1. How did you get into Triathlon?
I saw an xtra mile sign strapped to a lamp post in Northwich saying of a Northwich triathlon and thought that it would be good for a laugh, and wondered if I could complete it.
2. What training do you enjoy and what do you hate?
I enjoy all the training which makes it all ten times easier. Swimming is my weakest discipline and don't like it when the water turns to wallpaper paste.
The bike is always a pleasurable pain but most satisfaction comes when I feel I'm running fast and steady on a long run.
3. Give us an insight into your day dreams when you are out training on your own.
I simply love training. It can sometimes be as good as racing if all is going well. Day dreams are about people that I know, and wish that they could share my enthusiam for triathlon and training. People who I know would love it too but haven't yet made the breakthrough.
I set goals and targets whilst alone, sorting out pb's, ande the next mad schemes to undertake.
4. Give us one top training tip?
I can give you loads, but will you listen.....Enjoy it all. Even on a bad day there will be positives. Don't take it too seriously, but analysing results and others around you will certainly help you progress. Keep your mind strong, very strong, you can do it, 90% of what we do is a mental fitness.
5. Talk us through your best and worst tri events to date?
Such a short question..................
Best - Probably has to be Bala middle distance this year. Due to the bobbins weather conditions, a large number of DNF's added to the DNS's made the day more special. It all seemed like a normal tri race to me.
I had my normal average swim, followed by (now normal) long T1, and there didn't seem like there were too many bikes left when I left on the bike.
Chasing my clubmates hard, Warren Mason, Andy Dines, and Pete the fish, you just know your going to be behind after a swim with that lot, not to mention our infamous swim coach Mark (really wish you wasn't leaving us)Hudson. The over 40's males were the last of 3 waves off, so on with the job of catching the younger guys and all the women.
I battered the bike into the ground, forgetting about any negatives of it being a hilly course and just going for it for as long as I could. My legs did well and caught Fiona Huxtable on the first few hills out of Bala, Andy D near the halfway point on the bike but no-one was in sight. Having started from near the back of the field on the bike, nobody was coming past me and I was taking over people for fun. Happy days. When your overtaking you can't even feel the pain. I pushed and pushed on the bike and the conditions were bad, but it was only when I stopped working hard coming downhill and into T2 that I started to get cold. As I racked my bike in T2, I noticed Warrens bike wasn't there! I couldn't have, could I? I knew really he must have had a mechanical on the bike and thought nothing more and carried on.
So just Mark and Pete to catch then....oh and don't forget Warren coming from behind on the run...
Everything was going just fine and got even better as I stripped off all the wet bike clothes back down to just my trisuit and I immediately became warm again. Ace, I'm off.....Let's go and see if I can run. Much to my suprise my legs could still operate and on I went.
As I neared the turn around point at the halfway stage on the run I couldn't believe that none of my team mates had turned already and gone on the homeward stretch. I started thinking that perhaps I'd had em on the bike, but then I saw Pete probably about 200m infront of me having just turned. I very nearly tried to hide from him, believing he would put in a kick and take the KTC tape but to my surprise I caught him pretty quick after the turn around and ran off downhill to the finish. Still looking behind every now and again to make sure Pete wasn't going to have me.
As I came into the home straight I had the joy of Warren cheering me home as he had DNF'd on the bike, a great sight to see especially as Warren had told me I had no chance of seeing him again before the finish.
Sorry Warren, your good, but your not that good, lol.
To be first home against great club mates that I really look up to and respect gave me a large confidence boost. Enough now or I'll go on forever.
To complete my first half ironman when others around you are having to drop out due to the poor conditions gave another boost.
Taking the title of 1st KTCer home gave me a little well done to myself, but it was probably the after race reports and stories that the event elevated to great status.
For those that have as yet and would like a laugh read the race report on the Wrexham tri website for a real good laugh.
Worst - Haven't got one because at my stage everything is just fun and learning, but my second tri was Macc sprint and I had been training pretty hard for it doing the bike course about 4 times before race day. Running was also getting better, but failed to keep up my swimming. Went fast on the swim and suffered for it. Homeward bound on the bike, cramped so bad I had to get off and walk for a bit. Eventally the run, and stopped to walk 3 times as I still tried to push speed. Just a learning curve and a classic mistake of going out to hard on the swim with no training.
6. If you were doing (or thinking of doing) a triathlon for the first time, which one piece of advice would you give?
Just get it booked, you'll suprise yourself how easy the training comes after it's booked. Enjoy yourself, don't worry about anyone else, if you want to race in your first tri then race yourself.
7. What’s your ultimate triathlon dream (e.g. win a race, complete an Ironman)?
A Kona start line would be just awesome but I'd definately take an age group win or even an event win. Young uns don't frighten me. The pressure is all on them, I just remind them there racing a grandad. If I had of believed in myself a bit more at Northwich tri this year, then you never know I could have achieved a tri dream there and then. They won't be easy dreams.
8. What’s your favourite piece of tri kit/gadget that you own?
Lock laces. What an invention.
9. What’s your post race indulgence (food and drink)?
Banana flavoured shake, especially when free from xtra mile.
10. Finally, who from KTC would you most like to pip on the finish line?
Another massive question.
On joining KTC, it was Frazier for winning Tatton 2009, then onto Charlie Williams for Tatton 2010. Now I know a few of the gang then there's a full list...................
Jim in a sprint,
Robin, Andy Dines and Pete the fish in an Olympic just as they were sorting out the gold, silver, and bronze medals amongst themselves,
Matt Rushbrook in a half Ironman although pipping Matt on the run is going to have to be special, but if he was to have an accident on the bike maybe......,
and Warren in a full Ironman.
oh and anyboby else that's in front of me.
A mans gotta dream. Right that's me into hibernation training. I must learn to keep my mouth shut sometimes. Told you I wasn't competive, honest.
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