The 3rd HHH ish report

This was a bit of uncharted territory for me. I have never cycled 100 miles and have become more used to cycling 12.5 miles as quick as possible. I set off with the others and had a great first 15 miles. As Julian mentioned we came across a women in the road. Myself and a Dr from Poole examined her and stayed with her till she was in the ambulance. Unfortunately this meant I was far behind everyone else and cycled the next ten miles at a pace far higher than I should have done. I really enjoyed going up some of the big climbs with Peter, but after about 50 miles my legs were really starting to struggle. I felt absolutely fine but my legs just wouldn't co-operate, so I decided to switch to the 'short' route.

I said goodbye to my group and completed the last 13 miles on my own. Unfortunately I managed to get a bit lost and added 4 miles to the route. So I finished the 84 miles in 5 hours 40. I believe wiggle do a flatter 100 miles in October so maybe il do that instead.

After getting home I slept a lot then had to head to uni for a waterpolo match followed by a 4km swim, so all in all a good days exercise.

I also videod some of the route. So I will try to make that into something worth looking at, other than Julian's muscular calves!

The 2nd HHH report

Two consecutive nights of getting to bed at 1am and up before 7am were my prelude to the Hampshire Hilly Hundred. A super tough sportive with every climb around - over 2300m of them.

I arranged to be with a group of friends/clubmates willing to go at my sedate pace.  Physically I was fine, having done lots of training, including a solo 132k in Cornwall recently with worse hills.  But mentally I struggled, particularly after stopping to help at an accident where a cyclist was lying unconscious in the road for many minutes (she is OK I was told) my heart wasn't in it, and I had all sorts of bad thoughts about doing the shorter course, getting a train etc etc!  The middle two thirds were into a strong wind, but eventually my games of mental maths with the Garmin paid off and I convinced myself that a true Ironman would suck it up and get round.  Rain for the last hour or two, we pulled in with 7:10 of cycling time and an official time of about 8:05, although stopping to help at the accident accounted for about 20 minutes of that.

Total ride for me including cycling there and back was 176km - long and tiring, and after a pizza and cake I was in bed by 8 and asleep by 9 and managed a straight 9 hours through the night.  No aches and pains today which bodes well for coping with these long rides.

Thanks to Peter Gillott, Derek Stannett and Andrew Deans for their company and support.  Club members I can see who also took part were Nicole Johnson, Sophie Needham (fastest STC finisher in an amazing 6:43), Huw Fryer (cycled up from Southampton!), Len and Jane Such, and Michelle Varney. All got round comfortably.

A really tough event and a superb one to aim for if you want a challenge, and an ideal training event if you are doing an Ironman a month or two later.  Generally well organised and exceptionally well signposted.

The 1st HHH report

Having read the emails from the Hampshire Hilly Hundred team about the road conditions Ian and I both decided to ride our winter bikes complete with full mudguards and 28mm gatorskin tyres to avoid puntures. We didn't get any so result maybe but on the other hand we didn't see many other's with punctures either.

I don't really enjoy getting up at 6.15 to eat a big bowl of porridge and drink a cup of Redbush tea to drive all the way to Sparsholt College for a planned start at about 8.30am but needs must. However I REALLY DON'T enjoy reaching into a bag where I should have put my bike shoes only to discover I had forgotten them. Quick reverse out of parking place and drive all the way home again.

Action reply but without the porridge and tea this time.

As a result we were the last ones to start at 9.20am. It was extremely lonely and we didn't pass anyone until near the first feed station at 30miles. The rest of the ride went without incident. The weather turned a little drizzly and the wind definitely strengthened at about 3pm but we pushed on choosing the long route. We were lucky that the organisers seen to buy too much food and drink so there was always some left at both the 2nd and 3rd feed stations. We did start to pass a few more riders as the day wore on including Jane and Len Such and another STC lady but didn't see who that was. It was a pretty empty college and car park when we returned but the free cup of hot chocolate was the best ever. They even had some goody bottles left for us to take home a much better idea than an extra large t-shirt that I have been offered before!

I enjoyed the new revamped course as a change but the organisers are looking for some more opinions if you care to leave a comment for them.

25 mile Time trial results - 12th May

This morning Linda and I were up at 4.45am for the BDWCA Open event that Linda organises. A bright and sunny morning - but a bit cold.

The rules call for a risk assessment prior to the event - just incase of last minute hazards. We could then warn people as they sign the start sheet. Luckily no broken down cars or large puddles to avoid this year.

Linda went off number one at 7am - this is so she could dash back and write up the results and the award prizes by 10am. Also taking part was Chris Collins in his first time trial.

The wind picked up during the event - so Linda had the easiest ride! Slightly slower than past years with a 1hour 12. Chris managed a 1 hour 16, while I did not finish! What is it I tell people .... trial out equipment in training rides and not races! I had a new saddle  on my TT bike and at 20 miles it became extremely painful and I had to sit up and go straight back to the HQ.

There are other club Time trials - open to all. £3 on the night.

Recommend the 10 mile on Wednesday night (15th May)- sign on a Bolton's bench at 7pm for 7.30pm start. Course is called the P164. See you there,

Darryl/Linda.

Portsmouth Duathlon 12/5/13

Blimey! Brilliant fun. Really lucky with the weather - sunny, warm, bit windy - lovely.

Stayed at mate's in Southsea Saturday night as trains from Soton Sunday morning wouldn't get me to the start by close of registration at 7.50am - the lifeboat station just by the Hayling island ferry.

Tri buddy Suzanne also did the event so it was fab to chat with her and mate Rachel before the start. Plus Rachel was able to look after her bag and take pics of her as well.

The event started promptly at 8am. 5k run along ferry road then a couple of kms along the sea front - so very very beautiful!
Tried to make sure I paced myself as had the cycle plus run again so didn't want to run out of steam before the end of the race.

My 5k time was 30:33.50
I think that could be a PB!

T1 - hilarious - was 11:05.59 as it included eating jelly beans on the ferry over to Hayling island!

The cycle was out of this world beautiful. Amazing views of the water, rolling hills, boats, marsh land. I really wanted to stop and take pics but didn't.

Very glad I'd printed off the directions as there were maybe 4 marshalls for the entire 23kms stationed at particularly pesky and complicated spots. All other directions were done by following teeny tiny fluorescent pink and yellow little arrows. Quite a few of us shot off in the wrong direction a couple of times - Suzanne even ended up ON the A27 instead of the cycle lane that ran along side it - she climbed over the barrier pretty blinking sharpish once she realised!!

Cycling back to transition I couldn't quite believe how quick I was going!

23k in 64:03.32

Much quicker than I thought I'd do. The getting off the bike and staggering into transition was hysterical - could barely feel my legs.

The second 5k felt so slow - especially first km or so. Felt like I was running in treacle. So tired. So slow - or at least that's what I thought..

.
As I staggered across the finish line and stopped my watch - I could not believe the time...

My second 5k was done in 33:29.31

Stunned.

Thourally enjoyed the event, excellently organised although I was very glad I had a printed copy of the cycle route with me.

Warm down walk to the 10th hole cafe for a well deserved mug of tea, bacon butty and cake. Yum.