Made my half marathon debut today at Windsor. Did a respectable 1:41:16 although bit outside of my target of 1:38 and had really been expecting to get inside 1:40. The course was reasonably hilly in places (although apparantly less hilly that previous years' courses) so my 1:41 probably does equate to sub-1:40 on a flat city centre course. But I had not really done enough training (cycle racing fitness helps not cross-over only goes so far, and averaging 5k once a week is far below even the most basic training schedule), so probably unrealistic to expect much better.
Mile split
1 00:07:45
2 00:07:31
3 00:07:34
4 00:07:53
5 00:07:34
6 00:07:53
7 00:07:41
8 00:07:39
9 00:08:01
10 00:08:05
11 00:08:01
12 00:07:53
13 00:07:04
13.1 00:00:42
Average 7:44 per mile
The slow splits for miles 4 & 6 due to hills, and started to slow up at miles 9-11 (also included couple of hills). Managed to lift it fair bit for the last mile (essentially the whole of the finishing straight) but target time prospects had gone few miles back.
If I get in next years London marathon then think I will get in some proper training.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Guildford town centre cycle race 9 July 2008
Click picture for few more flickr photos. Also see:
http://photos.tobinators.com/gallery/5370947_
KahHH#329150445_XLFhy-O-LB
Not sure whether I was feeling dedicated or just plain stupid at the sign on given the pretty miserable weather. Not too surprisingly there weren't many EOLs and plenty of DNSs so only about 25 riders on the start line for the E12 race.
The rain meant the normally high speed quite intimidating left turn onto market street, was much slower and almost easier than in dry. But the left turn onto the damp cobbles on the high street was different story...
First lap was delayed by couple of riders coming down on left turn onto high street, but just about managed to grovel way back up to bunch. After initial fairly fast start things settled down a bit and I was relatively comfortable, albeit unable to move up from last or near last man.
About one-third of way into race one AW cycles guy dived inside me going very quickly into market street and I was not too suprised when he crashed coming onto the high street, but I still piled into him (more of a 'step off the bike coming to a halt' rather than a true crash for me, but still qualifies for a lap out as far as I was concerned).
I settled into my last man routine of regularly getting gapped by 20-30m up the high street and then steadily closing this on back of circuit just in time to repeat approx 1 minute later...and repeat...
Plenty of other riders hitting the deck on the left turn onto the high street (you desperately wanted to get the power down as soon as possible to hold the wheel in front up but it was just so slippery) including former teammate and winner in 2005 and 2006 Warrick Spence (who decided to jump back on his bike and spend 8-10 laps chasing rather than take lap out...).
About 10 laps to go I was off the back as last man plus 1 and last man plus 2 could not hold wheels up the high street anymore. Was steadily closing the gap and after a few laps I was almost there but overcooked it on the turn on to the high street - few oooh and aaahs from the appreciative crowd. Picked myself up (wet cobbles means bruises rather than road rash) and had another lap out before rolling round, just getting lapped by the leading duo on final lap.
Not many guys left at the end so hoping may have sneaked into top 10, but probably just outside. [Update: 12th, so my best town centre crit result]
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Prix André Delrue
Headed over with London Dynamo clubmates Gordon Kennaway, Gavin Ryan, Martin Garratt and Paul Delahunty to Brimeux near Calais to experience some French cycle racing - http://www.ccbrimeux.com/Brimeux-Prix-Andre-Delrue-Edition.html. Ended up cutting it a little fine arriving in Brimeux after we stopped a bit long for a coffee on the way, and found out that whilst race start was 14:30 the neutralised roll out was 15 mins before that. Anyway we paid our €5.50 (mmm why do British races cost £12-£15...?) got our numbers (Gordon helpfully coming prepared with lots of pins knowing that organisors do not give them out in France) and rolled out from Brimeux.
Initial impressions of the approx 60 rider field was not too intimidating, there were too many riders who 'looked' fast. Immediately from the start there were plenty of attacks but it was altogether as we swung right onto the climb. The first bit of the climb was definitely steeper than the official course description of "500m of 4%", and front riders hammered up it. Onto the top section of the climb (course description of 9.5% probably about right) and there were big gaps appearing and I made big effort of the top of the climb and the start of the descent to join the front group of probably 22-23 riders. After the 75-80 km/h descent it was a right turn into a pretty strong headwind, and the gap to the bunch opened rapidly. By the end of the first 14km lap it was clear this was the day's break, and was therefore expected pace to settle down for a while...
But no, on lap 2 the riders were already attacking the break and lots of jumping to close gaps required. Second time up the climb was not too bad with one rider away (clearly not bothered about riding solo into a 30 km/h headwind with 22 rider break behind him and 90+ km to go). But third time up the climb was different story as riders attacked full-on right from the bottom of the climb and a group of about 12 riders went away. I over extended myself trying to limit/close gap and the 4-5 riders on my wheel jumped me over the top. But with swift descent and hard chase with one other guy managed to rejoin front group few km later.
Fourth lap was more of the same with stream of attacks. And the style of racing seems to be that there is never any through-and-off chasing of attacks. Attack goes, and then rest of riders jump across in 1s and 2s, and then its altogether and repeat. Fourth time up the climb and I was in trouble and dropped along with few other riders. Again hammered down descent and closed to within maybe 50 metres but never made it. From then it essentially a long ride to the finish. One guy punctured from the break and had slow change and I tagged onto him until he rode away from me 5th time up the climb. Later I was caught - and as 'second wind' never happened - and dropped by other riders who had been in break. And on the penultimate lap I was caught (and again dropped) by a group of 5 riders including Paul - all that was left from the 'bunch'. So it was a lonely final lap to be the last finisher (probably ~30th place).
Disappointing not to have form/fitness to compete properly but a good experience. The race was probably only a French 'chipper' (although it did have team from Flanders and think deceptive because lots of average bikes/wheels - guess its a London/SE thing to see 4th cats with their Cervelos and Lightweight wheels etc.) but it still had near enough closed roads. Although there was practically no traffic (saw maybe one car the whole) there were still marshalls (maybe 40+ in total?) at every little side turning to stop traffic/tractors turning onto the course.
Initial impressions of the approx 60 rider field was not too intimidating, there were too many riders who 'looked' fast. Immediately from the start there were plenty of attacks but it was altogether as we swung right onto the climb. The first bit of the climb was definitely steeper than the official course description of "500m of 4%", and front riders hammered up it. Onto the top section of the climb (course description of 9.5% probably about right) and there were big gaps appearing and I made big effort of the top of the climb and the start of the descent to join the front group of probably 22-23 riders. After the 75-80 km/h descent it was a right turn into a pretty strong headwind, and the gap to the bunch opened rapidly. By the end of the first 14km lap it was clear this was the day's break, and was therefore expected pace to settle down for a while...
But no, on lap 2 the riders were already attacking the break and lots of jumping to close gaps required. Second time up the climb was not too bad with one rider away (clearly not bothered about riding solo into a 30 km/h headwind with 22 rider break behind him and 90+ km to go). But third time up the climb was different story as riders attacked full-on right from the bottom of the climb and a group of about 12 riders went away. I over extended myself trying to limit/close gap and the 4-5 riders on my wheel jumped me over the top. But with swift descent and hard chase with one other guy managed to rejoin front group few km later.
Fourth lap was more of the same with stream of attacks. And the style of racing seems to be that there is never any through-and-off chasing of attacks. Attack goes, and then rest of riders jump across in 1s and 2s, and then its altogether and repeat. Fourth time up the climb and I was in trouble and dropped along with few other riders. Again hammered down descent and closed to within maybe 50 metres but never made it. From then it essentially a long ride to the finish. One guy punctured from the break and had slow change and I tagged onto him until he rode away from me 5th time up the climb. Later I was caught - and as 'second wind' never happened - and dropped by other riders who had been in break. And on the penultimate lap I was caught (and again dropped) by a group of 5 riders including Paul - all that was left from the 'bunch'. So it was a lonely final lap to be the last finisher (probably ~30th place).
Disappointing not to have form/fitness to compete properly but a good experience. The race was probably only a French 'chipper' (although it did have team from Flanders and think deceptive because lots of average bikes/wheels - guess its a London/SE thing to see 4th cats with their Cervelos and Lightweight wheels etc.) but it still had near enough closed roads. Although there was practically no traffic (saw maybe one car the whole) there were still marshalls (maybe 40+ in total?) at every little side turning to stop traffic/tractors turning onto the course.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Falling tree
Bit close...
During a cycling race today a tree fell down across the road only just in front of the group I was in. Whilst weather was pretty grim - temperature around 6 deg C and heavy bursts of sleet, hail and snow - it was not that windy so was quite surreal seeing tree fall and slowly brain registering was was going on.
During a cycling race today a tree fell down across the road only just in front of the group I was in. Whilst weather was pretty grim - temperature around 6 deg C and heavy bursts of sleet, hail and snow - it was not that windy so was quite surreal seeing tree fall and slowly brain registering was was going on.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Letter in FT
Got letter published in the FT (letter only slightly edited by FT, but the snappy title FT's not mine) :
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ae89a41c-e03e-11dc-b0d7-0000779fd2ac.html
Do not normally spend time writing to newspapers but found the attitude of the author of the original letter very irritating and arrogant. Anyone who does not know me reading the letter might think am left wing...
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ae89a41c-e03e-11dc-b0d7-0000779fd2ac.html
Do not normally spend time writing to newspapers but found the attitude of the author of the original letter very irritating and arrogant. Anyone who does not know me reading the letter might think am left wing...
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Offshore wind farm
Big from outside, feel even bigger when go inside them.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
2008 London team cyclo-cross championships
http://www.londoncyclesport.com/news/article/mps/UAN/3881/v/1/sp/
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