Preview 2007-08

Rapid strides have been made in the opening year towards the MMX goal. Greenleaf and Machine (?) recruited, Two Jeans on a bike, Leon and Martin swimming, Davies mentoring his inexperienced team.

A number of events planned/mooted for the next year:

An ambitious start to the season, with Steve's assault on the channel, and Martin's Land's End John O'Groats bid. Part way through that, the team assemble in the the Forest of Dean for the 'Big' (ok, half-ironman or sprint) Woody triathlon. A serious undertaking for richie and leaf, tackling the longer distance.

I imagine we'll head to Leeds relays, staying with Leon (though I expect Jackson will take the bed again).

Looking into the new year, Ed Prickett Relays 2008 looms, as does a weekend spectating (and training!) at the World XC Champs in Edinburgh.

London Marathon 2008 will feature on Gaunt's race calender; Leaf likely to target an earlier Autumn 2007 marathon. A marathon debut for machine surely a necessity as 2010 looms?

As the summer approaches, an Olympic distance tri is the minimum for anyone wanting to stay on the team. Venues to be discussed!

Finally, another training camp is possible, though a little sunshine wouldn't go down badly!

LASH REGATTA 2007

Fully equipped with Network Rail’s detailed map and train timetable for the route from London to Plymouth, Martin, Leon and Andy embarked on the journey to the homeland of the Ironman MMX to stay with Rich and join in with the Newton Ferrers Regatta, aka The Lash Regatta 2007. Rich met us at Plymouth station, and with Richie’s notoriously pace driving, we were at the house within no time.

While Martin and Leon showed off some epic football skills, these were not matched by Leaf and it was noted at this point that here was a discipline that they both outclassed him in. What’s more, the talent continued in to the pool where team GaunTiste simply out played Rich and Leaf in volley ball with a combination of lobs and drop shots. Meanwhile Mumsie and Pop’s ensured we all had superb preparation for the looming Lash Regatta, supplying us with a fantastic spread of lunch and drinks respectively.

At 4 p.m. and with the Regatta well underway, 240 miles east, Steve was somewhere between Dover and Calais putting in training for his cross channel swim. Martin and Leaf thought it a good idea to try to match Steve’s training with a swim to Noss Mayo. This swim was likened to Steve’s in so many ways; swimming across a channel, in one of the countries busiest shipping lanes, in salt water …, however the paltry 200m distance was no match and we were both well and truly outclassed.

It was all thoroughly entertaining stuff. The honours for the Regatta’s coxed fours flagship race were taken by Noss Mayo, but it appeared that this did not suppress the festivities in Newton Ferrers, as it appears that on the whole the Regatta is much more about the taking part that the winning.

As the evening rolled on, many pints of Butcombe were sunk, Newton Ferrers put on its finest firework displayed, Leon acquired himself a pair of stunning glasses and I’m sure the chat drifted towards the Ironman subject. All good preparation for the team training the following morning.

Rich had planned us a 6-7 mile route around the coast path, and although it was a training run, there was a degree of competition as Gaunt and Baptiste nailed it off at lightening pace. On a course likened to the Carnforth 20 Barriers race due to the number of obstacles we had to scale, it must be noted that this is the extreme version which has a swim at half way.

Once we got to the beach and into the sea, the challenge grew from a swim around the nearest boat, to a swim around the first red buoy, and there was some chat about a swim around the second red buoy (although this has been pencilled in for future).

With the swim complete and a few rolling hills to tackle, the focus moved to the final hill stage of the day, the Col D’avies. As the runners assembled at the foot of the hill it was anyone’s race. Foster and Gaunt flew off leaving Leaf to trail in 3^rd, and after sheer determination combined with some cunning ‘track placing’, Gaunt retained the polka dot jersey for the second year running.

As the weekend drew to a close, late news came through from Newton Ferrers with Davies snatching a 4^th place in the mixed fours. Once again, another cracking Ironman training weekend, with practice in ALL disciplines. Following discussions over the two days, the location of Ironman MMX still remains open. New Zealand stays in contention, as does Canada, although Brazil’s odds were lengthened due to issues with what food would be available. Martin’s school holiday timetable for his new job has also thrown a spanner in the works-it’s all still open for discussion.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Today it is one year since the Ironman Pact was made!

One year closer to MMX...

Next stop (after the Lash Regatta next Saturday, obviously) is the 'Little' / 'Baby' Woody on Sat 1 Sep. Here Rich and Andy are going for the ½ ironman, to lay down a serious marker, and Leon, Martin and Steve stick to the sprint distance so succesfully conquered back in June.

Report and photos i'm sure will follow...

Where were we?

Ah, yes - the Friday of the training week.

Set off on another bike ride early morning - leaf devises route 'around Skiddaw' which provokes fear and numbness in equal measure. Route is 'flexible' which is good to know.

Also, we at least know that there is a bloody long drag out of Grasmere this time, which is conquered, though not without a few deep breaths! Usual route alongside Derwent in streamline formation, then across to very busy A66. No kicks on the 66 though, the curse of the National Cycle Route strikes once more, taking us down some lanes closed with gates, and made of tiny little stones. Undulates. Group of mountain bikers smirk in glee at their more suitable tyres. Soon back on 'proper' lanes, keeping mountains on left. A couple of short sharp hills are soon forgotten by lovely long downhill stretch where great speed attained.

Mountains stay left, provoking concern from Baptiste, but Andy's ingenious route means we've slowly gone around the range, and are now virtually the other side without a serious climb.

Stop for a break in a small village. Pleasant weather. Only 13 miles from Carlisle. Depart heading west for Bassenthwaite and Cockermouth. Opens into moorland. Heavens open. Gales strike up. Gets dark. Apoclaypse now. Uphill and straight for two miles. Murder. No shelter from anything, long downhill blinds our intrepid trio due to rain in face. Another long drag, rain stops but soaked. Eventually reach Bassenthwaite. Much bluffing and mindgames about whether to go to Cokcermouth or not. Gaunt set against it, leaf and leon tempted, until Gaunt plays wild card of the 'hot spa' visited on Sunday. Never has so much warmth been generated verbally. Head to Keswick for lunch with renewed vigour - lovely afternoon tea in Booths.

The col d'Keswick is climbed for the second time this week, Greenleaf capturing the all important category 1 climb. Plain sailing back to Grasmere, although with the obligitory Gaunt puncture, even if only a slow one - god knows how he'll get from Land's end to John O'Groats!

Quick change and to the Hot Spa just before the 17.00 deadline. Sheer bliss. The only thing missing were the champagne flutes. Leon, in a attempt to recoup some of the miles lost during his 24 hour blackout, escapes to the treadmill, only to be hauled off after 11 mins by a hungary leaf.

Much packing and tidying ensues to ensure a swift Saturday morning departure.

Saturday.

Leon and Gaunt head out on the usual Grasmere loop at 07.00 - astonisingly, Leaf declines. It later transpires he has bigger fish to fry, coming second in the Winchester 10k on the sunday.

The Grasmere 4½ may be less prestigous, but the pace is hot, as the two competitors decided to slog it out for one last time. Neck and neck throughout, a truce is only called once the first gate is reached on the return. a sub 28 min clocking at the very least, impressive, if tiring stuff. But leon has to cycle back to the station in Windermere, is just overtaken coming into the town by the mission vehicle. Hand shakes and congratulations as the training weekend ends, as it began.

In the rain.