ProBikeFit

June 24, 2015

Triathlon

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ProBikeFit

Yes, I agree it has been a little while since my last blog entry, over six weeks if I remember correctly and before I dive straight into last weekends race I need to say a huge ‘Thank You’ to the guys Callum and Kevin at Pro Bike Fit cycle shop based out in Thatcham, Berkshire. It was 17:30 on Friday 29thMay, two days before my race at the World Triathlon series, London. I decided to start work early on building my bike that evening, when I noticed a little bulge in the sidewall of my rear tyre. My initial reaction was one of sheer panic. For one, it was Friday evening and I assumed most places would be closed and if they were open I probably wouldn’t have made it to anywhere nearby considering the traffic around Reading on a Friday evening. Secondly, it’s about £80 for a replacement tubular tyre. I picked up the phone straight away and called the shop. I went straight into explaining the situation I was in, not realising that I had come through to Kevin (my Triathlon club’s running coach). He very calmly suggested that I get in the car as soon as possible and get down to the shop and see what they could do. On arrival, I met Callum who replaced the whole tyre and glued it back on to the rim for me. It was pushing close to 19:00 at this stage, on a Friday, baring in mind they close at 18:00. You guys really saved the day for me and as a result I was able to race in London and helped me avoid what could have been a nasty, race-ending, blow out. So again, thank you – and I’m sure I’ve racked up a few beer fines… to be cashed in at the next social?

Last weekend’s race was the Mullaghmore GloHealth sprint distance triathlon in County Sligo, Ireland. I had arranged to drive back from Reading via the ferry at Holyhead. It worked out to be relatively the same price as flying with a bike bag and I had the added luxury of having my own mode of transport for the weekend once I arrived into Dublin on the Friday morning. The weekend was also a get-together for a good 16 of us who were staying in the family holiday home to celebrate my ‘Old man’ becoming and old man, turning 50 years old this month. Out of the 16 of us, 5 of us were racing. It felt like we had our own private cheerleading club with us – who were quite vocal throughout the race so thanks again, the support is always appreciated by the racers!

The race was a 750m open water sea swim, 20km cycle and 5km run. It sounds nice and easy when thinking about it, especially after just completing an Olympic distance race however I find it to be quite a difficult race. Probably one of the most difficult on my calendar anyway. The reason being is that the last two years that I have done it the sea has been choppy, it has been windy on the cycle and the run is a hilly course that loops around a cliff faced headland. There’s always the added pressure that I race against my younger brother (who’s faster than me) and dad and his two brothers. The aim is to finish second out of the 5 of us but you never know how the other guys have been training. There have been rumour flying around that sea swims have been taking place back home in Dublin in preparation, sounds like the competition will be tight.

Swim: The swim went very well for me compared to previous years. My time of 16:30 wasn’t going to win any awards but my plan to start off gently and build up the pace meant that I didn’t inhale half of the Atlantic Ocean as I have done in recent years. The sea was relatively flat and calm which also lead to a good swim overall for me.

Bike: This was the first  race back home that I was able to use my own bike and wheels and I felt comfortable from the start on the bike leg. I had a good transition out of the swim of just over a minute which helped me just sneak in front of my uncle who had come in before me on the swim. With not much of a head wind around this year we were cycling along quite nicely for the entire route. The route is quite hilly, long dragged out hills as opposed to short kickers which suits me on the TT bike. I also cycled with a GoPro camera mounted on my crossbar, I look forward to watching the footage shortly as there was a lot of switching positions between my uncle and I across the whole of the bike leg.

Run:

Another good transition time of just under a minute helped me catch up with my uncle (again). I started off gently for the first kilometre because there are two huge hills that take you up to the top of the headland and I have burnt myself out previously by starting off too fast. Starting gently, I picked people off individually which is always a great feeling. You can’t beat the satisfaction of passing guys who would have smoked by you on their cycle leg, part of the fun of racing across the three disciplines – it’s not over until the very end! In the end I put in a time of 19:34f for the 5km route, which I am pretty sure is a PB for me.

I finished in a total time of 1:19:17 which was a personal best for me that I am delighted with. I will admit that I might not be up to scratch with my training schedule at the moment – but something seems to be working, long may it continue! The next race on my calendar is the sprint distance triathlon held at Dorney Lake on the 18thJuly. I’ve raced the course already this year and felt like another spin at the course. It’s always an enjoyable event, well run and I love the course as it tends to be quite fast and pacey. I have not got any races booked then until my first marathon on the 4thOctober in Bournemouth. I should really stop racing triathlon after mid July and focus solely on running, although I am really enjoying Triathlon at the moment so I might as well keep at it!

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