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...
Another alarm bell rings...
or thank you insomnia.
Race morning featured a ridiculously early registration and bike check at Eidfjord before ferry chugs away to start of swim at 4.40am. Anyway, Si set alarm for 3am and I for 2.45am.
However, I awoke early and checked my watch and saw it was 2am so I lay in bed thinking about day ahead until 2.30am when I got up. I then realised I had not adjusted my alarm clock for Norway being 1 hour ahead.
So I thought lucky I woke up but would have been ok as Si would have awoken me anyway when his alarm went off. I
got changed into wetsuit and watched the time move past 3.10am before I thought 'can't hear anything from Si's room'... turned out he had done exactly what I had re alarm...
(What we had done well was pack the night before so as soon as Si was up we departed for Eidfjord)
Race morning featured a ridiculously early registration and bike check at Eidfjord before ferry chugs away to start of swim at 4.40am. Anyway, Si set alarm for 3am and I for 2.45am.
However, I awoke early and checked my watch and saw it was 2am so I lay in bed thinking about day ahead until 2.30am when I got up. I then realised I had not adjusted my alarm clock for Norway being 1 hour ahead.
So I thought lucky I woke up but would have been ok as Si would have awoken me anyway when his alarm went off. I
got changed into wetsuit and watched the time move past 3.10am before I thought 'can't hear anything from Si's room'... turned out he had done exactly what I had re alarm...
(What we had done well was pack the night before so as soon as Si was up we departed for Eidfjord)
The chicken door - an example of Norseman physce
The pre-race briefing featured a drawing of the ferry that would take us to the swim start with people jumping off the back (a good few feet above sea level).
An alternative exit closer the water level was arrowed 'chicken door'...
An alternative exit closer the water level was arrowed 'chicken door'...
Dipping a toe (and rest of body) in the water
There are so many things that went better than I could have hoped re the event - one of those was the reassembling the bike in Norway after flight. No problems at all - in stark contrast to when I tried to reassemble in UK afterwards and got the chain so twisted that I had to take it into bike shop to have a new chain...
Bike assembled I cycled down to Eidfjord proper (we were staying part way up the hill that led away from fjord base) to be joined by Si and Julie. Took the opportunity after registration to go for first swim in new wetsuit. Was joined by Si and we had lovely swim in still waters that were not too cold at all. (Si did outswim me after I 'blew up' after trying to blitz him on way back to pontoon)
After we got out a fellow competitor and his support crew joined us on the pontoon. I watched Hugh enter the water and swim off, turned away for a few seconds and looked round again to see he had covered a huge distance. Conversation with his support crew revealed he had exited water 30th in Lanzarote Ironman...
(He would exit swim 3rd here...)
Bike assembled I cycled down to Eidfjord proper (we were staying part way up the hill that led away from fjord base) to be joined by Si and Julie. Took the opportunity after registration to go for first swim in new wetsuit. Was joined by Si and we had lovely swim in still waters that were not too cold at all. (Si did outswim me after I 'blew up' after trying to blitz him on way back to pontoon)
After we got out a fellow competitor and his support crew joined us on the pontoon. I watched Hugh enter the water and swim off, turned away for a few seconds and looked round again to see he had covered a huge distance. Conversation with his support crew revealed he had exited water 30th in Lanzarote Ironman...
(He would exit swim 3rd here...)
A long drive - and issues with hand brake turns
Safely in Norway we collected our hire car 'the grey Passat': a beast of a vehicle that had sufficient luggage space to take bike bag and all rucksacks etc.
Si drove excellently through out our trip and the the only problems we experienced were:
a) where was the handbrake
b) what to do with toll charges
c) how to use the pumps at petrol station
a) and c) were resolved by asking nice Norwegian people (who fortunately spoke excellent English - the phrase book I bought for £12 at airport, having left one I purchased in England in my car, was ****).
Even after mastering the electric handbrake Si did ponder how to do a handbrake turn without a manual handbrake.
We detoured on route between Oslo and Eidfyord to look at the bike route - it was a long drive for me as the hills were a little bit more hilly (mountainous) than I had envisaged....
Si drove excellently through out our trip and the the only problems we experienced were:
a) where was the handbrake
b) what to do with toll charges
c) how to use the pumps at petrol station
a) and c) were resolved by asking nice Norwegian people (who fortunately spoke excellent English - the phrase book I bought for £12 at airport, having left one I purchased in England in my car, was ****).
Even after mastering the electric handbrake Si did ponder how to do a handbrake turn without a manual handbrake.
We detoured on route between Oslo and Eidfyord to look at the bike route - it was a long drive for me as the hills were a little bit more hilly (mountainous) than I had envisaged....
The weigh in and need for bubble wrap...
My lack of proper preparation for the event began to show as early as the morning of our travel to Heathrow with my not knowing about baggage allowances for the plane...A rough and ready weigh in on bathroom scales at home gave only some comfort so it was with some trepidation that we approached check in desk for our flight.
Suffice to say I was a few kg over the 32 allowed for my bike bag and thus what followed was:
a) transfer of stuff to hand luggage
b) us annoying other people in the queue by re-weighing/ extensive deliberations etc
I thought I dealt with situation quite well but maybe the 'panic' did effect me as a few minutes later whilst going through security I managed to drop my boarding pass through the metal rollers on the conveyor belt you put the trays/ bags on. Fortunately, there was no need to stop the whole queue and a man and a long piece of plastic combined to retrieve fallen item!
(Learning point - use bubble wrap in bike bag as Julie advised...)
Panic: buying
In the last 2 weeks before the event I did a lot of two things:
a) panicking
b) buying
The panicking was set off when I read (rather belatedly) information on the Internet about the Norseman, in particular 'Smithy's Norseman Report' If I had read this before last August would I have entered? (For those of you who read this entertaining account of the 2005 event you may be also be interested to know that 'Smithy' has I understand this year qualified to do Kona...) I then scoured the Internet for anything would hopefully let me know that Lanzarote was just as difficult - nothing was forthcoming.
However, I did find useful guide to preparing (kit wise as was as mentally) for the event Norseman Notes
Panic/ last minute buys in the last two weeks included:
- Running shoes, gloves and coat for the mountain (who was I kidding!)
- Wetsuit (see * below)
- Glue for neoprene boots.
- Roof box for car
* = I had my old one suit dropped off at Snugg the week before the event to be patched up but Malcolm rang and advised that I would be better off getting a new suit and that he could have a new one ready for collection on Tuesday if I popped into to be measured up on the Saturday. I was/am extremely grateful to Malcolm and the Snugg team...
Saturday, 22 August 2009
I did it: the film version
Royzy does not like novels so this blog is the 'film' version of my Norseman adventure i.e., a highlights only version of race day...
Got up 2.30am - (fortunately as alarm clock incorrectly set)
Woke up Si at 3am (fortunately as his alarm clock incorrectly set)
Retched and retched some more 4am
Started event at 5.15am
Finished at 11.25pm (yes, that is 18 hours and 10 minutes after I started)
Have never felt as drained...
Aim to go back for mountain finish in 2011: must get a black t-shirt!
P.S. You can see a video of the event on http://www.youtube.com/nxtri (I am briefly featured at 1 min 35 seconds in)
Got up 2.30am - (fortunately as alarm clock incorrectly set)
Woke up Si at 3am (fortunately as his alarm clock incorrectly set)
Retched and retched some more 4am
Started event at 5.15am
Finished at 11.25pm (yes, that is 18 hours and 10 minutes after I started)
Have never felt as drained...
Aim to go back for mountain finish in 2011: must get a black t-shirt!
P.S. You can see a video of the event on http://www.youtube.com/nxtri (I am briefly featured at 1 min 35 seconds in)
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