Sunday, 23 August 2009
A point in time
I want to go back to Norway and get a black t-shirt. This will mean taking about 1.5 hours off my combined cycle and swim time (mostly off the cycle) and being strong enough to run the first 25km at least of the run and then quick march to the two cut off points.
I will see how next year goes and use events such as North Cornwall Tor as a guide to progress (target time for 2010 = 8 hours).
Regardless, I do feel proud of finishing this time and feel honoured to have shared the experience with Si and Julie: apologies to both of you if I was a bit 'down' after and did not share my gratitude with you.
Thanks also to those who wished me luck and sent congratulations to me on finishing, particulalry Royzy whose text re white t-shirt cheered me up (and good luck to you for 2008!) and thanks to Dave for looking after work while I was away.
I will wear my white t-shirt with pride and happy memories...
I will see how next year goes and use events such as North Cornwall Tor as a guide to progress (target time for 2010 = 8 hours).
Regardless, I do feel proud of finishing this time and feel honoured to have shared the experience with Si and Julie: apologies to both of you if I was a bit 'down' after and did not share my gratitude with you.
Thanks also to those who wished me luck and sent congratulations to me on finishing, particulalry Royzy whose text re white t-shirt cheered me up (and good luck to you for 2008!) and thanks to Dave for looking after work while I was away.
I will wear my white t-shirt with pride and happy memories...
I can run
I had always thought no matter how difficult a cycle I would put on my running shoes and plod round a marathon...
That myth was dispelled on the Norseman.
Even after 18 minutes in transition 'regrouping' (and being asked to bare my buttocks for camera) I left T2 with NOTHING in the tank. The first 2km of the run took 15 minutes and I got slower. There is one picture of me running taken by Julie that shows me stooped and broken. I was so pleased when the 25km point came and I was faced with Zombie Hill which it was 'okay' (even in Norway) to walk up.
It is here I should say I do think I would even have managed to walk up this hill or walk the 10km after that if not for Si and Julie.
I have read subsequently of one competitor who left the final run/ walk to go inside the Hotel and regroup/ change etc before re-emerging to complete the event. I know how they felt and if it had not been for Si and Julie being with me I would have left and not come back out!
When I finished there was no elation from me. I was too tired (and humbled by the course...)
That myth was dispelled on the Norseman.
Even after 18 minutes in transition 'regrouping' (and being asked to bare my buttocks for camera) I left T2 with NOTHING in the tank. The first 2km of the run took 15 minutes and I got slower. There is one picture of me running taken by Julie that shows me stooped and broken. I was so pleased when the 25km point came and I was faced with Zombie Hill which it was 'okay' (even in Norway) to walk up.
It is here I should say I do think I would even have managed to walk up this hill or walk the 10km after that if not for Si and Julie.
I have read subsequently of one competitor who left the final run/ walk to go inside the Hotel and regroup/ change etc before re-emerging to complete the event. I know how they felt and if it had not been for Si and Julie being with me I would have left and not come back out!
When I finished there was no elation from me. I was too tired (and humbled by the course...)
'Your bike for sale?'
You can read much more in depth analysis of the bike ride on other race reports or by looking at some of videos posted on YouTube. Suffice to say:
a) I found it incredibly physically and mentally challenging (I had to keep saying to myself to 'keep going' or 'come on')
b) I was only doing 4 or 5 miles per hour up the hills (just sitting in the saddle and turning the pedals in the lowest gear)
The only time I felt 'good' was when I got to half way in my target time AND was informed by one of Norseman Crew that only small climbs now (*)
The second half almost destroyed me the worst part was on the plateau of Imingfell (after crawling up the last climb) and finding myself in a head wind cycling like a madman and only doing 11 mph.
I was so pleased when I descended off that peak and realised I was going to make the cut off time for continuing the event.
(* = so stupid to have been taken in - I had seen the climbs when we drove the cycle route. They are I believe 3 climbs of c 3 km and one of 7.5 km ie road covered not height gained!)
Part way up one of the climbs in the 2nd half of the cycle segment there was a message painted 'Your bike for sale?' - which did bring a rare and fleeting smile to my face (there were several of these messages on the uphills of both the cycle and run my favourite was probably 'your mum could run faster' which appeared on the walk up Zombie Hill).
A thank you at this stage to my cycling guru's for tips passed on in the past few years; Simon M, Si and James O - I thought of you all as I tackled the hills:
a) I found it incredibly physically and mentally challenging (I had to keep saying to myself to 'keep going' or 'come on')
b) I was only doing 4 or 5 miles per hour up the hills (just sitting in the saddle and turning the pedals in the lowest gear)
The only time I felt 'good' was when I got to half way in my target time AND was informed by one of Norseman Crew that only small climbs now (*)
The second half almost destroyed me the worst part was on the plateau of Imingfell (after crawling up the last climb) and finding myself in a head wind cycling like a madman and only doing 11 mph.
I was so pleased when I descended off that peak and realised I was going to make the cut off time for continuing the event.
(* = so stupid to have been taken in - I had seen the climbs when we drove the cycle route. They are I believe 3 climbs of c 3 km and one of 7.5 km ie road covered not height gained!)
Part way up one of the climbs in the 2nd half of the cycle segment there was a message painted 'Your bike for sale?' - which did bring a rare and fleeting smile to my face (there were several of these messages on the uphills of both the cycle and run my favourite was probably 'your mum could run faster' which appeared on the walk up Zombie Hill).
A thank you at this stage to my cycling guru's for tips passed on in the past few years; Simon M, Si and James O - I thought of you all as I tackled the hills:
- Use body to reduce speed on descents (Simon M)
- Lean on downhill bends (Simon M)
- Keep spinning on ascents (James O)
- Arse over saddle on more tricky descents - from occasional mountain bike rides (James O)
Sandbagger?
Swim was 'strange' melee at first and then large periods where I was swimming alone. We had been warned that currents would be against us so I had said to Si I maybe 2 hours (based on my pool times).
Got out of water in 1 hour 28 minutes. When I got to my bike Si remarked that I was a lot quicker than I had expected and one of the other crew quipped 'he was sandbagging then?'. Which I took to mean setting my stall out for a worse event than maybe was likely. This maybe something I am guilty of!
Got out of water in 1 hour 28 minutes. When I got to my bike Si remarked that I was a lot quicker than I had expected and one of the other crew quipped 'he was sandbagging then?'. Which I took to mean setting my stall out for a worse event than maybe was likely. This maybe something I am guilty of!
A friend in deed
I had maybe not sounded that enthusiastic when Si had said about accompanying me on the ferry (I did not want Si to feel obliged...) but I was very glad when from on-board I could see that Si was part of a group of the 'support crew' who was going to make it on. I immediately felt more relaxed.
We chugged further away from shore one of may 'fears' for the day began to dissipate with the rising sun - I would be able to see (and follow) my fellow swimmers...
Big cheer went up when water temperature was announced at 17 degrees.
We chugged further away from shore one of may 'fears' for the day began to dissipate with the rising sun - I would be able to see (and follow) my fellow swimmers...
Big cheer went up when water temperature was announced at 17 degrees.
Those retching exercises...
I do not warm up in the traditional way by stretching etc I just 'retch' and in T1 I had to leave Si with bike as I threw up flem. Nice...
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