Results
12th March 07 - 08th October 06 - 24th September 06 - 04th September 06 - 28th August 06 - 11th July 06 - 09th June 06 - 21st May 06 - 7th May 06 - 23rd April 06 - 14th April 06 - 13th April 06 - 12th March 07 - 19th May 07 - 09th June 07 - 07th October 07
At present this page will contain all race results and race reports undertaken by the scribe. At a later date seperate pages will appear to make it a little easier on the eye. All cycling results/reports will appear on the DFS Bikers site.
Sunday 07th October 2007 0900hrs - Jersey Marathon
So the day has appeared, all to quickly really, but hey I knew the risks. So a little background, set out a 16 week training program (this is its first test) completed it (not without some problems) totals - here - announced aim - 3hr 30min - mainly because this is what I have trained at/for. Whether I'll get there is to be seen. Intermediate time(s), well only one really (due to not racing this year) that one being the halfway point - 21.1k @ 1.45-1.50 - that allows for the run up Waterworks Valley.
0855hrs line up ready to go, brillant conditions, slight breeze, bright sunshine, which leaves not many excuses in the bag! The whole start/finish area is packed, a great venue. Must move myself to the front bit (avoid any 'messy' bits) 0900hrs the gun goes (well air horn actually) set off for the town circuit, not really going to look at watch/pace till after Waterworks Valley. Not much point really. things don't really 'level out' till then. Anyway, feeling Ok, cobwebs are out, hopefully I don't get stuck inbetween a rock and a hard place! Normally I end up 'billy no mates'.
Guess what? Yep its uncanny, pace in front is a little hot and there's no one behind - great! - oh well plod on then. Supporters/marshall's are in plentiful supply, great atmosphere for running. Slide along Waterworks, not to bad, slip along to St Johns Manor and across to St Ouens. Quick 'peek' at the clock, maybe a little quick, but feeling Ok (boy do I pay for this Later) upwards and onwards. Target is the halfway check point, weathers just right, well for me anyway, others were complaining that it was to hot (go train in Majorca then 30+) I knew there was a reason I went there.
21.1k at St Ouens (Farmers Pub actually) time? - 1.38.30 OUCH!! - far to quick, but it felt ok (?) now the problems occur, do I drop down or continue at this pace? I'll drop down just a touch (not that that helped..Doh!). Ok so where are we now? rounding the cycle track at Les Quennvais, legs are now getting stiff (and heavy) I really don't know why this is (I get this alot during long distances), now this is going to be a long 'drift' home.
Drinks station at Corbiere and I'm not having a 'good time'. Stop and take in lots of fluid (might help?). Start up again and no the legs are nice and tight now (12k to go). Pulling on experience (from Ironman racing) its best to keep moving, even if its a 'shuffle' keep moving. No looking to far ahead, just sing some tunes in your head and move forward. You know that's easier said (or typed) that done, but I do keep moving. Only one more 'stop', just before St Aubin's (on railway walk). Gather my thoughts and 'trot on'.
The way back is never easy along the front, as you can see the finish line, but she's 3 miles away. So head down, look 5m in front - no more - and just go. Get passed by several runners, as expected, never easy, always hurts when punters go by and you can't respond.
3.43.17 and I'm over the line. Feet hurt, body hot (nice) therefore shoes/socks/vest off (poor lady tried to wrap me up in tin foil !!) now I'm comfortable, straight off to pick up my bag. All my recovery drinks are in there, and the sun comes out. Me going to flop on grass!
As with everything undertaken you must learn. Did I learn today? yep, created a benchmark - 3.43.17 - understood that pacing is very important (which I did really know beforehand) and needs serious attention and respect. I'm not sure about the training program (jury's out) I've got 1 last race - Jersey Spartans Half Marathon 18th November 2007 - lets just see what happens there.
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Friday 09th June 2007 1830hrs - 10k Portuguese Race
Held in near perfect conditions at West Park, this was meant to be a benchmark race for me - with the other being the Alderney half marathon 09.09.07 (assessment) - but due to the vintage car rally being held at the same time, it was decided to move the race down the road a little bit, therefore making it a 8.4k race instead, never mind 'eh.
Anyway the aim of the race was to just do it. I know I have no speed in the legs and the 'training' has been hard, so really I've no idea what's going to happen.
The result? well as expected really, a really constance pace - flat lined actually -
The blue line is the pace line - see what I mean, flat line - ignore the 2 red peaks, HR monitor playing up...either that or ST was passing me :)......
A finishing time of 37min 28sec, so the mark laid, but I don't think I'll be running another 10k b4 the marathon, so whatever. So race run, back to training.
Saturday/Sunday 19th/20th May 2007
2 French races, Cyclosportives - report here
Tuesday 12th March 2007 World Police & Fire Games - Adelaide Australia
Please click here to read more
Sunday 08th October 2006 - Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon - St Helier
The phase 'I should have known better' springs to mind. The reason? well the Friday before I twicked my right calf, nothing to bad but I should have paid more attention to it. Unfortunately my heart ruled my head, I knew it was going to be a good day and race I just wanted to get out there and do it. That was the mistake, and yes it was another learning curve....the rules of the game = learn everytime you race, well I did but in I surpose a different way!
So with the calf being iced every 2 hours for 48 hours (which really isn't enough, not by a long way) I had made my mind up to start and see whow I go. 2 circuits of town should tell me if the calf will stand up to the race. Well it did and didn't, the back end of the second lap gave me cause for concern, the calf began to hurt, now thats where i should have 'jacked it', but no slowed down and carried on - BIG MISTAKE - anyway upwards and onwards, it really wasn't getting any easier, great crowds and supporters though. To cut a long story short, lasted till St Peters 23k (1.47) - thanks Alby B - and a big thank you to the lady who took me back to the Waterfront (boy that would have been a long walk).
Well I was right it was a great day and great event, one that will only get bigger. Next year.....
Just before the final curtain......me and Nosher
Sunday 24th September 2006 - Autumn 10k Gorey
Breezy day, but strangely no effect to the race conditions, 17c temp, nice. Assessment race for me for the Marathon next month, assess feelings before, after and general thoughts. Start at the front get out of the way and try tempo running. 0900hrs off we pop, get into rythem. What a mess runners on the left hand side of the road, runners on the right hand side of the road, no official pre race talk - bad!- anyway ran with Glenn R for a bit, had a chat, as you do, watched the mess in front, enough of that. Didn't look at the watch during the race, wasn't in the game plan, did just check the H/R, 131bpm, Ok. As mentioned before the wind didn't play a part in the race, up and down a couple of 'hills', not quite the same as Ironman Canada. Up to the finish line..42min 45sec..the aim was 45min (not sure how I got to that) pick a number..comfortable, no ill feelings, apart from a slight tweak on the left quad, monitor that me thinks. Pic's on Jersey Events..as a footnote, what on earth were those 'T Shirts' about???? total c**p, mines already in the bin! Oh well...................
Monday 04th September 2006 - Vancouver Triathon
For that result and report click here and open the Ironman diary.
Sunday 28th August 2006, Ironman Canada
For that result and report click here
Tuesday 11th July 2006, Green Island > Havre des Pas Pool;
Interesting is the word I'd use for this event, water temp 16.1c, air temp 17c 'ish, wind F3 W, which made for some nice swell, which also caught out a few people, including me!
Some 70 punters entered the event and the water @ 1910hrs, a 'dash' from the sea wall and into the swell, this is the first bit that caught us out. A good 4ft swell over the rocks meet us on the way out, this lead to visability problems, unable to spot the turn buoy didn't help. Anyway found it and turned, only to find more swell, this is going to be 'fun'. The water temp seemed to be OK, albeit warm'ish one minute then cold'ish the next. The next part of the swim really didn't change, head for the tower, if you can still see it!! 3/4'ers done water temp starts to get a little chilly, strange really as I'm not that far away from the shoreline. Anyway the know the rules, you can see the finish line but can't get there, the legs started to get cold, 400m to go, not see anyone else, mind you, never really see many on these swims. Eventually the finishing line/wall appears, me out of water pretty dam quick!! time to get changed and dry. Time? 40min 17secs......Uuummm, now that seems a little slow, can I put it down to the sea state? me no think so. It looks like I have some work to do in the pool. Ok though, a wake up call just at the right time..placing? 8th overall, 2nd Vet 40-49 group, seems good but the time isn't.
Friday 09th June 2006, Portuguese 10k, West Park;
27.1c @ 1830hrs, now thats warm. Big breeze though, F4 down towards St Aubins that might help on the way back, help as in cooling down, how wrong can one be!
Aim = 43-45 min, steady pace, done no real speed work in training, but there again speed is not in the final equation - IMC 06 - so sort out the correct starting position and let's go. Plan 1 goes well, nice pace, legs feel Ok, able to talk and run at the same time (always a good check that the speed is not to 'hot'), get down to the turn point, take in some water and then oop's, the headwind back which I thought might cool us down on the way home turn a little nasty. You see the temperature of the wind dried out the mouth and didn't allow the throat to chill either. So no chat on the way back, head for home asap!
Well made it back, the wind was not easy, it was a good test for me, the time? 42min 57sec, not world class, but legs OK after and on the next day (biked for 4hrs 105k Saturday 10th). Recovery = fitness (my plan). And so to the next race - JCA 50mile TT 02 July.
Sunday 21st May 2006, Hash House 1/2 Marathon, St John's;
Slightly longer race report this time, as this was an important assessment race/run. Now where to start? Well terrible weather the day before, strong winds and rain, didn't really get the juices flowing, here's hoping for a 'quieter race day'.
Strong southerly winds for the day, should be sheltered for the majority of the course, better than yesterday. Personal weight for race? 83kg 900gms, perfect for this time of year (although looking back through the previous years, I did race @ 94kgs one year. Don't remember that? PB = 1hr 30mins). Forecast for the race, rain around ten o'clock, race starts @ 0930hrs, then clear till midday'ish.
Race plan? Steady start, get a grip on good starting position and just tempo it out - 4.30 kilometres. Trying for a split of 50mins each half = 1hr 40min finishing time. 0930hrs arrives, race starts, good position, no hassles on the road, feels Ok. Not much to report during 1st 1/4'ter, got a couple of 'same pace runners' around me, plus just a few metres down the road got an eyeball on 'known' runners, so to keep my pace I can use them as 'pacers'. In other words if I start to gain on them, I could be going to fast, or if they start to pull away I could be dropping my pace. I am only going to look at my watch on the odd occasion, must get the pace in my head!
Reached the 1/2 way point - 46min 30secs - quicker than my 'aim', but, not feeling to bad, so try and keep this pace. Again still have some runners around me, useful to keep me going.
The pace is Ok, weather holding out, going to get windy round St Ouens! Got into a little group of 5 runners, each working @ the front for a while, 5k left, got the nasty little drop down the hill to come, not nice, must 'run' down it. Down we go, just 3 of us left. Turn into the wind @ the bottom and up a slight incline - anything else???? - back into a rythem, 2 of us left now, but got a target in front, male runner, lets go get him. 1.6k left, round the sea front, wind now strong across, head down just look 10m in front. Through the back lane, 200m to go, quick look @ the watch 1.33...uuummmmm.....not bad, legs feel Ok, still something in there, this could be a good tester.
Finished - 1hr 34min 19secs - and its raining! Grab bag, get to car and change. Sat in the back of the car, got changed and had a review of the time/race. On reflection all seems Ok, its now down to the recovery. By that I mean how will the legs react? when will I be able to run again? how tired will I feel?
Splits = 46min 30secs + 47min 49secs
Answers =
Legs - stiff, but Ok (program is to rest them and run again next sunday, re start the training program for 12 wks)
Running again - Next Sunday, as above
Tired - Not to bad on Monday, but trained (swam) Monday and Swam/Biked Tuesday (2900m & 70k), felted tired Tuesday afternoon, should sleep well nite!!
Overall thoughts? The 16wks program seemed to work in conjunction with the other training. The positive course of action is to continue in the same vain, with a couple of slight adjustments (KPH up on running program, and a little speed in the swimming).
Here's hoping and to the next assessment (JCA 50m TT-July 2nd 2006).
Sunday 07th May 2006, 10m, Sands > West Park, 0930hrs;
Well tripped out for this race, a part assessment for the 16wk training program. Surprisingly good time, although as a foot note this did happen last time (15k before the November half, felt ok then calf blow up after 8k in race !!!) Stayed well back and worked at my pace, didn't get 'involved' . Conditions were perfect, wind behind along the 5 mile road, not much but enough, climbed Corbiere hill well, overtook and left behind several punters and then got into a nice rhythm, again my pace!
It became one of 'those' races, where nobody comes past but you have 'targets' to aim for. I had about 3 targets, nicely spaced in front, this gives you the 'pacing' to work off, in other words if they don't move away from you, your pace is constant, if they begin to slow you move past them - get the idea? - anyway this happened, moved past them and eventually caught Norma M (1st Lady Senior) and race with her for the final 4k - I had to drop my pace though!!!, I can say that because I know she doesn't read this page....
Sunday 23rd April 2006, JCA 10m TT, La Mare;
Well the first rule is to know the course Now you'd think that I did, but for some reason I had it in my head that we, the racers, went all the way to St Catherines and back...not so ...so it did come as a bit of a shock to find 2 marshall's standing in the middle of the road @ what I would have said was 1/4 of the distance..not easy slamming on the brakes and doing a 'hard complete turn' and re-starting in what could be discribed as the wrong gear...I do have another phase if you wish...please 'e' me if you would like to see that
Anyway back to the race, its a hard and fast flat out race really, not the best for me.... no pace just last longer.....still finished in 25min 33sec, got no idea what that means, but its an outing and the training still goes on, no rest period yet. 'Real races come soon', they are the assessment races...
Friday 14th April 2006, Easter Stage Race, Road Race 46k;
Day 2 of 3 for me, interesting race, could have done a little more, but circumstances held me back. Worked with the pack for 3 laps (4 in total), still learning about 'racing' when to go when not to go. Anyway eventually finished with not a lot in the 'pins', but I did 'TT' the last lap to try and bring Sarah S back to the pack. Failed as you might have guessed, but it was a workout.
Thursday 13th April 2006, Easter Stage Race,
Hill Climb - Splash 3k;
Oh what fun we had, a nice breeze on the rear end and away we go, eventually. Decided to enter this, and the rest of the Easter Stage races 'online', early start, early away, or so I thought !! But no, the CCC's tell me that they are not using that entry procedure! THEN WHY HAVE IT ON YOUR WEB SITE!!!!! So you've guessed it started last, nice and cold and not a happy bunny. Anyway the race, only using these easter races as a guide, still training for 'main event in August', with it being downwind F5, it wasn't really a test, 5.46 for 3k. First time up for me so a PB - I make the rules. Nothing else to add, and so to tomorrow.
Sunday 12th March 2006, Hougue Bie - 6 Laps;
Now that was Cold, average temp and in fact maximum temp = 2c, ouch. Anyway race report, started in Div 3 group, 6 laps 43k in distance, comfortable pace with a couple of up and coming juniors involved, so the name of the game was to suck it and see who was doing what and when. Had Peter D for company in a Velo strip, had a chat and we tried to work out a game plan. The 6 CCC's attacked on the slope out of Queens Valley, then dropped off, took the hint and worked out that when the final lap comes round thats where they were going to go.
So hatched a plan to go out on lap 5 just before the slope and see who goes with me. Well everyone really DOH! but still kept on going, lasted a lap distance in front, but came back to the slope on the final lap and got shallowed up and spat out the back. Lessons learnt? well I should have just gone out on lap 5 till the top of the slope and eased off, waited and try the same on lap 6. Well hindsight is a wonderful thing, but its a learning curve and I learn't ... so there!
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