• Downton Half Marathon
• Merrell Mudman

Here it is

Yet another cold and wet day for a race. Not on the best of form on Sunday, it was either the 25 K training run on the Saturday morning, or the party going on to 2.30 am on Sunday morning that did it, but for me this was a hard race. Normally this is a good course with hills, good roads and forest scenery. Did not help by getting to the start with just 5 minutes before the off, so no chance to warm up and forgot my gloves. 3 miles into the race I passed Ester who was running well, but by 9 miles and quite a few hills later I was feeling the cold and slowing up; although my hangover had now gone! By the end I was positively cold. Crossed the line in 1 hr 43 mins and then kept running for the car and home! Ester did well in 1 hr 45 mins, although she said she a bad leg. Nice to see Nick Buis won the race in 1hour 16 mins, very good effort for the conditions.

We had a record turnout at the club dinner on Sunday night with 45 triathletes and 16 guests enjoying a second visit to La Fenice in Eastleigh. Highlight of the evening was the presentation of the awards, to the following prize winner

All the pictures can be found here

• Best Male Triathlete - Ian Wells
  
  

• Best Female Triathlete - Nicole Johnson
  
  

• Best Junior Male Triathlete - Charlie White
  
  

• Best JuniorFemale Triathlete - Mhairi-Claire Stewart

• Best Newcomer - Claire Beirne
  
  

• Best Novice - Rose Parkhouse
  
  

• Best Improver - Jane Buxton
  
  

• Special Achievement Award - Chris Goodwin

• Outstanding Contribution Award - Marius Kwint
  
  

Thanks to everyone for competing hard, winning well, encouraging each other over 2008 and making it such an enjoyable evening!

• Chilly Duathlon
• Gosport Half Marathon
• Training

I am sure I am missing some results - email me the details and I will add.

Sunday morning and the cold rain was falling well, driving to Castle Combe actually wondered why I was going all this way for such a short race. However, the forecast was for the weather to clear, but not sure when. Got there by 10:30 hrs then realised my start, Wave 3 was not until 14:00 hrs, so back into the car for some sleep and to warm up out of the chilly North wind, then the sun came out. Met up later with Kelvin Storey who was here to give his new tri bicycle some punishment. Racking the bicycles into transition the storm clouds were back and the wind even colder, now questioning the why this. Slight delay for the start, then off, managed to get going well maintaining 5^th position during the first 2 miles, running tactically by picking tall people to lead when it running into the wind. Onto the bicycles and cranked up to the highest gear with a strong tail wind behind me, felt a little madness weaving in and out cyclist from wave 2 who were still on the 2 mile Castle Combe track. I was pushing hard and focused in trying to spot the lead runner in our wave wearing a yellow vest, it transpired I passed him early on in the cycle leg. Kept pushing hard and counting my laps, we had to do 5 laps. Then into transition, I was the first into transition, now unsure had I really done 5 laps!! Set off running now feeling the cold wind, got overtaken in the last 500 metres by one of our younger wave runners. Relief, I had done 5 laps, never like these courses where you have to self count! Managed a good time of run;12;14, cycle 25:05: run; 13:20 came 2^nd in the 50+ age group to Peter Wheddon, BAD, who managed a time of 47 mins to my 53 mins. Pleased to have had the 14^th fastest bicycle leg. Kelvin was pleased with bicycle performance in 27 mins, and overall time 61 mins; now off to clean the machine. Then it was rush back home for the STC dinner and a few beers and good food!

With my previous PB of 1.17 from both 1984 and 2003, I was pleased to clock 1.16:09, and indeed went through 10 miles in 57.20, which was a couple of seconds quicker than my 10-mile PB at Lordshill a fortnight ago.  However, my lack of longer training runs really told thereafter, and my last 5k took me about 18.40, as opposed to around 17 minutes for the first.  I gather that after 50 minutes to an hour of sustained exercise, most people's energy system converts from stored muscle glycogen to fat-burning, which is less effective if you're not used to it.  In an Olympic or sprint tri, I presume you can get away with it because the run is shorter than this, and uses different muscles from cycling and swimming, and because it's easy to take on lots of carbs and fluids on the bike.

I lost a few places in the final miles, including to people I had beaten at Lordshill, and came 23rd overall, with two women ahead of me.  Henry was finishing strongly and crossed the line only 13 seconds behind, in 1.16:22.  He won the M50 and is obviously in cracking form; I was third M40 and was happy enough with that, as well as the fact that Winchester won the team event again.  The race was won in 1.08:47 by James Baker of Chichester, with the next two (from Winchester) sneaking in under 70 minutes.  I don't recall seeing any other STC members present, but may of course have missed someone.

Next race: the Victory 5 at Portsmouth on Sunday 7th December.  There may still be entries available.

Whilst anyone is welcome to book a session at any time there is also a possibility, if there is sufficient demand, for the Club to hire the venue out for a few hours at a time. A VO2 test takes up to an hour and a half to do and therefore is probably best done individually but I feel this could be a very cost effentive way of you being videoed swimming, cycling and/ or running if you'd like?

If anyone is interested please let me know either via the website or by email at jo_haley78@hotmail.com.

5 am did not look pleasant as I scurried out, through the rain, to the car. I'm not a fan of wet roads on the bike, although quite like running in the rain, so overall was not quite dreading the race!

I questioned my sanity in entering the race (once again) as I drove up the narrow, winding road to the car park.

We were herded into the car park one behind the other, luckily the car behind left just about enough space so that I could still get my bike out of the car. On registering, we were given a BallBuster fleece, which I was very grateful for at the end of the race when I was soaked through and a bit cold!

I saw Nick at registration before the race, with Sarah there to support, and that was the last I saw of him until the end.

The pre-race info had emphasised that competitors should try to do both runs at the same pace, to avoid burnout on the second, and I went with that advice, trying not to go above 8 minute miles and dropping the pace back if I did - as a result, the first run was a very enjoyable gentle run, albeit ending on a fairly long climb (which we would come to know well).

After carrying/pushing the bike out of the muddy and slippy transition area, it took a few attempts to clip into my pedals, as my cleats were full of mud, but got there eventually and headed out. I was glad I'd put on the warm cycling top, as going downhill in the damp weather chilled me pretty quickly anyway!

My bike section was probably slower than it should have been, with my nerves not letting me let go on the downhills - wet leaves and sharp bends on the road put me onto my brakes on these sections, and I was very glad I'd got some winter tyres on the bike! I felt pleased with my uphill sections though, as I noticed I kept pulling up to several of the same people who'd torn past me on the downhills, and that happened on all 3 laps for a few of them, which was reassuring. I did have a few moments to notice that Box Hill is a really pretty place - the autumn colours looked fabulous despite the grey day.

On finishing the bike section I got back into my soaked trainers, and fumbled with the laces for a fair while, as in my ignorance, feeling warm after the first run I'd worn only the finger-less cycling gloves, and not the full wind-proof ones I had with me. I'll know better another time!

The start of the second run, my legs were frozen, and I couldn't feel much in them at all (which could be a good thing, but felt very strange!), but eventually they warmed up and I aimed again for a roughly 8 min mile pace. There were moments when I really wanted to stop as the downhills gave my quads a beating, but I struggled on, and the last hill took a lot of my pace away, but with the support there, including a large group of people with tamborines etc were cheering their hearts out, and had stood there being cheerful lap after lap which spurred me on each time, so I couldn't stop there! My second run was (by my watch) only about 3 mins slower than the first, though I think the provisional results times may include the last transition possibly - or maybe I just couldn't see straight at the end!

I really enjoyed this event, and despite it being hard work, I am already very tempted to go back come the spring and see if I can improve my times.

Results

• Nick Austin (130th) : Run (01:00:18), Cycle (01:27:01), Run (01:04:30) - Total - 03:31:55
• Esther Rousey (216th) :  Run (01:03:27), Cycle (01:38:23), Run (01:09:08) - Total - 03:51:08
• Peter Jordon (332nd) :  Run (01:21:32), Cycle (01:53:42), Run (01:38:52) - Total - 04:54:06

We did get issues with the original distributor - they have now changed and we have the option of using the local one or go direct.

The pricing is quite reasonable compared to shop prices. Right now to keep things simple I dont plan to discount this further.

It is quite time consuming to put the orders together, however I am willing to do that if there is interest. I would re-iterate the following :

• You need to make sure the sizing is fine - no exchanges. Good news is we have a number of members who have this kit so it should be possible to try it for size.
• I need the money up front
• Delivery will likely be 5-6 weeks

The pricing is as follows:

• Mens Clothing - Price List
• Ladies Clothing - Price List

So if you want to order something, ideally add a comment to this post, or send me an email