Coalville Wheelers 10

Another year and another trip over to the folks at Coalville Wheelers to ride my first proper time trial of the year. I had invested my training into a couple of turbo sessions a week, but hadn't felt totally brilliant for a couple of weeks because my running mileage had reached the 10 mile mark in readiness for next weeks half marathon.

The weather was as windy as last year and with some added rain forecast. On the upside it was a warmer day than the rest of the week with 10 degrees seen on the thermometer. New for this years race was my disk wheel, but other than that it was like for like for last years. I signed on and got busy getting ready - just to be back at a TT was a real buzz, and I had missed that feeling for the last 4 months.

As the weather was wet, I dispensed with much of a warm up, choosing to do maybe a mile or so going up and down the road outside of the clubhouse. I was trying to replicate last years preparation - all calculated to see if I was any better.

All too soon I was queuing for the start as 2:17pm cam around very quickly, and the shortly after that I was away on my 2017 season !

The first 3 miles were very fast, with a cross backwind, and a course profile of flat or downhill. A cross wind almost caught me out and I had a bit of a wobble - I was happy that the tri spoke was safely bagged up in the car and I had chosen the trusty Planet X 52 front as the day's eapon of choice.

After this lovely part - a left turn and straight into the 3-4 miles of uphill grovel. I thought i rode it better than last year and remembering the course, knew to drop into the bottom ring. My power figures fluctuated all over the place, but I tried to keep them at a sensible level. I felt like I was going along just fine and surely a bit ahead of the previous years effort.

The last couple of miles had back wind support again and I picked the speed up again, there were a couple of short hard climbs, but enjoyed the last bit to finish very fast and strongly for a 48 second improvement on the previous year. 25.37 - really happy and the improvement I wanted.

Next up - CC Breckland 10 in a couple of weeks.

NP 317w
AP 304w
Temp : 10c
Wind : Gusty 20mph SW
Pos 39/82
Course A10/34

Rauceby Ripper 2016

By'eck ! I've just seen that it's been nearly 10 months since the last time I wore the colours of my running club (Lincoln and District Runners) at the Lincoln 10k. That was my last running race - I've not been injured since then, however, a busy time trial schedule has meant that running races have been put on the back burner.

This race though is a personal fave of mine and the reason why I've been busy doing some parkruns out at Gainsborough. I had previously finished the Ripper a couple of times - 2013 82nd, and then in 2014 an improvement to 42nd. This years race was going to be extra muddy, and with heavy rain forecast and strong winds - a real war of attrition type race was expected.

I lined up ready for my 10.30 start, and the weather had held off. Sure it was wet underfoot and very windy, but at least it was miraculously dry so far. I went off at the start, far too fast and registered a 7.16 first mile, which is uphill through the estate. It was good to be back for sure, so I didn't care that my heart was trying to jump out of my chest.

Onto the main road for a very short section and then a right turn into the muddy farmtracks. Every footfall demanded respect and it was a puzzle for sure picking a line through the mayhem. Out and around the fields, and I was pleased to have chosen trail shoes as they gave more confidence in the slippy mud. I only nearly lost a shoe once, and seemed to be knocking out steady paced sub 8 minute miles.

I was enjoying myself through the grimacing as the wind was a killer and occasionally we saw some sideward rain. This is an honest cross country race so what would you expect ?

The notorious wooded section came along at mile 7, and was not as boggy as I expected. I liked this section as I made lots of ground on the runners around me and when I emerged I knew it was for the final effort as I was a mile from the finish.

One fast mile later, and I was hurtling to the finish line, still with a grimace, but finishing with the kind of satisfaction only a hard race can give you. 1.08.15 and 30th place this year - not bad after such a while away... I'll take that !