Powerman Zofingen 2022

This is the World Long Distance Champs and I would be in the 50-54 age group despite not actually being 50 until November.  I had been watching the event live on YouTube for the past few years, and had made a decision last year that as I was having a 2023 focused on Duathlon, that I would go for a place , and then build my season towards it. I started post Outlaw last year, with Standards at Oulton Park & Cowman, and used my Outlaw finish to qualify for Alsdorf Middle Distance Du (finishing 8th), and then this years Castle qualifiers at Cholmondeley & Howard. These last two being excellent prep as it turns out, as both have climbs and gravel/ trail paths on the runs and the bikes have decent amounts of climbing.

Getting there

I drove, Lincoln to Harwich (Hull is much closer but £200 more expensive), then from Hook Of Holland to Antwerp to drop Mrs off at a family reunion, and then off to Metz for an overnight stop. Metz to Zofingen the following morning. (It is worth noting that on the Monday after the event, I was able to drive from Zofingen back to Antwerp in a one-er @ 419 miles, so when I go again, I'll likely cut the Metz stop out. 

I arrived in Zofingen on the Friday morning, choosing to stay at the Partner Hotel which was a good logistical place to stay and was on the bike course. What it was though, was a third floor of a private medical building with clinics on each floor. I couldn't tell what was being done there, but I'm guessing Botox, Tits & Teeth wouldn't be far from the mark !  The room was nice, and the hotel seemed popular with other competitors. I had a tempo bike session that afternoon, and on the Saturday morning went for a jog, and a short tune up on the bike, before registering and meeting up with the British Team for photos. In the evening, we attended the pasta party which was free and in a turn up, was actually good !  Sunday, I set the alarm for very early even though it was a 9.02 start. 

I expected rain even though the forecast was for clear skies, and it didn't disappoint as it rained as I walked/ scooted down to transition. Then it cleared up and didn't appear again all day. Racking was easy , and those blue boxes, are ample for everything I needed to put in it. I had a good half an hour to watch the womens race unfold on the giant screen, before a half arsed, half professional looking warm up before heading to the mens 20-64 start which went off just 2 minutes after the male pro race. 

Run 1

Straight from the off, this course starts with a gentle climb which ramps up and steepens before continuing into gravel paths in a forest, concentration key here with cambers and cobbles to deal with. Going up the hill was steady, and I just kept thinking, take this like you would on a bike - it's not how you go up it, it's how you go over it that's important, and I was strong over the top so knew I'd pitched it about right.  I do need to work on downhill running though. Even though I held form, and didn't brake, I was still losing bags of time to those around me, only making up time on the flats. Second lap, almost carbon copy of the first, and I headed into transition 10th in AG, but minutes behind the medal contenders.  41.55.

Bike 

I'm usually reasonable on a bike and make up places. Here, I wouldn't be using my usual TT bike as it's single ring and 60T and I'm not Brian Fogarty ! I bought an entry level P2 from face book a few months back for undulating courses so had the luxury of a 53/39 with 11-23 on the back. Knowing that I cramped badly at Castle Howard, I would start the bike with two bottles of Ribena made up with ph1500 which I thought would do the job. In my top box was my feed trifle !  Bottom layer Jelly Babies, Middle layer Fig Rolls (McVities of course), with dessert on top in the shape of Powerbar Caramel all diced up.  I used a disc and a tri spoke, I had shallower wheels with me, but as wind was minimal and it was dry, I took the chance. 

So on to the bike in 10th, settled quickly, went to take first drink of the Ribena parked between my aero bars and nothing. Tried pulling the tube out, twisting it but to no avail, so had 87 miles of staring at something I couldn't use. Did have the one on the down tube so drank that and replaced it with a bottle of random energy drink at each feed.  There are three laps of this course, each has what I'd call two hard, long climbs, and a couple of long drags, there are wild descents, some switchbacks , and some technical turns. I knew my power, and stuck to it, making sure to cap the effort on the ups where I needed every one of those gears, and not chasing the watts on the descents.  It was quiet, not too much in the way of other competitors, and the traffic was respectful. Pretty uneventful bike, other than catching a L

uxemboug athlete for a good minute up the last of the six big uns. Holding same power when I passed him, he then decided, that he'd come back past me again. Only to blow up a short while later. Why do people do this ? You cannot magic up watts ! I would see him later on the run and to be fair we would strike up a bond ! 

Bike 4.45 when I fancied I'd be about 4.30. Off the bike in 7th (I didn't know that at the time, I thought I was a lot lower down), but in good order, still had running legs and was looking forward to the 30km last run.

Run 2

The TV does this course no justice, it is a beast, with a stairway to heaven at the start of each lap. The first mile of each would be the hardest, with some respite on the shelf section (with stunning views), before climbing again in the forest until the 5km feed station then it was mostly downhill. On that first forest section , I again cramped badly and lost time as it was slow to ease off. After that brief walk, I knew my limits and the threshold for it to happen again, and kept moving for the rest of the second lap. I couldn't tell where I was in the field or the age group of anyone that came past me, just looking at their faces to guess who was around my advancing years !  At the top of the stairway to heaven was the team manager, who gave great support throughout my whole time in Switzerland.  Lap 2 I decided was a enjoy it and don't think about it lap, with a just keep moving mantra, and then I called the last lap the party lap, knowing that I wouldn't be seeing parts of the run again - I think I nearly cried with joy at the top of the second lap when I knew that the ascent was over for the day. Just the last 5km down to the finish, with a smile on my face / grimace / wind, and a finish time of 8.08 and 7th in AG.  6th pace as it transpired was just 18 seconds ahead, but of course I was completely oblivious of this - I wonder if he was.  

Later that evening, awards ceremony, more free pasta, a couple of beers. 

Reflections 

Great event, fabulously tough, I think it's the toughest thing I've ever done, the previous being Lanza. I know this is shorter, but those runs are a killer. Will I go back ? Yes, I think I will, I'm PQ for next year, and there's things I can improve on for sure. 

A bit of the old runaround

14.08.22 Newark Half Marathon 1.49.12

This was my 3 hour run as a peak before Zofingen. previously I had done this type of run at Holkham Half last year for Outlaw, and at Newtons Fraction for Barcelona. The premise is simple, do an hour easy beforehand, rock up to the half marathon at the back, start almost or dead last if you can get away with ity, and then continue your run to feel progressing slowly through the field. This worked wonders yesterday on what was day 3 of the heatwave. A nice run out to Balderton and back and then after squeezing in 8 miles in 1.08, a bit quicker for the half. I did start dead last of 590 runners, and kept a sensible pace early on. It was warm, and I knew I would need to be conservative with my efforts so no getting into racing. the alpha flys performed really well and apart from sore ankles after 15 miles or so, I managed to keep sub 8.30 pace all the way round. 5 water stations with bottles was a godsend !  At the end I still had 1.5 minutes left to do, so timed very well. Pleased to put away 21 miles in a key session.

30.07.22 Heckington 10  1.09.34

This one I really went for. A warm morning with not much breeze and an event that I had always wanted to do, but never got round to entering early enough. It takes place as the first event of the Heckington show and the first two laps are of the grass show track at the venue, from there, it's out onto quiet country road for two out and back loops. I didn't know what to expect, but did see that the first mile was sub 7 pace, so that's where I aimed to keep it. The early miles were easy feeling, but I was thankful for the draft from a LWAC runner into the breeze going back toward HQ first time round. Lap 2 was testier, and it bit from around 7.5 miles in. No cover this time into the wind, and my pace slipped and I lost a few places. I did, however, PB , and finish with sub 7 minute mile average. Perfect day out.

03.07.22 Ashbourne Half Marathon 1.54.41

In keeping with current tradition of finding hillier races, on the back of Eyam, came Ashbourne, which whilst not as severe as Eyam, was hillier than your average race, and being held in derbyshire, you should expect that ! 

I was running with Dave, who was doing his long run for Outlaw, and I myself, was doing a 15 mile run so of course,  did some beforehand, and then started right at the back. Before long, we had moved to the 2:15 pacer, and then found the 2:00 pacer. I stopped for a pee, then had to catch back up, and then eventually lost the pacer down a hill, and kept some good momentum to finish in 1hr 55 mins. 

Three excellent races all told ! 

Some Duathlons !

This weeks event was the St Neots Standard Distance Duathlon. We stayed over camoing near Huntingdon and got to the venue on a sunny day really early. Signing on was stress free, and as it was a European Qualifier, the park was busy with serious looking Duathletes quite quickly.  The runs would be 4 x 2.5km loop within the park and mostly good surface, and the bike would be an extended out and back to Ellington (27 miles in total). 

As I wasn't in the hunt for qualification, the pressure was off and I was able to concentrate on my own thing. That being said, I raced this hard and left it all out there...

Run 1 - 43.50 (6.32 miles)

Started midway back, and as first little loop was on grass just to sort us out, I was steady with it, still fast, but steady. One onto the paths, it was a nice run around the park, some tight turns but a really good course and the multiple laps suited me. 6.55 average pace, OK with that.

Bike 1.12.35  (27 miles)

Out on the Trinity, slight headwind up to Ellington, a couple of drags and a couple of short sharp climbs where the 60 really ground out. Probably 240 watts to the turn and 215-220 back, did take my foot off again ! 

Run 2 -21.35  (2.98 miles) - nice and hot now, and legs burned from the leg shockers. Couldn't match earlier pace , held something within 20 seconds though. Finished 31st @ 2.19 - good result for me in a stacked field.

Castle Howard Middle Duathlon 

This one was a camping overnight affair going solo. Good night sleep despite an airbed that lost air, and all ready to go for the early start.

Run 1 - 48.33 - (6.23 miles) - Wow, the run here was tough, plenty of grass, climb, insane downhill, off road, pretty much anything an estate could throw at a person. Alpha Dizzles performed well - decision made to take them to Switzerland. 

Bike - 2.56.57 - 56 miles - again, it's North Yorkshire what did I expect, good first lap, caught the people I knew, eased off again second lap (this is becoming a habit), as knew I would need to run ! 

Run 2 - 55.05 - (6.23 miles).

Ouch - second run not as fresh as the first, and within a mile or so, summat new - I completely cramped up a climb, and had to walk it off - lost two minutes, otherwise , a slow and agonising fall back through the field.  12th overall, really good test, and an honest Duathlon ! 

 

Cholmondeley Castle Middle Distance Duathlon race report

This race was a qualifier for the 2023 European Middle Distance Duathlon Champs for which I luckily pre- qualified for at this years event in Alsdorf. I had two mates, Dave & Ian at the event, DAve looking to qualify, and Ian testing himself at the distance for the first time. The weather was reasonable, no rain, and breezy I'd say.  After a pasta party at the oddly named pesto at Cabbage Hall the night before, we were to meet up bright and breezy ahead of a 9am start for the event. Castle Race Series operate differently to most other organisers, sign on was same morning and was a slick operation of moving the athletes through zones. At 9am we were ready ! 

Run 1 - 6.53 miles - 47.29 

I wore the Alphaflys as I plan to use them in Zofingen and I have been over thinking shoe choice for a while. This event simulates a lot of the climb and tracks that I'll run over there and today the Alphaflys performed well. The race started in grass, before heading onto concrete paths, before climbing up and around the picture perfect castle in Woodland, before heading back over the lawn and back around for another lap. In total 419 feet of climb in the 10k and I ran it to RPE, respecting the difficulty of the course. 

Bike - 39.19 - 1.52.46

New TT bike in it's first event, bought from Facebook Market place with a 53/39 option, which means my TT bike can remain single ring for super fast flat TT courses. The course for this Duathlon is held on quiet Cheshire roads and is a ride of two halves. It is also two laps and 39 miles in total.  The first half of each lap is relatively flat and fast whilst the second half has all of the climb, about three leg burners that are not overly long, but are to be paced, especially as they have to be tackled a second time and after that, you need to be in a condition to race. 1864 ft of climb in total. No idea of watts, so RPE again. All felt OK, I guessed the position and it wasn't uncomfortable. I encountered three horses and had to slow to 5mph, which is the right thing to do, and stopped at a right turn. There's work to do, but as a starter that was a competent first outing.

Run 2 - 6.43 miles - 49.28

Second run is fast becoming an obsession of finding a pace and effort that is as close to the first run as possible. After the climb on the bike there was always going to be some fatique in the legs but still, the aim was to get as close to the first run pace as possible. First lap OK, I had feared that the run up and around the Castle would be a step too far, but I held that together well (for me), and then knew that I had just a Parkrun left to complete.  At this point the overall winner came tearing past, underlining the gulf in class between the very top, and your average Duathlete.  Last lap, tried not to lose any positions which I didn't, and finished strongly for an 8th place on the day. Pleased with the two runs, and the performance of the shoe, and I suppose the bike leg, but like I said, it does need more work. 

What of Dave and Ian ? Ian smashed a great time for 14th on his debut, and Dave 24th and more importantly should at time of writing bagged a qualifying spot for next year.  The next qualifying race is Castle Howard Duathlon in late July.

Age Group Celebration Cup - Mallory Park Sprint Duathlon

This was an event that necessitated sleeping on the sofa the night before as the alarm needed to go off at 4 am so that I could be in the car packed and ready to go to Mallory Park to arrive at 6.30. It would be signing on the same day and we anticipated that there would be bike stickers and helmets to sort out, and a complicated transition set up to learn.  Fear not, I could have had another half hour in bed as got there super early, signing on was a doddle and transition was as simple as it gets. We had plenty of time to get set up, and go for a warm up, looking like we knew what we were doing - of course, we don't, bit no one else knows that do they. 

At a little over 8am, 16 of us were set off at the same time a triathlon and aqua
bike were starting in their parallel universe ! 

Run 1 - 19.24

First thing to mention is that it wasn't a full 5 km - I clocked that at 2.92 miles , still, it was a fast effort for me and bank on the 6.40 average pace that I wanted to achieve. I reckon I counted that I was 8th, and then 9th, and then by the end of the leg, back to 8th. It was a good consistent effort from the off , and I settled well, always thinking that I would been to bike next and the drag to the top of the hairpin was just in the corner of my eyeline.  Down through the pits and to the track, it felt windless until the lake was circled and the wind seemed stronger coupled with a slight rise in gradient. I'd call that disciplined as first runs go.

Bike - 31.40

Woohoo ! 60T engaged and a lap of two halves for sure - a drag uphill into the headwind each lap, coupled with a back wind assisted sweeping downhill past the pits to complete each lap. On the climb, I capped my watts, keeping them above my target average of 250, but going no more than 295, which worked well albeit seemed a little slow whilst doing it. Slowly, I started to take some places, and by the end of the bike had averaged 243 watts and moved to 4th.

Run 2 - 10.11 

... which is where I stayed. No pressure and with just two laps this time to complete, I felt I had more time than I probably did. Pleasingly, my pace for the second run was exactly the same as the first. 

Overall 4th of 16, 2nd of 3 in AG. 

Learnings - Sprint Du for the first time in a few years, Whilst only an hour I could have done with a little water on the bike. 

Next up - duathlon wise - the qualifier at Cholmondeley Castle on 19th June.

2022 Time Trial season

23.10.22 Matlock CC HC (trike) 4.12

... and like that the season was over. This was a trip over to Matlock for a 4 minute hillclimb on the trike. Held again on Bank Road, it was a climb I've done a couple of times. I was horrifically under geared on the barrow with a 56/44 chainset, and there is a video of me gurning the thing up the hill.  I somehow rounded off the season with the Tricycle Incline Trophy. I need a rest !

24.09.22 Kettering CC 2up 23.22

Ha Ha - great idea - let's do a 2up on a course I don't know with the Watt monster. Rode out of my skin, but couldn't manage equal turns. Came 2nd as a team by a few seconds- gutted ! We will go back I think - there's unfinished business there !

17.09.22 Sherwood CC 25  57.03

I did this one on the Cervelo that I had used for the World Long Distance Duathlon Champs a few weeks back. As I had been 15 minutes slower than a team mate on that day, I really wanted to find out how much if any that the Cervelo was slower than the Trinity. This course is one I've ridden a good few times, so perfect for a comparison. Reasonable day, a competent ride I thought and a good time of 57.03. Looking at the competition, I would say that I should have been around 55.30 on the Trinity, so decision made to retire the Cervelo to the Turbo and race the Trinity in next years Ironmans.

Lea Valley Tandem Trike 21.52

I didn't think I'd done many trike events this year and whilst on a solo there was only one late on, there had been this tandem effort on the mighty E2/10 course.  Myself & Dave found this hard going to be fair , hard out and then on the return , not enough gearing ! 21.53 good enough to lower the club record, but not as fast as we thought we could go.

Other weekday events (Wheelers & Clarion)

I managed just one club event on my home courses this year - the Wheelers Spring 10, held in June ! Strange night , felt I rode better than the time suggested - 23.29. Then in July & August a couple of goes at the Tuxford 11.3 course - an all out attack 26.23, and a playful intervals effort of 31.51. there was also the night I turned up, found out there was no event, and did my intervals on the course - that was a slow night ! 

Various Aegir efforts

On Wednesday evenings , I ventured over to Gainsborough for their Wednesday night TT events held on courses around Laughton Woods. The first 10 was a distaster, going wrong twice when leading and eventually cutting the course short. Then there was a fast five on my Cervelo at 11.48 in early June, followed by a couple of decent 15 mile efforts at 35.35 and 35.04 respectively, and strangely a third 15 resulted in a win, even though I blew up at mile 8 and limped back with a 36.49 time. A great off grid place to go and time trial , testing out new kit, and tweaks without club pressure.

LRRA 10  - 22.18

A ride of two halves and possibly hungover from a road race on Wednesday and a tough half marathon the Sunday before. A great first half of the ride, good watts and discipline. 280W, fast start and settled well. Got to the roundabout and then almost immediately, I could not get my watts out of the 250 zone, and seemed to be fading badly. Strong down hill and finish saw me at least rescue a half decent overall time and bag the county middlemarkers cup. 

Sheffrec CC 25  - 57.52

Trike Association 25 champs, but flat out didn't fancy the course on three wheels, and fancied a 25 on a course that I'd partially ridden a couple of times as the bottom half uses the O10/1. It was a small field, and after the trikes went off, I was a further 20 minutes before I was set away. The course works well with a dog leg set up of two out and back 10's. Good power out and back on the top half of the course and then faded on the bottom by going too hard on the way down to the roundabout and paying for it on the return. Maybe I'll have to return to see if I can pace it better next time around. Good time though and ahead of my spin data predicted one.

Sleaford Wheelers Charity 10 -  22.29

This represents the best TT result I have had on the C10/10 - a local course where I was shocked to find I hadn't raced on since 2017 when I posted a 22.58 in a season I felt I was tippy toppy for the last time. This ride saw sunny conditions and a 12mph SSE wind which would see me work hard to the turn maybe pushing c.20 watts more and then relying on a push to save me on the way back. A return of c.271 watts overall for CP20 purposes, and 13th place and best placed Wheeler on the day.

Coalville Wheelers 10 -  24.29

It's here finally ! 2022 arrives after what seemed like a winter eternity. I always start my season the weekend the clocks go back. This year I chose to go with Coalville Wheelers and their honest 10 mile TT run out of their HQ in Griffydam. 

I did a version of this event as my first ever open TT in 2013 in 25.53, and then 3 years later in 2016 , on this very course 25.34. Today, a lovely sunny day with not too much wind, I was up for ity and fired up to get things going. I had a nice new white skinsuit, and a more aero position that I was trading off against watts. It is always a big unknown coming out of winter, albeit I went well enough at last weekends Duathlon so I knew I wasn't going to be too off colour. 

All was well when I went off at 2.14pm, traffic was kind and I was able to keep to my lines well. In fact other than the watts not showing what I saw last year, I was consistent & composed as I navigated the first third of the course - then I made a rookie error and kept on the bars for a speed shelf at c.25mph, that shook me and I lost balance and had to veer off the course onto a side road. I composed and rejoined but lost a stack of time. Rather than sulk, I made a promise not to chase the deficit, and all too soon I was gurning my way up Vinegar Hill in my 60 ring, and attacking the last mile or so to the finish.  24.29 and 16th in spite of my unfortunate navigation. Welcome back Andy - ding ding round 10.

Kings Lynn 25   -  59.40

2nd time riding this event, last year I remembered having a good ride on what is an honest course so was eager with a week to go before Alsdorf to get a solid hour of TTing in. It would get me used to being in a disciplined tuck position. The wind direction was in exactly the same direction as last year but this year we had a variety of weather that accompanied the North North Easterly - periods of broken sunshine interspersed with showers of hale and sleet. The actual race itself went really well, on the way out I held back a fraction of power whilst maintaining a good consistent effort and position, maybe going a little over revved on the climbs, and at the turn, felt good for the chase back. Definately slower on the return due to some additional climb and more exposed headwind, but not once did I check the time or look backward to see if I was getting caught which is always worth a few seconds.  59.40, and 19 seconds quicker than last year. 11th on the day - a well paced effort I thought.

Eyam Half Marathon

This morning was a nice early drive over to Derbyshire to run the Eyam Half Marathon in the peak district. I knew the race would be a tough one but I'm starting to look at races like these as I have my eye on qualifying for a place at Zofingen in September and that course has climbing in it, albeit likely not as much as this morning but all the same, running up hills (like Kate Bush) is going to be good practice. 

The race itself was slightly delayed from its 10.30 start as the numbers hadn't arrived, a first, but not a huge delay and we were away at 10.45 in any case. I did my usual 10 minute easy run warm up with a couple of half arsed strides and lined up dead last, understanding that it was chip timed, and the road was nice and wide so I could wind my way through and not be swamped when the climbing started at about 600 metres. 

This worked well, and initially it was fast back through Eyam until a sharp right took us up a tester of an early climb just to turn back down and this made a little loop. Early thoughts... I was OK going up, but sketchy coming down especially in the alpha flys and I needed to be careful. 

We then began the longer climb up to the Glider Club at Great Hucklow Wood - a road I knew from the work Sportives albeit in reverse. I was steady for the long slow descent as on a couple of occasions a scuff would remind me that I had to have my wits about me with these shoes and take care I did. I lost the places that I had gained on the climb, but overall my pacing was good and the scenery was fantastic.  Not a PB effort by any means and running after climbing was hard work. 

At 9 miles we were at the bottom of a descent and had arrived at Leadmill, where we were abruptly guided right and up a frankly rude climb that went on and on for a good while, flattening out and dragging on sometimes only slightly. At 12 miles though, it was mostly down hill and fast, and again I was careful until I got back into Eyam centre and really opened up through the town and through to the finish. 

Beforehand I secretly hoped of sub 1.50, but climbing was better than expected and going downhill was tempered but not overly slow, so I finished with 1.43.33.

Happy with that !