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Monday, June 25, 2007
Always the Hunter...
Let me introduce myself…I'm 27 from the UK originally, now living in NZ with my kiwi hubby Bede. My folks live in Wellington and my sister Laura, her husband Chris and my niece Paris live in the Hayward Hills north of Wellington.
I was always sporty at school, and did gymnastics, lacrosse and athletics as my main sports, plus dance outside of school, as a child I just could not sit still.
At uni I played Lacrosse for Birmingham, U21 England and when I came to NZ I got into the NZ team. I've had to give it a miss this season for IM training, but I'll be back! The two just can't be married together, IM requires endurance, and Lacrosse requires a lot more speed, which I just can't concentrate on along with the IM.
A friend of mine did the London triathlon in 2003. At the time I had come back from a year out in NZ and whilst enjoying the time immensely I had gained a few Speights pounds and thought enough was enough. So I started back at the gym with a vengeance and quickly shifted the OE baggage. Then I decided to enter the Sprint distance in 2004. I've always loved running, so that was the easiest to get back into. I got a mountain bike at first and borrowed my Dad's Raleigh Racer-no joke. Bike fit? What's that? The gear levers were on the frame and all that, but I got the bug, and started loving the training. Bede came over for a year in February 2004. I had just started back swimming then. I could only do about 5 lengths free style without stopping.The first time I went swimming with him it was a 9pm session at my local pool in Harpenden and it was snowing outside, he thought I was nuts and lasted about half an hour and read a book whilst I continued my spluttering and splattering intermingled with much breast stroke for the remainder of the hour…that was my first lesson in dedication.
So London Triathlon 2004, antique bike and swimming in the docks with about 400 other women, not the best start, but quite a baptism of fire. I was 20th in my race and clocked not a bad time I thought!
Moving on…I was living in London so did little biking, mainly spin classes and the gym and running. We had a tiny pool at the gym-it was stainless steel and only about 15m long in the basement, but it was only 8 quid a month- and was in Mayfair dahling!!! (OK so it was subsidised work gym at Holmes Place, but I loved it!)
Fast forward to NZ, Feb 2005….Bede and I were married in Hawkes Bay in the March and we moved to Nelson. I was looking for a job so had heaps of time on my hands to explore the hills on my Mountain Bike, keep the running and swimming ticking over and enjoy the Summer.
We moved to ChCh in August 2005 and I didn't really get into the tri thing properly until Bede's cousin Pip sold me her bike as she was going on her OE. I promised to do the Taupo half IM as she unfortunately had to pull out of doing it on the trusty Trek 1000 steed the year before due to illness.
So I get the help of a bike coach about this time last year to set me on my way and joined the Canterbury Tri Club. I started swimming at aquagym and going to John Newsom's swimming and running classes. Soon enough I was hooked into the tri scene.
My first race was the short course in Ashburton 2006 as a warm up for Tauranga half IM. I came a surprising third and won my age group. The race felt fast, I had a crap swim and kept getting caught in weeds, but a good bike and caught people up on the bike and run.
But I felt short changed. I saw the competitors in the half IM and knew I should be out with them. The longer distance was definitely for me.
So next was Tauranga…it was supposed to be Taupo, but I pulled out of Taupo when it was canned due to Council politics….
Race Report
In the couple of days leading up to the event I did the Ocean swim on the Thursday night which gave me a chance to try out the course with similar conditions/tides to what was predicted for the Saturday morning, I had an good swim time was about 35mins with no in and out, just two laps so it was a bit different to Saturday. On the Friday morning I went for a 20 min swim, biked the run to the turnaround (about 20mins) and ran once round the Mount (20 mins).
I then took it easy during the day, cleaned my bike, got all my kit together and hung around our apartment. I had an early tea (pasta with tuna and pesto and toast) then attended the briefing at 6pm and then went back to the apartment and went to bed at normal time- 10.30pm.I woke at 5am and had my pre-race breakfast- white toast with marmite and peanut butter and banana and Enervit sports drink. I arrived at transition at 6am and set up my kit. I was still in the queue for the loo with 5 mins to go so had to put my wetsuit on really quickly and I forgot to have my carboshotz. But this proved out to be good as I didn’t feel as sick as I can do on the swim.
The swim went well, I didn’t push it too much, but did get caught in a few boat tow ropes. The second lap was shorter (1st 1200m, 2nd 800m) and I came out feeling pretty good. My time was 38 mins, I was hoping for under 40mins so that was good.
Quickly onto my bike I got through T1 well and put socks on and took my banana and three carboshotz with me.
The bike started on the long 55km lap and this was good to split up the field, although there was definitely some drafting going on. I felt good on the way out with a tailwind and there was a head/cross at times wind on the return leg. I passed a considerable number of people and was looking out for girls in the same age group which I used as targets to set my sights on. I had some carboshotz taped to my bike but when trying to get them off I split them on my bike so it got sticky, esp. on the handlebars which was gross. I had my banana at the turn into the second lap and had some jet planes. I took on board fluid every 15 – 20 mins, but I really needed to pee so I felt like I couldn’t drink. I kept a good pace- about 32-35km/h at times, and came into T2 preparing myself for the run. My time was about 2hr48, under 3hrs which I had planned for. I had to stop for the loo, as I couldn’t go on the bike…which cost me a couple of mins in T2. Will have to learn how to do this for sure!
I really enjoyed the run as the crowds were great spurring you on. I was conscious that I was dehydrated, as it was hot, but also windy so I made sure I took water on board and I also had some pepsi at the stations. I had two gels on the run, with water at the stations. I held back in the first lap as I knew I wanted to negative split and finish strongly. I upped my pace for the second half especially the final lap from the turnaround and round the Mount base track. I aimed to keep my running style efficient with quick turnover and keeping my posture good and I felt very strong coming into the final straight.
My time was bang on 1hr45 mins which was what I had aimed for, but I think I could go faster.
Overall time 5hrs 16 mins, under the 5hr 30mins I had hoped for. For my first long distance event I felt I did really well and all my preparation paid off. I was running off the buzz of the event for days. I did go for a 30min run round the Mount base track the day after and then had a day off then I think I went for an hour and a half bike the day after that. When I got back to Wellington the weekend after I went out on my bike for a couple of rides and a few runs as I felt good.
Two weeks later in Timaru, I did the Olympic distance Placemakers race. I was physically there, but mentally I was still pretty tired I think and had come down off the high since Tauranga. I threw up on the swim and felt crap, but the bike was great fun, some challenging climbs and I enjoyed the run along the cliffs, but I knew I had too much time to catch up. I ended up 5th.
A little while after this race I found out I had been selected from Tauranga for the Age Groups team to go to the World Champs in Lorient. I was really pleased, but scared at the prospect of the 3km longer swim! I would never have even contemplated such a feat a few years ago when I could hardly keep my head under water!
I had one last good race at the Canterbury Tri Champs (Oly distance)- a top five result and third in my age group over a real toughie of a course over in Corsair Bay.
So I contacted John Newsom from the local NZ Multi Sports and Triathlon Centre and he agreed to coach me for the Champs.
I started swimming with Roly Crichton at QEII, having done little squad work before. This has helped my competitive edge and confidence enormously. Technique sessions were the order of the day as I will never be a super fast swimmer. I just need to be able to make the distance without having a panic attack! So the early mornings do take their toll, especially when studying part time, working full time and keeping the other half (relatively!) happy…and the housework….well let's not go there!
Biking wise, my endurance has increased as the longer rides got longer, far longer than in my training for Tauranga and far more hill work to build my strength as I'm only a wee thing. My running's been steadily improving, helped by speed/interval sessions at the NZMTC and core work.
I coming up towards my final few weeks before Lorient. I leave on 8 July. I'm feeling fit, and trying to ward off those nasty bugs going around. Doesn't help every time I swim I get so blocked up in my sinuses. Winter has really set in throughout June, making training hard at times, but I'm getting through it. It's been cold, but the sun seems to shine most of the time. And we've had little rain. The tiredness is starting to set in, so I shall be looking forward to the taper.
During my build up I have also secured sponsorship for Ironman with Alpe D' Huez, to whom I owe my deepest gratitude. I'm really looking forward to March 1 on the shores of Taupo!
Firstly onwards and upwards through the hemispheres to the shores of Brittany, then a good rest and holiday in the UK catching up with friends and family.
Will catch up soon before I head off to France. Wish me Bonne Chance!
Train hard, train safe x
I was always sporty at school, and did gymnastics, lacrosse and athletics as my main sports, plus dance outside of school, as a child I just could not sit still.
At uni I played Lacrosse for Birmingham, U21 England and when I came to NZ I got into the NZ team. I've had to give it a miss this season for IM training, but I'll be back! The two just can't be married together, IM requires endurance, and Lacrosse requires a lot more speed, which I just can't concentrate on along with the IM.
A friend of mine did the London triathlon in 2003. At the time I had come back from a year out in NZ and whilst enjoying the time immensely I had gained a few Speights pounds and thought enough was enough. So I started back at the gym with a vengeance and quickly shifted the OE baggage. Then I decided to enter the Sprint distance in 2004. I've always loved running, so that was the easiest to get back into. I got a mountain bike at first and borrowed my Dad's Raleigh Racer-no joke. Bike fit? What's that? The gear levers were on the frame and all that, but I got the bug, and started loving the training. Bede came over for a year in February 2004. I had just started back swimming then. I could only do about 5 lengths free style without stopping.The first time I went swimming with him it was a 9pm session at my local pool in Harpenden and it was snowing outside, he thought I was nuts and lasted about half an hour and read a book whilst I continued my spluttering and splattering intermingled with much breast stroke for the remainder of the hour…that was my first lesson in dedication.
So London Triathlon 2004, antique bike and swimming in the docks with about 400 other women, not the best start, but quite a baptism of fire. I was 20th in my race and clocked not a bad time I thought!
Moving on…I was living in London so did little biking, mainly spin classes and the gym and running. We had a tiny pool at the gym-it was stainless steel and only about 15m long in the basement, but it was only 8 quid a month- and was in Mayfair dahling!!! (OK so it was subsidised work gym at Holmes Place, but I loved it!)
Fast forward to NZ, Feb 2005….Bede and I were married in Hawkes Bay in the March and we moved to Nelson. I was looking for a job so had heaps of time on my hands to explore the hills on my Mountain Bike, keep the running and swimming ticking over and enjoy the Summer.
We moved to ChCh in August 2005 and I didn't really get into the tri thing properly until Bede's cousin Pip sold me her bike as she was going on her OE. I promised to do the Taupo half IM as she unfortunately had to pull out of doing it on the trusty Trek 1000 steed the year before due to illness.
So I get the help of a bike coach about this time last year to set me on my way and joined the Canterbury Tri Club. I started swimming at aquagym and going to John Newsom's swimming and running classes. Soon enough I was hooked into the tri scene.
My first race was the short course in Ashburton 2006 as a warm up for Tauranga half IM. I came a surprising third and won my age group. The race felt fast, I had a crap swim and kept getting caught in weeds, but a good bike and caught people up on the bike and run.
But I felt short changed. I saw the competitors in the half IM and knew I should be out with them. The longer distance was definitely for me.
So next was Tauranga…it was supposed to be Taupo, but I pulled out of Taupo when it was canned due to Council politics….
Race Report
In the couple of days leading up to the event I did the Ocean swim on the Thursday night which gave me a chance to try out the course with similar conditions/tides to what was predicted for the Saturday morning, I had an good swim time was about 35mins with no in and out, just two laps so it was a bit different to Saturday. On the Friday morning I went for a 20 min swim, biked the run to the turnaround (about 20mins) and ran once round the Mount (20 mins).
I then took it easy during the day, cleaned my bike, got all my kit together and hung around our apartment. I had an early tea (pasta with tuna and pesto and toast) then attended the briefing at 6pm and then went back to the apartment and went to bed at normal time- 10.30pm.I woke at 5am and had my pre-race breakfast- white toast with marmite and peanut butter and banana and Enervit sports drink. I arrived at transition at 6am and set up my kit. I was still in the queue for the loo with 5 mins to go so had to put my wetsuit on really quickly and I forgot to have my carboshotz. But this proved out to be good as I didn’t feel as sick as I can do on the swim.
The swim went well, I didn’t push it too much, but did get caught in a few boat tow ropes. The second lap was shorter (1st 1200m, 2nd 800m) and I came out feeling pretty good. My time was 38 mins, I was hoping for under 40mins so that was good.
Quickly onto my bike I got through T1 well and put socks on and took my banana and three carboshotz with me.
The bike started on the long 55km lap and this was good to split up the field, although there was definitely some drafting going on. I felt good on the way out with a tailwind and there was a head/cross at times wind on the return leg. I passed a considerable number of people and was looking out for girls in the same age group which I used as targets to set my sights on. I had some carboshotz taped to my bike but when trying to get them off I split them on my bike so it got sticky, esp. on the handlebars which was gross. I had my banana at the turn into the second lap and had some jet planes. I took on board fluid every 15 – 20 mins, but I really needed to pee so I felt like I couldn’t drink. I kept a good pace- about 32-35km/h at times, and came into T2 preparing myself for the run. My time was about 2hr48, under 3hrs which I had planned for. I had to stop for the loo, as I couldn’t go on the bike…which cost me a couple of mins in T2. Will have to learn how to do this for sure!
I really enjoyed the run as the crowds were great spurring you on. I was conscious that I was dehydrated, as it was hot, but also windy so I made sure I took water on board and I also had some pepsi at the stations. I had two gels on the run, with water at the stations. I held back in the first lap as I knew I wanted to negative split and finish strongly. I upped my pace for the second half especially the final lap from the turnaround and round the Mount base track. I aimed to keep my running style efficient with quick turnover and keeping my posture good and I felt very strong coming into the final straight.
My time was bang on 1hr45 mins which was what I had aimed for, but I think I could go faster.
Overall time 5hrs 16 mins, under the 5hr 30mins I had hoped for. For my first long distance event I felt I did really well and all my preparation paid off. I was running off the buzz of the event for days. I did go for a 30min run round the Mount base track the day after and then had a day off then I think I went for an hour and a half bike the day after that. When I got back to Wellington the weekend after I went out on my bike for a couple of rides and a few runs as I felt good.
Two weeks later in Timaru, I did the Olympic distance Placemakers race. I was physically there, but mentally I was still pretty tired I think and had come down off the high since Tauranga. I threw up on the swim and felt crap, but the bike was great fun, some challenging climbs and I enjoyed the run along the cliffs, but I knew I had too much time to catch up. I ended up 5th.
A little while after this race I found out I had been selected from Tauranga for the Age Groups team to go to the World Champs in Lorient. I was really pleased, but scared at the prospect of the 3km longer swim! I would never have even contemplated such a feat a few years ago when I could hardly keep my head under water!
I had one last good race at the Canterbury Tri Champs (Oly distance)- a top five result and third in my age group over a real toughie of a course over in Corsair Bay.
So I contacted John Newsom from the local NZ Multi Sports and Triathlon Centre and he agreed to coach me for the Champs.
I started swimming with Roly Crichton at QEII, having done little squad work before. This has helped my competitive edge and confidence enormously. Technique sessions were the order of the day as I will never be a super fast swimmer. I just need to be able to make the distance without having a panic attack! So the early mornings do take their toll, especially when studying part time, working full time and keeping the other half (relatively!) happy…and the housework….well let's not go there!
Biking wise, my endurance has increased as the longer rides got longer, far longer than in my training for Tauranga and far more hill work to build my strength as I'm only a wee thing. My running's been steadily improving, helped by speed/interval sessions at the NZMTC and core work.
I coming up towards my final few weeks before Lorient. I leave on 8 July. I'm feeling fit, and trying to ward off those nasty bugs going around. Doesn't help every time I swim I get so blocked up in my sinuses. Winter has really set in throughout June, making training hard at times, but I'm getting through it. It's been cold, but the sun seems to shine most of the time. And we've had little rain. The tiredness is starting to set in, so I shall be looking forward to the taper.
During my build up I have also secured sponsorship for Ironman with Alpe D' Huez, to whom I owe my deepest gratitude. I'm really looking forward to March 1 on the shores of Taupo!
Firstly onwards and upwards through the hemispheres to the shores of Brittany, then a good rest and holiday in the UK catching up with friends and family.
Will catch up soon before I head off to France. Wish me Bonne Chance!
Train hard, train safe x
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