKq64yirheeZfIyP1-pR5FRmv33opxEoxiTuxM8MlDWRDL4hBDFj9wncookzMUl_c_BWUDI-NJmbFU4lIX3PkjxO-PsE5vwWP3gb3q2MR47fnUkCnXWNoM3mJIACT3EpY/s320/run.jpeg" width="213" /></a>The run - by now the temps were into the 30+°c. It was very hot. I told myself to just keep a steady pace, and take it every two km to the drink or sponge stop. I was happy enough as i plodded along - imaging always that i was doing a 42km run, rather than a 21km. This helped me pace the run and it went by quickly enough in the 2h05 i was actually moving. Not a great performance, but in the circumstances, ok. I was paying for the lack of solid food inside, but took an energy drink every time, and a bottle of water to cool me down.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">La CàP. La température était arrivé dans les 30°c+ Il faisait très chaud. Jm disais de garder un rythme régulier....et de voir comment ça allait tous les 2 km, aux postes de ravitaillement. J'étais assez bien, et je m'imaginais faire un marathon plutôt qu'un semi... donc les 2h05 de course a passé sans problème, et assez rapidement. La manque de nourriture voulait dire que je n'avais pas d'accélération, pas d'énergie, mais je ne me suis pas arrêté.... prenant le temps de boire une boisson énergétique tous les 2,5 km, et de l'eau pour me rafraichir.</span><br />
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dur dur !</div>
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Esther :))</div>
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Lessons learned / <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">ce que j'ai appris</span>:<br />
Sleep well. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Faut bien dormer la veille</span><br />
Eat a solid breakfast. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Faut manger bien le matin</span><br />
Take energy gels pre-swim. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Faut prendre un/deux gels pré-natation</span><br />
Double and triple check goggles. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Faut vérifier toujours les lunettes avant la natation.</span><br />
Take solids on the bike. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Faut manger à vélo.</span><br />
Pay attention to take caffeine on the run. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Faut du caffeine pendant la CàP (coca cola..).</span><br />
Pay attention to take appropriate energy gel on the run. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Faut des gels approprié CàP.</span><br />
Enjoy the race. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">S'amuser.</span><br />
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Charisa's Pro race Diet is an excellent guide : <a href="http://charisawernick.blogspot.fr/2012/06/im-texas-race-day-nutrition.html">http://charisawernick.blogspot.fr/2012/06/im-texas-race-day-nutrition.html</a><br />
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Things I'm pleased with / <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">ce qui m'a plu </span>:<br />
Never stopped. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">J'ai continué, sans m'arrêter.</span><br />
Finished well enough. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">J'ai bien terminé.</span><br />
Am ready and confident for the Ironman distance. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Je suis prêt à affronted l'Ironman.</span><br />
Esther and her mum were at the finish line. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Esther et sa maman étaient à l'arrivée</span><br />
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Post race :<br />
I went down with flu two days after the end of the race ! So maybe i was carrying some kind of bug with me throughout.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Deux jours plus tard j'avais une grippe - 40° de température, et pas bien - j'avais sans doute un virus pendant la course ! </span><br />
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Onwards and upwards - Étape du Tour - July 8 - i can't wait. New Compact pedal set and raring to go.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Prêt pour l'Étape du Tour le 8 juillet - nouveau pédalier SRAM compact, plus performant et facile à pédaler :) </span><br />
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<br />martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-78000173594219312852012-03-17T11:56:00.000-07:002012-03-18T08:35:35.594-07:00Update - Mise à JourIt has been a very long time. Winter has melted away and the flowers Léa planted in November are beginning to bloom in the garden, the days are getting longer and temperatures are warming.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Ca fait un bon moment que je ne suis pas venu sur le Blog. L'hiver s'est fondu, et désormais les fleurs qu'on a planté au mois de novembre avec Léa, commencent à fleurir dans le jardin; le jours se prolongent et les températures sont de plus en plus douces.</span><br />
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<br />
Lots of things have been happening too. On the negative side - my projects have fallen foul to injury :<br />
a torn calf muscle since the end of January has put my training on and off to an extent that I have pulled out of the Paris eco-Trail. This isn't the end of the world, but is a bit of a disappointment, because i'd trained well through December and January - on the Home Trainer and running up and down the forest hills.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Il y a eu beaucoup d'acidité sur le plan d'entrainement aussi. Côté négatif - une blessure au mollet, petite déchirure, m'a obligé d'annuler ma participation à l'eco-Trail de Paris. Ce n'est pas la fin du monde, mais je suis un peu déçu car l'entrainement pendant les mois de décembre et janvier a été très bon.</span><br />
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On the positive side I have finally taken the plunge and joined the Triathlon club - the best move i've made for years. Early morning outdoor swims in the near deserted pool is just amazing, even if the first thing i learned was that my style needs a LOT of improving ! It's never too late though and i'm really looking forward to getting out on the road with the other triathletes.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Côté positif, j'ai enfin plongé et je me suis inscrit au club de triathlon -c'est la meilleure chose que j'ai fait depuis mon début au triathlon. Aller nager très tôt dans un bassin extérieur, à dix ou vingt nageurs, est génial. Par contre, la première chose que j'ai appris : mon style est loin d'être parfait :) Donc je vais vraiment améliorer, et j'ai hâte à sortir en vélo avec les autres triathletes !! Mieux tard que jamais :0)</span><br />
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SO right now i'm on a forced rest (apart from swimming with a float - which can become normal swimming in a week, then another week before i can get back on the bike, and maybe two more before i get to run again). This will leave me 6 or 7 weeks to get ready for the Barcelona Half-Iron which will kick off my season... May 27. Then a planned trip in June to the Alps to train on the slopes for the Étape, set for July 8. I am keeping everything in perspective because my main event this year is the Ironman in September, which i don't want to mess up.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">DONC là tout de suite, je suis en repos forcé, sauf la natation avec pullboy pendant une semaine, ensuite natation normale, et une semaine après, reprise du vélo et encore une semaine avant la course à pied. J'aurai donc 6 ou 7 semaines de préparation pou r le Half-Iron à Barcelone (27 mai); et puis je prévois une petite semaine aux alpes afin de préparer l'Étape du Tour (8 juillet) - mais tout ça avec du recul car le gros événement cette année reste l'Ironman au mois de septembre, et je n'ai pas envie de rater ça.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-25302955485535032522011-11-22T08:58:00.001-08:002011-11-22T09:08:07.381-08:00correction au calendrier 2012A slight change opf plan for 2012 before the end of 2011 ! <br />
I was going to do the Marmotte, but i have changed to do the <a href="http://www.letapedutour.com/ET1/fr/le-parcours.html" target="_blank">étape du tour acte 1</a> Albertville to La Toussuire in the Alps... urggghhhh.... it looks scary toi say the least, but i can't wait :)<br />
Riding the route of La Tour is something I've wanted to do since I sat on the saddle 3 years ago. It has always frightened me, but then again i remember when a marathon , even a half, scared me to death :)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Un petit changement au planning de la saison 2012 - à la place de la marmotte, je vais faire, enfin, l'étape du tour Albertville to La Toussiere aux Alpes - ca fait peur, mais j'ai hâte !! J eme rappelle quand l'idée de courir un marathon, même un semi, me faisait trembler !!</span><br />
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So i'm going to be burning away on my turbo this winter, and out searching for any big climb in the region !<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Je vais passer mon hiver à user les pneus sur le turbo, si je ne suis pas sur la route à la recherche de toutes les côtes de la région !!</span><br />
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<br />martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-71838461891104955362011-11-16T04:46:00.001-08:002011-11-16T04:59:42.167-08:002012The season is drawing to a close and i'm beginning to think about and plan the 2012 race calendar.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">La saison va vers sa conclusion et je commence les préparatifs pour l'année prochaine.</span><br />
<br />
1. The <a href="http://www.traildeparis.com/pages/public/index.php" target="_blank">eco-trail Paris </a>- 50km March 24 - preparation for the<br />
2. <a href="http://www.challenge-barcelona.es/" target="_blank">Half Challenge</a> Barcelona-Maresme Long Distance triathlon on May 27.<br />
3. <a href="http://www.bike-oisans.com/alpes-vtt-cyclotourisme-agenda-22.html" target="_blank">La Marmotte</a> cycling event across the Alps on July 7 (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Col du Glandon (1,924 m), the Col du Galibier (2,642 m ), and Alpe d'Huez (1,880 m ). </span><br />
4. <a href="http://www.challenge-barcelona.es/" target="_blank">The Ironman</a> Barcelona-Maresme triathlon on September 30<br />
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I will possibly add to these dates, but for now it looks good !!<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Je ferai sans doute d'autres courses, mais pour l'instant ça prend forme !!</span>martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-64422485549233013342011-10-28T02:14:00.000-07:002011-11-13T23:31:13.644-08:00Semi MarathonI was forced - by fate - to cancel my trip to Barcelona, so missed out on the triathlon. A family bereavement and Esther not feeling well enough to travel....gave rise to the old expressions : Esta la vida, c'est la vie, that's life... whatever.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Le destin m'a obligé d'annuler le vol vers Barcelona et donc le triathlon. Un décès familiale, et Esther qui ne sentait pas bien, ont fait survenir le vieux adage : Esta la vida, c'est la vie, that's life !</span><br />
Slightly disheartened I decided, last Saturday, to enter the Bois Guillaume Semi Marathon , a race I did for the last time in 1999 and again in 2000.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">C'était donc avec un coeur un peu léger que j'ai décidé de m'inscrire au semi de Bois Guillaume - une course que j'ai fait pour la dernière fois en 1999 et 2000.</span><br />
To be honest I was not looking forward to running a straight 21km, without the 90k bike and 2k swim which precede it in a Half Iron triathlon. But the fact that this year the event was also the French National Semi Marathon Championship gave it an added edge.<br />
I'm not a fast runner and never have been, my average semi times being around 1h30, the fastest at 1h29 & 1h26, and turning to triathlon in 2008 has only made my running even slower. So to enter a run-only event seemed a bit strange (i haven't done a run event since the Barcelona Marathon in March 2008, and the Templiers Trail race in October 2008).<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Pour de vrai je n'avais pas très envie de courir 21km, sans les 90km de vélo, et les 2km de natation d'un tri LD, mais le fait que cette année la course accueilait le championnat de France de semi marathon, la rendait plus intéressant. Je ne cours pas vite, et mes derniers chronos il y a 11 ans flirtaient les 1h30 à chaque fois - les plus rapides à 1h29 et 1h26.... et depuis ma conversion au triathlon, j'ai ralenti encore plus.....Donc, m'inscrire pour une simple course à pieds me donnait un drôle de sensation. Mes derniers ont été mars et octobre 2008 - le marathon, de Barcelone et la grande course des Templiers.</span><br />
So, i drove the 1.5km to the start line and registered at 16h30 on Saturday afternoon, received my number, chip and t-shirt and went back home. I enjoyed a quiet evening, an early night and a sound sleep before waking at 7h30 for breakfast, attached the chip to my running shoe, watched tv and dozed a little until 9h30 when Esther decided she'd drive me to the 10h start line. It was quite cold (6°c) and i began to think it'd be nicer to stay home and watch the rugby final, but being here, I shouted NOOO to Esther and hopped out of the car, threw my top onto the back seat and smiled, "hasta luego", and joined the other runners heading to the start line.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Donc, j'attendais samedi 16h30 avant d'aller m'inscrire et de chercher mon dossard. J'ai ensuite passé une soirée tranquille, avant de me coucher assez tôt et ayant bien dormi je me suis réveillé à 7h30 pour prendre mon petit déjeuner habituel - café et gâteaux aux céréales. Je me suis reposé à nouveau et puis Esther a décidé, à 9h30, de m'accompagner au départ, prévu pour 10h. Il faisait assez froid (6°c) et je commençais à penser que je serais mieux à la maison à regarder la finale de la coupe du monde (All Blacks - France), mais non!! Pas possible ! Je saute de la voiture, jeté mon sweat dans la voiture et dit "hasta luego" ! Les athlètes couraient dans tous les sens afin de s'échauffer.</span><br />
There were some serious looking athletes out there, warming up, sprinting here and there, stretching and breathing hard.... this was not like a triathlon !! It was so simple - no bike zone, no stress about getting everything in place...no checking the tires, no puncture worries, shoes in place ? i was starting to appreciate it.<br />
5 minutes to departure - i started, for the first time, to think "how am i going to do this thing?"<br />
I had no answer other than, "just run and see how you feel".<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Il y en avait des sérieux - faisant des sprints, des étirements.... ce ne ressemblait pas à un triathlon, ni une course longue distance, où on a tendance de prendre son temps, de savourer le moment, avec la connaissance que la journée a à peine commencé. Ici tour semblait si simple par contre - je n'avais qu'à aller au départ et courir ! Pas de stress de zone de transition, et les questions - tour est en place ? Les pneus gonflés, pas de crevaison, les chaussures....? Je commençais à l'apprécier. </span><br />
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A few pleasant smiles and off we went - about 700 runners in the Championship race, whom I didn't really get to see, as they were further ahead, and another 800 in the Open race. I had forgotten the sound of the collective pitter-patter of feet on the road, and the hushed scrunching noise as we turn onto gravel for a while... the long snaking view ahead as the faster athletes stretch ahead, the multitude of coloured tops....it was cold, but sunny and i was feeling happy to be here !! The swooshing sound of the water and whirring whizzing wheels are truly magnificent in the triathlon, but the sound sensation of 1600 feet beating the road is really something.<br />
Two loops of 10,5km - on road and in the forest, some challenging uphills, but mostly a flat, easy course.<br />
I was breathing well, and feeling good. I kept a steady regular pace throughout - and finished in 1h40, with a positive split - something i rarely do !!<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">J'échange quelques plaisanteries acec les autres coureurs - je n'ai pas vu trop d'athlètes qui couraient le championnat de France, autour de 700 - ils étaient tout en haut du peloton... - qui participaient dans la course Open (autour de 800). On est parti, d'un coup. J'avais oublié ce son de pas collectif - tellement agréable - et le changement sur le gravât... le tri est tellement différent. Le son de l'eau et des roues sont formidable - mais 800 coureurs sur le bitument est quelque chose que j'avais oublié... je prenais vraiment un grand plaisir. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Deux tours de 10,5km - sur route et en forêt, avec quelques petites montées, mais le parcours est assez plat et sans difficulté. J'ai commencé tranquillement, je respirais bien et j'ai pu garder un rythme assez bien. Et avec un salit positif (2° tour plus rapide), j'étais assez content de finir en 1h40.</span><br />
All Black !!<br />
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km 9,5<br />
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km 19<br />
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km 19,5<br />
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ALl in all this was a positive and extremely pleasant way to spend a sunny autumn Sunday morning.<br />
Esther met me and drove me home in time to see the re-run of the Rugby final, and i'd even managed to avoid knowing the score. Well done All Blacks !! The afternoon then had Manchester City demolish Manchester United 6-1.. so a very good weekend !!martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-67500628790020724182011-09-19T09:03:00.000-07:002011-09-20T22:28:45.709-07:00ENd of the Summer - fin de l'été<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl3vxEudif8">Changes </a>- turn and face the strain.... a long summer coming to an end and time to reflect .<br />
New house, which involved moving two apartments into one house - good news, big stress !<br />
I am now less than a one-minute run into the Forêt Verte, just behind.....<br />
I now have one tooth less than last year - tooth infections have plagued my summer resulting in one tooth being pulled ! aaaaarrggghhh I even lost weight, which, for a 76 kilo wannabe Ironman, is not ideal !<br />
Great holiday on the Costa Brava close to Calella and the Challenge site... a one-hour swim in a sub 16° sea resulted in hypothermia - shivering for 30 minutes is no joke !<br />
The result of all this - a postponed Ironman for 2 October (Barcelona-Maresme), replaced by an Olympic Triathlon on October 16 (Barcelona). <br />
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Happy - yes and no. Happy I can still get to Barcelona, not happy that I don't get to do the full Iron distance this year.<br />
So 2012 is already planned - Half Iron in May, Full Iron in October - the two Challenge races on the costa brava - decided and penned into my agenda.<br />
I am also planning an excursion to the Alps on the bike and possibly doing <a href="http://www.bike-oisans.com/alpes-vtt-cyclotourisme-agenda-22.html">La Marmotte </a> as a preparation for the Ironman, which will mean doing a hell of a lot of preparation for La Marmotte !!!!<br />
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So a good year to date, with a better year in sight.... and it's not over yet is it?<br />
Barcelona October 16 :°))<br />
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<br />martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4371119273547998467.post-20361718050223628572011-07-17T13:17:00.000-07:002013-07-17T23:04:27.659-07:00Paris Triathlon 2011A great setting for a great race.... Paris has it all.<br />
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Two years ago i did my first triathlon here... we were 800 or so at the start, last year 1800, and this year 3000 in two wave starts... that time (2009) I finished in 2h36, very tired and very happy to have finished; in 2010 i managed to knock 10 mins off, and had a 2h26 time, this year i completed the course in 2h28 - fresh and light, and ready to go on (77 out of 374 of my V2 category)......I know not to compare times to previous years, but to compare sensation and performance. So based on this I am much stronger and fitter than i was. This was also my 7th triathlon in two years - i am still learning how to deal with transitions, with rhythm changes, with trying to swim and cycle better and faster.... and even if my running is suffering as a result, I am determined to continue and improve - and I am still enjoying this sport.<br />
The race : began with a good steady swim - clocking around 26-27 mins (34mins with the LOOOOONG transition to the bike and out onto the bike course) for the 1500m of what was a bumpy ride as i'm constantly being knocked and swam into. I can cope with this now, and just get on without stopping - i kick harder and let the others move out of the way.... </div>
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The cycling was excellent - although the permitted drafting allows for a fast time, i seemed to spend long periods alone, trying to tie the bar tape that had come loose, into a knot so it wouldn't catch in the wheel. Only at the end, the fnal 10km along the Seine, did i catch up with a group and speed back to the Tower. Great feeling being part of a 40 cyclist peloton - so 1h07 for the course and the transition, as long as the T1, not bad!<br />
The 10km run around the Eiffel Tower was not too bad, with a just sub-45min time, though i am finding it more and more difficult to get into any kind of rhythm coming off the bike...it wasn't until km7 that i actually felt like i was running... i suffer from seasonal asthma and find it difficult to breathe, and this seems to be getting worse - certainly my past two triathlons have been affected by this. I do use ventolin, but this was in my bag so not much use !<br />
All in all an enjoyable day out !<br />
AND A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO HELPED WITH THE <a href="http://www.runningforpearl.com/">RUNNINGFORPEARL</a> CAUSE :0))<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Une grande scène pour une grande course ! À Paris, il y a tout !</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Il y a deux ans j'ai participé à mon premier triathlon - on était 800 dans la Seine, 1800 l'année dernière, et 3000 cette année - et j'ai fini en 2h36, très fatigué et simplement très contente d'avoir survécu le tourbillon dans la Seine. Cette année j'ai terminé en 2h28, (77 sur 374 de ma V2 catégorie) sans être fatigué et prêt à continuer... je sais qu'on ne peut pas comparer deux courses, mais je sais que je suis beaucoup plus fort qu'il y a deux ans...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">La course de dimanche était ma 7ème triathlon en deux ans, et je continue à apprendre à gérer les transitions, les changements de rythme, à améliorer ma performance en vélo et en natation... et même si la qualité de ma course à pieds en souffre, je vais continuer à apprendre, à améliorer, et à m'amuser.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">La course était bien - la natation a été bonne, avec un chrono autour de 26-7 mins pour les 1500m (on a annoncé 1600m en fait), ce qui fait 34 mins avec la très longue transition (à courir plus de 1 km afin de trouver le vélo, et re-sortir du parc). J'étais dans la première vague de départ avec les licenciés, qui ont de l'expérience, et j'ai pris beaucoup de coups, tout le long du parcours - donc plus difficile qu'avant... mais je me battais bien, et me suis bien défendu... je commence à connaitre la chanson de la machine à laver dans la Seine !</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Le vélo - très satisfaisant pour moi - un peu plus rapide que les années précédentes (1h07 pour les 40km et la transition, aussi longue que la T1, donc pas mal !), et même avec le drafting permis, et en me trouvant souvent seul, j'ai vraiment aimé le parcours, et avec encore 10 km à parcourir, la tour eiffel en vue, j'ai eu le plaisir de rouler dans un peloton d'une quarantaine de coureurs - très agréable, et très rapide!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Les 10km autour de la tour Eiffel étaient moins agréables - du fait que je trouvais pas de rythme, et du au fait que je souffre de l'asthme en été (avec le pollen et la chaleur-, et que j'avais laissé mon ventolin dans mon sac!! Il me fallait arriver au km 7 avant d'avoir un peu de vitesse, et de rythme, et d'avoir l'impression que je courais pour du vrai.. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Conclusion : une journée très agréable !!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">ET UN GRAND MERCI À TOUS QUI ONT AIDÉ AVEC LE PROJET </span><a href="http://www.runningforpearl.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">RUNNINGFORPEARL</span></a><br />
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martin briarshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01149210901632283156noreply@blogger.com4