Been out of touch for a while but back with a vengeance (oh and a chest infection). Completed Ironman Switzerland about an hour slower than hoped for mainly due to rain,rain,rain all day and an over zealous attitude to carbo loading in the 6 months prior to the event. Tipped the scales at 14.5 stone in race week and I wonder why I can't climb hills or run! At least my new bike speeded up my bike split from Austria 2 years previously where I did 7hrs 40, as I tore round the Swiss course in a good 3 to 4 minutes faster. I reckon that's good value as the bike was (cough) £3k ish so 3 minute improvement equates to how much per minute - I'm an accountant and however creative I try to make these numbers it doesn't really help.
Must admit to having a couple of real "what the hell I am doing this for ?" moments on the bike and run course but struggled through somehow totally drained emotionally and physically.
I said to my wife "I've done it, it's all over" or similar and she helpfully replied "Yep, just Arch to Arc now" ermmm oh yeah.
Still haven't swum open water without my wetsuit yet and meant to go last w/e but felt terrible so saw Doc and he's put me on drugs for a chest infection so gottta leave it a bit longer. How hard can it be?
At least when I do my 15 of the 90 miles run to Dover the others will be able to hear me coming with the paving stones bouncing along in rhythym.
Am away at end of August so will definitely get some sea swimming in then, I hear the Med is similar to the Channel. Back to training next week honest.
Tim

Milton Keynes Olympic

It was a week after the long swim and it was time for MK olympic. Great venue that one, one I always enjoy. I was full of bravado and yet another new bike - a fast one this time. And I was secretly thinking I had a chance of, maybe not beating, but certainly worrying Simon.

Needless to say I didn't beat Simon. But I did do a reasonable time. I was very pleased with the swim (22.26) and put my heart and soul into the run. But the ride let me down. Maybe I should have taken more time to set it up. Maybe the broken spoke slowed me down. But really, I simply didn't ride it fast enough. Oh well. I was pleased with a 2hour 19 anyway.

The Long, Long, Long Swim

About six months ago Simon sent out an email asking who was up for doing 'The Long Swim at Box End'. This would be good training as it is a 3.8km (2.4 mile) open water swim. We even got a special "no Wet Suit" category created for us.

It was a lovely day and Richard, Woody and I stood around at about 8 in the morning wondering if Dawn and Simon would actually turn up. They didn't. Guy (FVS TRI swimming Conneston Water the next week) stood rubbing goose fat all over himself. and soon it was time to get in the water.

It was cold.

No time for real acclimatising we are under starters. Is is 3 laps of the lake. The first leg is around 500 meters. As you start swimming towards to buoy the thing that strikes you is that each 'sighting' seems to bring you no closer to the thing. It is rather disheartening. But that feeling continued for the next hour. It was hard. But we all made it.

Woody did brilliantly finishing first out of the non-suited in a time of 1h 4minutes. I came second and Richard 4th (just out of the prizes, Guy came 3rd - not sure if the goose fat did anything though). But Rich did look rather pleased with himself as he 'danced' out of the water. It was all I could do to get up the ramp and not be sick. But it stands us all in good stead for the day.