Ikano Robin Hood Marathon 29/09/13

Early start for this one. I was going with Ripon Runners clubmates, Emma, Donna and Claire. Emma picked me up at 05:20, we then picked up Donna and Claire, it was pitch black, a real sign that summer was almost over. We headed down the A1 to the M1 chattering excitedly about our challenges ahead as the skies lightened. We stopped at Woodall services for a comfort break and emerged to a gorgeous pink sky criss croosed with airoplane trails and a sun erupting over the horizon like a flaming orange. Back in the car we made our way to Nottingham and The Riverside Inn by Trent Bridge, where we were parking and meeting Emma's twin sister, Sally. It was their birthday,and what better way to celebrate than doing what you love, running.

We visited the portaloos then went to get race ready. We were really early so sat in the car for a while. Soon the lure of the loo was too strong, honestly what is the point of trying to hydrate when all you do is wee. The nearest loo was 20p, 20p! To spend a penny? Goodness me, anyway it was one of them newfangled things. We joined the queue but it was a slow process with the cleaning process between customers, so, curious as we were to investigate this contraption, we gave up and headed along the embankment for the race village and the numerous portaloos, where long queues shrunk quickly. Relieved we headed to investigate the finish area and arrange a meet up point for after the race. 

We headed for the start pens. Emma and Donna went to the red pen, they're very quick runners, I was impressed by Donna's cool, calmness as she went to embark on her first marathon. Claire and I were in the blue pen, Claire was doing the half and had a solid blue number and me I had a blue stripy number because I was doing the full. We stood near the front chatting to other runners when a pacer arrived, I looked up, 1:50, he was for half marathoners. I wished Claire luck and moved further back, the other pacers were well back. I decided to take it steady and join the 4:15 pacer as they passed. It was quiet where I stood, everyone absorbed in their own race plans. Soon we moved forwards towards the line, then we were over the mat, I started my watch and got on with it, running along the embankment. It was very busy, I was constantly being passed by people running really quick, I felt ok, so kept going but if felt as if I was going backwards. Slow down I thought, this is too quick, by 3 miles I was running slower but still was being overtaken at a great rate of notts.

 Approacing 6 miles I thought, I know where this is, it's the Kilomathon start from the Worlds first Kilomathon, Nottingham to Derby in 2010. The last time I was there the fences were covered by men going for a wee, not nice for the owners of the flats to wake up to on a Sunday morning, I wondered if that was why the 2011 Kilomathon never ran from Nottingham, it was just in Derby. We ran past the park and where the baggage buses had been and turned into the grounds of what I was told later was the University, what a lovely place, then we went round a little lake and I was reminded of the Newcastle Town Moor marathon. As the 4:15 pacer passed, I didn't have a hope in hell of keeping up. I let them go and decided to just go my own pace.

It was getting warm and I was drinking loads. But still felt warm. As we approached 12 miles we turned back onto the embankment, Oh! This doesn't feel right. I looked around and was surrounded by solid coloured numbers. Oh no! Have I missed the split off, I slowed and started to go back. I saw another striped number, he was sure we hadn't missed it, I ran with him and soon we heard half to the left, full to the right, Phew! Relief! We turned right and under Trent Bridge, then we went through a housing estate, that seemed wierd. I knew I was fading as even though there were hardly any runners now, they were all overtaking me and I couldn't do anything to prevent it. At this point the route out, ran alongside  the route back. I started to look for Donna and Emma, there were not many runners and some of them were looking tired, then there they were, running together, looking comfortable and as if they were having a great time. I shouted to them that I was going to be slower than I'd hoped, 4:30-4:40. I thought 13 miles would never appear, but at last, there it was. Half way. I felt better than this when I finished the Great a North Run a fortnight ago. Still I just had to get on with it. By 15 the battle really started, everything hurt. I forced myself to run, I hadn't run this far since the Minster to Minster marathon in August. As I approached Holme Pierrepont I saw the campsite where we stay for Outlaw, I welled up, all the memories of July 7th came flooding back as I ran along the road that goes around the outside of the grounds. We'll turn in soon to the lake, then I'll be on the Outlaw route to the finish.,At 19 miles I noticed that even running I was not gaining on the walkers ahead. Right, time to swallow my pride and walk a bit. I knew I could walk a decent pace, so I did for a while, then when I ran again, I started to gain and overtake some of the walkers, so I run/walked the next 4 miles, then I managed to run along the riverside and under the footy ground, There were lots of people cheering me on, I wanted to stop, but I was determined to run the suspension bridge, I never managed it at Outlaw., I approached and just went for it, through the crowds leaving the event and off the other side. I set off along the embankment. I knew this was an out and back, but still it sapped my will and I walked a bit more. As I finally saw the turn point I ran again, painfully slow, I could hear my trainers scuffing on the ground, the marathon shuffle, but I was getting closer to the end. As I approached the turn into the finish chute, I could hear my name and there were Claire Donna and Claire's husband Chris, I forced myself to pick up the pace and high 5 d them as I passed, I wanted to stop, the finish chute was ridiculously long, and then, there were the grandstands, almost empty now, turn the corner, the clock read 4:58 something, quick, get under 5 hrs, under the clock, over the mat, switch off watch. 4:51:27.

It had taken 6 mins to cross the line at the start. It was over, relief and exhaustion took over, I collected my medal, some juice, lucozade and water then my goodybag and a banana. A scout leader thanked me for running for British Lung Foundation, she explained that she was Lung foundation nurse.

All the way round people asked about my challenge, I tried to give them figures but my brain was mince. So my mileage was not accurate, but here it is. 1394 miles, which places me in Belarus, the last country to cross before Russia.

I was met by Donna, Claire and Chris, Emma was with her family at the Riverside. Claire had got a PB on the half 1 hr 46 and Donna's first marathon had ended with an awesome 3 hr 24 time and 4th or 5 th female. Emma had done 3hr 26 a PB by over 5 mins, but sadly Sally had got an injury and taken the decision to pull out, she has a big fell race next week so is saving herself for that, then Amsterdam marathon. Hope you are well Sally, good luck next week and I hope you get your sub 3 hr goal in Amsterdam.

Well that's it, another marathon over, 21st since my first ever in Edinburgh 2010 that includes 3 ultras and the marathons at the end of my 2 Outlaws, 10th this year, only 3 more to go this year, hope they're better than this. Suddenly the mileage is starting to catch up with me

Brownlee Triathlon

When I heard about this I just had to do it. I have followed the Brownlees career for a long time now. I registered for notification emails, and when it came, it said that entries would open at midday, I was unable to do that and worried that it would sell out and I would miss out. A friend offered to do the entries for hubby and I. Later in the day I received a text to say  we were in, How much do I owe you" I asked " £120" was the reply. I was gobsmacked. Still we were in, that's what counted. 

Anyway that was months ago now. To prepare, the week before I cycled the bike route twice, once on my road bike and once on my mountain bike. On both I was scared of the descents and the ascents were really hard on the mountainbike.

On the morning Billy and I met Bully, Martin and Will at 07:15 to cycle the 2.5 miles to the event, we figured that it would be easier than driving as the car park was about a mile the other side of transition and would be busy. It was a cool morning and we were amongst the first to arrive. We registered and had our tattoos put on, we put stickers on our bikes and helmets, Will wore all of our supporters stickers. We also had the dreaded wrist bands. I had to go back for another ankle strap for my timing chip as I have large ankles. We then went to  rack the bikes. In true Conlin fashion that wasn't straight forwards. Billy had not had a wrist band and even though the woman on the entrance to transition and he had his number on both legs, both arms and both hands, she was unable to let him enter transition, he had to go all the way back to registration for a makeshift wristband. I had found someone else's on the grass and handed it to him, I wonder if someone else had picked it up and put it on, if the would have been allowed into transition. Anyhow, eventually Billy was allowed in to rack. 

Billy was in wave 1 at 09:30 and I was in wave 4 at 10:00.

Whist I was waiting for my turn Ali and Jonny Brownlee were in transition, chatting with competitors, I got my photo taken with them, after asking permission from the ITU official to get my phone out in transition.

Soon It was time for Wave 4 to go for race briefing at the lakeside. The lake looked quite inviting. Not how it had looked a couple of weeks ago when it was choked with weeds. The dredgers had done a good job. We had a few mins to acclimatise, gosh it was cold, It's a while since I ve swum in water that cold. I normally swim wide and at he back, but had to re evaluate they tactic as there were so many beginners, I was in the middle ish and was soon in my own space, the 400 m went quickly, less than 10 mins, happy with that.

I set off up the hill to transition, struggling with my Velcro on my wet suit, eventually I got it undone, unzipped and off to my waist and ran to my bike. I struggled out of my wetsuit and put on my socks and bike shoes, put my helmet on and headed for Bike Out. Doh! Hadn't put my number on, so stopped to do that, carried on towards the mount line and set off to merge into the cyclists, already flying down the drive. I was soon breaking as my spead increased. Over the covered cattle grids, I was glad the ramps had been removed. Out onto the main road and up towards the Fountains car park entrance, the hills did not sem so bad, and I was soon at the church gate and on the dreaded 1 mile downhill section, I could feel the back wheel moving on the gravel and was back on the brakes as other cyclists sped past me, I could have kicked myself but I was just not brave enough. Back down the drive, over the covered cattle grids and back to the uphill section.  I managed this bit really well again and was overtaking cars on the car park road back to the church. I tried not to brake, but it was no good I could feel the panic rising so brake it was. Soon I was off the bike, helmet off and running down the hill, gosh this was just fast and furious. I ran as fast as I could, as I turned a corner I was confronted with the awesome view of Fountains Abbey and the finish line. Wasn't as easy as that though, there was a slight incline through the trees to get over first, then a little bridge and I turned and ran right through the Abbey, Wow! It was a stunning course, soon I crossed the line.

I had estimated around an hour for me to complete this race, so was chuffed to bits to complete it in 56:52. It was great watching other triathletes crossing the line, the air was electric whith the excitement and relief.

We walked back to transition, about a mile, for warm clothes and the sarnies we'd packed, also some money so I could buy the Brownlee's book. We were catching up with friends all along the way. We then watched the race between Jonny and Ali's Twitter team.(Ali was injured from the previous weeks ITU world Championship final in London 6 days before, and so someone else would swim, he would cycle and another person would run, but Jonny would do it all. We watched the start and caught up with more friends, then set off for the finish a mile away. We watched as across the river Jonny ran through the trees and went to the finish line. 

Jonny won, but Ali was there waiting for him, we didn't have long to wait for Ali's runner to finish too.

I then went to bug a book and Billy went for more food, there was lots of that about. While he was waiting for his pizza I went to get my book signed. 

All too soon it was time to head off for transition to retrieve our bikes and kit, as we had to get back because we were babysitting our 6 month granddaughter. We watched gts other races as we worked our way back to transition, on the way back I met Poppyfielder Michael Evans, we chatted then I could put it off no longer, I had to go home.

We gathered our kit and walked down the drive into Studley Royal village, we then walked to the road end as there were still competitors on the route. We cycled from the road end home. 

The Brownlee Triathlon at Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey 21/09/13 was a fantastic event, there were competitors of all ages, sizes, experience, many from Yorkshire and many first timers.

Alistair and Jonathan were lovely people. The atmoshere was awesome. 

A new journey begins

I promised myself a rest in 2014 and not to commit to anything crazy. I really fancied doing Ironman UK at Bolton and so registered my interest, but when Outlaw was released Billy and I decided to do it again and entered, IMUK was released and will be the week before Outlaw this year so when Zi didn't get an early entry email I was not bothered. Billy has been wanting to do IMWales and wants to do that too. He enquired about early entry but was told that that had closed weeks ago but that general entry opens Friday 13 at noon.
Yesterday evening I checked my emails and tree was one from IMWales, an early entry code because I had registered for IMUK.
Should I, Shouldn't I, we discussed it momentarily and I soon found myself filling in an online form and parting with a lot of cash. eek! That's it, Done.
So today will be the first day of a 369 day journey to truly be an IRONMAN

Vitruvian

Vitruvian Triathlon
This triathlon is a middle distance race, 1900m swim, 85km bike 21 km run, it is based at Rutland water and in 2013 was on Saturday 31 st August.
I did this with my husband Billy and our friend Martin.
We arrived on Friday 30 th, we had rooms a few miles away from the start at a pub/hotel the White Lionnin Whissendine. After booking in we went to the race site to register and rack our bikes. We wandered to the lakeside, the lake is a Reservoir of dam busters fame. The water was low and there was loads of weed, Yuk! We also went to see where the swim in/ bike out/bike in/ run out were. we then drove the bike route, the hills did not seem as bad as rumoured, phew!Then we went back to our digs for our evening meal and an early night.
The morning of the 31 st dawned to find the three of us already in the car, driving to the race site. We went to our bikes and set our stuff out then went for the loo. The loo queues were massive and as we got closer to he front we were called to the race briefing. Martin and I stayed in the queue listening carefully, an eerie silence fell over the site as everyone awaited the briefing. This was soon broken by the race directors advice and instructions. After the loo we joined the crowd of competitors at the briefing. After the briefing, we went to squeeze into our wetsuits as th first wave headed for the water at 06:30. There were 6 waves in age groups, youngest first, the first 5 waves were all male and the 6th wave was all the women, mixed ages. Billy and Martin were in wave 4 and me, we'll I was in the last wave, there were 10 mins between waves. Now here is the bit that worried me, cut offs. The clock for the cut offs started when the last wave entered the water, that by my reckoning gave all the males a bit of a time advantage. But hey ho, rules are rules.

The start was weedy, but I coped well with that, It was also crowded so I stayed at the back and watched for the clearest path and was soon in clear water passing other swimmers, I swam wide and so probably swum further. This was my first Australian exit which was ok, I walked I as even though there was carpet down it was stingy on my feet. The second lap was almost fun, I had my own space for the whole lap. The water was pretty churned up so I was a bit disorientated on the second exit and joked with the volunteers helping me out that the lake must be full of cider, I was really wobbly.

Vitruvian Swim 1900 m 00:49 41:33 pace
Vitruvian T 1 0.5 mi 00:03:37 07:14 pace

I walked whist I removed my wetsuit, dried only my face , put on my helmet and glasses and got into my socks and shoes, folded my wetsuit and walk/ran to the mount line.

Two laps, first lap I took steady to start with, I had heard it was hilly and even though We had driven the course the night before I knew the reality on a bike could be different and didn't want to burn out. The race leaders were already coming in at the end of their first lap. It was a climb to the main road and then continued upwards for a while then the first descent, long and gentle but my pace picked up quickly and suddenly the lid and straw flew over my right shoulder, I was a busy main road and I was travelling at 24+ mph stopping to retrieve it was not an option. I felt guilty and sure I'd get penalties o DQd, also I no had no access to my drink, it was going to be a long 26 miles. Confident of the route, due to the previous day's recce I got on with the task in hand. The Rutland Ripple was ahead, this is a series of three hills in close succession, they didn't seem too bad on the recce. The first was ok, I was constantly being lapped by the leaders now. The road was busy and there was slow traffic on the hills as vehicles slowed behind cyclists and cyclists then slowed, basically everyone, cycle, car, lorry bus went the pace of the slowest, I saw faster cyclists up close to the back of vehicles, I was passed by a tractor, so close that my heart missed a beat it must have been a matter of inches from my elbow, but I pushed onwards and soon was descending again. I was glad to leave the ripple behind, it was stressful for me, the rest of the lap was quite enjoyable, at about fifteen miles I managed to fiddle with my drinks bottle to make it so I old get a drink, one long none too steep incline and a few miles later and Zi was turning back down to the reservoir, I had to slow as an ambulance was dealing with an accident, I collected a bottle of water and set off for the second lap, hoping the incident that the ambulance was dealing with was not too serious.The second lap I pushed it a bit more as I knew the course, hills were still tough and the roads sill busy but not as bad as the first lap as there were less bikes out now, I passed my first male on the middle hill of the ripple, that bouyed me up, I passed a couple more on the bike ride, I the bike ride as a whole went well and soon I was turning back to the reservoir.

Vitruvian cycle 50.64 mi 03:25 14.8mph pace
Vitruvian T2 0.12 mi 00:02:08 17:46 pace

Jogged in off the bike, racked it and changed my shoes, grabbed my sweat band and removed my helmet and jogged onto the run course.

I Set off at a gentle pace, my initial aim was to complete at least a mile without walking, soon I saw Billy running towards me, he looked comfortable, I knew Martin would be somewhere near so I couldnt walk and soon I saw him running towards me too. It was starting to feel warm so I walked through the waterstops to ensure I took on plenty of water and then just went from water stop to water stop. I walked each stop to get the fluids in me not down me. The run was two laps of an out and back course and as I left the dam wall on the first lap heading for the transition area, someone came out of the toilet, I narrowly avoided being hit by the door, I joked about it with the man in front, who I had been keeping pace wit, soon we were running comfortably and chatting, he wa called Adrian and was on his second (last) lap, he was almost a Vitruvian. You could hear people finishing for the whole run route. Distracted by chatting, it was soon time to part, Adrian to the finish and me to my second lap. I now felt good, bike legs totally gone, I smiled at everyone as I completed my second lap. The whole Run was reasonably comfortable because the course was flat with a couple of rises in it, it was differing terrains that was good to wake the legs up abit. Very happy with the time.


Vitruvian run 12.78 mi 02:17 10:41 pace

Vitruvian completed 6:36:56

At the finish line, Billy was waiting, so was Martin, then I met Jon and Gary and Lee, we sat by the finish, wondering how Zoe was getting on, "she came out of the water just Vitruvian run 12.78 mi 02:17 10:41 pace me" I said, the announcer called her name as I was heading to T 1. I was looking for someone with dark plaits, that's how I remember Zoe from Outlaw.
Eventually we had to all go our separate ways, we hoped Zoe had sneaked past us, and she had. The next day as photos appeared on Facebook I recognised the photos of Zoe, pink cap and calf guards, blond ponytails. Zoe and I had been passing each other all day but hadn't recognised each other.

Vitruvian is a good event, not for the faint hearted though, but I definitely recommend it.
I also recommend the White Lion in Whissendine, it was a lovely village pub, very welcoming with good food and drink, the rooms were clean, spacious and comfy. Most rooms are being refurbished a the moment.