Who you train with, remains nearly as important as what type of training you undertake." - Coach W
The last two months I have spent training under the expert tutelage of Bruno, which has had its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages have been my training has been a lot more focused, with new words entering my vocabulary like "critical swim set", "breakthrough workout" and "pickups". I have trained like never before and feel the fittest and fastest I've ever been. But it has taken me away from my Tritons friends and the workout sessions. I would not have made it through the winter and gone to so many running sessions had it not for meeting Thea and us working through the weeks of hill reps and fartleks (which sound so much more amusing than they actually are) with the fast people lapping us. I can see the point of training alone, as in a race you are essentially on your own, but trying to keep up with friends is also very motivating.
So the weeks training alone flew past, with endless speed/distance sets and even the odd recce session in the preparation for London. I'd had to leave poor Stu at home making dinner etc countless times and he'd encouraged me to go out and do the activities planned. I'd never have done it without him, so I am so grateful for his support and delicious suppers! I'd done the standard distance at Dartford so I knew I could do it, but the nerves started to ramp up and the dreams of endless cycling started again...
I'd been told off by Bruno for planning to go and support my friends at the club champs at Bewl the day before. But if it hadn't been for London being on Sunday I would have come and done Bewl myself (although I was mighty glad that they did clash because I'd done Bewl the year before and remembered the horrible run!) so I asked Dom if he'd give me a lift, so I didn't have to drive. It was great to go and see my friends race and everyone thanked us for cheering them on, but it's so much easier to cheer than to actually participate!
The day arrived, and I'd planned to get to the Excel Centre via the ferry. Luckily I'd left early as the ferry was of course not open until 11, so I had to take the tunnel. Unfortunately as they'd closed the roads for the event the sat nav got very confused (and so did I). I ended up almost in Poplar before finally finding a road that had directions. I have absolutely no idea how I found my way in but somehow I found the parking, thank goodness! As I came in I saw Alex going out on the course, which I thought was funny!
I'd got to transition early enough to pick a good spot, so I got nice and close to the bike out and in sections, next to a stand so I could lean my bags against it. I spent the next hour or so wandering around the expo trying various things, setting up my transition area and seeing if I could find anyone. I ended up seeing Alex and Adam out on the run course so I cheered them on. The swim looked like a long old way! I'm not used to seeing it as one lap and it stretched all the way up the Excel building and beyond and then all the way back!
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| At the start. Yes I am wearing two caps - I have such a large head I need two as my cap is the only one that fits properly! |
It was finally time to set off. I saw Dom at the start and everyone else said they saw me but I missed them! The guy setting us off was brilliant - warming us up, getting us into a rousing chorus of "Oggy Oggy Oggy - Oi Oi OI! and then we went down the steps and into the water. The water was a good temperature and we made our way to the start, although there must have been a bit of a flow/tide as we kept having to swim backwards so that we weren't over the start line! I tried not to be at the front, and not too close to the racing line, but as soon as we were off, there was a bit of kicking and banging into everyone else. I tried to stay out of the way, and if anyone got close to me I just started kicking my legs a bit more vigorously to get them out of the way! The swim seemed to go OK, I was relieved when we finally got to the turning points and then could come back, looking all the way to see where I was going, as I seemed to be getting closer and closer to the racing line... A bit of water got into my goggles which made my eyes water as it was slightly salty, so I couldn't wait to get the goggles off, which made me swim harder so I could get out! Finally we turned around the last buoys and I could see the ramp to help us out. I tried to stop a little before the ramp and some nice lady told me I had to swim a bit further in. She helped me out and even offered to unzip my wetsuit, which of course I accepted!
Wetsuits have to come off in the chute leading to the stairs, and then I saw my cheering friends as well which was great and lovely! I chucked everything in the bag they gave me and started off up the stairs. I'd done the swim in 33 minutes, which wasn't bad, not as good as Dartford. My aim for next year is to get under the 30 minutes. I got to the transition area and to my bike fine, whereupon a bit of the Docks water and some of the peanut bar I'd eaten earlier decided to repeat on me. Not good. But I thought, I've got to keep going, this is my A race after all, and I'll be fine on the bike.
I loved the bike course. I love my new bike! The hours that I'd spent training on it, getting faster on it, and growing my confidence with it had really really helped! I spent a bit of time trying to get over the nausea and trying to get myself to drink (the drinks bottle I have attached to my bike is the best thing ever!) and then that song "Search for the Hero" by M People came into my head. I really dug deep and started to chase a lady from Lincoln tri and fight against my stomach. This time I didn't have such bad cramps or numbness in my hands and I whizzed through the bike course in just over an hour and 14 minutes.
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| Powering through the bike course |
Then it was time for the run. The run is always going to be my nemesis. Especially with a dodgy stomach! I hadn't managed to eat any gels or anything since the race had started, the only thing I'd had was the sports drink on the bike, of which I'd only drunk about 400 ml or so. I was afraid to eat anything or take on any more gels in case the rest of whatever was in my stomach decided it wanted a quick exit! I just thought, I'll start running, all I have to do is run. It doesn't matter how fast, just run - don't walk. I thought about Jackie, the lady who was so brave and fought cancer for so long, and I tried to take some strength from that. I was doing the race in her memory, and you can sponsor me through
Virgin Money Giving. The lady from Lincoln Tri came past me but I didn't mind. The support out on the course was brilliant. I saw all my friends by the bridge and then we went out along the river past the Chinese restaurant. At the lowest point is when you get the water stations which was good positioning and also a welcome respite in the warm! We were very lucky because the last couple of weeks have been blisteringly hot and thankfully it had cooled down in time for this weekend. It was still warm, but not horribly hot. I saw a couple of people throwing up out on the course which made me realize it wasn't just me who'd suffered from the water.
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| Must not be sick... must keep running! |
So I plodded on, trying to keep my breathing in check as I thought I couldn't breathe, trying not to get a stitch, getting cheers from my friends every time I went past them (thanks guys!) and encouragement from Dom letting me know I was so nearly there! And finally I came round for my last lap (phew!) and made it back up the hill (I never stopped to walk up it! Hooray!) and into the Excel Centre for the last time. As I came past my friends something came over me and I sprinted for the finish! Not sure where that last burst of energy came from but I was oh so glad to finish!
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| Yay! I finished in 2 h 58! And that's that Erdinger alcohol-free beer before you ask! |
So what now? I finished London in 2h 58, which is a minute faster than Dartford (hey, I'll take that!). I was about half way through my age group and half way through the female group, so I've succeeded in "not coming nearly last" at least! I've got my last sprint triathlon of the season at the end of September but I'm not sure what I'm doing next year yet. London was great and I will most likely do it again but probably not next year. We will see!
