Arriving at Heron Lake you immediatly notice its close proximity to the M25. The access is easy and although parking can be a problem, generally it is not.
The lake looks gorgeous surrounded by trees and bushes and on a warm day, very tempting indeed!
The facilities are excellent; changing rooms, showers, toilets, cafe. In fact the whole family can come and watch you swim!
Entering the lake the water is warm and the weed is minimal. The water isn't the nicest colour, a dingy brown, but smells fine all the same.
The course is laid out by many buoys, perfect for practicing sighting and there is the option of a 1000m route or 400m route.
There are safety canoes on standby and the sign in/out system ensures no one is left in the lake longer than necessary.
I would thoroughly recommend using Heron Lake as your open water practice spot. The staff are friendly and the atmosphere is great.
Happy Training
Dom
Saturday 21 July 2007
Friday 20 July 2007
Open Water Swim Training
I have my first open water swim training session tomorrow at Heron Lake in Staines. I`m not sure what to expect really but its a step in the right direction in improving my swim sighting and open water skills!
I`ll report on the venue and the advice given tomorrow.
Got my girlfriend a brand spanking new Specialised bike today. An excuse for more cycling, tried and tested!
Dom
I`ll report on the venue and the advice given tomorrow.
Got my girlfriend a brand spanking new Specialised bike today. An excuse for more cycling, tried and tested!
Dom
Wednesday 18 July 2007
Half Ironman Training Update
So far so good it seems. I`m a week and three days into stepping up the training hours for my half ironman in september. Whats more, I feel great!
I was expecting to feel tired and weary all the time since I`m not used to the longer sessions but I feel almost, better suited to this type of training???
I can't wait until the vitruvian, its going to be awesome!
Anyway, we all need our sleep, triathletes more than most!
I was expecting to feel tired and weary all the time since I`m not used to the longer sessions but I feel almost, better suited to this type of training???
I can't wait until the vitruvian, its going to be awesome!
Anyway, we all need our sleep, triathletes more than most!
Sunday 15 July 2007
Training Week to 15th July
My Training for the Week to date consisted of:
Monday-Rest from Wakefield
Tuesday- Speed Skills on the bike for 41min followed by a 50min core/weights session
Wednesday- Swimming 5x200m and drills for 27min/Force work on bike, 1hr 30min
Thursday-No training, too much work.
Friday- Swimming 10x100m off 1min40/Weights 1hr 15min/Cycle in big gear 1hr
Saturday- Run Long 1hr 54min
Sunday- Cycle long endurance 2hrs 50min/Core 30min
Total = 11 hours 35 minutes.
A good week with plenty of recovery from the weekend. The half ironman training started this week hence the longer cycle and run sessions. I chose not to run during the week much because my knees ached from the race before. All is well now and I feel great, bring on the next week!
Today I watched my father complete the andover triathlon- 440m/30k/8k. I shall interview him and write a review during the week. Congratulations to all athletes who competed and finished this well organised race!
Monday-Rest from Wakefield
Tuesday- Speed Skills on the bike for 41min followed by a 50min core/weights session
Wednesday- Swimming 5x200m and drills for 27min/Force work on bike, 1hr 30min
Thursday-No training, too much work.
Friday- Swimming 10x100m off 1min40/Weights 1hr 15min/Cycle in big gear 1hr
Saturday- Run Long 1hr 54min
Sunday- Cycle long endurance 2hrs 50min/Core 30min
Total = 11 hours 35 minutes.
A good week with plenty of recovery from the weekend. The half ironman training started this week hence the longer cycle and run sessions. I chose not to run during the week much because my knees ached from the race before. All is well now and I feel great, bring on the next week!
Today I watched my father complete the andover triathlon- 440m/30k/8k. I shall interview him and write a review during the week. Congratulations to all athletes who competed and finished this well organised race!
Thursday 12 July 2007
A new beginning
Just a quick note to say that you can now bookmark/visit this blog by using the slightly easier to remember http://www.trimore.co.uk address.
The main site is currently in development but will soon be bringing you training advice, nutritional advice, archived race reviews, product reviews, video and music reviews and many more triathlon related issues. There will also be a section detailing my training plans, diaries and races.
Hopefully this site will help many of you budding triathletes into the sport and give the rest of you some extra beneficial advice. My aim is to become an information resource for all of you!
Dom
The main site is currently in development but will soon be bringing you training advice, nutritional advice, archived race reviews, product reviews, video and music reviews and many more triathlon related issues. There will also be a section detailing my training plans, diaries and races.
Hopefully this site will help many of you budding triathletes into the sport and give the rest of you some extra beneficial advice. My aim is to become an information resource for all of you!
Dom
Wednesday 11 July 2007
Sticky Numbers???
Just a short note to express my views on the new look BTF sticky race numbers. Now on first obtaining a pair of these numbers my immediate thought was "Water....adhesive paper.....water.....adhesive paper?". Clearly not a good combination, let alone ripping a wetsuit off over them and them the punishment they would get from the wind on the bike!
Although normally the first to try anything new I stuck to my guns and went for the race belt, no worries! There were similar viewpoints held by most of the other triathletes I spoke to at Wakefield. However when it came to racing to my surprise many had indeed gone for the stick on method. Being involved in the race I did not see the success/absolute horror that resulted from using this method. I am told however that generally there was a 50/50 split as to whether the new numbers worked or became saturated and slid annoyingly off random tri-suits.
Now perhaps you have yourself experienced wearing these new race numbers and could tell me how successful you found them? Do they actually stay stuck on and if so, how do you get them off?
Although normally the first to try anything new I stuck to my guns and went for the race belt, no worries! There were similar viewpoints held by most of the other triathletes I spoke to at Wakefield. However when it came to racing to my surprise many had indeed gone for the stick on method. Being involved in the race I did not see the success/absolute horror that resulted from using this method. I am told however that generally there was a 50/50 split as to whether the new numbers worked or became saturated and slid annoyingly off random tri-suits.
Now perhaps you have yourself experienced wearing these new race numbers and could tell me how successful you found them? Do they actually stay stuck on and if so, how do you get them off?
Tuesday 10 July 2007
Wakefield Triathlon 8th July 2007
The long drive up towards Leeds took about 5hrs through what I can only describe as ever changing weather. One minute there was gorgeous sunshine and the next, torrents of rain. My emotions were quite suttle, I didn't feel like I would be racing the next day.
Arriving at Wakefield I was greeted with a muddy field, a splutter of rain and some appropriately unhappy marshalls. There was no parking next to the lake or near transition, instead we were given a place in a field just off the nearest roundabout. Still it was only a 500/600m walk to transition but it did mean crossing a major road with two bags and a bike! As you enter Pugneys Lake you have the registration room immediately infront of you which saves alot of time wandering around. Registration was quick and simple and I was presented with my new style BTF sticky race numbers, more about these later!
Off to transition, which opened at 10am on the Saturday. Well laid out with numbered racks it was easy to find my racking area and so as required I racked my bike the night before. A little uneasy about leaving my bike in transition overnight I was reassured that there would be extra security around until the morning. Being the sort of person who likes to plan ahead I thought I would pre-run my movements through transition from swim to bike and bike to run. Try as I could I could not work out the routes through transition that were still being set up around the lake. So unfortunately I had to leave without knowing where to run from the swim, bike or run! Luckily the lake was set up with a triangular loop of buoys placed every 300m. The longest straight of the swim was 900m parallel to shore.
We had booked a room at a hotel just off the next motorway junction. The hotel, Days Inn, was made the official hotel for the event with 'Triathlon Specific Deals' including a dinner at 7pm and breakfast at 5am. Upon arrival there was almost a team spirit in the air as all the triathletes sat in the lobby watching le tour until 7pm. Soon after dinner it was off to bed for an early but necessary nights sleep!
My alarm went off at 430am, I was already awake though and had been since 4am. Nerves hadn't kicked in yet and so I went through my usual stretching routine. We went to breakfast at 5am and were in the car by 515am. Transition opened at 530am and I like to be there early so as to have a moment or two to collect my thoughts before my swim start, which was at 635am. The course was completely set up upon my arrival which made me feel a little better and there was a talk by race officials explained the routes for all disciplines. Entering transition I was given the 'no bags allowed' warning by one of the marshalls and so I had to take everything out of my bag and carry it to my bike; a little annoying! After two or three trips in and out of transition I was done and went and got changed.
My swim went off on time with approximately 40 or 50 people in my wave. They were quick, everybody wanted a sprint start which if i`m honest took me by surprise. The deep water start meant everybody was clawing and flapping and almost immediately two packs formed, both tearing off course slightly. By the time we had made it to the first buoy the inside pack had a distinct advantage over the rest since they had followed a straighter route. Its hard when in a group because it is tempting to follow the person in front and not sight for the buoy yourself. If everybody does this you do tend to drift off course slightly. I finished the swim in 28 minutes, a poor time I thought at first but after watching the video my dad had taken I knew why, I must have swam an extra 200/300m over the necessary distance. Poor sighting was responsible and is a factor I must work on before my next event.
My transition to bike went well up until my vault onto my bike resulted in a fall just outside of transition. Unphased and a little embarrased I heading off to complete the bike course with an average of just over 20mph. It was a tough course, mostly uphill which made everybody suffer. I quite like the hills and so managed to pull myself back to 14th or 15th in my age group.
Off the bike and onto the run for four laps around the lake. Mostly flat and collecting a wrist band for each lap the run course was setup nicely. I managed 42 minutes on the run placing me 20th in my category overall.
Not a bad result by any means but not my best. I know now I must work on my swim skills in the open water. If I can stay with the 22/23 minute swimmers I can hold them on the bike and then try and attack them on the swim. If I can get this sorted for london I may creep into the top 10%. Heres for hoping!
Arriving at Wakefield I was greeted with a muddy field, a splutter of rain and some appropriately unhappy marshalls. There was no parking next to the lake or near transition, instead we were given a place in a field just off the nearest roundabout. Still it was only a 500/600m walk to transition but it did mean crossing a major road with two bags and a bike! As you enter Pugneys Lake you have the registration room immediately infront of you which saves alot of time wandering around. Registration was quick and simple and I was presented with my new style BTF sticky race numbers, more about these later!
Off to transition, which opened at 10am on the Saturday. Well laid out with numbered racks it was easy to find my racking area and so as required I racked my bike the night before. A little uneasy about leaving my bike in transition overnight I was reassured that there would be extra security around until the morning. Being the sort of person who likes to plan ahead I thought I would pre-run my movements through transition from swim to bike and bike to run. Try as I could I could not work out the routes through transition that were still being set up around the lake. So unfortunately I had to leave without knowing where to run from the swim, bike or run! Luckily the lake was set up with a triangular loop of buoys placed every 300m. The longest straight of the swim was 900m parallel to shore.
We had booked a room at a hotel just off the next motorway junction. The hotel, Days Inn, was made the official hotel for the event with 'Triathlon Specific Deals' including a dinner at 7pm and breakfast at 5am. Upon arrival there was almost a team spirit in the air as all the triathletes sat in the lobby watching le tour until 7pm. Soon after dinner it was off to bed for an early but necessary nights sleep!
My alarm went off at 430am, I was already awake though and had been since 4am. Nerves hadn't kicked in yet and so I went through my usual stretching routine. We went to breakfast at 5am and were in the car by 515am. Transition opened at 530am and I like to be there early so as to have a moment or two to collect my thoughts before my swim start, which was at 635am. The course was completely set up upon my arrival which made me feel a little better and there was a talk by race officials explained the routes for all disciplines. Entering transition I was given the 'no bags allowed' warning by one of the marshalls and so I had to take everything out of my bag and carry it to my bike; a little annoying! After two or three trips in and out of transition I was done and went and got changed.
My swim went off on time with approximately 40 or 50 people in my wave. They were quick, everybody wanted a sprint start which if i`m honest took me by surprise. The deep water start meant everybody was clawing and flapping and almost immediately two packs formed, both tearing off course slightly. By the time we had made it to the first buoy the inside pack had a distinct advantage over the rest since they had followed a straighter route. Its hard when in a group because it is tempting to follow the person in front and not sight for the buoy yourself. If everybody does this you do tend to drift off course slightly. I finished the swim in 28 minutes, a poor time I thought at first but after watching the video my dad had taken I knew why, I must have swam an extra 200/300m over the necessary distance. Poor sighting was responsible and is a factor I must work on before my next event.
My transition to bike went well up until my vault onto my bike resulted in a fall just outside of transition. Unphased and a little embarrased I heading off to complete the bike course with an average of just over 20mph. It was a tough course, mostly uphill which made everybody suffer. I quite like the hills and so managed to pull myself back to 14th or 15th in my age group.
Off the bike and onto the run for four laps around the lake. Mostly flat and collecting a wrist band for each lap the run course was setup nicely. I managed 42 minutes on the run placing me 20th in my category overall.
Not a bad result by any means but not my best. I know now I must work on my swim skills in the open water. If I can stay with the 22/23 minute swimmers I can hold them on the bike and then try and attack them on the swim. If I can get this sorted for london I may creep into the top 10%. Heres for hoping!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
