2013 - Busy year ahead.....

Here we go, as much as a reminder to me as anyone else:

• February - Wokingham Half marathon
• March - Reading Half marathon
• April - London Marathon
• May -  Eaton OW 1500m swim
• June - Windsor Triathlon
• September - Henley Middle Distance tri
• October - Oxford Half Marathon

Still got gaps in July and August (apart from Reading Festival which while one could argue is a test of endurance is really not part of the real planning)........ 

That was fun!

Picture to follow, but the 1:55 pacer at the Oxford Half marathon came in 40 secs early in  1:54:19. I did tell the runners around me that I would go over the line in 1:54:30 to give everyone a chance to beat 1:55 so at least I did that.

It was great fun and a few runners were with me the whole way and achieved PB's.

A good event and I will plan to do it next year.

Oxford Half Marathon pacing

Looks like I am taking the 1:55 group at the Oxford Half marathon in a few weeks time. I still think it might be fun to run the first few KM at 1:40 pace then have time to walk the last 2 km.   

Challenge Henley Middle Distance done and dusted

All done and over with.

A great day all round if slightly over shadowed by a small OW issue that I need to get my head around. In other words a rubbish swim which should be one of my strongest disciplines. Nevermind, loads of time to sort that here, so here are times from Sunday:

• Swim   44.38 (1.9km)
• T1   6.06
• Bike   2:53:46 (maxed out at 64.7km/h) 81.5km
• T2   4.25
• Run   1:57:57 (21.5km)

Total time   5:46:53

I have no idea where this put me in my age group and frankly don't care that much as I am just in the 45-49 group so am racing guys 5 years younger than me. Watch out next year then I will take an interest as I jump into the 50-54 group.

Absolutely delighed with the bike leg - the ZIPP wheels are making such a difference. So much so that they are now going into hybernation for the winter to be saved for next year's racing.

Next challenge - Reading half in March, but I may sneak in a half before that.

I have already booked in Windsor and will probably do Henley again it was so much fun. As to another IM, thats a whole different story.......             

Warm up

Two weeks to go to Challenge Henley and I have got the instructions about when and when to rack up, start times, parking, chip collection, etc and frankly cannot understand a word of it.  Nevermind. Follow the person in front of me that should do it.

Final full weekend of preparation involved 99km cycle yesterday and a 1:19:49 16km Vlietloop here in Voorschoten. Quite pleased as my time in 2006 when I was running a bit more seriously was only 1:19:29, Did not decide to run it until an hour before the start so maybe that is the key. Lull my body into a false sense of security. 

Actually on the basis that I could hardly walk when I got up this morning due to my increasingly bad back I am very pleased. Post Henley will focus on sorting back out and reducing the training dramatically.      

Still eating and drinking for England, nevertheless roll on Challenge Henley.

Interesting stuff (well for me anyway!)

Just as a record, I had a sports test at the hospital recently. For no other reason than to make sure I do not forget the results here are the highlights:

• Height 173cm
• Weight 77.7 (uuuk!)
• BMI 25.7
• Fat % 20 (norm for my age 20%)
• Ideal weight 77.7kg (haha!)
• Blood pressure 125/75
• Resting heart rate 45 
• VO2 max 49.5
• Cholesterol 6.9 mmol/l
• Lots of use of the word "uitstekend"  for my age v endurance ratios

 What did I learn?

1. My Chicago nightmare was a once off - nothing to report that was special according to the ECG
2. I can carry on doing Ironman! Yipppeee!
3. I achieved a 365 Watt (4.7 Watt/kg on the bike and the next step is to get that over 400 Watt  

Next test in 2 years time - and if the get the same results as above I will be very pleased indeed.

Oxford Half marathon

Have been asked to take a pace team at Oxford Half marathon in October. Very tempted to say yes but they are looking to 2:05, 2:15, 2:20 and 2:25 pacers. Never thought I would say it but I can't get that excited about doing a half in 2:15 anymore.

Reckon they would mind being pulled around in about 1:45? Now that would be fun.