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Madrid WCS
My calf has not been 100% which as why I decided not to race in the cold at Strathclyde (Nationals) and was also the reason I didn’t finish at Madrid WCS last weekend. It’s been a frustrating time because I was in good shape and wanting to regain my British title and then have a good go in Madrid. But it’s a long season, with plenty more racing to come, so it is the right decision to rest in properly now, but boy do I want to be racing full on.
What a race from top man, Yorkshire Lad, Alistair. Now that's how you win your first ITU WCS race. Super chuffed for him, a truly world class performance. Awesome.
I head to the US shortly for Washington WCS and Des Moines World Cup. I don’t know what kind of run shape I’ll be in there but I have booked my flights . I know I’ve been swimming really well in training and getting miles in on the bike (as I couldn’t run), so I’m fit for sure, but we’ll just have to see how I’m running.
Hope everyone’s been enjoying the weather !
Laters
Tim
Korea WCS
As I said, it was a long way to go for one race but I really enjoyed being back racing on the circuit and catching up with a few of my mates and the different characters + personalities that make racing such fun. Delly Carr was also there taking some shots of us, a few of which you see on the site.
I was pretty happy with the race. I had a solid swim and it all came together on the bike pretty quickly. The pace was quite pedestrian at times, but then also pretty full on. Freddy went up the road and the Russians did right at the end and there wasn’t a lot of interest in chasing them down. I didn’t have the best T2, but a solid run, maybe ran out of gas on the last lap but those boys up front have got a few solid races under their belts this year.
Bring on Nationals and then onto Madrid.
Laters
Tim
The video is out
It was a lot of fun making it with Al and Hollie and I think Iain May has done a top job:
You can watch it HERE
Top week
Another solid week done, and only 2 left till the first ITU WCS race in Korea. I did a nice 5km on the road on Wednesday night with Ben’s development camp; it was a bit windy but all good. Then a bolt down to London for a cheeky curry (Aii !!!) on Friday night with the Downey's, and a little hit out on Saturday at the Ful-on Duathlon for Prologue Bikes. It was a 5km, 20km, 5km duathlon - the run was good fun, half off-road and with a night of rain, it was a bit slippery and my new custom Asics are new no more !!! A nice 5km loop on the bike and then the same run. Solid. It was a top race, everyone had a ball and there did seem to be a lot of Champagne at the end (get down to the next Ful-on Triathlon I say !!!!) Thanks guys, it was a sweet hit out.
8 days of training left then a quick flight to Korea (all 16 hours !!!). Can't wait.
Keep it in the big blade,
Tim
Giro report
Well I didn’t go to Australia in the end, and have been back in England for a couple of weeks.
After a really successful few days racing in the Giro del Capo, my calf was still tight and sore after my first run back. Ben and I agreed it was worth getting a scan, and the prognosis was initially not that positive. I did have a tear in my calf. Having felt in tip top shape, it was not worth risking going onto Oz if I wasn’t 100%. I came home and got it checked out in Loughborough. What we think happened was that my calf was sore, probably with a slight tear and Frankie (ace masseur) did as he was asked by me, which was work hard on my tight calf, not knowing it was a tear. His good work inflamed the damaged area so that when it was scanned, it looked miles worse than it was. So it was no way as serious as first thought, but I’m pleased I came back and got it checked out.
As I said, the Giro was really good. It was meant to be a 5-day stage race but turned it into 4 individual one day races. The first day was 106km, I finished 60th, 7.53 off the winner. Only about 80 or so out of the 180 starters made the cut-off. There were cross winds like I’ve never before experienced. It was some of the hardest riding I have done, just to stay on the wheel and out the wind - bloody Barloworld !!!!!!!
Day Two was 143km (3 laps with a dirty hill at the end of each lap), I finished 16th, 7.53 off the winner. It was hot !! It didn’t go under 40°C the whole race!!! In the first 20 min we rode 17km, I knew it was going to be tough! At the first hill it all broke up and a fair few dropped out due to the heat. I was straight on the team radio (oh yes, I had my earpiece) to get more water in true domestique style. I got about 7 bottles for the boys and it was wicked fun riding through the convoy of cars to deliver them. By this time there were 8 off the front and they stayed away. On the last lap it all broke up again, this time good and proper; I was on my own just off a small group of about 4 near the front. I got over the hill and put my head down. I had an Aussie for company and Ben singing the “Eye of the Tiger” from the team car on the radio to 'get me going ' for the last 2km. Nice. After the race it was straight to the team tent for the old “ice in your bib shorts” trick for about an hour eating Nutella sandwiches and protein shakes and bars!!!!!
Day Three was 171km, which included going up Franschhoek and I finished 26th just 46 seconds off the winner. This was the big day: an 8km climb and then a 10km climb and 10km descent to the finish. Again it was on from the start - no chill-out neutral zone. By the top of the first climb about 40km in, there were 2 groups left and we got to the top averaging 40km/hour and in that I had punctured and had to go back to the team car to change my wheel (nice one, Ben). I managed to ride back up to the second group which we caught on the flat on the other side. At this point I thought we had taken a wrong turn to THE SUN as it was topping out at 45°C still with another 110km still to go !! I think we must have drank all the water in Cape Town and we were even spraying our shoes as our feet had swelled up and were aching. On the last climb, after 2km, there is a tunnel about 200m long with no lights (everyone said it goes crazy in there and I wasn’t sure what they meant but I do now!) It felt like a Cavendish sprint and I was thinking we have another 8km of this! James, a Brit, riding for the Marco Polo team had a little crash, so I waited (and got a little rest) and then we worked well together to ride back up to the second group. We were about 30 seconds off the lead and I don't know how we didn’t catch them as I have never done through and off down a 10km climb, we were flying! It was harder than the climb!
Then there was a rest day and Day Four was 110km but I didn’t sign on as Ben was really pleased how I had raced the first three days and wanted me to have a full week back in triathlon training. As it was, my calf started playing up. I loved racing the Giro; it was so cool meeting new people in the peloton and my team mates DCM Chrome (thanks Candiec), you guys are bloody legends. Some solid bike miles and a lot of learning in the bunch. Loved it .
And since I’ve got back, training has gone well and even the weather has been half decent at times ! I was also around for the Garmin filming/photo shoot which was a lot of fun with Iain May who films Top Gear. As soon as the edit is done, I hope you’ll be able to watch it here.
So all is good, and I’m looking forward to Korea WCS at the beginning of May, bring it on !
Laters, Tim
The season ahead
It took a bit longer to work out than I expected but I now have a plan for the first half of the season I’m really looking forward to it having continued my good training since the IM 70.3 race. I’ve also slipped in a bit of racing, winning the Western Province Champs and a fast 5km on the road last week. I’m also racing the Giro del Capo as part of the Team DCM Chrome team, so I will report in next week with news of trying to survive in the peloton !
Cheers
Tim
Happy New Year everyone!
What a great start for me at the Spec Savers IM70.3 race in South Africa. I was fourth and have qualified for the World 70.3 Champs in November, so mission accomplished. The press conference was a good laugh and other than the swim recce being cancelled because sharks were spotted in the bay, I was relaxed going into it. It was a tough race, hotter than the sun, and of course, a brand new distance for me. I learnt a lot about myself and about racing the distance. Things didn’t go all my way but overall I really enjoyed it and the crowds/support was fantastic. My Mum and Dad were here watching as well because they are here on holiday for a month. Great result for Flavour Frase who was second and showed he will be a force on the 70.3 circuit again this year, and well done to the 10+ Brits who were racing.
It is mid January and I’m really pleased with where I’m at training wise. The long break at the end of last year did me a world of good, and I think having to prepare for my first ever 70.3 race (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1mile run) was a good motivator. When I was back in the UK for Christmas, I began to work out a race plan with Ben, and now this weekend is out the way, we will be firming it up. I had three weeks back in Loughborough which was great fun but oh so cold. The treadmill in the heat chamber got lots of use from me! I also picked up my new Giant TT bike from Bruce at Prologue (thanks for staying so late) and the extra time spent tweaking my position was well worth it because I was super comfortable.
Here’s to a good ‘09
Tim
