Marin Winter Series - Thetford

Last sunday saw the first round of this series. I've ridden at Thetford many times but not given this race a go so thought it about time. Preparation was not ideal - Jo and I were at Tim's party the night before and didn't crash out until 3:00 am. An early start of 6.00am for the 140 mile drive left me feeling pretty shaky on the start line!
Once we got going though the race was excellent, lots of fine twisty singletrack linked with stretches of fireroad and three bombholes - Real bombholes at thetford t00 :o) I came 18th in the male 4hour solo and Jo 9th. Both pretty good results but you have to wonder how we might have done with better preparation.

Unfortunately this effort left my defences low and the kids' virus that I've been avoiding for the last few days finally got me and I spent most of that night locked in the bathroom. At least I made it home before the symptoms kicked in!

A good day's racing!

At last, at bloody last! After running the Brighton 10K every year since 2002 I've finally managed to break the 40 minute barrier :o) Not sure what the official time will be yet but I ran under the clock at 39:40 and my stopwatch showed 39:28 so the chip time should be something like that. It was pretty painful but I've trained hard this year and it's finally paid off.

After that I headed over to Stanmer to see if I could get there in time to catch the cyclocross race. It was tight but the officials were ace and helped me sign on quick and even pinned my number to my back for me. Made it to the start line just after the GO so had to chase them down and start working my way up through the pack. Course was great, muddy and twisty but not too slippy and with enough roots to keep things interesting. Don't know where I came but I made a decent showing and the ride helped to work out some of the stiffness in my legs from the morning's run. Reckon this is the way to go in future. If only I was a decent swimmer I'd have a crack at a triathlon.



:o)

Nice day for it

Didn't get out for my usual early morning ride today - Nope, I got up a bit later and spent the morning with the kids. So, by the time I went out for the afternoon I was feeling nicely laid back. Instead of tooling round as fast as possible I took some time to look behind the hedges and explore a few paths I've often glanced at and wondered about. Sure I was rewarded with plenty of dead ends and bramble-overgrown slogs but there was plenty of good stuff to compensate. Also took time to stop and chat to anyone I passed. And still managed too get many miles in before dark. Quicker isn't necessarily better.

Up to speed...

Hmm, been a bit slack keep this up to date haven't I? Not as slack as say - John for example but pretty poor all the same. ;o)

So what have up been doing seen we got back from France? Well, running and cycling mainly in an effort to find out just how fit I could get if i really put my mind to it. So mainly quite dull unless you're into that sort of thing. But, a few highlights have been:

I tried golf. My work had a golf day so I thought I'd give it a go. Not as boring as I'd have thought, I quite got into it and showed a reasonable aptitude, but it takes an enormous amount of time. Time that I can't help think could be better spend riding around in the hills rather than walking around a relatively small patch off grass carrying a heavy bag.

Entered 2 10k run. The first at Arundel was an offroad affair. Really nice route which went straight through the castle and off into the estate on paths usually closed to the public. I enjoyed it but didn't really run to full potential due to some weird stitch like pain that stopped me from going all out. Did ok though, coming 57th - Results. Yesterday I did the Bexhill 10k, a mainly flat run along the seafront I thought I might be on for a personal best but didn't reckon on the hill that we had to run over twice in the last 4k. Came 25th in this one - Results.

Cycling... Well apart from several bike sunday rides, night rides and a couple of goes on the cross bike, the biggest thing was the Southern sportif 150k ride on the 10th of September. This was ace, a big road ride through a prt of the south largely unexplored by me. Kind of tough but good fun and an excellent excuse for a big curry later.
That's me on the far right drinking tea - well, one has to maintain standards!

Also took the kids to legoland. They loved it and I had a pretty good time too. Imi went on her first roller coaster and jack learnt to drive.
The '4d' cinema was pretty impressive too. Watched two short films 'Spell Breaker' and 'Lego Racers'. Computer animations that you watched through polarised glasses. Really effective 3d enhanced with falling snow, wind, heat etc. Think I was more impressed than the children! :o)

Anyway, must go - I've left the window open and now the lounge is full of crane flies - Bah!

Les Alpes

Well, I've not long been back from our whistle-stop tour of the Alps. John drove Me and Jenn down to his dads place near Morzine where we got to watch stage 17 of Le Tour de France. Superbe! We cycled up to the top of the Col de Joux Plane in the morning, actually not that steep but pretty long (about 12k) 'course it's one thing to ride up up it as we did, enjoying the viewand trying to chat with the locals in pigeon French, quite another to finish a 200k stage by racing up it (not forgetting the previous 16 stages). Once at the top we staked a place and waited for the real riders to come through.
Now I've never seen the tour live before and what you don't see on TV is the huge, mad and frankly quite surreal procession that come before the racers. Giant coffee pots, dancing animals, mobile raves, all advertising some sponsor or others tat and flinging handfuls of sweets, hats and leaflets to the slavering horders. We sat higher up the slopes maintaining a more dignified British decorum. ;o)
So, the Race streaked through, Landis well ahead of the others - as we later found out he'd made his race winning move earlier that day and managed to stay ahead until the end. Awesome...

Day 2 John and I went out to get a taste of the off road riding with a local guide (Martial). Sound fella who showed as some nice rocky and rooty singletrack and some spectacular views. John was having a clumsy day and took the odd tumble, but luckily had plenty of time to catch up due to repeated punctures from myself and our guide (Gavin:4 Martial:2). Note to self, fatter tyres for the Alps next time!

A few piccies here.

Happy Birthday Me!

Oh OK then...

Yes I'm 38 today - hard to believe with these boyish good looks I know *cof*!

In other news...mountain mayhem was good this year. Didn't rain so we actually had the luxury of riding the course rather than dragging our bikes through a swamp littered with the bodies of fallen comrades and through rivers swollen with the tears of frustration. No, this the course was dry, fast and relatively easy so laps were quick and consistent. Jey pride came 53rd in Sport Men and I am told we were 5th singlespeed team. But big, big respect to Jenn for WINNING the female soloists with a buttock battering 25 laps!

Happy Birthday Imi!

My little girl is five today :o)

Hottest day of the summer so far and...

...I've got a cold! Now that (are you paying attention at the back Alanis?) that, is ironic. Felt fine until about 8 last night and then came down with the whole sneeezing, headache, sweating thing. Hardly any sleep so ended up phoning in sick today. Not a totally wasted day as after loading up with cold capsules and sleeping for a couple of hours I felt well enough to paint a few skirting boards. I'm *that* close to finishing all this home improvement stuff - well on one floor anyway.

Be a relief to finally pack the tools away for a bit! :o)

On a more summery theme here's Jack flying a kite.

Come on! Who wants some?

Wanderingav is a Giant Moth that breathes Fire, emits Ultrasonic Screams, has four Extra Limbs, is Guarding its Nest, Screeches when Angry, and can Generate Electricity. Strength: 3 Agility: 8 Intelligence: 5 To see if your Giant Battle Monster can defeat Wanderingav, enter your name and choose an attack: fights Wanderingav using Strength Agility Intelligence

It's Grim Up North...

Nah, it was great really. Just back from another fantastic weekend in Appletreewick in Yorkshire. Freezing cold and hard as hell, but top riding and superb hospitality as always from John at the New Inn. Big thanks to Rory for organisation and unflagging enthusiasm, and to Phil, Grant, Jerome, John, Lorraine and err me for being generally cool and making the whole weekend special. You guys ROCK! (Makes devil sign with fingers)

;o)

More Pictures

Steyning Stinger

Well, that was ****ing brilliant! :o)

Nigel and I set off with the mass start at 9.00am. The sun was out, the ground was dry and there was a cool breeze blowing. Perfect! We ran though a small field and onto the opening stretch of tarmac. After about a mile we were off into the forest . A couple of rises to warm us up, a short slippy downhill into Washington village for a quick cup of water and then the first 'Sting'. Sheesh, that was steep, after a hundred yards or so everyone gave into the inevitable and walked up, after all it wasn't much slower than running anyway. Then we were onto the top of the downs. Windy now but we only had half a mile before we turned and then the wind was behind us for the rest of the day. We then had a long steepish but runnable climb topping out at chanctonbury ring where we passed our support team. Cheers all, that certainly helped keep us moving!
A run down through Chalk Pit woods followed, this was my favourite part - rooty, steep and with the odd slippy patch to add excitment! Then it was just a couple of miles along the flat back to the finish and our free and very welcome cooked breakfast.
I finished in 1:56. A time I'm well pleased with, only 10 minutes slower than for the on-road half marathon in Brighton two weeks before. Nigel came in just a minute or so behind my, despite claiming to have hardly prepared at all (secret training I reckon).
All in all that was one of the best events I've ever attended. Now thinking about having a crack at the full Marathon next year...

(Thank to Rory at U.S.E for the pic)

Brighton Beacon Half-Marathon

Oops, I seem to be doing this this weekend! I wasn't down to but Ian has had to drop out due to a broken fingernail or something so I'm filling his shoes for this one. Actually this will make a nice warm up for the Steyning Stinger a couple of weeks later.

:o)

UPDATE: Well, that wasn't too bad. Weather wasn't good, overcast, drizzly and with a headwind all the way on the longest straight section (about 6 miles). Still, ran it in 1:45:59 which is pretty much what I expected. Don't even feel too bad today, bit achey but nothing too serious. Looking good for the Stinger in a couple of weeks. :o)


Some rather small and rather expensive pics here

Epiphany

That's what today is - or twelth day, take your pick. It's all to do with magi and stuff and of no real consequence to me. What it does mean is that the xmas tree will soon be making a pilgrimage to the green waste recycling bin and my *cof* extensive decorations can come down. A sign that the winter/new year hiatus is over and it's time to press on with new projects.

So what's in store this year? Well nothing too ambitious yet: Bathroom will need addressing soon and various bits of DIY to finish off but this year I'm hoping is one to find balance. Balance between work and play, between training and twatting about, between exercise and exotic dancing. So shall be looking for a few things to challenge myself with while trying to enjoy the ride a bit more.

Have foolishly put my name down for 'The Steyning Stinger' in March. An offroad hall-marathon - so, essentially twice the distance I've raced over before plus added hills. Better get training!

Oh, an I've turned up in Delbert's blog. God knows why but go and say hello, he's an entertaining sort of fellow. Probably not all there like but he seems harmless enough...