New Forest Middle Distance
That was a truly lovely event. The stats can be got from various websites so I'll leave them for now. Suffice to say I went much quicker than last year, mostly on the run thanks to being able to run the whole way this time but also, a little to my surprise, on the bike as well, which is encouraging. I though I had done enough bike training without being too enthusiastic and I was riding within myself to give me the best chance of running the whole half marathon so that was good to see.
I reckon I was fitter than last year but what made the real difference, I think, was eating and drinking enough on the way round. I packed two bottles on the bike this time and almost finished both of them and made sure to drink at all the aid stations on the run as well. For the first time I had to do a wee during a race (don't panic, portacabins in the second transition area) and I reckon that was definitely the right way to go about it. I also ended up with my usual knee pain but it has almost all gone today which is about 2 days quicker than last year and about 5 days quicker than after Wimbleball in 2007.
That's (probably) it for long stuff for a while, but I do at least have the knowledge of how to set about these for another time. Train properly, don't go too quick and consume LOTS during the race.
p.s. of all the new forest fauna that could have tripped me up, it was the lesser common mountain biking brat that came nearest.
I reckon I was fitter than last year but what made the real difference, I think, was eating and drinking enough on the way round. I packed two bottles on the bike this time and almost finished both of them and made sure to drink at all the aid stations on the run as well. For the first time I had to do a wee during a race (don't panic, portacabins in the second transition area) and I reckon that was definitely the right way to go about it. I also ended up with my usual knee pain but it has almost all gone today which is about 2 days quicker than last year and about 5 days quicker than after Wimbleball in 2007.
That's (probably) it for long stuff for a while, but I do at least have the knowledge of how to set about these for another time. Train properly, don't go too quick and consume LOTS during the race.
p.s. of all the new forest fauna that could have tripped me up, it was the lesser common mountain biking brat that came nearest.