Monday 28 December 2015

2016 Extreme season, do what you have always done, get what you have always got...

Its that time of year again, I have that restless, excited feeling and next seasons plans are coming together. I love it and cannot wait, even for the swimming pool timetable to get back to normal, honest! I remember this point last year, looking forward to Celtman and Norseman, not entirely sure I would make the start of the Norseman so soon after Celtman and be in any shape to race. Only way to answer that question was to try and it worked out just fine. It led to an amazing year of training, racing and learning, new friendships, experiences and opportunities. The bigger the challenge the richer the experience, that's certainly been true so far, guess there is no reason to stop now!

April training camp, Torridon, Photo courtesy of LakeDistrict Images
The past few months have seen a big change and rethink in my training, massive thanks to BlairDavies Coaching for this, if you are considering coaching for the coming season I cannot recommend him enough. The problem is if you keep doing the same things over and over again, the benefits and gains become less and less. We all know that but it takes a real leap of faith to move away from what we know and feel comfortable with, take a risk or two and allow ourselves to grow, which is what this is all about for me. 

Getting out of the comfort zone, a duathlon over in 40mins!

There in lies the amazing thing about a coach, it takes out the guess work and things really do change, if you want them to and are willing to commit. Blair took one look at my training and seasons race results, we talked and answer became clear. I had no top end, a one speed diesel engine that is in desperate need of super charging. Turns out its a great base to build on, all those hours riding/running long and slow up big hills every week had done a good job of this but the kick needed to be in the race at the end or take control was non existent. So the last few months and the early season race plan are all about that, super charging as Blair calls it. Its working but as with all good things it will take time, one thing is training feels fresh again. I love running fast, could not remember the last time I had done 60 sec intervals flat out, with 90secs rest! Yes, more time resting than running during a session, but I can assure you its needed! Increasing cadence has been a big point, economizing as much as possible so the speed gained can be carried through to longer races. Initially I worried about a loss in endurance due to less volume and duration but now I can see this will not be the case. We have simple removed the junk miles (I really understand what this means now!) and increased the quality of training whilst really working on weakness's.


I guess if you have any doubts on this strategy you could always ask Johann Hasslemark, winner of Celtman 2014 how he prepared for the race and set the course record.

Click here for a superb insight from the big man him self, I had seen this but have to admit I was not ready to listen or commit but that's ok, I think I am ready now.



Now this change does take a little sacrifice, I love running up big hills quite slowly, training in rough conditions and toughing it out for hours in the elements. This is a useful skill and has to be learnt like anything else but its what I have always done, so maybe I am good at it which makes it the easiest option. So my traditional approach to winter training this year will be very different, flipped on its head with the help and guidance of Blair and the inspiration from the big man from Sweden. I am currently trying my best to take an "I know nothing" (dodgy Spanish accent of course) approach and leave my comforts behind. This of course does not mean I cant occasionally head into the mountains for battle, recent trips to the high country or blasts out on the MTB have been all that much sweeter as a result, like a pilgrimage in a way :) Best thing is I seem to be traveling up the hills faster, a recent PB on my favorite local hill, despite very little hill running shows me this, maybe that coach does know what hes doing after all! Why no take a chance this season, change it up a bit, open the mind, it might make all the difference?

In the High Country, Dec 2015, LakeDistrict Images
If you are considering coaching, be sure to check out Blair, drop him a line or check out his website, he has a superb 2 week free trial option and offers a true 1/1, bespoke program looking at all aspects of training, recovery, nutrition and racing. 



Friday 2 October 2015

Loch Gu Loch, swimming, running and a tale to tell!


I first came across the slightly mad cap sport of SwimRun after spotting some pictures of the famous OtillO race in Sweden in an article somewhere, about the world’s most extreme races. Something grabbed my attention, people emerging from the sea clad in shorty wetsuits with paddles and pull buoys, running across some pretty rough looking terrain onto the next swim with a team point to point format and a great background story. I knew I had to give it a go.

Fast forward to late 2014 and I hear rumours of a new event in Scotland, with the same team behind it that brought us the Celtman. Loch Gu Loch, 8km of swimming, 47km of running in a point to point race based around Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland.  A good friend Stuart Macleod has also been out to OtillO this year, he’s done an event or two and from his reports I knew this SwimRun thing had to be done. Stuart agreed to race with me and show me the ropes, to be honest I could not think of anyone I would rather do the event with so it was amazing when he agreed. It was a long wait but Sep 26th came round soon enough.

I had a lot of fun along the way to the event trying different kit, techniques and getting lots of strange looks running around Ambleside or the Coniston fells in a wetsuit. Blair also set some interesting and challenging SwimRun specific swim sets for me, involving very little legs and lots of paddles. Part of the appeal is the sport is so new there really are not hard and fast rules about kit and training, it’s still developing but very quickly.



Team training wise, in true Half Arsed Cowboy fashion, me and Stuart had a quick chat on the phone a week before and then met on the lawn outside the Highland Club the night before the race, fully clad in race kit and went for a run. We figured the swim bit could wait for the morning, there would be 8km of it after all. I knew then we were in for an adventure and no matter what happened we would have a great day together, we both wanted to race hard but it was about the experience rather than the outcome, a good place to be as a team.



The race starts with a ferry ride to Urquart Castle on the shores of Loch Ness, a fitting start for the race. Stuart is a little disappointed we are not heading out on a stinky open topped fishing trawler, the ferry is a little comfortable for his liking and is even serving coffee. Pre-race banter is great and catching up with friends from various events and meeting others passes the time. Tales of 10 degree water fills the ferry, a piper greets us ashore as we head down to the water’s edge for the race start. I am one of the first to test the water, its cold but that’s what we signed up for. A 3, 2, 1 count down and the race is off!

I am a big fan of learning on the job, it’s hard to simulate the added pressure of racing in training so I am glad to get this one out the way at the start of the race! In SwimRun it is usual practice to use a tether for the swims, so you don’t lose your partner. Stuart got us a great start, going out hard but as we settle down the cord get wrapped around my wrist, due to the paddle on my hand I can’t remove it! I tug on the cord, we stop and I managed to get freed up. Pleased to say it’s the only time it happened, experiential learning usually does the trick.



We come out of the water and find out we are only 3mins back on the race leaders, a bit of a surprise as I think we expected more. The first run is 9km with a very gradual climb through a forest track, game plan is to run hard on all the long sections to make up for time lost on the swims. We soon find the front of the race, Ewan and Stuart, Bonnie and Graeme, the banter begins. The German team of Andre and Burkhard soon join us, everyone looks smooth and strong and it’s clear this is where the race is at. It stays close for the next 4hrs, all 4 teams are pushing hard, its great racing. Slowly but certainly hard won, me and Stuart open up a small gap, which grows on 16km run section. We know the stronger swimming teams are coming back at us on the swims so we have to suffer on the long runs to gain time, but all the teams could run too! We never felt safe and had to keep the pressure on.
The journey this race takes covers a vast variety of terrain and landscape, forest, trail, tarmac and all the Loch’s have their own character, rocky shores, bogginess and island crossings. It adds an extra dimension to share this this a team mate, me and Stuart are focussed, hurting but enjoying every minute of it. The marshals at swim exits/entry points and aid stations are doing an amazing job too. We also keep coming across a loud guy flying round in a white van blaring what I think is Michael Jackson music who gives us occasional but welcome abuse ;). 



At Loch Tarf, the 2nd to last swim and only 7km from the finish line, after around 6hrs30 racing its good news to find out we have the gap we wanted, it’s still tight but should be enough if we keep the pressure on. The Loch Tarf swim is awesome, short swims visiting and crossing the various islands, rough ground and the feeling that the finish is near. It finishes with a 30-40m of bog snorkelling trip and I can’t help but smile when the legs cramp trying to get out. Now only have a 6km run and 1km swim left.



This is where the tale becomes interesting, tired but still pushing hard we miss a direction sign, heading the wrong way now. It’s a while before we realise the mistake, no course marking for a while and we get that sinking feeling that we have blown it. It’s ok though, we can just get the map out, sort it and get back on track. Stuart’s reaction as he gets our map out of my pack is telling, it’s wet, soaked and unreadable. We have no idea which way to head but can see the Loch below, just maybe we can get back on track if we head for it. The trod we are following soon turns into a steep, rocky hillside, no sign of any paths, but we are pretty much at the Loch’s edge. Running soon turns to walking, then clambering and we are starting to cool down rapidly. We pop out on the rocky shoreline and can see the finish, but it’s at least 3km away. The shoreline is so rocky and craggy that we try swimming, it’s quicker to move but too cold as we have lost all our heat. Soon a boat turns up and we are back on the opposite shoreline in a couple of mins, freezing cold but happy to not be clambering any more and trying to swim.

Not the end we would have wanted but the amazing thing is, it really does not matter. The best bit about this experience was racing with my team mate, sharing the highs and lows, suffering, smiling and working so well together in this amazing environment. So no matter what happens, you can’t take the best stuff away, we gave our all, missed a sign and that’s racing. We weren't in it for a t-shirt or medal so all’s good and we have a story to tell that’s way more interesting than the usual race report!



So near yet so far but smiling all the way to the end, as it should be. The Cowboys will ride again, just like in the films. J

Thanks to the Bonnie, Graham, Andre, Burkhard, Ewan and Stuart for the racing and smiles and congratulations to everyone who finished and attempted this tough race. Of course without the many marshals who gave up there time it could not happen and you guys made the adventure possible. I am sure this race will become a future must do extreme race in the future.

If anyone fancies a SwimRun adventure, there are some great events cropping up around the country so seek and you shall find.


Just a quick note I think important to add. The course marking was overall excellent and the event superbly professionally organised, me and Stuart were never in any danger and were very quickly located due to the GPS tracking provided by the race organisers. 

Wednesday 26 August 2015

Zone 3 Lava kit review

I have been meaning to add a few gear reviews to the blog, people often ask about the stuff I use and its true that most of the races really put it to the test. First up then!

It did come back white again, honest! Whinlater Duathlon
Zone 3 Lava kit-

I have been racing and training in this kit for the past 2 seasons and have to say I can only sing its praises. The main focus of my racing season tends to be long distance, off road, extreme style triathlons and can be racing for up to 12hrs and beyond so I think its fair to say that the kit has been well and truly put to the test, not to mention the hours on the turbo and race simulation sessions.

If I found it was not working, or it let me down I simply would not be using it, but it does work, superbly. I have used it for Celtman, Norseman, Slateman and various off road duathlons
involving mountain biking, mud and very tough conditions, plus training sessions.

Its available in a suit or short and top combo, I love both and have been using the top for swimrun training the past few weeks in conjunction with the new Evolution wetsuit.
Personally I prefer to race in the suit, but find the shorts great for the turbo and brick sessions.

So what is it I like so much about this kit and would I change anything about it if I could?


Fit-

No doubt about it the fit of the suit it great. What I look for is kit that I forget I am wearing, I dont need to mess about adjusting it and fiddling whilst racing. I just want to put it on and race. To achieve this you need athlete led attention to detail in design, great materials and quality construction.

It fits snuggly but is not restrictive in any way with no lose material. I have never suffered from any chafing during a race despite 12hrs of hard racing wearing the suit from start to finish. Nice features are the wider shoulder straps, they spread the load nice to prevent digging in and also provide extra sun protection. The legs also seem to have room for my ample long distance/mountain runners thighs without feeling tight or restrictive. The front zip is great for ventilating and has a nice material backing strip so it does not dig in or chafe.


Materials-

The suit uses a few different materials which shows the attention to detail. A super soft but hard wearing fabric is used on the legs, it feels like a very light compression fabric and gives a little support without feeling restrictive. My original pair of shorts from over 2 years ago are still going strong and not showing signs of wear in the seat/inside of leg area that gets the most abuse, I have worn through other brands in less than 6 months before. This brings us nicely to the chamois, arguably the most important component of a long distance suit, if that aint comfy you are in for a tough day! Well I have found it is great, a quality CyTech product, good for 202km and 6hrs in the saddle and I dont notice it whilst out on the run after.

The upper part of the suit is made from a lighter fabric that dries super fast and also provides a little support but is much thinner than that used on the legs. Again its easy to forget you have the suit on. The choice of white helps prevent overheating but it also gives great protection from the sun, believe it or not it was very sunny on the run at this years Norseman and I had no issues with sunburn or temperature regulation.

Features and Construction-

Its easy to take the last two categories for granted once the suit is on, but when you are racing, in my opinion its the features and design that make or break a great product.

Every pocket needs to be placed perfectly and be the right size/shape to make it usable in every kind of condition. It sounds simple but its an area that many suits fail to deliver on. No matter how tired or covered in mud I have been racing off road duathlons or triathlons, I have never struggled to get to nutrition or find a pocket to stash empty wrappers.

The rear pockets are slightly angled for ease of access and plenty big enough, you can actually fit a waterproof race cape/gillet easily into one of the pockets, perfect for changeable conditions. I have also never lost anything from them, testament to the fit, fabrics and the overall design. The two leg pockets work fantastically for storing wrappers, less chance of ending up littering trying to fiddle them in round the back, or worse still storing them inside the legs covering you in sticky gel leftovers.

The Ultimate Long Distance Test, Norseman 2015

Simple things but they mean the suit just works. Flat-lock seams throughout keeps the suit comfortable, fitted and fast.

To sum it up, from an athletes perspective that has really put the product through its paces, it has all the hallmarks of the rest of the athlete driven Zone3 range and it just works!
It has never let me down and so far seems to be indestructible. I believe a ladies version is on its way for 2016, not too many women's specific long distance suits out there so its about time.

One thing I would not change a thing about the suit, but would love to see a short sleeved type suit in the future.

Tuesday 18 August 2015

Update, SwimRun training, Loch Gu Loch

Well its been an interesting few weeks since Norway, still have that buzz from the awesome day at Norseman but also felt a little lost and needed a bit more time off than usual to get the legs and mind ready for more training. To be honest I expected it, carrying training and keeping motivated from Celtman to Norseman in 5 weeks was always going to be a challenge and this was part of the appeal.

I took 6 days off completely, dosed up on CurraNZ and enjoyed the feeling of satisfaction that comes after a big event, not wanting to rush onto the next thing and just let things naturally take course. It took around 2 weeks in total and I can now say I feel ready to train again, although with a slightly more relaxed approach. Luckily the next race of the season is something completely new to me and coincided with the arrival of the new Zone3 Evolution SwimRun wetsuit!

SwimRun heaven, Levens Water, Coniston fells


So I now have a new way to enjoy the hills, trails and mountain tarns of the LakeDistrict, things just get better and better. So if you see a guy running about in the Ambleside/Coniston area, in a shortie wet suit, its probably me!

Goats Water below the shadowy Dow crag, its cold!


Yesterday I gave the suit its first proper test with roughly 15km running and 2km swimming in a journey starting on the shores of Coniston Lake, taking in Levens Water, Swirl Howe and Goats Water. A good first outing but plenty of potential up this way with a bit more creativity!




Its fun trying stuff out and part of the appeal of this new sport/adventure. You have to be fully self sufficient and need to balance this with being able to move as freely as possible in the hills. It reminds me a bit of alpine climbing in a way, you need just enough to keep safe and allow you to complete the route but not so much as to encumber and slow progress.

Evolution Swim Run Suit!! Awesome.



Luckily the new suit is designed specially for the sport in conjunction with a previous winner of the OtillO race, so a fantastic job has been done. The super flexible legs are very easy to run in, bit like a pair of compression shorts and can be turned up to regulate temperature and give more freedom of movement. Its is fantastic to swim in, super flexible around the shoulders has good buoyancy without being bulky and restrictive. The 'Rocket Pocket' round the back is a great place to quickly store goggles and swim hat for the longer run sections and the suit also has 2 smaller pockets in the front, ideal for gels etc. It comes with some 8mm calf guards, these make swimming with shoes on easy enough with having to use a pull buoy, so one less thing to faff with and give the added bonus of shin protection when you are exiting the water and slip, which you will! Saved me a few cuts and bruises for sure! I also found shoes can be stuffed in the small of the back for longer swims, for instance the 2km start of Loch Gu Loch.

SwimRun test kit :)


Other stuff I have tried are my La Sportiva Anakonda fell shoes, mega grip, fast draining and more than enough protection for the roughest of terrain. Injinji toe socks seems to work really well, no probs with toes wet and rubbing. Also tried using an UD Anton Krupicka race vest under the suit, replace the bottles with a small 250-500ml soft flask and it works fine as its so small and light you hardly notice its there swimming and I like the idea of having quick access to gels etc without having to dig around in the suit. Whatever its great fun trying stuff and sure I will whittle it down and keep things as simple as possible!






Also planning for next season is well underway with the help of Blair Davies, also know as Supercoach, we did some swim analysis, via skype which was invaluable and are planning to super charge the diesel engine for next season, as it seems to take me about 4hrs to get warmed up at the moment :)

Another cool development, great to be working with StriptSnacks as a member of TeamStript. Amazing all natural, additive free protein snacks, its hard to find products like this so great to be part of the team.

If anyone has any hints tips etc for swim run please contact me and same if anyone has any questions about stuff I am trying. Be great to hear from you.

Friday 7 August 2015

Norseman 2015 Race Report

Well its nearly a week since the race and I am still getting my head round what an amazing experience Norseman Extreme gave, it did not disappoint in any way and the worst thing is I know the race will never be the same again. I had quite a few first's heading out to Norway, no first hand knowledge of the course and not a clue how the race would go after the Celtman 5 weeks before. To put it simply it felt like a real adventure, a journey with an uncertain outcome and the environment, scenery and high level of competition only added to the sense of this.

I had no idea really how I would perform but I did set two goals before leaving for Norway, I wanted to enjoy the race and I wanted my amazing support crew to enjoy the day too. Whatever happened this was the priority, something that seems so obvious but can so often be lost in the heat of competition, months of training and drive for good results on paper or PB's. This is the race that got me inspired to take up triathlon in 2012, just making it to the start line was an achievement, if you told me or in fact probably anyone who knew me 15 years ago I would be here, it would be a 'No Chance!'. My support crew of Steve and Jo had been at Celtman and many other races this season and last, also there for all the training so a good day is the least I owed them. It was a time to enjoy the experience.



Pre-race

I have to admit I was pretty nervous and hyped up for a while, being selected as an elite I felt I had a pressure to perform, something new to me. I felt like I had to go out and earn my place, maybe I did, but this was not the way to approach this race, not for a first visit anyway. Of course there was the fact its Norseman! The worlds hardest Ironman, with probably the worlds hardest competitors and in one of the worlds harshest environments etc etc. Who wouldn't feel intimidated, perhaps its healthy to be? One piece of advice from a very good friend and 3 time Norseman, Stuart McLeod settled me. 'Chris, its just a bunch of people getting together to do something fun, race hard but enjoy the moment'. A great bit of advice for anyone heading out to Norseman.

Packing a bike for flying was a first and a bit of an epic. After 1hr30mins and a lot of worrying it was finally in the box, ready to go on a plane, to be lost, at least that's what I thought till we arrived in Norway and I got it back. Hopefully it was not in broken bits inside, another worry. All good though!

We drove the bike course backwards to get to Eidfjord, I would recommend this to anyone racing if you get the chance. By the time we reached the Hardangervidda plateau, ready to drop down to Eidfjord the bike course had my full respect and I mean that. It needs it, seriously, the climbs are long, its either up or down and most of the bike course is above 600m height.

Tricamp at Eidfjord was a great experience, good facilities and I thought easy enough to relax and focus on the task at hand. Bike built and not broken, it was time to test out the water in the fjord. An unusually snowy winter meant lots of melt water still flowing down from the mountains and very cold water, just 10-10.5 degrees. It felt warmer further so one less thing to worry about. I used a Zone3 neoprene vest, booties and cap along with a VictoryD wetsuit. I find with this combo I stay warm enough, even in water down to 8.5 degrees. Thor 'The Hammer' Hesselberg arrived on Friday and I caught up with Graeme Stewart too, it was good to see some friendly faces.

Eidfjord is beautiful and full of very friendly locals, we experienced the same everywhere we went in Norway, its an amazing country.



The Ferry ride and Swim!

Alarm call at 2am, coffee, bread, jam and it was time to head down to set up T1 and finally board the ferry. The swim has been shortened, a little disappointed but I do not blame them, safety comes first and I would not ever want anyone to be hurt or worse. I sat with Graeme and Thor on the journey, its was nice to pass the time chatting. The atmosphere on the ferry is something else, heading down onto deck, hoses spraying water and everyone warming up etc. Its gets you psyched, I loved it and when it came time to jump there was no hesitation. One worry was loosing the goggles, but a hand over them protected during the jump and all was fine. The cold water certainly woke me up.

The swim start was a little hectic, I got kicked in the eye and could not see great but decided to just carry on and put up with it. During the swim I could see the mountains rising from the Fjord, the swimmers around me and the smiling started. This was it, Norseman, I was actually doing it! I settled down and took it pretty steady, knowing it was a long day ahead. When I got out Jo met me and ran to T1, pretty sure I said that it was amazing, time for the bike.



The Bike

It kicks off with a monster climb, up onto the plateau, never steep but very long. I knew it would be easy to blow the race here, so I settled down and watched my HR, riding conservatively. Up top was unreal, a snow covered plateau it reminded me of the North West Highlands, the small lakes were still frozen over and I started to feel the cold, Arm warmers, gillet and gloves were added to my Fusion Speed Top and they stayed on for the whole time. The wind was kind, although cold it did not feel too windy. Again I could just not stop smiling, beautiful scenery and well surfaced open roads made for exhilarating descending. I made sure to eat plenty and always keep something in reserve, waiting for the final climb up to Imingfjell, that comes at around 140km, the steepest of the day. I steadily made my way up through the field, passing others who had passed me early on. I felt strong all day, on every climb, until the last! It was tough, as the picture shows. People were out on the course supporting the whole way, the race obviously means a lot to them too, it was pretty amazing. My support crew did a great job, feeding me, keeping me updated on position and looked to be enjoying themselves too. The final climb opens out onto another plateau and drags before a 40km descent to T2 and the only rough road on the course. I had a moment here, hitting a bump at very high speed and landing in the middle of two, whilst down on the bars. I gripped tight and prayed, may have even closed my eyes. I took it a little steadier after this into transition!

The help from the guys over at ElevenSprocket, Rich, Chris and Matt with my bike set up were invaluable, none of the issues from Celtman, the fit was great.

The Hardangavidda

You guessed it, Imingfjell!
The Run

My legs felt pretty good coming into T2 and my support crew had everything ready so a quick transition had me out onto the run. You can break it down into 3 parts, 25km on the road, no it ain't quite flat, more rolling, 12km Zombie hill then the final 5km off road section to Gaustatoppen at 1800m. I have never ran 25km of tarmac in a triathlon so was not sure how it would go and pacing would be a little difficult. I set off at what felt steady and felt good for at least the first 15km. I made up 4 places before hitting Zombie hill, so I guess my bike pacing was good. I switched to drinking coke, water and a few shotblocks, easy on the stomach and it kept me going. After a while it started to bite though, my pace slowed and it became a mental battle to keep going. I was actually looking forward to the change in angle at the hill, strangely! My support crew leap frogged me every 2-3km and I looked forward to seeing them each time. By the time I reached Zombie hill, I was unsure how much I would be able to run. My support crew left to go to the mountain checkpoint, leaving me with supplies and knowing you now had aid stations. Steve told me to keep it in the granny gear and just keep tapping it out. I did just that passing another competitor walking on the way up. Somewhere just before the first aid station after around 7km of uphill I really blew, everything hurt and I started to walk more. It was a relief when Steve ran back down the road and met me, so nice to have some company for the last 5km of road before the final push. Again support lined the course, the turnout was fantastic and we now also had our own personal Norwegian support crew, locals who had given Steve a lift back down the road to meet me. We passed a crowd of at least 25 people, wearing yellow Team Bob cycling tops who started cheering and singing as we passed, like I said its a surreal experience, especially as your physical state declines. We eventuality reached the mountain checkpoint, I had decided I wanted to finish on the top with Steve and Jo, who had been amazing all day, so we all began to make our way up the hill together. Graeme Stewart had told me its the type of race if that you think you have a mile and look over your shoulder and some one is there. It is, one of the competitors (Christian Nillson) I passed heading up Zombie hill and another suddenly appeared on my shoulder below the summit. I lost these 2 places in the last 200m of the race, my legs buckled underneath me when I tried to push harder. its the first time that has ever happened in a race. Norseman had taken me to my limit, physically and mentally in that final 5km on the mountain. A perfect end.

Gaustatoppen

On the run with Tom Remman, former winner, cruising to his 10th NXTRI

Nearly there!
I finished in 11hrs28 and in 21st position, I really feel this was the best performance I could have had on the day and most importantly my two main goals were met, we all enjoyed it!

After

We stayed at the Youth Hostel, which was fantastic with an amazing view of Gaustatoppen until  Monday, which gave time to reflect and enjoy the t-shirt ceremony etc. I enjoyed this but it was definitely all about the experience for me. The race slowly stripped me back until the very end and reminded me why I do this, it makes you feel alive. I think for this to happen you need a special place with a special atmosphere and Norway and its people provide that, ten fold with plenty to spare. This race is on everyone's bucket list, but how many put there names in the hat, maybe its time you did, you will not be disappointed?? I am pretty sure Steve and Jo enjoyed it to so I guess it was a job well done.

Goodbye for now Norway :)

Thank you to the volunteers and crew who make the race happen, the people of Norway from Moss Airport to Eidfjord and back who were all so friendly and amazing all the way and my fellow competitors who I enjoyed the experience with.

I know I wont ever get a first Norseman again, so I am currently enjoying a week off from training and letting it all sink in a process. Also really happy to complete both Celtman and Norseman in the same season, only 5 weeks apart, it shows my training worked. One thing I took is the bike strength of the athletes at the front and my motivation to get stronger and train harder is now bigger than ever.

Still plenty left this year though so stay tuned!

Amazing images are courtesy of Lake District Images, thank you!








Wednesday 5 August 2015

Norseman 2015 in photos

What an unbelievable experience, Norseman did not disappoint, Norway was amazing and I hope to get the chance to go back again for another go but will not be expecting such a perfect day. There can be only 1 first Norseman and I will never forget mine, it was very special. My support crew were amazing, thanks Jo and Steve and so were the people of Norway, support lined the course the whole way, spread over 180km.

Full race report on the way, just processing the amazing day, but in the meantime I will leave you with a few photos from an amazing day. You can check out the full gallery at www.lakedistrictimages.com, MovieIt's sister company looking after the stills side of things.

Early start and a good way to wake up!
T1, ready for action

The final climb, Imingfjell

It felt pretty tough after 140km and over 2500m of climbing

On the road to Gaustatoppen with former winner Tom Remman, cruising to his 10th Norseman!

Nearly there! 

Thursday 16 July 2015

Extracts from the training diary..

So its getting near time to head over to Norway for the NXTRI, Celtman seems like ages ago, even though it was only just over 2 weeks. Time flies when you are having fun, training hard and looking forward to the next race.

Thought it might be interesting to add as little update on recovery and training after a big race like Celtman. Last year I had a bit of rest and change of focus after, this year has been a little different and I was unsure how it would go. Two plans, the first one to recover and just tick over, this was the plan I thought most likely would be used. Plan 2 was recover quickly and be able to push for 3 weeks before a rest week and race.



After a quick recovery (Pretty sure CurraNZ had alot to do with this, what would I do without them!), glad to say I made plan number two, there is enough time in 3 weeks to make a difference and some adaptions. I have gone for a big change in the approach I used leading into Celtman to help force some adaptions and keep the body guessing. I have kept a close eye on my recovery from sessions and resting HR, so far so good and pretty sure I still have some gains to make.

The week following Celtman looked like this-

Mon- Easy open water swim, 30mins

Tues- Rest

Weds- AM, easy run, flat, road, 30mins PM, easy bike, 50mins and pool swim, 45mins, 20x50 max
effort

Thurs- AM, pool swim, 45mins, steady 300m reps and bike, 45mins, easy PM run, 30mins, easy, flat road

Fri- Bike, 1hr45, easy pace, high cadence

Sat- AM, easy run, trail, 1hr PM, open water swim, easy, 30mins

Around 9hrs, nearly all easy apart from a couple of pool sessions

The 'Pool', ideal place for an easy swim in the VicD

An easy week, the idea was to keep the legs turning over but not tax the system, I found by the end of the week the easy runs felt better, but legs still a little dead.

The next few weeks will be looking something like this-

Mon- AM, pool swim, 1hr30+ PM, long bike, 2hr30-4hrs

Tues- Rest

Wed- AM, run, 1hr, road, flat, steady/easy pace PM, bike, 45mins, steady and pool swim, 1hr

Thurs- AM, pool swim, 45mins and bike 45mins PM, Turbo, VO2max intervals, 1hr

Fri- AM, open water swim, easy, PM, run, hard, 15min IM race pace, 15min Tempo, 15min Uphill

Sat- Bike, 1hr45, tempo/race pace staedy effort, rolling course

Sunday- AM, pool swim, 1hr+, PM Turbo, threshold, 3-4x10min or similar, 1hr+ and run 1hr30+ with a good chunk at target race pace, flat

Celtman Vs MTB :)

So 15-20hrs total per week, peaking 1 week before the race then plan is to really cut back quickly, retain some efforts to stay sharp and freshen up. Very different to the 3 week taper I used going into Celtman. For more detail on the session check out my Suunto MovesCount page.

The main changes to training sessions are going back onto the turbo for some more intense efforts (VO2max efforts have become a fave, 5x3min), keeping the sessions shorter to avoid fatigue and heading back onto the road for most of the running as this is how it will be in Norway. The hard run of the week is designed to replicate the Norseman course, with a flat steady effort, as I hope to race, an above pace effort to hit the legs then an uphill run at goal effort level, all over 10% in an attempt to prepare for Zombie Hill. Lucky I like running uphill! So far so good and feeling better already, lets see what we can wring out in the next few weeks without over doing it!

Blair has been working me pretty hard in the pool, with a few 5km sets in the bag and more to come, the swimming is improving nicely and I am feeling strong.

I also paid a visit to the guys over at Eleven Sprocket, glad to say my bike issues at Celtman have been solved thanks to some sound advice from Rich Dean, a top time trialist who really knows his stuff. The result is more comfort, more power and more aerodynamic! Cheers lads, the bike is going like a dream now. Also had a little race, Celtman vs MTB, uphill only, guess who won, the picture gives a clue ;). It was close fought thought and I have agreed to give Matt 'Tea Boy' B a rematch when hes race fit :).

Next stop Eidfjord and NXTRI!




Saturday 4 July 2015

Celtman 2015

What a day, Celtman 2015 did not disappoint for sure, an amazing weekend spent with good friends in an awesome place and what has to be my hardest days racing ever. I can honestly say I have never learnt so much about myself and racing in one day before, obviously not the result I had hoped for and not my best days racing but looking back now its irrelevant. The reason I am so drawn to preparing for and competing in these events is what you learn along the way, sometimes positive, sometimes negative but its all part of the process. The journey that Celtman offers in its unique, at times brutal but beautiful environment and atmosphere never fails to deliver.

Me and Steve heading along the ridge

First off huge congratulations to Dirk Zangen, winner of the race in 11hrs51mins. Celtman once again has the champion it deserves, he is a top man, dedicated, focussed and humble, the finish line photo of him with his daughter says it all. 10th in 2013 with a foot injury, he came back focussed, prepared and had an awesome race, nice one Dirk, another Celtman inspiration. He led from start to finish for a comprehensive victory.

In 2014 I had a great day, one of those where it just all falls into place, sure it was physically hard, particularly towards the end but it all went fairly smoothly. Full of confidence, which I never had before, I went away and trained harder, addressed weakness's, improved, got stronger and came to race day 2015 feeling stronger than ever. What I learnt though is you can feel and be as strong as you like, but without the right mindset, none of that matters and with a race like Celtman you will be in for a very hard day, mentally and physically, if you allow it to be that way. The problem was I wanted to win and in that drive lost sight of what's most important in these long events, staying in the moment. There is nothing wrong with wanting to win, but it clearly is not the best driving force for good days racing. Its not a situation I have ever been in before, so its all learning, I can be hard on myself at the best of times so I am not intending to be here.

The other factor is that sometimes its just not your day, the strongest and best prepared athlete on the day usually wins and that's how it should be. By the time I got off the bike, Dirk was 30 mins ahead, on his way to the mountain, after a great swim and record breaking bike split, set into a headwind for the final 40km. Way too far ahead to realistically catch but I never gave up and always had a little hope until we hit the final stretch of tarmac to Torridon.

As usual it was great to catch up with the Celtman Family, many of whom had great races, some not so but it was the highlight of the weekend to spend time with all these amazing people. Heading to Torridon really does feel like going home, so thanks everyone, I enjoyed every minute spent with you all. No other race has this feeling for me and its the main reason I will probably be back next year. Hopefully everyone else will be too, if not we will have to sort something out!

Pre Race dip, hosted by Nannys Tea Room, Shieldaig

I am going to keep the race day shorter than usual, I think I have said it all above :)

The Bus!

Celtman starts with a bus journey to the swim start, I love it, we are all in the same boat about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, its an amazing atmosphere and fitting start to the day.

The Swim-

A quick dip the day before had settled my mind, the water was not too bad, the kit I had chosen was perfect and I knew I would not be too cold. The sky was moody to say the least but the wind calm. The crossing of the loch feels wild, you really are out in the middle, an awesome experience to say the least. I tried to get in the zone, I had worked hard on my swimming this winter, really hard so felt confident I could start hard and put in a reasonable time. So I did, but too hard for too long and I felt far too tense for the whole way. Working super hard but not moving very fast. Only myself to blame for this. As soon as I got out I knew it had not been great but my amazing support crew helped me out and a quick transition had me out on the bike.

The Bike-

I knew I was well down the field and had to have a good ride to get back into the race, my head was not in a great place, it was raining and a bit windy so I got my head down and rode hard from the start trying to make up the time. I am used to doing this in shorter races but its not the best plan for a 202km ride with 2300m of ascent. I was riding on emotion and paid for it later on, compounding things I was seriously uncomfortable on the saddle, this caused real issues for the last 30km, into a headwind, unable to get down on the bars and feeling spent from riding so hard at the start. My support crew got me through this and put up with me, I wanted to quit most of the way but they kept me going and looked after me. It is the hardest day I have ever spent on a bike but I am glad I went through it. I certainly learnt a lot!



The Run-

The happiest I have ever been to get off a bike, another quick transition, I still had a glimmer of hope and was looking forward to the run on Bein Eighe whatever. I left transition close to 2nd and 3rd place and passed them by the top of the first hill. I ran hard through the Coulin Pass, but saved a bit knowing my strongest section was still to come. I thought after the ride my legs would be shot but it did not turn out that way. Meeting Steve at T2a and ready for the hill, I was glad of the company and enjoyed the mountain, we chased hard but really had no one to chase, Dirk was so far ahead! The descent was so different to last year, my legs were tired but I felt relaxed and enjoyed it. When we hit the road I knew the chase was up, it was lovely to have Jo run with me down the road to the finish line.

The Final Climb


So that was Celtman 2015, in hindsight the most rewarding race I have ever done, I will learn and adapt more than ever from it, so I am glad it was the way it was. I will go back, but I will make sure I keep focus on the things that matter this time, old and new friends, Shieldaig, Torridon, our friends the Jelly fish and that awesome ridge line on the mountain. :)

Why I love this race so much! 

Mens Podium, Me, Dirk, Odd Arne and Heiko

Next stop is a little race in Norway that first inspired me to take up triathlon...Norseman here we come!

Without my amazing support crew I could not have done it, thanks Steve and Jo for being awesome. Also everyone along the way who has shown support and helped out, you all know who you are, its all appreciated, hopefully I can repay the favour sometime.

I am planning to write a short XTRI kit blog soon, but thanks to Zone3, Eleven Sprocket, LaSportiva, CurraNZ and Blair Davies Coaching for your support this season. Also Colin Henderson and Ross Millar for the amazing photos and support.

All winners

Wednesday 24 June 2015

Race Week!

So that's it, the hard work has been done and its now time to put it all to the test and enjoy the best bit, race day! I have said this in the past, its a great time to take a look back at the journey to the start line, in many ways its worth a million times more than the actual result on race day, a race is just a performance on one day but it has taken 9 months of training, racing, good, bad and hard work to get there. Its amazing what you can accomplish along the way with an end goal and motivation. This particular journey started for me in 2012 at Celtman, my first triathlon and its still going on. The actual build up to this race has been 1 year, I knew I would come back straight after finishing. Maintaining focus and motivation for a year can be tough but its such an amazing race that this has never really been an issue, training in the hills, mountains and lakes is what I love most, racing in them is simply the icing on the cake.

The other side to all this, is the help/advice/support etc that I have received along the way from family/friends/sponsors. I am constantly amazed by this, so many people willing to help in so many ways, often out of the blue when you least expect it. So I have not got here all on my own and I know that I do not race on my own, when things get hard, its great motivation to think of this. So thanks to everyone for your support, far too many to list, but you know who you are and understand its all appreciated.

So its Celtman 2015 time, Saturday morning, 5am start, time to put all the training hours to use! Cannot wait!! :)

Live tracking will be here at some point-

Celtman Tracking

Here's a few great memories from along the way!

Coniston Old Man triathlon, 1st place

Duddon Fell race, in the vest of power, Ambleside AC ;)

Torridon training camp, late April!

Team MovieIt, first open water swim of the year

Back O Skiddaw ont bike

Duddon Fell race recce with the lads, Ben, Todd, Neil

Striding Edge in winter





A quick clip from out on the bike today. Had to wait for the snow plough before today's session on the Struggle. Zone3 Lyon Outdoor Trec Nutrition GB
Posted by Chris Stirling on Monday, February 23, 2015