a good training weekend for me... well I actually managed to get out on the bike... Saturday, did one lap of the park on the bike, followed by 45mins of hills (running) and then cycled home... Sunday was just a 90mins run... am hoping that I will have friday off work this week when I can spend some time mastering 'that' hill in the park...
Munch - you are much less a bike numpty than me... I mean at least you have all the gear!!
May have all the gear, doesn't mean I'm any good....:-)
Did 3 laps yesterday. "That" hill is proving a bit of a bugger. Went up it in too high a gear on one lap and had to stop near the top as my legs buckled :-( Then a passing cyclist stopped to see if i was ok and gave me some encouragement to get up the hill!
Currently I hate that hill, but am planning on channelling some of that 'hate' energy into loving it and getting up it a little faster than my current crawl!!
I'm running 42x16 at the moment. I was planning to drop the rear down to a 15 & eventually change to a 48 X 17/15 when I can afford new wheel(s).
ahah rio fair - I'm sure you don't come under my warped definition of 'fun runner'. The type of people I mean are the ones who don't train for the race they have entered and as a result have no idea of their ability. The start up near the front, bomb it for the first mile or two, run out of steam & either stop dead or start walking. Both sistuations cause everybody else to try & take avoidance action, not helped by the fact they will usually walk 4 wide in the middle of the road.
Part of the blame can go down to organisers not having starting pens on expected finishing time I suppose. I wonder if this race is using timing chips. I would hope so for the price.
I hear they also want to charge another £5 if you need to park your car. I'll be cycling down if I enter so it's a non issue for me but very cheeky
Spans, what did you do with your bike while running? Lock it up somewhere or did you have a car to put it in or picnicing friends to watch over it?
I plan to take mine down on Wednesday to the same but can't think of any sturdy railings in Richmond Park to lock my bike to while I do the run. I plan to bring a light bag to carry & swap trainers / SPDs
Rio Fair - have a look at the Kinston Lodge Hotel http://www.swallow-hotels.com/kingston/index.asp It's a short distance (less than half a mile, I'd guess) from Kingston Gate which you'll see from the map is the half way point on the bike route.
ixus - I'm lucky as my I can leave my bike in my club's clubhouse whilst i run, but if you are looking for sturdy railings, the ones by the white lodage carpark are probably the best, and there are lots of people round there as well...
Rio - just be aware that the roads through the park are closed on the day and the start is the other side of the park... if you can (and I know that you have just booked it) I would look for a hotel in the Putney / Barnes area instead... sorry!
Although I'm sure I'll be fine, I don't want to enter a pile up only to be sued by some guy for ruining his £3000 bike & be layed off work for 8 weeks due to a broken bone
Unfortunately this bike will not be legal to race on – you will need front and rear brakes and there is likely to be a bike check as you go into the transition area. Fixed gear bikes are allowed but probably wouldn’t be recommended on a course that could be quite technical.
I hope you are still able to race,
Kind Regards
Peter =======================================================
I'm half tempted to risk it though. I doubt they'll be checking bikes & since they are encouraging first timers & allowing moutain bikes, I suspect they'll be a few unroad-worthy bikes.
They bend the rules for people with smaller than 52cm frames, i feel a bit disapointed they wont for me - it's not like I have no rear brake at all
It's 2 of my friends birthdays on that day - one is doing it, the other isn't.
I definetly wont be doing it now. I just spent the money I saved & a bit more on a cycling jacket from Ground Effect of newzealand. I just hope customs don't sting me for the VAT when it gets here (it's a bit of a lottery if they get through)
right am back from my first major training session for this and I now scared sh*tless about it... what was percieved as something that was going to be fun is now terrifying me!!
Anyway, just did 27.76miles on the bike (including 3 laps of Richmond Park) followed by a 5.5.mile run...
positives are that although I do not love that hill yet, I have learnt how to conquer it; I got better and faster on each lap and; when getting off the bike and starting to run there is no point in worrying about speed as your legs totally control your body!!
I am just not a cyclist which is why I am finding it so tough... I seem to forget that bit everytime I am not on the nike... but I guess once upon a time i probably said that I wasn't a runner...
Well done, Spans. When I rode the hill last week, I passed a girl who had got off her racing bike to walk up.
I'm sure that given your level of fitness, you'll be up there with the best of them (even on the bike), and if you do get overtaken by a few females after the 10k, just think how good it will feel to overtake them on the 5k run! ;-)
Comments
Munch - you are much less a bike numpty than me... I mean at least you have all the gear!!
Did 3 laps yesterday. "That" hill is proving a bit of a bugger. Went up it in too high a gear on one lap and had to stop near the top as my legs buckled :-(
Then a passing cyclist stopped to see if i was ok and gave me some encouragement to get up the hill!
I'm running 42x16 at the moment. I was planning to drop the rear down to a 15 & eventually change to a 48 X 17/15 when I can afford new wheel(s).
ahah rio fair - I'm sure you don't come under my warped definition of 'fun runner'. The type of people I mean are the ones who don't train for the race they have entered and as a result have no idea of their ability. The start up near the front, bomb it for the first mile or two, run out of steam & either stop dead or start walking. Both sistuations cause everybody else to try & take avoidance action, not helped by the fact they will usually walk 4 wide in the middle of the road.
Part of the blame can go down to organisers not having starting pens on expected finishing time I suppose. I wonder if this race is using timing chips. I would hope so for the price.
I hear they also want to charge another £5 if you need to park your car. I'll be cycling down if I enter so it's a non issue for me but very cheeky
Need to sort out accomodation too! Any ideas?
I plan to take mine down on Wednesday to the same but can't think of any sturdy railings in Richmond Park to lock my bike to while I do the run. I plan to bring a light bag to carry & swap trainers / SPDs
http://www.swallow-hotels.com/kingston/index.asp
It's a short distance (less than half a mile, I'd guess) from Kingston Gate which you'll see from the map is the half way point on the bike route.
Saves me worrying now
Rio - just be aware that the roads through the park are closed on the day and the start is the other side of the park... if you can (and I know that you have just booked it) I would look for a hotel in the Putney / Barnes area instead... sorry!
I'm going to train for it whilst I wait for the race organisers & the BTA to reply to my email about the legality of my bike
Although I'm sure I'll be fine, I don't want to enter a pile up only to be sued by some guy for ruining his £3000 bike & be layed off work for 8 weeks due to a broken bone
Spans thanks for that I will have a look elsewhere
in fact anything in the mortlake, sheen area is good...
from the BTA:
=======================================================
Unfortunately this bike will not be legal to race on – you will need front and rear brakes and there is likely to be a bike check as you go into the transition area. Fixed gear bikes are allowed but probably wouldn’t be recommended on a course that could be quite technical.
I hope you are still able to race,
Kind Regards
Peter
=======================================================
What are you going to do?
I'm half tempted to risk it though. I doubt they'll be checking bikes & since they are encouraging first timers & allowing moutain bikes, I suspect they'll be a few unroad-worthy bikes.
They bend the rules for people with smaller than 52cm frames, i feel a bit disapointed they wont for me - it's not like I have no rear brake at all
It would be a shame if you cant do it! I want as many people as possible to help me celebrate my birthday!
It's 2 of my friends birthdays on that day - one is doing it, the other isn't.
I definetly wont be doing it now. I just spent the money I saved & a bit more on a cycling jacket from Ground Effect of newzealand. I just hope customs don't sting me for the VAT when it gets here (it's a bit of a lottery if they get through)
I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate at the time I entered. Now I just think I am completely insane and wonder how I will ever complete it!!!
Anyway, just did 27.76miles on the bike (including 3 laps of Richmond Park) followed by a 5.5.mile run...
positives are that although I do not love that hill yet, I have learnt how to conquer it; I got better and faster on each lap and; when getting off the bike and starting to run there is no point in worrying about speed as your legs totally control your body!!
(((kinda of glad now i wussed out and opted for the the shorter dist, given recent ill health..)))
I am just not a cyclist which is why I am finding it so tough... I seem to forget that bit everytime I am not on the nike... but I guess once upon a time i probably said that I wasn't a runner...
I'm sure that given your level of fitness, you'll be up there with the best of them (even on the bike), and if you do get overtaken by a few females after the 10k, just think how good it will feel to overtake them on the 5k run! ;-)