Rauceby Ripper 2017

OK, I know, my blog is all about time trialling now......

However, I am in the final throes of completing my transition from triathlete to full time tester. First to go was the swimming, and now this weekend saw my final run until what I think will be post season in October. Knowing the running was to come to an end, I chose one last race to finish on for the year and would you know it, I chose 'The Ripper'.

The Ripper is a race I know well, having been a finisher on three seperate previous occasions. Last year, I finished as high as 30th, but that was back when I was running at least twice a week, whereas I've recently been down to one steady run per week.

The day was dry and there wasn't too much wind, but by god, the ground was muddy and it was the boggiest I could remember the course. I chose trial shoes again and started half way down the field. As the were set underway, I soon found myself making places by running strongly up the first little incline before we made our way onto the main road. My pace was better than expected though and I wondered if I would be able to hold it. I calmed my breathing and turned into the boggiest section of the course. I picked my line through the mud OK and didn't lose too many places. By the end of the second mile I had relaxed on top of my breathing and effort and spent the reaminder of the run holding a sub 8 pace, and closing down on some runners in front of me. The miles ticked away quickly and I was still running well into the last mile, where lo and behold, I managed a strong finish to hold off a charge, something I have rarely managed.

So, that was it, the latest edition of the Ripper done and dusted and the curtain for now has been pulled down over my running career.

Next stop, the Sunthorpe RC 10 on 11/3.

Wheelers Winter Double

First couple of time trials of what I would call the new year. The first being the fancy dress Boxing Day affair and the second being the more competitive New Years Day TT :

Boxing Day  28.11

Otherwise known as the quiet tandem affair as I rode it with my brother Dave, me on the front of the tandem trike as a reindeer and him on the back as Santa. We completed the look with a sack of toys in the back rack. We negotiated the course with no real problems and were pleased with our time of 28.11. Picture of this fancy dress travesty below...

New Years Day 19.17

A much of a much-ness for a New Years Day - the time was in the usual ball park and I came third - a top 3 is usual. We had a strange north/north easterly wind of 12mph and it was drizzly wet throughout. the temperature was about 6 degress and I found out as I rode my warm up that my power meter wasn't transmitting so that meant that I'd be riding the event on feel, just as I did last year.

I was no 8 and that feeling I get when I'm racing away from the start is a joy that I have missed. I was rough around the edges, being the first event in three months, but I concentrated hard on an even cadence and an even pace - it felt good. My heart rate didn't want to get going though and I would have expected to see it at c.175-180, whereas it sat at about 168-171.

Still, on a poor day, it was a decent result when I crossed the line in 19.17. Next event is another three month wait and hopefully I'll be further on in my training plan than I am now.

Winterton Cyclocross (Wheelers Champs)

My last cyclocross race of the season. I just decided, right now, this minute.

It's not because I don't love cross, it's not because I had a bad race today, in fact, I had a good race - it's just that I'm thinking more about next seasons TT season and I need to be the best prepared as I can be and that means long solo rides on sundays in december. A bit serious, but necessary.

Today saw the usually boggy paddy fields of Winterton Showground replaced with an almost bone dry crit race. The Wheelers start their race a minute behind the senior race which meant that today would be an hour.

We started in a row and it was a drag race to the first corner at which I was second Wheeler, however, I'm not as quick at tight turning or getting on and off, and consequently I lost a few places.

I eventually settled down and found myself in a good place (6th Wheeler), lapping consistently, and working hard. the hour seemed to fly by and the post race rice pudding felt well earnt !!

Roll on next season :)

Woodhall Cyclocross

My third race of the season and a welcome return to one of my fave courses from last year. Woodhall cyclocross is held at Ostlers Plantation and can be best described as a good mix of everything : there's long straights, tight turns, range of surfaces, and the mounds !!

One of the longest laps on the circuit and never boring although driving down the muddy roads to the parking raised the heart rate somewhat I can tell you !!

Our race was 12.00 and the sun was out albeit it had rained all day the day before so there were puddles in places and plenty of mud too. I had decided that I wasn't going to get left in a procession like last week and decided to have a good go at the start - making sure I got gridded was a good start as it moved me up a few places.

Off the line in the big ring, my start still wasn't great, but much better than last week all the same. HR through the roof pretty quickly and that it generally where it would stay.  Tyre pressures seemed spot on, but I was aware of movement and a bit of sliding here and then.

First couple of laps went by without incident and I felt I was doing reasonably well. On the third lap, I had a mishap, when I missed the line following a hump and had a food down at the top of the second which caused a crash !  It was what it was and I got over it very quickly and from that moment on seemed to hold my own place in the field. No more mistakes and held off a late challenge for position. Felt it went really well to be honest and a bit better than last year.

No cross next week as I've a club run to lead, next race up is two weeks time at Winterton - the paddy fields !!

Wheelers Cyclocross

Getting up at 5 on a Sunday is no joke and neither is setting out a course when it's rather chilly willy. A couple of wet marshalling gigs later and I was ready to have a quick look at the course and then it was off to stand in a cold wet field with hardly anything on and wait for the start. 

That came rather quickly, and I soon found myself quite far down the order as usual going into the first lap proper. What is it with me and starts at the Cyclocross ?? 

Once I had field position and we were on the full course, I found my feet and began the usual ritual of piecing my race back together. Places were hard to come by, but I found a way past some folf eventually as the speedier longer sections meant that I was able to put some power down. 

The course had really churned up and it was beginning to remind me of last years pilgrimage to the Regionals !! My lap times were quite consistent and ranged from 7.18 to 7.33 and thius eventually resulted in a 49th place finish out of I thing 74 riders. 

Bearing in mind that was my first cross race for about 6 weeks, I think I can take that ! 

Next up is my favourite course from last year - Woodhall ! 

Wheelers Tandem & Trike Weekend

I was the organiser for this weekends activities and as such decided not to race the solo trike, but instead to ride tandem trike on both days with the legend that is Pete Holland. There's not much to day other than I enjoyed it and will probably pilot up with Pete again at some point in the future.

Saturday - 10m TT - 26.35
Pete rocked up with the tandem trike in the morning once I'd put the signs out, and we set about getting the seat sizing sorted out. we put a tri bar on the front, but the position was mightily aggressive and I was further down than I usually am. The first warm up ripped my legs off, and I was genuinely concerned about doing longer stints. The actual race though at full pelt was a different story and we seemed to get on OK. Cornering was doddery and occasionally I messed around with the gears but a 26.35 first 10 mile effort was not too shabby !

Sunday - 25m TT - 1.09.09

Rode it like we stole it. Cornering was still an issue as was the gear twiddling, but we built into the race this time and had some glorious sections where it didn't even feel like we were trying. mind you, there were some pretty slow headwind sections as well. A 1.09.09 to our name as a 25 pairing rounded off a busy, tiring but satisfying weekend.

Lincoln Half Marathon

Lincoln's old half marathon was something that stopped in the early 90's. In fact, in it's heyday in the 80's I remember sitting on the kerb on Moorland Avenue watching the runners go by. so when One Step Beyond announced a return of a half marathon to Lincoln I jumped at the chance and signed up earlier this year.

In the interim, my time trialling season seemed to have plateaued and I signed up with a coach which saw my running time relegated to one night a week. For the past 5 weeks I'd been doing one slow long run with my mate Bob, so when we rocked up at the Showground for the start, we both knew a steady run to completion was on the cards.

The route :
Starts at lincoln showground and then follows the road in to Burton Road roundabout. Left up Yarborough Road, down Newport, through the Bailgate, castle, Carline Rd, round the Brayford, back up Yarborough Hill, then back to the Showground.

Nice route, and I enjoyed the run immensely. The organisation was almost spot on and the showground is a perfect venue. the views running into Lincoln were wonderful and there was enough in the middle of the race as you hit the city centre to keep it interesting !

Pacing was consistent thoughout at 8.52/8.54/8.35/8.52/9.02/8.31/8.26/9.01/9.57/8.58/9.02/8.39 and I was comfortable all the way through. I was never really out of cruise control the whole way round being able to chat everywhere but going up Yarborough Hill. The name of the game was getting the medal and finishing under 2 hours, which we did comfortably.

So, for the running, it will still be relegated to 2nd place and it's once a week setting and hopefully I'll still be able to do an occasional race such as this albeit at a more sedate pace.

1.55.25