Chapter 17 - Velothon Wales and cycling adventures

The next adventure - I think I may be a 

sadist.

Funny how things turn out.....last year I was a triathlon virgin but successfully completed 4 triathlon sprints and loved every minute of the journey. The swimming, the running and the cycling. Even the donning of wetsuit and doing open water swimming gave me some form of sadistic pleasure. I think the word is challenge. I've realised I like a challenge. I've learnt that about myself. I've learnt many things.

So this year I had 4 triathlons booked. Mmmm about that. Something has happened in the meantime.....quite a big thing....it took me by surprise.....it's love.....you see I've fallen in love..........with the cycling bit.  I had been warned.  But nothing quite beats it. And so I have found cycling events taking precedent over already booked triathlons. There are several factors that have lead to this distraction from triathlon and these are who I blame....

It's Grim Up North

I had done a 100mile ride in Loughborough and for all the pain and agony we endured at the end to me there was nothing like the sheer joy of completion. It was a great achievement. When I realised that I might actually be a bit of sadist was when one of my co-riders exclaimed "that's the worst thing I've ever done in my life I hated that".....Oh that's weird I got a kick out of it actually.  How odd.

So my cycling distances to date had been consistent with my triathlon cycling distance required of 20km and I was duly completing this distance around and around and around Richmond Park. Rather like my early running career on Twickenham Green, round and round and round.  But then once I had done the 100miler, I realised there were more KMs out there to be had.

Muchos Ciclismo

Over Easter I notched up the riding kms in Mallorca.  Riding in Mallorca is bliss and that hasn't helped with the falling in love bit either. There is something about climbing those mountains and coming down the other side which just makes you feel like shouting "Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!"  as you blast down the other side. Descending (technical cycling term for going down, not as humorous but sounds more professional - without the Frankie Howard Titter Ye Not implications) while others are ascending (going up) creates a smug pleasure as you see the pain etched on their faces. Because you've earned the downhill bit it's your right. And also you know that just around the corner it will be YOU once again who is coughing up your lungs on the next uppy bit.  

I think there is something about cycling that makes me feel like a kid again.  There is nothing like a bike ride with good friends, having your cake, eating it and burning those calories, getting from A to B.  Looking at the views. Enjoying the sunshine.  It's a great feeling. It makes you feel alive.

One Thing Just Leads to Another - Velothon Wales

So there I was quite happy with my 4 triathlons I had booked for 2015. Then Velothon Wales was mentioned.  I wasn't going to do it. No. I was busy I had 4 triathlons to do. Then my friend Amanda rang and persuaded me that I really wanted to do it.  Oh go on then. Such a pushover.  I then persuaded our friend Catherine that she really wanted to do it too. Even though she didn't actually have a bike at that stage.  And our friend Gareth was already doing it so there we were the 4 musketeers. We'd be fine. So it was going to be just fine......or was it ?

Training it's all about the training.

Actually in order to do 140km comfortably you need to do some training. Darn that training thing can be exhausting! Those weekly Velothon Wales updates on Facebook were also just striking fear and dread into me.  "1 Month to Go!" was supposed to be encouraging. But No actually they were scaring the shit out of me.  

And then everyone started going on about "The Tumble".  No not Mr Tumble that bubbly chubby chap from CBeebies.  Some sort of hill thing apparently.  OK so hills. Focus on the hills. Hell there are no hills in Richmond Park.  I needed a plan.  So I duly befriended the man at school who is regularly in the playground decked in Rapha Lycra. Ever hopeful that he would take me on a big bike ride and get me out of the non-hilly Richmond Park loop. His name is Matt.  "Yeah I can map out some rides for you" he said. Disappointing ...I was hoping he could ride lead.  It was only when he clocked my lovely Ridley Road Bike that he conceded I was deigned worthy enough to accompany him and his lovely wife Eva on a bike ride. And so the two of them have been wonderful in taking me around the Surrey Hills including Staple Hill, Leith Hill and Box Hill.  Lots of kms lots of hills. Great Fun. 

And then there was the distance training.  My boss Chris and I duly set off with 20 A4 pages of Google Maps and tried to rack up the kms around Windsor and back.  Not hilly.  Quite loopy. And there have been a few hairy moments where we've been heading towards the motorway!! Memorable moment in Windsor.  "Keep Left" he shouted. I went left "But you're going right" I shout. "Whatever !!" he replied - ride leading at it's inept best. About turn, against the flow of traffic. I then proceeded to follow his red jacket along the dual carraigeway at full pelt for 5km. Darn it why wasn't he stopping?  Because it wasn't him. Back along the dual carraigeway.  See I knew me and riding in a group never works. But we get up at 5.30am and more smugness as we ride back through Shepperton at 10am and every other bugger is just heading out on their bike ride.  Job Done. Bacon Sarnie time. Still got the whole day to rest on the sofa. Thank you Chris for your unique ride leading!

STRAVA is watching you.....

Before I was truly in love with the cycling my brother had once shown me STRAVA one Christams. I had been a committed fan of MapMyRide. But STRAVA was more Alpha male than MapMyRide. That's hilarious I said that looks to me like a lot of middle aged chest beating men bragging about all the KMs they've racked up trying to out do each other.  Yep that's exactly what it is.  We all give each other Kudos the STRAVA equivalent of a Facebook "Like" but a more hearty testosterone slap on the back. Like a "like" but much more macho. And now I too am sucked in.  Comparing speeds.  Trophy's.  Climbs. Just squeezing out 10 more km just to make it look worthwhile. Going right up to the end of the Cul-de-Sac twice (not a eupehenism) just to clock those kms. And so in the run up to Velothon Wales it became apparent who of the 4 Muskateers was putting in the miles and who seemed to have gone very quiet.  Then there were 2 musketeers. Because sometimes life just gets in the way of cycling. 

Better the Devil You Know or Ignorance is Bliss ? 

The Tumble smiling in the end.

By June I had done the distances. I'd done some hills.  I was Velothon fit.  But there was just one niggling thing.  No not the Chamois Cream, I had plenty of that.  This Tumble thing was now keeping me awake at night. Could it be that bad ? Then Amanda the remaining musketeer went to Wales and conquered it and I realised before Velothon I needed to know what I was letting myself in for.  And now a big debate....is it Better The Devil You Know ? or Ignorance is Bliss ? I needed to cycle The Tumble before Velothon.  Wish I bloody hadn't . I fucking hated it - excuse my french.  Head wobbling from side to side - it went on and on.  Scraggy sheep at the side mocking me with their bloody Welsh Baa Baaa'ing. By the end I wanted to rip off my sweaty socks and gloves, I hated them.  Not a good experience.  The advise given by my ride leader for the day was "You look like one of those dogs in the back of a car with the wobbling heads. Relax. Sit up, use your core. Embrace the hill. Enjoy the Hill". Mmmmmmm. We didn't do Caerphilly mountain that day as it was going to rain. Home for a spot of late afternoon tea instead. Lovely. There are some upsides to the training.

Velothon Wales - #taketheproroad

Never have I been so interested in what the weather was doing in Cardiff.  If it was going to rain this was going to be one carnage of a bike ride as 15000 cyclists descend a hill together.  One minute it said it would be raining the next just cloudy.  In the end I decided not to look I was only going to fret about my base layers.  The night before we had a pasta party in Cardiff arranged by the SunVelo team.  Yes the night before in Cardiff, well that was an eye opener. Never have I seen anything like it. My jaw was dropping. It turns out the most disturbing sight this weekend in Cardiff were NOT the Middle Aged Men in Lycra but the "women" of Cardiff and surrounding environs stuffed into their skimpy nylon outfits on a rainy Saturday night. Blimey scary stuff.  We all hastened back to the hotel to digest our carbs and avoid a fight. And that was just the girls.

Some Viz Characters

Didn't sleep much that night what with all the excitement and wide awake at 5am trying to force feed Porridge and Tesco All Day Breakfast sandwich down me. Very satisfying. Great way to start the day and made me last the 140k distance. 

Tasty Porridge - the best I've had ! 

Reassuring words from a newly acquainted fellow Sunvelo "Team" member just before we set off. As they surveyed my bike with bright pink tyres ...."Did you know research shows that coloured tyres are more likely to puncture than black ones?" thanks for that. I was nervous anyway. As it happens drawing pins are more likely to puncture your tyres aren't they David Harwood ?

Me and Amanda and some other people

We met the remaining Musketeer Amanda, a friendly face. Who for various reasons had nearly ensured it was only the 1 Musketeer but she made it on the day - phew. The rest of "Team" Sunvelo had obviously got the measure of Amanda and I from the Facebook Group already set up.  Various wise cracks from the two of us about cheese shops and waterproof mascara ensured that they sped away from us quite rapidly at the starting line.  Just the 2 Musketeers left then. Better crack on then as they say.

Job Done

What a fab day.  Riding on open roads is not to be underestimated the sheer joy of speeding down a hill and not having to slam the brakes on at the bottom because of a roundabout was very liberating.  Even the drawing pin incident was part of the excitement of the day. Not least because it meant that for Amanda and I for a brief moment we could overtake Sunvelo "Team" mate David Harwood as he mended his 3 drawing pin puncture. Small Victories.  He still whooped our arses. 

Strava is watching you

The weather held out.  I embraced the Tumble - I actually enjoyed it as my "coaches" words echoed in my head "Relax and Enjoy The Hill" I actually did.  Caerphily Mountain not so much though which came at 120k into the 140k ride. I tried to convince myself that the hilly dual carraigeway which everyone was climbing like ants might be what the Welsh considered a mountain.  Nope that wasn't it. Then we came across Caerphilly High Street a vertical high street of this nature I have not witnessed before. Maybe this was it ? Nope.  Around the corner. Oh that's it then.  By this point I was knackered and hot and bothered and in need of a drink. So I confess I did get off and drink my drink. But I did get back on and ride and then carried on to the end. What an absolutely fantastic day. Loved every bit of it. It was worth all the hard work. Boyo that was fab.




The next chapter.....

And now it seems that this 140k ride with all it's training is just a fraction of my next adventure. A  bit of training for the training. I love the training. I am about to do a Sportive tomorrow. Couldn't help myself because I need to be ready for my next adventure in 4 weeks - oh la la RoadTripParis. And Triathlon - well for now it'll just have to wait.

  

Chapter 16 - TriCamp revisited and muchos riding

TriCamp - The Sequel

Is my helmet on straight?

Usually the sequel is never as good as the original, so I was slightly concerned that my second visit to TriCamp wouldn't be quite the journey it had been last year and would I really get as much out of it? I was particularly concerned as I'd had a cold for most of December and January and whilst I wasn't as green as I was last year I certainly hadn't been able to put in the hours of training that had been clocked up by early 2014. So I was worried that I wasn't going to have the stamina required for this level of exercise.

I was determined that this time I wasn't going to be the camp numpty. Especially when my friend Steve admitted that last year when we had first gone out on the bikes it was agreed "she's the one to avoid!". Something about my my Liza Minnelli jazz hand cycling signals and inability to locate my brakes. Well I've come a long way, my chain doesn't come off up hill everytime anymore and I know the difference between the big cog and the little cog (ones bigger than the other). So I was determined to keep my head down and stay below the radar. Well so much for that! Day 1 didn't go too well......

DAY 1 - STAYING BELOW THE RADAR

Day 1 off to the local pool on bikes. Oh how terrified I had been last year on that first ever foray on a road bike.  But it was a doddle cycling to the pool this year for swimming drills. There were definitely others who showed their cycling proficiency to be distinctly lacking. Yay! I wasn't going to be the one to avoid. Well at least not on the bike!

My swimming had come on since last year I wasn't that person taking 1 deep breath, going full pelt and having a heart attack at the deep end. No I had come a long way, I could alternate breath and everything, I'd show them.  Coach Hev was going through hand exercises with our lane to get us to "feel the catch". Everyone was going up the pool no problem. Well apart from me who wasn't quite "feeling the catch".  But I was getting away with it. Below the radar below the radar. Coach Hev.... "CATHERINE ! come over here" ...Oh No! don't single me out it's only Day 1 I'm staying below the radar.  She starts explaining the motion I should be replicating. "Oh Yes Yes I see " say I.  Off I go...."CATHERINE!" Oh No she's spotted me.  Have you ever had that brain freeze moment in an interview when you're asked a question and your brain completely empties leaving you with panic as you seek to find the answer any answer to the question? It didn't matter how much Coach Hev explained the hand motion, it wasn't sinking (swimming reference!) in. I think she realised she was getting no where.  It was as if she was explaining it in Spanish. Similar to when I've had big cog little cog on my bike explained to me. But being singled out wasn't the worst bit of the swim session it was about to get much worse.  In a moment of pure "killer whale hunts down a seal" speed swimming, I overtook my opponent in the pool only to crash head on with my friend JT who was coming the other way.  10 people now looked at each and agreed "She's the one to avoid!". 

Day 2 didn't get much better, a perfectly lovely cycle to the sea for a swim in wetsuits.  Open water swimming isn't my favourite past time. Whose is ? Oh apart from Sandi my lovely cornish room mate who had been a lifeguard in Australia, she was like flipper in the water perfectly happy.  No there is something about all those other people thrashing around you that makes my heart race and have a rising sense of panic. Give me a lilo and I'm perfectly happy.  It was also quite nippy in March.  To the extent my feet felt numb with cold. So whilst last year I hadn't quite made it around the buoys, this year I did, but I felt really dizzy and had to get out. Quite common with sea swimming. This below the radar strategy wasn't actually panning out too well. Coach Nick was great as ever as I sat fighting back tears on the beach - very encouraging. He's very good with erm you know what do you call them ? Ah yes "Middle Aged Women"!  I got back in the water on his persuasion only to have a head on collision with ....yes you've guessed it....JT. "I'm really really sorry"....  JT to me "You're a mad woman you're aiming for me!" It's a good job I know him. And anyway he should understand he nearly killed a Triathlon Nun so he can't talk. See Chapter 8.  Well the afternoon was much better........or was it?

GROUP RIDING OR NOT AS THE CASE MAY BE.

Me and the Pelaton !

The afternoon was spent learning the art of "Group Riding" something I've never really truly got the hang of. I'd usually only ever ridden with 1 other person.  And the other times I'd ridden in a group (and I use the term loosely) I had had 1 sarcastic comment from my friend Gareth which made me realise I hadn't quite got the etiquette right. And when I'd ridden with my local Tri Club, I got the distinct impression the men didn't want to be held up by me and so left it upto the only other female on the ride to look after me. Several times they came back for me, but I just couldn't keep up the same pace as them.  So I was looking forward to learning this ancient art. I might even be part of a Pelican.

There they are !

Off we all set - and I think it's fair to say there was a lot of Northern testosterone flying around! There were only 2 females on this year's TriCamp, so we were definitely outnumbered. And it became clear that at the very least no male was going to be overtaken by a girl. Especially a 46 year old girl - OK middle-aged woman not girl. It became apparent there were 2 distinct riding groups and then me! Why is it always me?  So group 1 fuelled by sibling rivalry and testosterone sped off practicing the art of group riding, it looked great, even off in the far distance.  And then there were others behind, others that didn't really number "a group" and hence the art of "group riding" couldn't really be practiced, and any etiquette of Ride Leader and Pupil seemed to be getting a bit fuzzy. It was getting quite tense back there. So I decided to cycle full pelt and catch up with the Pec's-A-thon. And at one point they were most definitely within my sights, and then as I edged closer they seemed to go up a gear and effortlessly pull away.  So now there was a group in front of me and a group behind me, neither within my sights. So on our "group riding" day I was most definitely cycling on my own and most definitely not in a group, ho hum.  I decided there was no point going into Zone 5 - cardiac arrest zone - to catch up. I'd just go at my own decent pace. I came across a German Touring Group with proper handle bars and picnics in their back packs.  They were going at a lovely pace, and were chatting and laughing.  For a brief moment I thought "Perhaps I'm on the wrong holiday - I've found my perfect riding group, back packs and picnics- Eureka!" perhaps TriCamp just wasn't for me?  And then lovely Matt the policeman from Devon appeared like a knight in shining armour.  "Get on the back Catherine" and off we sped.  You know what? that did definitely feel better as we swooshed at speed past the Von Trapp family on their day out.  OK now we just had to catch the others.  We did eventually do some "group riding" with the Pecker-A-Thon. Still couldn't say I entirely understand group riding.  But I am a bit more informed.  And it did make me realise that left to my own devices I will quite happily potter along. I definitely need someone pushing me, and I realise I can actually do it - so maybe I always need to just push myself that little bit harder? Take myself out of the pootling zone.

CYCLING - GOOD FOR THE SOUL.

Muchos Riding

Over the 3 weeks I was in Mallorca I cycled 550kms. Maybe not that far in distance to some but a fair bit of climbing involved, plenty of banter, some scares, laughter and lots of wonderful people. Not as much cake as I would have liked Nick Dunn! I once more visited Sa Calobra but with no stops this time, no back pack and a more sophisticated range of nutritional aids. Thanks to Simon Wood for coming to cycle with me for the last bit of Sa Calobra in the absence of Andrew.  And you can borrow my reading glasses anytime! And Mark who kept me company whilst I swallowed a fly and was very encouraging.  And a big thank you to Dave Harwood at SunVelo who provided the lovely wheels for me to enjoy. I cycled up hills, beside the sea, saw a lighthouse - Yes Sandi it was there.  Went under tunnels, went up more hills, visited the garage, nearly got blown off a hill, went up more hills, went down the other side, along country lanes with muchos aribos de olivos. Cycling in Mallorca is wonderful, it makes you want to learn spanish, buy an olive farm and cycle till your hearts content. Cycling makes you feel like a kid going out on your bike for the day with friends for an adventure.  It lightens the soul. I LOVE IT!

10 THINGS I HAVE LEARNT CYCLING IN MALLORCA

Power Bar fuelled goat

1. Those with the all kit can't always cycle. I definitely didn't do my BMC bike justice. You can almost reverse the ratio the more expensive and matching the bike and kit - the more likely to find yourself not riding in a pair. You're not fooling anyone.

2. Take your sunglasses off when riding through a tunnel. You are less likely to feel like you're going to crash and die. AHHHHHHHHHH

3. Mallorcan goats are a road hazard and prefer to eat Power Bars than muffins, and thus need to be treated with extreme caution because they WILL have a turbo charge.

4. Big lads struggle up hills but boyo can they get down the other side quickly. Tortoise and Hare.

5. A bike ride is definitely enhanced by cake and a bike ride with a full afternoon tea is heaven.

6. Never underestimate what you are capable of.

7. You can get your wheel caught in a Mallorcan drain cover. And I have seen a pro cyclist do it so I'm in good company. I did exclaim "SHIT!" loudly. He just blushed profusely.

8. Group Cycling - bit like biology I was always rather average at it.  Not at the front and not at the back - but somewhere in the middle on my own - touring with the picnic brigade. Could do better.

9. Windy bike rides on mountains are scary. If it's windy and rainy it's best to stay indoors and keep warm.

10. Old lycra cycling shorts can become see through, and you don't wear pants underneath. Please consider other cyclists in your Pelican. Bend over and check before you mount.

CYCLING QUESTIONS STILL PERPLEXING ME

Question 1 - Why do my toes go numb ? Even when it's hot and dry?

Question 2 - Is there an international cycling hand signal for road kill?

Question 3 - Car Up or Car Back ? Which way is up ? Make your mind up.

Question 4 - What is the point of an electric bike?

Question 5 - Is it just me or does everyone need just one more tiny gear to go up a hill?

Question 6 - Big Cog Little Cog - yeah yeah glossing over.

Question 7 - Cherry Drops or Werthers Originals?

Question 8 - Wouldn't a cycling cap be a good idea when it's raining?

Question 9 - What is enough oil on a chain and the same with chamois cream?

Question 10 - Never judge a place by it's flower pots. You never know what's inside.

WHAT'S NEXT ?

Did I enjoy TriCamp the sequel?. Yes I bloody well did - lots of laughter, lots of exercise, fresh air, great food, amazing scenery and lovely people. And there's always something new to learn. Like don't turn right down bin alley. And don't bother bringing your going out threads eh? Andy, Rob and Joe? you'll just be way too knackered to go out and party. But it's a great feeling. We smashed it! 

Next challenge? to cycle 140km around hilly Wales at Velothon Wales in June. I really do need to get my speed up and stay in the saddle for 6 hours and practice some hills. I reckon I need to cycle 100km a week starting from this week. So cherry drops or werthers originals?

Chapter 15 Virgin to Novice, COG HOG and DCOG

IN THE BEGINNING...

Blenheim - I DID IT ! 

The story so far, by Chapter 14 I had completed my first ever Triathlon Sprint (1hour 42m) and in a moment of endorphin rush had gone on to book another 3 for the end of the year and a 100 mile bike ride. So I had indeed become part of that statistic which said that 70% of triathletes go on to do another triathlon. PAH wise words! I admit I was now hooked and having survived - I mean completed - my first triathlon I now wanted to improve upon my times....... 

So for this chapter I was going to go into an in-depth analysis of each of my next 3 triathlons, which I did type out and have just deleted because I realised it was really really boring. People were beginning to glaze over at dinner parties when the dreaded "T" word was mentioned. So for those that are interested my times are below and for those who are really interested I'll show you my spreadsheet one day! ....And now my biggest challenge is to continue to make this blog entertaining......

THE NEXT CHAPTER IN MY LIFE - What Cathy did next.

Many things happened to me over the summer which some of you are aware of and boy some of my findings would make a fascinating blog - maybe another time, and under another name. Some of those women are parents at school.  Soooo....... 


CYCLING 

Helmet since changed - See COG below

I managed to pack some cycling in over the summer, had some great rides. Chain continued to fall off. Great if you can persuade someone else to put it back on. I have noticed a reticence amongst other race participants to stop and help with this during a race so have had to get my hands dirty on occasion. Turns out it was the hanger rail as suspected - now straightened so all now good. See I even know some technical equipment terms,  before all this I thought a hanger rail was something you hung your latest collection on! 

CHECK ME OUT - COGS, DCOG, HOGS and..

Mamil in all the right gear

I've realised there is a certain code of conduct rather like the Mason's handshake amongst cyclists. This first became apparent from postings on Facebook where certain cycling individuals critiqued my bike and accessories. It was like Bike Nip they couldn't help themselves. Comments on reflectors, saddle dimensions, saddle bag size, drinks carrier, tyres, handlebar tape etc. And whilst out cycling other cyclists do the C.O.G the Cycling Aptitude Onceover Glance.(I know, I know I missed the A out). This is rather like the D.C.O.G Diamond Count Onceover Glance, which has happened to me at certain dinner parties with certain materialist individuals and people from Alderley Edge. You can see their eyes moving over you as they mentally scan the number, clarity and size of the diamonds you are wearing. Ears check, Necklace check, Engagement ring size check. Yuk.

Wine Bag - the perfect handbag ?

Also similar to H.O.G - Handbag Onceover Glance which used to happen a lot at the marketing agency I used to work at. Walk into meeting - handbag on the table - bosh - Mulberry - oh yes check me out (not me I hasten to add). Oh Blow! - out trumped by a Chanel! We'll do the minutes then. I think men probably play this with watches. And that's where I think I should leave my acronyms! So.....

Check Me Out! I know I have a nice bike and I think this has lulled some people to falsely believe I know what I'm doing. On this basis I have been allowed on bike rides that quite frankly were way out of my league. Which becomes blatantly obvious quite quickly when they leave me for dust, cycling through treacle humming "Things Can Only Get Better" and sucking on a cherry drop.

TRICLUB INITIATION SUNDAY RIDE

And it rained and it rained and it rained

This weekend I went for my first Sunday Club Ride with the Tri Club I had joined - about a year ago! The C.a.O.G was done at the beginning of the ride:- drop handlebars, no reflectors, no visor on my helmet, cleats, a Ridley bike, even some cycling lycra with the little lobster logo on. Check me out! so far, so good,  I had passed the first test, maybe my glasses had let me down? I had also learned some hand signals at Tricamp so I kinda knew what I was doing, I could speak their coded-language too. My first initiation ride with the Tri Club was to be to the Surrey Hills in what can only be described as biblical rain. Rivers for roads, wasn't sure what the hand signal for otters swimming in the road because it's flooded was. 

I could hear myself chattering away nervously dropping into conversation various cycling tit-bits to back up my cycling credentials, Sa Calobra bla bla, 100mile bike ride bla bla, triathlons bla bla, Mallorca bla bla.  But this couldn't disguise the fact that they were just a hellava lot faster than me and I was holding them up. I have to confess though this did work to my advantage when I skidded and fell off. They were so far ahead of me no-one saw as my back wheel skidded underneath me while going down hill braking furiously to try and avoid ending up in the boot of a Ford Focus. I yelped like a girl (I am a girl) all the way, attached to my bike by my cleats, I landed wet and soggy in the road. Fuck! Quick! get up Catherine no-one saw - I giggled to myself! Got away with it. And at least I wasn't the guy who had 3 punctures! Still didn't get to the fabled Box Hill, so this is still on the bucket list, maybe on a sunny day?.


THE RIPPLE EFFECT

My Age Group Category - that's quite a ripple

It seems that it has occurred to a few people that bloody hell if that Catherine Jevans can do a Triathlon - it can't be that difficult. I've had lots of my lovely friends saying the blog has inspired them to do more exercise and set themselves a challenge.   So buoyed by this positive ripple effect I spied my next victim. I'd heard that a lady from school was interested in doing Triathlon's so I collared her and told her I had been a virgin Triathlete last year too. " Read my blog" I said "it's all about a numpty starting out."  I saw her a couple of weeks later -  ME: "Have you entered Blenheim yet?"  HER: "I read your blog and I'm having second thoughts, it scared me" she avoids my gaze these days. Looks like my recruitment technique needs some fine tuning. Although Chris my boss who I lured into Triathlons is the other extreme. Not content with piddly little Sprints  after 1 Triathlon - he's aiming for Olympic distances next year and has his full training and race schedule fully mapped out. On a spreadsheet no doubt! He may even have persuaded me to do 1 Olympic distance next year - Oh Shit! (1.5k swim, 40k bike and 10k run) That's going to hurt. 

Other friends told me how they had been at a Spa and read an article about middle aged women doing Triathlons because of a mid-life crisis. "Oh how we laughed" she said "We thought of you!".She had actually hit the nail on the head. Mid-life crises aren't funny. But at least sport and excessive amounts of exercise are a positive outlet for it - and you can eat as many snacks as you like.

In fact I love my age-group category. Apart from when I'm standing on the side of a lake and they are squashed into their wet-suits beside me. Have you seen the size of some of their limbs? - you could have my front teeth out with that!

AM I SADIST?
In October I did the 100 mile Tour of the Forest in Loughborough with fellow cyclists Gareth, Gary and Nick, my new Strava friends. It was a cold morning, according to the Lycra cycling kit! The ride was a long old northern slog, but we all did it, some fuelled purely by Jaffa cakes.This was despite a few more hills than were forecast. But we all completed. And like the biblical bike ride in the rain I did really enjoy it. I got a kick out of the challenge.  And boys I have to say until you've done Sa Calobra nothing feels like a hill in comparison. You need to get yourselves out to Mallorca!.

100mile gang - Me, Gary, Nick and Gareth (Bethan on wall)

MY TOP TIPS for TRIATHLON
1. Always have a tune to sing in your head when things are going wrong mine is "Things can only get better"
2. My in depth research of 4 Tri-athlons has concluded that Cherry Drops are my boiled sweet of choice.
3. Always remember where EXACTLY you've racked your bike - saves valuable time in transition.
4. Don't take other peoples cycling helmets home with you after an event - that's stealing.
5. Don't forget you've put your wet cycling shoes on the radiator at home and not actually left them at the event, thus wasting those poor people in the lost property department's time. Thank you Oliver at Hever Castle.
6. I could go into a whole lot of detail about periods, Trisuits and Triathlons but here is not the place. Actually some of the women in my age-group category don't have to worry about this anymore.
7. Don't eat gels they make you gag. Bloc sweets are good though.
8. Make sure your bike is in the right gear to suit the first part of the bike leg. And don't laugh at the people on mountain bikes as they struggle up the hill looking beetroot red. And definitely resist the temptation to say "you should get a road bike".
9. Try not to stare at the men peeling off their wetsuits as they come out of the lake dripping wet into transition. That might be another reason for middle aged women taking up Triathlons? Sod Robbie Williams, these boys have pecs.
10. Try not to think what might actually be lurking at the bottom of that muddy lake beside the old castle as you swim across it.

THE TRIATHLON THE TIMES - I did in deed knock time off my first ever Triathlon! Yeeessssssssa!

Still Smiling ! 

Triathlon 2 - Thames Turbo August 25th - Pissing rain.
TIME: 1:27.12. 7th in Age Group category.

Triathlon 3 - Woburn Abbey 7th September - Sunny
TIME: 1:27.31. 8th in Age Group category.45th overall - OMG that must be wrong!

Triathlon 4 - Hever Castle 27th September - Warm Very Very Hilly (did I mention it was hilly?)
TIME: 1:28.20. 22nd/200 in my age group. Oh yes I think I can actually do this tri thing.


Next Chapter.....Goals
Swim:-Better and don't retch 
Bike:- Faster Longer Harder (oerrrr sounds a bit rude!)
Run:-  Without injury and maybe with some new shoes and over 10k.