My most Embarrassing Placing,

I had two events, if you like, this weekend. The first one was to support my team at the final of the Chequered Flag Duathlon series, series 3 at Knockhill Racing Circuit.  I was attending in my work capacity, taking part as a support, this is not really my type of event but great for a wee change.  Then today I had the Angus HAM at monikie park, this one was for me.  Unfortunately, I have been feeling worse for wear all week and this weekend was not well-timed,  I also noticed I have been saying this alot recently.  It highlighted for me that my work-life balance is a little skewed, I have a habit of always putting work first, placing my clients needs above my own.  I have worked to re-dress that balance this weekend and moving forward – everyday is a school day folks!

Chequered Flag Duathlon Series 3

After a week of glorius sunshine, there was foreboding as the weather forecast left alot to be desired, but lucky as we are it could have been far worse.  There was a delay to the start due to the weather interferign with track events, from the cafe, we could see what looked like heavy sleet/ rain coming down, to the point you couldn’t really see out the windows, with it clearing the track tannoy was being bounced around by the wind.  Alex had suggested we cycle round the off-road route during this time, aye RIGHT! 🙂 sorry Alex haha

All of a sudden we were off, neither Karen nor I had taken it too seriously, we moved around to keep warm but probably not enough to completely warm-up.  Difficult after such a long wait to start.  We started with 2 laps of the track which was ideal, but had its challenges with the wind tunnel that was created on the back corners of the track.  Putting it politely ‘ I was blowing out my ass’ by the time it came to getting on the bike.

The off-road section was nighta nd day compared to the series 2 off-road section, despite the rain we had had it was much harder under the tyres, making it easier to gain traction.  Onto the track for the final 5 laps, this is where it really made a difference many of the guys taking part had 2 bikes with them, a mountain bike and a road bike.  When you compare this to Karen and I on our mountain bikes – eeek, it didnt bode well.  Again, we were hit by the wind and I swear the wall of wind became stronger with every lap of the track.  I was ecstatic to finish, biking is not my forte!  I waited for Karen and went around the final lap with her, ‘no-one gets left behind!’.

There were only 3 females there on Saturday, so inevitably we would all place, this is where my title came from, there were prizes for 1st female and 2nd female and the same for the males.  Now, let me explain, despite this being a placing I know I would never have achieved had any other females been there, the key point I reminded myself was that I showed up and took part.  This is what I would tell my friends and my clients, I am no different and therefore deserve the placing.

Karen I am happy to say also took a prize of a bottle of vodka for super-vet category.  I think she felt less embarrassed by this prize, eh Karen 😉  This race of the series was the one more oriented toward duathletes and triathletes, as it has to be said were the other races in the series.  It was mainly folks from triathlon clubs that were signed up or at least those who take part in this type of event.  That is a bit of a shame as it is a great cross-training event and great for doing something different!  Would be great to see more folks of all abilities signing up to next duathlon that is run by Chequered Flag.

On a final note, the marshalls were fantastic!  They cheered and motivated us all round the track on what must have been rubbish conditions for spectators.

Angus HAM

Day 2 of the weekend, I dithered were to take part in this half marathon as I didn’t want to make myself worse.  My competitive nature won out, I knew I would be massively disappointed not to take part.  I set some goals and parameters to help me come out of this without negatively impacting my health.  It actually worked within a larger plan that I needed to cover the distance for my marathon training, so to keep me fairly up to date, I was concentrating on the larger picture.

This means for the first time, I wasn’t concentrating on finishing time, it was all about simply covering the distance.  I also know well what I am like, competitiveness does overtake me, so I set some goals to achieve within the race/ run itself.

1.  Maintain my posture throughout the whole race.  Losing this would tell me I had pushed too hard and was tiring through my core.

2.  Stay relaxed throughout the whole run, tension would demonstrate I was pushing too hard.

3.  Stay within my comfort zone, keep my breathing nice and regular.

I was happy to say I met all 3 goals and really held it together not to sprint the finish, just jogging through.  This was a very successful run for me.  In a completely different way to that which I would normally define a successful run,  I would also normally be massively disappointed in my time.  These are the very principals that I try to teach to my clients and it felt good to embrace them and use them to help me achieve my goals.  To end, it is not always pushing the limits 100% of the time, often we go out looking to beat our PBs or abilities every single time.  It is not possible, sometimes we must consolidate and consider the circumstances.

Again, year in, year out the Angus HAM is a well run, smooth race.  The marshalls were great, a big mention must go to the marshall at the mile 8 marker.  He was brilliant, a loud, encouraging voice, just what you needed moving into the tough last quarter of the race!

Mission achieved!

Chequered Flag Series 2 Duathlon

At the end of a busy week, if I am being completely honest this was the last thing I wanted to be doing.  I was shattered and hadn’t trained all week, recovering from Tough Guy The Original 2015.

But my best mate had said I ‘better not pull out’ after many of the rest of the team had pulled out.  So naturally and just as I had been telling clients and TMT competitors, help each other be accountable.  Be that positive friend, support each other to achieve more.  I am so glad we went!

 

This was incredibly different from the series 1,  we knew this was to be the cross-country event as it were, but little did we realise what we had let ourselves into.  For me, this was a fun event, one that I signed up to do to support the team I had entered.  Without the pressure of trying to really drive, its been great fun, just taking it all in and interacting with others.

Registration was smooth as could be and it was great to see some of the Alloa bootcamp crew (fellow Tough Guy competitors)  who were marshalling.  We prepped and set up the bikes and did something that resembled a highly inadequate warm-up.  Yes, I know shocking, this should highlight where my head was at.  But I was there and that was the main thing.  Again, everyone looked very serious, however, it was their sport – Triathlon – Duathlon.  Well equipped, wearing all the right clothing and there to do well amongst their peers.  Nevertheless, this is not to say it was only those who were serious about the event.  It was a very friendly race, everyone chatting and encouraging each other.  Shouts from the sides from those who knew you and those who don’t is always vital I think to help push you on when you are feeling tired.

 

We lined up in front of the Knockhill Race track lights . . .  then we were off.  I felt heavy-legged and stiff, not surprising but it still felt great to get out there and run.  It didn’t take long to run.  It is definitely an undulating course that had some tough hills which take it out the legs before you realise it.

 

Twice around the race track before getting to the bikes.  Despite the fact it was cross-country series, we still had the heaviest and potentially most beginner type bikes for want of a better description, for this event.  I hadn’t been on my bike for some time, potentially even going back to the Coast to Coast/ last duathlon.  As soon as I started the first lap of the route I knew it was going to be pretty daunting, the tracks were really muddy and you constantly felt like you were sliding laterally . . . .  not even sure if it was my imagination or actually I was?????

 

The cycle route itself was 5 laps of an off-road circuit – tough – very tough! Lots of inclines, twists and turns, which for those of us that don’t spend much time on a bike, is pretty tricky.  You think you are trying to go one way but end up sliding in another direction.  I was very proud to say I didn’t have to get off and push once, not once on the tricky off-road climb.  The grooves and tracks, which I thought would make it easier actually made it harder to get a constant cycle going.  Coming back around to complete my first lap, I actually felt physically sick and believe I may have swore alot.  I couldn’t see much as the mud sprayed my face.        

5 Laps later, I have never been so glad to get on the running section.  It was the final lap of the track and it appeared that practically everyone had finished already from the bikes missing in the hanger.

The legs were protesting at having to run the last lap but I managed to get into a good groove and plug it out.  It was great!  Felt good to cross the finish line!

 

 

 

                                        

Naturally, I supported my fellow teammate and bestie round her last lap – ‘No-one gets left behind’.  Massive well done to Karen, I know she found it tough and daunting at points but she never gave up.  That is the right attitude!

The marshalls at this event were simply fantastic, the weather was on our side, everything was smoothly run making this event very simple and easy to take part in!

Highly recommend series 3 folks:

http://www.entrycentral.com/event/103037

Chequered Flag Duathlon Series 1

This was an event I entered with my PT group, Louise’s PT 4 U Fitness Team, after being contacted by Chequered Flag I was unsure of what to expect.  Duathlons are not something I do, having only really taken part in a couple previously and those were on a borrowed road bike.  This time, I had been ill during the week, felt unwell and nearly didnt attend on the day of the event, today, I had to run to the shop and buy some shorts as I left mine at home.  Oh boy this was looking awesome 😉 We arrived at the location to motorcycles screeching around the track, we were hoping they weren’t joining us.  So far, the caliber of bikes we had seen and the general feel was of racers who were pretty serious, here was me with my mountain bike, Graham had forgotten his trainers and was wearing some serious trendsetters to go with the horn on his bike, hahaha.  Not to be jested however, Graham has completed some serious miles on his bike in 2 etap races this year. Completing both of these in very respectable times, a testament to what you can do with some hard work, focus and not blaming your kit! Registration was a very straight forward process where our main concern was keeping warm, the wind chill had gone up a few levels since earlier in the day.  Coming to these type of events where I am not sure what to expect, I get really nervous and uncertain of how I might fair against everyone.  Especially, against all these folks with their duathlon and triathlon t-shirts!  All of a sudden feeling rushed, trying to get my kit organised and changed.  Pop the tire back on my bike – the wrong way initially I might add. We headed to the start line and had to work out where to the pop the bikes, haha my tires were so wide they nearly didnt fit in the stands, hahahaha. Much nervous chatter, dashes to the toilet, pictures to be taken – well we need proof we were present.  The pre-race briefing was simple and concise, just what you need when you are nervous. Over to the track and we lined up, a very original and unique way to begin, we watched for the lights above.  All had to light and go off before we could begin, there was a build of anticipation as they lit up. A few nervous, almost false starts as we waited.  Then we were off!!!

I found the first few yards pretty heavy underfoot having been on trail and off-road sections for much of my last lot of running.  This felt high impact underfoot and a reasonable pace, I wasn’t sure I could keep it up, especially as I have been focusing on endurance based events over the summer.  We were quickly into a downhill section of the track, coming around the bend you were straight into a head wind which I thought nothing of at this point.  We quickly made our way off the track on the run route around the outside of the track.  Instantly, this felt so much better but it seemed longer than I anticpated it to feel.  I came around the last hill of this section to the words of, ‘F**k Off!’ exclaimed very loudly behind me, I am presuming he was talking to the hill and not me.

Into the bike section, helmet on, I reached to take my bike out of the stand and nearly pulled the whole stand with me, hahaha, oops, that would include Lucy’s bike with it.  Those slimmer tyres I was so proud of for the C2C hahaha – they were not slim at all.  I had to resort to brute force to free my bike but we were finally off, to top it off my front bike light fell off – ahhhhhhhhh! Okay, thats okay, Ill just hold it.  Over the transition line and jumped on the bike.  This holding my light actually wasn’t my brightest idea, I couldn’t properly pull my brakes but I also had nowhere to put it.  5 laps here I come, I pumped my legs hard to get around the corner and down the hill.  I noticed that many of the guys on the road bikes were free-wheeling it down this section but I kept cycling.  Then we hit it, the wall, brick wall of wind.  We would come around that first bend so quickly only to feel like you were going to fly off the bike as the wind whipped at your wheels, pushing you wider on the track,. This is where I struggled the most.  Uphill and into the wind.  I received a few ‘well done’s for doing it on a bike like that!’ but its all good, I even overtook some folks on the last hill as you came toward the transition section.  Lap one complete – 4 to go. A massive high five to all the spectators for their cheers and support!  After completing the 5 laps, quickly moved into the transition area and was directed onto the final run.  Now you would think that this would get boring quickly, I tend not to enjoy repeated laps but you don’t have time to get bored – you are just pushing to go fast.  This involved following the same route as the initial run but only on the outside of the track.  The marshalls were great at encouraging you, although one of the team felt they were alittle sparse as she came in further down the field towards the end of the final run.  Nevertheless, this was a great event, especially as an introductory, the whole team did fantastically well. We all enjoyed ourselves, the instructions were very straight forward and easy to follow, Graham felt that the marshalls helped to create a very relaxed atmosphere for those of us who didnt feel up to the same level as some of the other racers.  Everyone was cheered in over the finish line, great to be welcomed in with a bottle of water and an energy bar.  Focus was all on the taking part and personal challenge – brilliant. I would highly recommend this with 2 more left in the series to take part in.

This is the fun at the finish line, the first pic takes in my serious car driving, racing face and then obviously the fun, haha, all makes it worth it!