Outlaw 2014

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Comments

  • M..o.useM..o.use ✭✭✭

    It is a knitting club.  

  • M..o.use wrote (see)

    It is a knitting club.  


    No kidding, you should have seen the gert (wurzel adjective) great mass that Mouse was fettling with image

  • GH0ST wrote (see)
    M..o.use wrote (see)

    It is a knitting club.  


    No kidding, you should have seen the gert (wurzel adjective) great mass that Mouse was fettling with image

    there's nothing like a good fettle on a baking hot Saturday afternoon image

  • Oi!















    Oh. The knittingimage
  • Is it the same one from Bala? The mass that was being fettled with! 

  • MrsDigger (aka sicknote) wrote (see)

    Is it the same one from Bala? The mass that was being fettled with! 

    Dunno? Looks like a stretched Lama?

     

     

  • GH0ST wrote (see)
    MrsDigger (aka sicknote) wrote (see)

    Is it the same one from Bala? The mass that was being fettled with! 

    Dunno? Looks like a stretched Lama?

     

     

    ongoing fettling image

  • Ok it's my turn now. So finished work on Friday afternoon myself the wife and the kids jumped into the car and followed slag with his family straight to Nottingham once we arrived straight to the campsite and past all the bacon and sausages over to mouse spent about an hour finding our feet and then went to our Hotel. Had some dinner and had an early night . saturday was the same for everybody wracking bikes and putting bags into transition and then spend the day chilling with some great pirates. Met up with Jo and Q and gave jordy his birthday present I hope you liked it. The morning of the race woke up about 3:30 in the morning got the wife and kids up about 4 o'clock-ish had a little bit of breakfast porridge and a banana .made our way down to the lake was a little bit nervous but nerves are good so they say. Bumped into a few pirates said good luck spotted flatfoot and gave him a hug then I went into the water to get my shit together. Bang the race starts off we go swimming at a nice pace halfway around the swim some stupid plonker decided to criss cross in front of me when I'm swimming for about 10 minutes at one point I thought it was me so I said sorry to him for bumping into him what a dickhead. Came out the swimming one hour 36 that's roughly what I do. Jumped on the bike peddle my arse off. About 20 miles into the bike my lower back started to tighten up so I stopped about two or three times to stretch it out when I came round to the pirates feed station the second time I asked mouse if you have any painkillers and yes she did it helped for a bit thanks mouse. The only thing that was keeping me going was I could not late the 4 kids down I promised them I would run down the shoot with them so that spurred me on can't remember a lot about the bike course but when you're by yourself out there riding for a long period of time it can be a very lonely sport. Was glad to finish the bike straight into T2 quickly got changed but forgot to clean my feet up. Started running around the lake and all I can remember was Q screaming at me you can do it. Was running quite strong for about 4 miles and then my feet started to blister up and they were absolutely killing me so I decided to walk bumped into flatfoots he told me to walk for two minutes and run for one do this as much as you can he said. I must have done it for about five minutes and then gave up my feet were killing me bumped into a very lovely Pirates And I asked her if she had any painkillers she had some on her you are a star thanks. I could not run any more so decided to walk the rest of the marathon bumped into all four kids halfway around the lake on my last loop they were nice bit of company for me talking to me so I wouldn't think about the pain in my feet at the top of the carpet told the kids we are going to run down it that made the whole weekend all you Brilliant Pirates out there cheering myself and the kids on thank you very much. Don't remember a lot when I pass the finishing line apart from going to the food tent and see slag walk towards me he gave me a hug and we spoke for about a minute and then I passed out slag quickly grab a medic for me took me to the medic tent and I was sick twice spent about half an hour in the tent and then the wife drove me back to the Hotel and I fell straight asleep sorry I didn't party with you all I do apologise but count me in for next time.
  • Take a seat

    Its a long one   image

  • From Nice to Nottingham

    Ironman France was to be my ‘A’ race this year, in fact it was probably my only race in terms of long distance events ... moving house a few weeks before was probably not the best idea I have had but these things are not totally controllable and I found myself driving back from Bala and moving house the next day. I felt I had a good race at Bala although I was not entirely happy with the time. As has been well documented British Airways decided to play the Joker and kept my bike for 2 weeks which meant that i enjoyed a long weekend (mainly sat under an umbrella) in the south of france watching everybody else knacker their bodies prematurely instead of me.  I made good use of the Ironman expo and submitted my receipts to BA.

    Fast forward a few weeks and with thanks to my PR agent the lovely Mousicles and the excellent relationship that PSOF have with OSB and I was able to secure a place in The Outlaw.  This was a definite case of ‘be careful what you wish for’ as I was very clearly over stressed and undertrained for Nice let alone a race a month later where I had not really done much else, Bala had been my last good training and that was almost last year.  I convinced myself I was nicely rested and I would have a good social day out (no change there then) and see what happens.  Ruby, the errant bike had been returned to me the previous week and seemed to have survived her world cruise or wherever she had been and was duly stuffed in to Flyaways car and we headed towards the North via all the scenic lanes her satnav could find in North Bucks.  By this time I was on day 2 of penicillin with thanks to my moggy who decided to puncture my arm when he disagreed with is curfew time, this left me with a few holes and a very sore forearm and a good excuse not to use my dusty aero bars.

    We duly located the pirate massive and some massive pirates and moved the strategically placed cars so that tents could be erected and then tootled off to watch the Saturday swims, tales of weed attacks were plenty so I went to buy a zipped hoodie.

    Fast forward again through the dumph dumph music, the rain, the slamming portaloo doors, the many zips going up and down (fnaar fnarrr) and after a fairly good snooze (I couldn’t call it a sleep) it was time to force the contact lenses in, down a coffee or two and a pain au chocolate and mosey on down to the lake, Flyaway came with me to fulfil her Sherpa duties and ensured nothing was forgotten and very soon I was with Nursey standing in goose poo and murky water.

  • The Swim

    Fairly uneventful for me which is always a bonus, first objective is always not to die and I achieved that one. Sadly I am a fairly good swimmer but I am not a very good crowd swimmer so I am not sure I will ever reach my potential in OW, My garmin reckoned I swap over 4 miles, I know the 310 is unreliable in that respect but I doubt it was that far off ...!!  The water quality was questionable, following the buoy ropes was impossible and the smell was awful. I was soon picking people off but at the turn around point it got quite busy and I struggled to find clear water and that was how it was all the way to the end, I was a minute slower than the last time but given the lack of training I am ok with that.

     

    The Bike

    I *cough* quick transition and then on to the bike, I had been notified by my team of mechanics the day before that the gears were a bit dodgy, likely due to being used as a punch bag in Heathrow for a few weeks and it didn’t take long for me to realise that this was indeed true, didn’t affect my race too badly and in fact it probably helped as I had to stay in the current gear for longer that I probably would have done and it didn’t kill me.  I made sure on that first lap of the bike I had a gel and a drink and a mini soreen bar and then got on with the work.  I actually felt very good on the bike for the duration of the course, the first lap my average was the highest it had ever been and I grew in confidence, I had no expectations of the day but decided to take it all as it comes and I would work hard on the northern loop and hopefully reap the speed on the southern loops, even after 70 miles my average was 16.4 and I have never cycled that quick (I remember being delighted with 16mph over 43 miles).   Nutrition strategy, 1 gel every 30 minutes and a soreen mini bar when I remembered. Drink lots and replenish every aid station regardless.

  • The best bit was approaching the pirate feed station, clearly the best on the day by a mile .. ran with the precision of an F1 pit stop and better stocked than Aldi’s on a Saturday morning. The northern loop as predicted was tough going, not as hard as I remembered from 2012 and Oxton molehill was just that.  By the time I got back to the pirate feed station at 80 miles I had worked out that a sub 7hr bike could be possible and even factoring in a much needed portaloo stop, I was away and on my way home ...  I caught up with Ghostess and we played cat n mouse for a good few miles which was good, the last 12 miles or so were probably the hardest there was a good headwind but not as bad as the wind and rain of previous years and the sub 7 was still within reach,  we then turned off down the farm track that was the lane to the posh house that we have to pay homage to for some reason and I clung to my fillings for dear life.  I literally screeched in to T2 within a whisker of 7hrs and it was some time later that I realised my bike computer had stopped when I stopped and so the 7.05 given by the chip was the actual time, then with the catchers wheeling the bike around to the racking I will never be 100% sure I broke 7hrs but it was still the quickest 112 I have ever done so I am happy with that.

     

    The Run

    Strangely in the preceding 12 months the run has been the one discipline that I had significantly improved at but with one thing and another I was not very run fit so again I had a very non specific race plan with regards my usual Run/Walk strategy, I felt quite fresh coming off the bike (yes, should have tried harder) and once I had zoomed through the change tents I emerged like a gazelle on to the first lap of the lake. Oh the lake. If I never see that lake again it will be too soon.  Lap of the lake, out and back and repeat and then finish with 2 laps of the lake and each time going past the massive pirate support at the finish and with the pockets of pirates out on the course and the leper pirates at the top end of the course, Cougs and Mrs Cougs  J

    I felt again strangely fresh on the run but was very aware it wouldn’t last, I had adopted a run when you feel like it approach but I was only allowed to walk for 10 seconds and then I had to get going again, it was lovely to count all the pirates in as I passed them on the out and back loops, lots of high fives and lies (‘looking good’ my arse)   It was exceptionally warm and the forecast rain never did materialise, my tummy was swimming from all the gels and fluids on the bike as always and I reverted to flat coke and water on the run with the occasional bananananna which has seen me through in the past.  I was especially glad to see Nicky on the run, I know how much that meant and we had a lovely sweaty hug in the middle of the track !!   Tipped a cup of water over my head at one aid station only to find it was High 5 and spent the next few hours trying to dilute it with water and fending off wasps.  Didnt like the wobbly bridge much and didn’t like the adverse camber out by the river!  

  • The run is usually the point where all basic mathematics become rocket science and trying to work out minute miles v finish times is virtually impossible but having for the first time actually mastered the multi sport option on my garmin this became slightly easier and I realised that if I actually got my finger out I could squeeze a pb out of the day, looking back at the stats the last 3 miles were actually my quickest!  I passed the leper pair for the last time (even tho they thought I had another lap to go) and tootled on up to the top end of the lake for the last time and it was then that I allowed myself to look at the overall time and knew that I was on for a pb.  Usain Bolt would have struggled to keep up on that last stretch.

    I flashed my 3 bands at the lady at the finish chute and entered the red carpet.  Such a wonderful feeling finishing these events made even more special by the very very mad people in black and yellow without  whom a finish line party would be a very quiet affair indeed. A lot of handslapping and under the clock in 14.26. a pb by 3 mins.  Not something I anticipated or expected at the start of the day, yes it could have been quicker I think but may be I will save that for next year!

    Big big hugs and thanks to Flyaway for looking after me and being a very good volunteer Sherpa, for the very lovely Mousicles for being an exceptional friend and a whizz with a spreadsheet, to the Misfits for doing a sterling job at the relay even tho they disobeyed orders and beat me, to Kanga for coming all the way from the other side of the world to drink warm beer with friends.  To each and every one of the pirates, present and virtual on the day, truly without you lot I wouldn’t be doing this, I read a report or a tweet of somebodys the other day which said, having experienced pirate support for the first time, ‘NOW I get it’.  Seren for cooking breakfast for the starving hundreds, Barlos for being an ace training partner and letting me be Queen of the Mountains at least once this year, to the whole Twitter, RW and FB crew whichever category you fall into these days. Long may it continue.  Pirates ROCK.

     

     

    I am not entirely sure if I am a Commander or an Admiral now but either way, ma’am will do.

     

     

     

    and no, I still haven’t heard from British Airways !!

  • Great report Ma'amimage

    You were looking strong when I passed you at the top of the lake in one of those 'slow mo' overtaking manouvres I seemed to do all day, Great work considering bike/training issuesimage

  • HappychapHappychap ✭✭✭

    Orsum Meldy.  now, are you Ma'am as in Jam or...?

  • Great reports Meldy and Button Mushroom

  • M..o.useM..o.use ✭✭✭

    Morning.

    Mrs Digger - no, they were little Tour de France jerseys as a surprise pressie for Mrs Funkin.  This is a great big winter jumper, which everyone thought was hilarious to be knitting in July.

    Lovely, lovely reports Button Mushrooom and Meldy.  BM - so pleased to have been there to see you make it across the line after all your previous issues.  Meldy - you deserved that after all the crap you put up with but if you think I'm going to call you ma'am.... image

  • Great reports Meldy and BM.  Really pleased all your 'training' for Nice wasn't wasted Meldy!

    BM - so happy that you made it to this finish.  The looks on your kids faces as you crossed the line was pretty special - it really was a look "you are superdad, and you are my dad"!

    Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah wrote (see)
    I appear to be going down with the lurgy and I didn't even go near the water!

    I seem to have contracted something over the weekend too....currently feeling very poorly indeed.

    Given that I went nowhere near the water either, I am inclined to blame Seren.....
     

  • Great reports BM and meldy......great finishes........image

    I had forgotton about the wobbly bridge. it really did make me feel sick travelling over it....

     

    Pudge.......It must have been during your team talk...I can't take the blame image

  • Must have been those flying ants!
  • Was the bridge wobbly?! I missed that TOTALLY. image

  • IronplodonIronplodon ✭✭✭
    Brilliant race reports! Makes me even more determined to enter next year....not long to the Outlaw 2015 threadimagelol
  • Great reports ! image I really must get my ass in gear for next year! image 

  • Top reporting BM & Ma'am! The bridge was definitely wobbly! 

    Pudge - I seem to have been sniffing and coughing also - SEREN image

    Mouse - you could do pirate booties for the upcoming mini Morten image

  • Great report Your Royal Meldyness

     

  • I've been feeling a bit weak and breathless since the weekend

     

     

    Maybe just the sight of Raf in his kilt

  • M..o.useM..o.use ✭✭✭

    I'd knit for pirate baby M if family M would like it. I have a little pirate pattern (did you see Seren's wristbands?) that will go into anything. 

    i think Nursey in her pirate colours kilt was particularly breathtaking. 

  • M...eldy wrote (see)

     (‘looking good’ my arse) 

    No need to brag...... image

    Great report Meldy!

    lets be honest.... its all prep for an Ironman on my 100th birthday
  • I did see a lot of pirates, and even chatted to a few, but as I spent quite a lot of time prior to the race either feeling rubbish or in the toilet, didnt talk to as many as I would have liked to.....

     

    Anyway race report....

    clickity

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