June and July part 2

Lowestoft training camp:

Last year I did two domestic training camps with a few friends, the first was a Wales training camp at Paul Hawkins house in Chirk with Dan Mc Parland as well for company and the second was in Lowestoft at my house with Paul Hawkins and Rob Brundish. These camps are really good fun and very cheap to do, I just really like it as you get some great training in with your mates which is fantastic.

My Mum and Dad have a B&B on Lowestoft sea front which is great for doing these camps as there’s plenty of room, the sea is literally just opposite my house as well so perfect for open water swimming or sun bathing! For this camp there was myself, Rob Brundish, Nick Baldwin, Lucy Gossage, and Sam Baxter.

Day 1:

We did a 100 mile ride which consisted of 20 minutes easy and then 40 minutes of tempo riding. For the tempo bit we rode 2 abreast and took 5 minute turns on the front before rotating. It was a pretty tough ride and on the 4^th effort I was really feeling it. Once we got back me and Sam got changed and went out for a 7 mile run.

The fun didn’t stop there though as we went for a se swim later where we were joined by a few of my mates who I normally swim with. The Swim was just steady stuff and was really good fun. After that we finished off with a BBQ and got on the Erdingers, only the alcohol free ones I’m afraid. So day 1 rounded off nicely.

Bike:  http://app.strava.com/activities/66100363

Run: http://app.strava.com/activities/66101713

Day 2:

This consisted of a Sea swim in the morning with a few longer efforts in there where we used between the groins as markers. After the sea swim we got changed and headed out for a 5 mile run. The run was at a steady pace and it was nice to be ale to run in a group and have a chat. The rest of the day as spent relaxing in preparation for the time trial. Every Thursday there is a local 10 mile time trial near my house so we all headed out for that, for some of the guys it was the first time trial they had ever done and I think everyone enjoyed it. Although there was a bit of a twist which was that once you finished the tt you had to go for a 4.6 mile run around half the circuit. I would have been happy to do the run at 5.45mpm but I think Sam started off pretty hard (he says the same about me) and we went through the first mile in 5.37 so that set the tone and I ended up averaging 5m 30 for the loop which was a pb so thanks mate for the motivation.

The lads did great rides and the locals were all really impressed, considering no one had ridden the course before it was a great effort.

Run 1: http://app.strava.com/activities/66412919

Bike TT: http://app.strava.com/activities/66409083

Tempo off the bike: http://app.strava.com/activities/66412911

Day 3:

We started off with a pool swim in the morning which included a pyramid of 100,200,300,400,500,600 and then back down again. I quite like this and to break it up I normally through some 100 IMs in the middle of some of the reps. It’s not done very hard so te ret period is pretty small between the reps.

After the swim we did a 3 hour 15 minute ride, it was at a steady pace although there were sprints for the town signs. We even had a Café stop, it took a lot of persuading for me to stop but eventually I gave in! J

Back home and we were out for another run, 7.5 which was done at a steady pace, Rob was feeling good and thankfully he wasn’t let loose as I think I would still be out there now!

Bike: http://app.strava.com/activities/66581281

Run off Bike: http://app.strava.com/activities/66616569

Day 4:

The wheels came well and truly off today. The planned session was 6*1300 meters around this park which I normally use. It’s on grass and is undulating, I use this quite a lot for reps so know what kind of time to be hitting and on the first rep I was about 20 seconds off the pace, the second rep about the same and I felt absolutely horrific! I actually had to stop and sit down. I could feel my legs pulsating like anything, not being funny but if I had of had my phone on me I think I would have rung my Mum to come and pick me up! Hats off to the others though for being able to not just get it done but hit some good times.

I had told Matt Ellis that we were swimming in the afternoon so he had come to Lowestoft to meet us specially for that, I was dreading the swim after the morning session and the thought of a 100 mile time trial the next day made me wretch! Anyway I went for the swim and I remember getting to the South pier a bit before the others and was saying to Matt how can I get out of doing this TT tomorrow, I don’t think I can do it. I mean you all know the normal excuses! The thing was we had all been doing the same training so I didn’t really have a leg to stand on and Lucy said it would be a good mental test! Yay bring on the 4am start tomorrow!

Day 5:

So after an easy week, and feeling really rested and fresh I was up at 4am for a 100 mil time trial down the A11. Such an exciting prospect to be facing on a Sunday morning I could hardly contain my excitement. I feel I wasn’t alone in this as well!

So the 100 mile TT, the first 30-40 Ks were o.k and then after that I really struggled with it. It as really hard as there was nothing to break it p as your literally just riding up and down a dual carriageway apart from a slip road at the end of each 25 mile lap. I really wanted to quit this, I was never going to but I really did want to. It was just a case of ticking off the kilometres and also Lucy saying that if we didn’t all hit our target times. Yes she really did give us all target times, and if we didn’t beat them we would have to go for a run! My target time was 3 hours 45 minutes and I completed it in 3 hours 43 so thankfully I didn’t have to go for a run. We all hit our target times so pub lunch it was.

Time Trial: http://app.strava.com/activities/67038659

I really enjoyed the training camp; we all got along really well and just had a great time, it was just training with mates everyday in good weather. Also Since the training camp me and Lucy managed to win the Vachery triathlon, Sam was first age grouper in Ironman Switzerland and 12^th Overall so who knows it might have even done us some good as well!

After the TT it was the start of my Taper for the Vachery Triathlon and IMUK which was a following 2 weeks after.

The Race report for the Vachery Triathlon can be found here: Vachery Triathlon – Race Report

IMUK:

I’m really looking forward to this race now, the last week I have literally felt as though I’m pulling my hairs out. After the Vachery my confidence is on a high. Physically I feel the fittest I’ve ever felt and I feel well rested. Performance wise I want to win it and I feel I can win it. I know that’s a bold statement to make but I’ve trained so hard for this and dreaming of 2^nd hasn’t got me through the sessions. However I’m sure if you speak to 4 or 5 of the others they are going into the race with the same ambitions. The Beauty is only one person will achieve it and the others will be left disappointed! I don’t think I’ve ever done a race in this good a shape and been this motivated for a race before. I’m expecting a battle and can’t wait for the challenge. Oh and if you are going to be out spectating on Sunday don’t forget to cheer, also if you’re racing good luck and I hope you achieve your goal.