tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84886875933991542812024-03-13T10:41:28.328+00:00Melanie Ryding, GB Age Group TriathleteMelanie's web site blognuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-57445091551510205632012-08-28T19:37:00.002+01:002012-12-09T13:32:32.135+00:00I have moved!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L4nmz3zWAAQ/UMSS4cYa2QI/AAAAAAAABOk/-sCXwnwAf0Y/s1600/CF0008421019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L4nmz3zWAAQ/UMSS4cYa2QI/AAAAAAAABOk/-sCXwnwAf0Y/s320/CF0008421019.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>
Hello and thank you for visiting my blog! I have recently moved it to a new bigger, fancier, better location where you can still find all the same brilliant content, but with even more information added, and easier to find search and categorisation facilities.<br />
<br />
Please visit <a href="http://blog.ryding2health.co.uk/">http://blog.ryding2health.co.uk</a><br />
<br />
Thanks and see you soon.<br />
<br />
Melanienuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-86791107891855624592012-08-25T09:36:00.002+01:002012-08-25T09:37:10.407+01:00#10FactsAboutMe<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I saw this trending on twitter this morning and I thought I would join in. :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">These are just facts that popped into my head, no planning, no order, just random!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w8FemnWU2aQ/UDiLX4XtidI/AAAAAAAABKY/ki_mHOiVKsM/s1600/before+and+after+Mel+Ryding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w8FemnWU2aQ/UDiLX4XtidI/AAAAAAAABKY/ki_mHOiVKsM/s200/before+and+after+Mel+Ryding.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I used to be obese now I am a GB athlete. You can do ANYTHING YOU WANT TO if you set your mind to it</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2S2sQir2vs/UDiLgz4-5tI/AAAAAAAABLA/G_Y3Oe-J7fI/s1600/texas-heat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2S2sQir2vs/UDiLgz4-5tI/AAAAAAAABLA/G_Y3Oe-J7fI/s1600/texas-heat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2S2sQir2vs/UDiLgz4-5tI/AAAAAAAABLA/G_Y3Oe-J7fI/s200/texas-heat1.jpg" width="200" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></a><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wish I lived in a different country where winter was cold and summer was hot! Hate the British weather<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4GJTgkUIl2M/UDiLgp_FxMI/AAAAAAAABKw/BIs9nvT4Jb8/s1600/mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4GJTgkUIl2M/UDiLgp_FxMI/AAAAAAAABKw/BIs9nvT4Jb8/s200/mirror.jpg" width="145" /></span></a><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though I am now 4.5 stone lighter I still sometimes look in the mirror and see the old 'fat' me<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-If4J8-Tyg0k/UDiLgISnw4I/AAAAAAAABKg/P6HNWx3I8HI/s1600/Hereditary-Fat-Rolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-If4J8-Tyg0k/UDiLgISnw4I/AAAAAAAABKg/P6HNWx3I8HI/s200/Hereditary-Fat-Rolls.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">all my direct relations are overweight. I do wonder if body size is hereditary? No matter - I intend to break the mould</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zcJ7vfkHE3U/UDiMnPYNvyI/AAAAAAAABLg/T5NRdEuGjJY/s1600/telegraph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="164" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zcJ7vfkHE3U/UDiMnPYNvyI/AAAAAAAABLg/T5NRdEuGjJY/s200/telegraph.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I couldn't swim front crawl till I had swim lessons in 2005. Now I compete for triathlon Team GB. If I can, you can too.</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IfXHFsDrR4w/UDiLudjxv5I/AAAAAAAABLY/yksxtZquvAg/s1600/DSCF1178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IfXHFsDrR4w/UDiLudjxv5I/AAAAAAAABLY/yksxtZquvAg/s200/DSCF1178.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I have a 36 inch inside leg and a shoe size 9.5 - which makes clothes and shoe shopping a challenge sometimes!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pvUCJeMXDE0/UDiLgBglIsI/AAAAAAAABKo/NfVEj0L9QTI/s1600/Metallica_2v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pvUCJeMXDE0/UDiLgBglIsI/AAAAAAAABKo/NfVEj0L9QTI/s200/Metallica_2v2.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I have a music degree and played the flute, yet most of my iPod music is rock and heavy metal! Metallica rule!</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aQ3qVvt2b8s/UDiLgw20gzI/AAAAAAAABK0/sx5aW6Xi0Ls/s1600/swimmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aQ3qVvt2b8s/UDiLgw20gzI/AAAAAAAABK0/sx5aW6Xi0Ls/s200/swimmer.jpg" width="179" /></span></a><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I wish I had the build of a runner, not a swim/biker!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BVMRxvA8dz0/UDiLgEmURtI/AAAAAAAABKk/I5YyokSaIR0/s1600/corn+dollies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BVMRxvA8dz0/UDiLgEmURtI/AAAAAAAABKk/I5YyokSaIR0/s200/corn+dollies.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I know how to make corn dollies! Who'd have thought that from a heavy metal loving athlete!</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1mHUCZHJaFQ/UDiLgRdsK8I/AAAAAAAABKs/oIlEfJO_WMs/s1600/gpautismC.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1mHUCZHJaFQ/UDiLgRdsK8I/AAAAAAAABKs/oIlEfJO_WMs/s200/gpautismC.gif" width="126" /></span></a><br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wouldn't be surprised if I was on the autistic spectrum. It would explain a few things to me too!<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 18pt;">
</div>
nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-61099007946436948442012-08-23T23:04:00.000+01:002012-08-24T10:20:25.102+01:00ACL reconstruction: 13 years on<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BACKGROUND<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VrZ153187lc/UDanqV6EEfI/AAAAAAAABIc/wp7ViwSqTI4/s1600/ACL-Knee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VrZ153187lc/UDanqV6EEfI/AAAAAAAABIc/wp7ViwSqTI4/s320/ACL-Knee.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 2008.
Kettering rugby club. I am playing in the lock position. I had complained to
the coach a few times that my fellow lock kept collapsing - bad technique - and
was concerned that someone was going to get injured. I was ignored. She was his
daughter. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't be under
any illusion here - I was very new to this, built like a lock, but not through
strength. I was unfit and overweight and this was the first game of my second
season trying to play rugby. </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p></span></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IMrqS2V6qRk/UDanqT5fW1I/AAAAAAAABIY/UMT_kEWRRtU/s1600/knee_acl_intro01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IMrqS2V6qRk/UDanqT5fW1I/AAAAAAAABIY/UMT_kEWRRtU/s200/knee_acl_intro01.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I feared, a
scrum formed, my number 4 collapsed pulling me down sideways, all the 8
opponents still pushing, came down on top of us. I heard a loud crack, like a
branch snapping. I wondered if it was my leg. I stood up, it seemed OK, I
tested it out, it seemed ok. However, when I ran, each time I changed direction
I collapsed on the floor, and in the next scrum, I was just completely unable
to push. I was forced to retire from the game.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FvHBTg2GXNw/UDanqehzulI/AAAAAAAABIU/Eyj-gp17lSo/s1600/mels+knee+v+normal+knee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FvHBTg2GXNw/UDanqehzulI/AAAAAAAABIU/Eyj-gp17lSo/s320/mels+knee+v+normal+knee.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on the left - normal knee with ACL, <br />
on the right, mine... MISSING!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was going to
be my last game. 6 months later, an arthroscopy showed I had torn my cruciate
ligament that day. No one believed me when I went to A&E saying there was
something wrong, because it didn't swell and didn't hurt. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE RECONSTRUCTION OPERATION<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xfo4VYIGseg/UDanesa733I/AAAAAAAABIE/G-rmdmgOvXg/s1600/Scan0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xfo4VYIGseg/UDanesa733I/AAAAAAAABIE/G-rmdmgOvXg/s320/Scan0004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 1999: I
had a full ACL reconstruction operation. Back then it was a major operation
that involved 34 staples and a full leg brace for 3 months. Major muscle
atrophy, which is why it is no longer managed like that, these days it's a key
hole<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Operation and the
patient is back walking within days. In my operation, they replaced the torn
ligament by using a graft from the quad muscle. It was held in place with two
aluminium screws. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--qfk-LDDbjE/UDane2m6F7I/AAAAAAAABII/tqSSZFIln0E/s1600/Scan0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--qfk-LDDbjE/UDane2m6F7I/AAAAAAAABII/tqSSZFIln0E/s320/Scan0003.jpg" width="214" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember being
disabilitated for weeks and weeks. When they took the brace off, I had to learn
how to walk again. The recovery was horrendous. I was told I would never regain
the feeling on the right side of the scar, and that the graft would be good for
about 15 years before it may be susceptible to stretching. I got on with it, as
you do, and became accustomed to my new limitations: for many years that knee
was less stable as I tried to re-strengthen the muscles. I have never been able
to kneel down since the operation, and sitting in restricted areas with no leg
space becomes painful if I am unable to move regularly: i.e. planes. I have
never regained the feeling on the right side of that knee, and I have a huge
cartoon style scar like you don't see any more. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fast forward 13
years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TODAY and the new knee troubles<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My life is very
different now. I am 4.5 stone lighter, considerably fitter, competing for Great
Britain in triathlon, and although I have always struggled with running, on the
most part, the knee has behaved itself, till now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few months
back, I started to have trouble with it. It began aching after running, I
noticed that when I sat in certain ways it was sore. I have always been very
careful with it, and my physio clinic has looked after me since the operation.
I have on several occasions over the years had them check if it was still
intact by doing the wibble wobble test. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With my knee
bent, foot flat, they sit on my foot and pull the leg forwards, to check the
stability. The cruciate ligaments, posterior and anterior, criss-cross in the
centre of the knee, and are responsible for holding the lower and upper leg
together an keeping the knee stable. Ligaments hold the skeleton together
whereas tendons hold muscles together in position.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The physio
checked his records, the graft was always a bit loose from the start, but yes,
there was more play in the joint than there should be. He did a power test on
both legs, and concluded that the damaged leg still had significantly less
power than the other leg.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What can I do about
it? Back to the gym again to build strength. I feel like I am always playing
catch up with this leg, but let's face it, despite surgery; it isn't how it was
when I was born, so it will never be quite the same. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I run, it
aches. After I run, it aches. Sometimes if I sit still too long it seizes up
and I struggle to straighten it. On every occasion, once I get it moving, it's
usually <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok. Am I
frustrated? Yes. Can I do anything about it? Yes, I can do everything in my
power to continue to build strength to try and avoid the need to re-operate,
something that fills me with fear and dread. I know it will not be the same as
it was back then, but the operation and recovery was truly horrific, and I
remember thinking at the time, had they told me the truth about it all I would
have NOT gone through with it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's another
really good time to fix my run form, and make the hip flexors do the work like
they are meant to so that there's less stress on the joint. Will it stop me?
NO! It will just make me more determined! The husband has already started with
the Zimmer frame jokes!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do others say? <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have done some
research. In general people seem to say that the graft stays intact for life. I
have found evidence though that it's not uncommon to start to have trouble with
it about 13 years on, as the graft begins to stretch. It is also not uncommon
to develop arthritis in that joint later in life. Brilliant. Some have ruptured
theirs, needing another operation however some people do seem to manage life ok
without a cruciate ligament at all. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where does that
leave me? Well at least I know the reason for the pain. In part, I know what I
can do to try to manage it, and minimise further damage. It is widely reported
that strengthening ham strings helps. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have read that
Chondroitin and Glucosamine helps the joints, so I started taking that some
years ago. I will continue to do so. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess it’s a
case of watch this space.</span> </span></div>
nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-66125317601088344072012-08-12T14:44:00.000+01:002012-08-14T14:48:10.136+01:00Mens Olympic marathon: the Gamesmaker's view<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is the last day. I feel a little bit sad; but happy too
because I can go back home to the midlands, relax, see my husband for more
than a few hours, and NOT get up at 3am! </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a></span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KUk6Dt4V3i0/UCpWiGerNMI/AAAAAAAABAg/LNGVWVttnuA/s1600/IMG_2122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KUk6Dt4V3i0/UCpWiGerNMI/AAAAAAAABAg/LNGVWVttnuA/s320/IMG_2122.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided that I couldn’t cope with the 2 hour night bus
journey (a distance that would take about 35 minutes in a car!) or being
stranded in Hounslow with strange screaming men, so I waited for the first Tube
train out of Uxbridge. So did a few fellow Games Makers it seems. We were
starting to recognise each other and even remember a few names!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I still arrived at Charing Cross with plenty of time to
spare, and in a much more relaxed mood than last week! One last free coffee,
one last look at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Mall, looking great
all done out in Olympic and union flags, with London 2012 bannering. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pBniIXy4w_c/UCpWcN0vieI/AAAAAAAABAQ/sYEM7G9kp58/s1600/IMG_2111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pBniIXy4w_c/UCpWcN0vieI/AAAAAAAABAQ/sYEM7G9kp58/s320/IMG_2111.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The day was forecast dry this time (thank goodness!) and as
expected, the crowds amassed even bigger and sooner than last time. Our
extremely busy crossing at Admiralty Arch was soon going to be even busier, as
people came out to get one last Olympic glance before it was all over. I was
starting to recognise some of the spectators, including this guy, who had an
even bigger hat than when I saw him last on the Wellington arch for the
triathlon. He tells me he has three, each bigger than the last one! One local
woman said the crowds were bigger than when they celebrated the Jubilee in
June. WOW! </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It didn’t matter who the athletes were, the crowds gave them
all a huge warming cheer, including the poor guy from USA who retired from the
race on his last lap, just after he passed us. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xsp06cILlJw/UCpWebvxXXI/AAAAAAAABAY/PV1w6FpbrKI/s1600/IMG_2118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xsp06cILlJw/UCpWebvxXXI/AAAAAAAABAY/PV1w6FpbrKI/s1600/IMG_2118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xsp06cILlJw/UCpWebvxXXI/AAAAAAAABAY/PV1w6FpbrKI/s320/IMG_2118.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The day was hot, probably a little too hot for marathon
runners, but at least the British weather was behaving itself on the last day
of the games. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that was it. The banners came down, the fences went away,
and the traffic came back to the roads of Trafalgar square. The games were
almost over. We sat for a while in work force check in to relax, review,
recall, remember, before all going our own separate ways again. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vzyPaiVgQuM/UCpWZ2_j7QI/AAAAAAAABAI/4Zz90hdCyjM/s1600/IMG_2107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vzyPaiVgQuM/UCpWZ2_j7QI/AAAAAAAABAI/4Zz90hdCyjM/s320/IMG_2107.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">London, it’s been a blast. I guess I won’t be getting a Rio
invite then? ;)</span> </span></div>
nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-21976260341932050202012-08-07T15:28:00.000+01:002012-08-11T15:28:30.340+01:00Mens Olympic Triathlon: the Gamesmaker's view<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The men’s triathlon started a lot later in the morning, but
no, this did not mean a lie in, as the gamesmakers had to be in place at the
same time of day, sue to a scheduled course recce for the elite men prior to
their race. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-08gCa6RsQmI/UCZqeTJpr4I/AAAAAAAAA-4/POsdsIgTayw/s1600/DSCF1174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-08gCa6RsQmI/UCZqeTJpr4I/AAAAAAAAA-4/POsdsIgTayw/s320/DSCF1174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being a Tuesday, there was no need for night busses as the
trains started early enough to get me to Hyde Park for my 6:30am check in, so
Tube train it was, but it still meant a 4am get up to catch the first train out
at 5am! I was pleasantly surprised to see several other gamesmakers that were
also going to Hyde Park, also get on the same train, we even recognised each
other! It was a clear dry morning, thank goodness, and we arrived at Hyde Park
AFTER the dawn rose, for a change, which is always a bonus! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we gathered and collected our stuff ready for the task ahead,
I spotted a Royal Welsch with his goat, just walking the grounds. He said he
was there all day just for the public to photograph, etc. I asked about the
medals on the goat, and he said that the goat was part of the regiment so
therefore able to earn medals for service just like the soldiers!</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u6FIt3aAbWg/UCZqiveylxI/AAAAAAAAA_I/JLNuCbR6LyM/s1600/IMG_2057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u6FIt3aAbWg/UCZqiveylxI/AAAAAAAAA_I/JLNuCbR6LyM/s200/IMG_2057.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crowds at 6:30AM!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HlZbGUkNj48/UCZqfsSF0hI/AAAAAAAAA_A/G4yQUWDem1k/s1600/IMG_2055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HlZbGUkNj48/UCZqfsSF0hI/AAAAAAAAA_A/G4yQUWDem1k/s200/IMG_2055.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dedication=queuing at 7am!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we walked out, there were already people forming queues (it
was 7:30am, and the race didn’t start till 11:30am!) and there were already
people forming camps at the barriers along serpentine road – the lead into
transition. This was going to be a HUGE day, I could already tell. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By around 9am (the time the course recce started) there were
droves and droves of people flocking into Hyde Park. By 10am, a course bike
stopped and told us not to send any more people into Hyde Park, because it was
FULL! The live site, big screens, everything, full to bursting!! Oh My gosh!!
By 10:15am our barriers at the Wellington Arch were five to ten deep, and
people were struggling to find somewhere to get a good vantage point. This crowd
was immense!! It felt like the race was about to start, but there was still
another hour to go! The international TV cameras set up right beside us, which
meant we were not allowed to take photos etc of the race, as it wouldn’t look
good on TV. That’s ok, you mean I might get on TV? That’s even better! It was
immediately apparent that I was not going anywhere, so I found yet another
lovely lovely spectator who went and got me coffee, fighting the crowds to get
to Pret a Manger! THANK YOU!</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NmRZ_4oFlJo/UCZqkPQqn_I/AAAAAAAAA_Q/RvxZgX0zq-Q/s1600/IMG_2059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NmRZ_4oFlJo/UCZqkPQqn_I/AAAAAAAAA_Q/RvxZgX0zq-Q/s200/IMG_2059.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">international TV: cool!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1oNz1-tNXA/UCZqmOM-JaI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/wzqk7g_XfcM/s1600/IMG_2061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1oNz1-tNXA/UCZqmOM-JaI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/wzqk7g_XfcM/s200/IMG_2061.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favourite spectator! she got coffee!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By 11:30am the O2 phone network had completely crashed,
phone, text and 3G. We had no idea what was unfolding until they first passed
us on the bike course. The crowd was unbelievable. All the Gamesmakers had to
crouch down so we didn’t block their view, the roar was deafening, truly. It
must have been just awesome to be an athlete in that race. I can completely
relate when Alistair said he couldn’t hear what his team mates were saying and
his ears were ringing the whole way round. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rGE3ys-G5vk/UCZqoeDD65I/AAAAAAAAA_k/xlc0lfh9Eyw/s1600/IMG_2071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rGE3ys-G5vk/UCZqoeDD65I/AAAAAAAAA_k/xlc0lfh9Eyw/s320/IMG_2071.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new Olympic champion! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was such an electric atmosphere it is just indescribable.
I felt so so proud to be a part of it. From our vantage point at the Wellington
Arch it seemed that the race plan was unfolding exactly as expected, with the
Brownlees in the front of the pack, and Hayes leading them round, delivering
them into T2 ready for a fresh run. We only found out late into the last bike
lap that Johnny had a penalty. The crowd discussed whether he could run that
back, and they thought that there was a very good chance. By the time that the
men were out onto the run thankfully my 3G and phone reception had come back
on. We huddled round my mini phone screen watching the TV footage as history
unfolded in the park adjacent. The crowd were poised holding their breath. The
barrier brigade came by to dismantle the course and open the roads. We didn’t care.
We huddled around his radio till he unfortunately had to leave, we needed to
know what was happening! Then it happened. History was made, as Alistair
Brownlee took the Gold, Johnny the Bronze after an immense fight back. It’s
worth noting that Alistair’s run split was only just over a minute slower than
Mo Farah’s when he won gold on the 10,000m on the track! The crowds still gathered
at the Wellington Arch launched into a roar. A nation was proud of Team GB once
again. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K63Jr39cHA8/UCZqrenof0I/AAAAAAAAA_s/CoQhgv9AOIs/s1600/IMG_2064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K63Jr39cHA8/UCZqrenof0I/AAAAAAAAA_s/CoQhgv9AOIs/s320/IMG_2064.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dedicated crowds cheered us in too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we walked back to workforce check in as a team, the corwd cheered us all the way. That was awesome, very very special and moving. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What an awesome reception for triathlon. The sport simply
grows and grows and grows!! </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br /></div>nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-28580700389452562012-08-05T16:43:00.000+01:002012-08-10T16:43:57.992+01:00Womens Olympic Marathon: the Gamesmaker’s view<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have up till now, arrived at the tube station before the
driver and before the newspaper, but today, my shift started so early that I
was there before the station was even open! Yep, the glorious night busses. Again.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a name='more'></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What seemed like quite a helpful lady driver chatted to me
about how odd the folk are that she sometimes sees on her bus, before we were
off like a shot. This woman was not hanging around. We SPED down the roads,
round the roundabouts, frequently arriving at key stops before the scheduled
time, causing a delay while she waited for time to catch up with her!
Unfortunately, due to it being a Sunday, it was nowhere near as easy getting
from A to B, and I needed to change busses at Hounslow. I had no idea what
Hounslow was like, but now I do! It is not a place you want to be hanging
around! </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She told me to get off at a stop on the high street, because
the N9 came past here. I felt a little uneasy, as my app said the ‘bus station’.
I was stood at this stop on the high street for a good 30 minutes. Within one
minute, I had already noticed a disturbance. A flock of birds all scattered, and
from just around the corner a man appeared flailing his arms and screaming
loudly. A little alarming at 5am! I turned the other way in case he made eye
contact and came to talk to me! Another man came and joined me at the bus stop,
which was mildly reassuring, but it was a further 25 minutes after I expected
it that the bus finally arrived. This driver was considerably more sedate than
the last, and it seemed to take quite some time to complete the second half of
the journey. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total, 2 bus rides of 45 minutes each and a 30 minute wait
in Hounslow: it took me 2hours 15 minutes to make the journey that the tube
usually takes me 50 minutes to make. I was extremely unimpressed. There is no
way I intended to do this next week, I will simply wait for the tube to start.
I might be a little late but tough, I am not sitting through that again! I didn’t
need to be there at that time anyway, I sat for 40 minutes waiting for my team
to arrive!! </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-67xeWoVVjCs/UCUp_PLa2CI/AAAAAAAAA9w/IzPZuaouDaA/s1600/IMG_2022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-67xeWoVVjCs/UCUp_PLa2CI/AAAAAAAAA9w/IzPZuaouDaA/s320/IMG_2022.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start finish ticked area on the Mall.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was pretty cool to walk down the empty Mall, and through
Admiralty Arch to an already building crowd. Our crossing was directly after
Admiralty Arch, so the public crowded here as it was as close as they could get
to the start / finish without a ticket. We had a team of security people, the
police, and a roll of yellow tape to create a pedestrian version of the road
painted yellow box junction. All this in mind, the crowd were still quite a
challenge, and at one point I got flattened against the barriers as we were
unable to prevent the inevitable crowd surge as the runners came past for the
first time. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlykYD7aaFE/UCUqz-JTcTI/AAAAAAAAA-U/SfdQlGDJhG8/s1600/IMG_2028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlykYD7aaFE/UCUqz-JTcTI/AAAAAAAAA-U/SfdQlGDJhG8/s320/IMG_2028.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our crossing point: PERFECT!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kNIFB_3kfEg/UCUq3A8eJNI/AAAAAAAAA-c/zRc9I4bapkY/s1600/mel+and+holly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kNIFB_3kfEg/UCUq3A8eJNI/AAAAAAAAA-c/zRc9I4bapkY/s320/mel+and+holly.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mel and fellow gamesmaker Holly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We learned though, and with each passing we got better at
managing the very busy and demanding crowd. We also ended up managing the
police, event staff and security staff too, so that when the runners came past
the last time, we were turning into a dream team. We heard every ‘I need to get
through’ accreditation excuse under the sun, I think, which is always amusing! </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1xCN6C2WiHg/UCUqCsFRvhI/AAAAAAAAA94/sCjyILb85qc/s1600/IMG_2032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1xCN6C2WiHg/UCUqCsFRvhI/AAAAAAAAA94/sCjyILb85qc/s320/IMG_2032.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good old British weather!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Its hard work though, when it rains so hard that the plastic
poncho lets in water, and you are soaked right through every layer of clothing.
We didn’t move from our marshalling positions for 8 hours: no comfort break, no
coffee, nothing. I didn’t think a crossing could be busy enough to warrant TEN
staff; now I know different! The weather didn’t deter the crowd, which were
30-40 deep, from the barriers right to the monument in the centre of Trafalgar
square. As for the runners: the women got the same weather as the women
cyclists: torrential rain. Can’t have been much fun at all, and some of the
athletes, despite arm warmers, looked freezing. The Africans ran away with it
at the front of the field, after two laps as quite a big bunch. A Russian
athlete began to lose the lead group going into the last lap, but she must have
run for her life, because after she passed us, (8 miles to go) looking out of
contention, she ran them down to gain bronze! The most magical moment of the
day though, is reserved for British runner Murray, who was way down the field,
mid pack in around 54<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> position and looking like she was struggling.
As she ran through Admiralty Arch, the crowd ROARED into life cheering her on
with the usual British gusto, and her pain face turned into a smile. Beautiful.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uEuz6_ebZsI/UCUqJGBZDbI/AAAAAAAAA-I/ADoNeVMRMbk/s1600/IMG_2034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uEuz6_ebZsI/UCUqJGBZDbI/AAAAAAAAA-I/ADoNeVMRMbk/s320/IMG_2034.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AMAZING crowds!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was totally blown away with the size of the crowds, and am
expecting even more for the men’s Olympic marathon next Sunday! </span></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nMFn_vVc9u8/UCUq5SclFyI/AAAAAAAAA-g/Kslle1LDov8/s1600/IMG_2036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nMFn_vVc9u8/UCUq5SclFyI/AAAAAAAAA-g/Kslle1LDov8/s200/IMG_2036.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you are
coming down to watch, I will be at Admiralty Arch, come say hi, and I will give
you money to buy is both a coffee! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I got back to where I was staying, I was just in time to put my feet up, (energy drink to keep me awake) and turned the telly on to see Andy Murray win Gold! </span><br />
<br />nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-58465167808748680232012-08-04T21:29:00.000+01:002012-08-10T16:45:24.682+01:00Women's Olympic Triathlon; The Gamesmaker's viewA 5:30am start in Hyde Park meant that this was going to be the earliest start of the games so far. 3am alarm, and it seemed like the middle of the night... What am I talking about, it IS the middle of the night! <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/05/3072.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/05/s_3072.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
I arrived at the bus station to catch the night bus at 4am, and was joined in the queue by two people who had clearly recently come out of the local night club. When the bus arrives at the stop, they both stood up, one dropping all his cards and the other dropping all his money! This was to set the tone for the entire bus journey! <br />
<br />
The bus passed the night club in question, more for on, as for several more stops along the way drunken bums joined me on the night bus. One particularly loud group of kids wearing garlands spotted me seated on the 'safe' seat at the from by the driver and roared 'oooooooagg Olympics.... Oooooargh' I took one ear phone out and asked 'sorry, what did you say?' 'Nothing!' he declared and swiftly went upstairs! <br />
<br />
I must have looked like a safe bet, in my Gamesmaker uniform, because several women chose to sit next to me along the way to central London! <br />
<br />
When I got to Hyde park, the rain was trenching down. <br />
<br />
Disorientated in the still very dark Saturday morning, I decided my best bet was to follow the huge security fencing round to check in. <br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/05/3073.jpg"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/05/s_3073.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
By that time, the dawn was just breaking. Breakfast already felt like an age away. There was already people arriving to get themselves a good position for the race: it was 5:30am and they didn't start till 9am! <br />
<br />
I was pleased to find a few familiar faces here in the team, which was hardly surprising, and I started with the essential free coffee, then off to our posts. <br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/05/3085.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/05/s_3085.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
What an unusual conversation I had with a few fellow gamesmakers though, as we gathered before going out on the course. We were discussing how to fit everything in our small uniform issue bag. One person said 'I have socks in here'. 'what, along with your lunch?' I asked. 'no! I haven't had them on my feet!' they reassured me. The other said 'well I have knickers in mine!' hmmm need to know basis for that information - and I didn't need to know! Hahahah <br />
<br />
The crowds on the Wellington Arch were thin at first, as Hyde park was clearly the favourite place to be. Now an estimated 500,000 they think, in the end! It wasn't long before people started cramming into the barriers near the arch, trying to find a front row viewing spot in a very quickly crowded course. <br />
<br />
We got chatting to a very lovely group of international suporters including Americans, Canadians, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and many more. The lovely lady from new Zealand even went to Pret a Manger to get us coffee, thank you to that lovely lady! <br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/05/3075.jpg"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/05/s_3075.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
As per what is becoming usual, I reports what I knew of the race progress to the crowd, but to be honest, I think there was a larger than normal amount of people watching who hadn't seen a triathlon before - which is brilliant for the sport. It was hard for us to know what was going on elsewhere, and we heard via several different 3G connections (including mine - I purchased extra data usage this very morning!) this is how we discovered there had been crashes elsewhere - including the camera bike as well! <br />
<br />
After the last bike lap we watched TV huddled round my phone to find out the outcome. Not an expected one, but Britain were still proud of Jenkins and the team anyway. <br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/05/3076.jpg"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/05/s_3076.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
We had to stay put, as the men's practice was next. From our point, people had to walk past to get Rothe nearest tube access point - Green Park. A wall of people came past for well over 90 minutes solid. The crowds must have been immense.<br />
<br />
I did wonder why athletes like Gomez who has clearly races this course lots of tea, might want to ride a recce, but I realised then, it is probably the only chance to ride on a traffic free road! <br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/05/3077.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/05/s_3077.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
Brilliant day, proud to assist, even of wearing the purple outfit did turn me into a temporary tour guide expert after the race! Hahahah My general knowledge of London is improving in leaps and bounds! <br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/05/3078.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/05/s_3078.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
<br />nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-38148066478530030972012-08-03T17:56:00.001+01:002012-08-10T10:34:12.083+01:00Women's Olympic Tri: who will take Gold?It's the eve of the triathlon, and the pressure is on. Historically there has not been a race favourite that has ever won the gold in The Olympic triathlon since it joined the Olympic Games in Sydney, 2000. Britain has two.<br />
<br />
Helen Jenkins has the spotlight on her tomorrow as she aims to make history by converting her race favourite status into Olympic Gold. That would make the quietly spoken Welsh born athlete Jenkins both World and Olympic champion.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Who are the others to watch out for? <br />
<br />
Australian athlete Erin Densham has had a cracking start to her season, coming into senior racing as 2006 U23 world champion, she has already won two ITU races, one of those involve beating Jenkins, her home race in Sydney . <br />
<br />
New Zealand born athlete Andrea Hewitt beat Jenkins in the ITU world championship grand final, Beijing, 2011 rounding off a very consistent season. This wasn't enough to steal the world title though, as Jenkins had already gained a commanding lead in the overall standings. <br />
<br />
Swiss athlete Nicola Spirig is not one to watch either, as she comes into this race as winner of the Austrian round of the ITU world series and Ironman 70:3 Switzerland, showing she is in the form of her life.<br />
<br />
Who will take the title? Come to Hyde park or tune into the TV from 9am tomorrow! <br />
<br />nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-26027273215354878592012-08-02T11:11:00.000+01:002012-08-21T11:18:00.679+01:00Cyclist killed in Olympic Park: BBC Northampton interview<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.stuartlinnell.co.uk/assets/gfx/portrait.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="http://www.stuartlinnell.co.uk/assets/gfx/portrait.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following the bus accident which killed a cyclist in the Olympic Park on 1 August, 2012, I was asked to be on the BBC Northampton Breakfast show to talk about cycle safety, and helmet law. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is something I have spoke about many times before, and I still feel very strongly that the cycle lawys shoudl be addressed.</span> <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BBC radio
Northampton: Stuart Linnell at Breakfast <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are talking this
morning about cycling safety after a cyclist died last night near the Olympic
park. He was hit by a shuttle bus carrying journalists. A Man was arrested on suspicion
of causing death by dangerous driving and has since been bailed. Bradley
Wiggins the Olympic Gold medallist was speaking in a news conference afterwards
and said that the issue of cycling safety remains important. He called for
cycle helmets to be made compulsory and said it should be illegal for cyclists
to be riding around listening to music from iPods. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Melanie Ryding is a
Northamptonshire triathlete and Melanie. You say a helmet saved your life, is
that right? </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
I would say it did, yes. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What happened? </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
I was out on a regular training ride in the nearby villages.
It was an ordinary day, it was raining a little bit, I was dressed accordingly
in a high vis jacket and was wearing a helmet. I was just about to negotiate a
roundabout, and the next thing I can tell you is that I was waking up in hospital
about 90 minutes later. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And if you hadn’t had
the helmet on? </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Well, who knows. I suffered from concussion and the world
spun round for about eight weeks. It almost jeopardised my chances of competing
in the World Championships that year and I lost about 6 months of training
because I couldn’t move, literally, because the room was spinning round. Now that’s
whilst I had a helmet on, who knows what would have happened if I didn’t. My
helmet was smashed into three pieces.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">So you think Bradley
Wiggins got it right do you? </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Well I think he is talking a lot of sense. Perhaps it takes
somebody like him for people to look at this issue. I have been saying helmets
need to be compulsory for a long time now, but there are a lot of people that
argue it both ways. There are a lot of people who don’t think it makes any
difference either way. Now, one of the comments Bradley Wiggins made in the
Daily Mail: he said if you haven’t got a helmet on and something happens to you
how can you possibly argue if you haven’t protected yourself in the first
place. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You are a teacher aren’t
you Melanie, you must see pupils come to school on cycles, do they wear
helmets? </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
I was down on the cycle time trial course yesterday in
Cobham. When we were trying to get the roads closed an hour before the race
there was an awful lot of cyclists around then. A lot of them were not wearing
helmets. A lot of them had iPods in or on the phone, like you were mentioning
earlier. I often see families of cyclists and the children are made to wear
helmets but the parents aren’t, and sometimes event the children are not
wearing helmets. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">So these were cyclist
that were turning up to watch the Olympic time trial and you saw them doing
exactly the things that Bradley Wiggins said they shouldn’t be doing?</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Absolutely, yes </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Let’s just hear what
Bradley himself had to say</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
(recording) ‘Legalising helmets, making the law to wear.
Shouldn’t be riding along with iPods and phones and things on. When a law is
passed for cyclists then you can say well I have done everything to be safe’</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">So that is the point
that you were making. At least if you have done your bit then people cant point
the finger at the cyclist </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
No absolutely. There are a lot of people that don’t do their
bit and that is what the people who have been sending you messages have been
talking about. It’s much like motorcyclists and car drivers, there is always a
few that will give a bad name to the many. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Here are a couple of comments
we have had in the last couple of minutes. Mike from Kettering says ‘I don’t think
helmets should be made compulsory they should be encouraged. If car drivers and
cyclist learned how to share the road we would see far less deaths’. Brian
pointed out ‘we are going to see a lot more cyclists around because of Bradley’s
success, many aren’t wearing helmets, but a lot of motorists are inconsiderate
as well’. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It cuts both ways doesn’t it? </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
It does indeed. Bradley comment was ‘cyclists are never
going to go away however much drivers moan and as much as cyclists moan about
certain drivers they are never going to go away so there has to be a bit of
give and take’ and he is absolutely right.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You see we were talking
earlier on about this new green way cycle path in Northamptonshire, we were
talking to Colin Granger from CTC, the UK national cycle organisation. When I put
the question to him about cycle helmets he said ‘no I don’t think they should be
made compulsory it should be up to the individual to decide’.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
You could argue the same thing about car drivers and seat
belts. I bumped into James Cracknell in service station near here a while back
and I asked him about this whole helmet safely thing. His comment to me was
motorists, when they were first made to wear seatbelts, argued about it but now
they just get on with it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yes, it’s the first
thing you do when you sit in the car, you just put your belt on automatically don’t
you?</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Yes</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And you think the same
thing should apply to cyclists with their helmets. Just as a matter of course,
you put it on before you even get on the bike?</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Absolutely. I have always done that and when I first started
cycling I did think like a lot of people do, this helmet looks stupid, it makes
me look funny, it will wreck my hair, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
all those things. But, in triathlon cycling with a helmet is compulsory so I just
did it because that is the rule in the sport that I was taking part in and I just
accept it as normal now. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And what about your
sport at the moment Melanie? <o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently found out that I have got onto the Great Britain
team for the World Championships in New Zealand this year, which is a huge feat
for me because of my head injury last year and all the training that I lost
over the winter. I am feeling incredibly please with myself. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Well congratulations.
A lot of people I recon as a consequence of what you and Bradley and other
people are doing will be getting on their bikes. Melanie, thank you so much for
joining us on the programme this morning. <o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you</span> </span></div>
<br />
<br />
nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-53351729372280956732012-08-01T19:31:00.000+01:002012-08-10T16:45:13.474+01:00Olympics Cycle Time Trial: the Gamesmaker's viewThis was the only shift I had that was not in central London, I was not looking forward to the drive to Esher, the 40 mile stretch of the M25 Car Park, or the queues to get through the road closure. <br />
With a 9am start time, I decided to try and miss the majority of the traffic and leave at 5:30am, hopefully getting me there by around 7:30-8am. Nope, it didn't quite work out as I had hoped, and I still got stuck in nose to tail stationery traffic at around the M4 / Heathrow exit.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/05/2419.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/05/s_2419.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
I arrived at just after 8am so not too bad all things considered. Wouldn't want to be doing it too often though. But hey, this is the Olympic Games, right? This doesn't happen too often, does it!! <br />
<br />
Free coffee (lots of it!) and collected my lunch then we were off, on a bus to our marshalling destination: Cobham. I had never heard of the place before but I can now tell you that the people of Cobham are lovely friendly cheerful and patriotic people! The forward announcers car that has a tannoy and precedes the race by around 15 minutes said as he came through the village 'anyone would think it was the Jubilee!' there were that many union flags! <br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/05/2420.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/05/s_2420.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
Our spot was right outside the St Johns ambulance station, and this time we had a dream team that consisted of GB age group triathletes! (plus a nice man called Simon!) not only that but the St. Johns staff offered us free tea and coffee all day. Perfect! <br />
Cyclists aplenty in Cobham meant that keeping the traffic free road clear pre-race was a challenge, as the barriers stopped at the edge of the village. One old boy who decided he would take advantage of the empty road, cycles towards me up the centre of the course. I stopped him and asked could he clear the race circuit. He replied 'it's ok, I have done the tour de France' ! <br />
<br />
With a perfect view down the road and across the roundabout, it was quickly obvious that our crossing and a warning whistle would play a huge part in crowd safety in the main part of the village, the next crossing up not having much view therefore relying on us. <br />
<br />
I was stood outside the local fire station (which was fenced off - glad there were no 999 calls!) and got chatting to the lovely group of locals, who had set up a GB flags and bunting corner, barbecue and everything! They clearly had it well planned! A group of children with them enjoyed helping me out too, playing the part of my spotters, as they could see fractionally further round the corner this enjoying dashing across to the fence to tell me 'they're coming Mel, they're coming!' <br />
<br />
Some lengthy deliberations went on as to whether we could open the crossing between cyclists or not. Whilst the officials were deciding, two latecomer cyclists to the fire station barbecue party ended up stranded on the wrong side of the road. Taunts from the other side regards how tasty the sausages were, etc continued, so I offered to be the deliverer but the owner of the barbecue said 'no, make them suffer!' <br />
<br />
With a running order - I kept the crowds updated as to who we expected next, but the fact that each cyclist was accompanied by a police bike and a team car labeled with their name, it made it very easy for the spectators to follow.<br />
<br />
The crowds in Cobham erupted when the British cyclists came through, both men and women, making me think it surely must make a huge huge difference to be competing in front of a home crowd. You couldn't help but be lifted by the massive support in Cobham, scenes that made it clear that the nation has got right behind these Olympics to support team GB. <br />
<br />
After the last cyclists came through, people crowded into the local park to watch the big screen, the local village hall TV, portable radios and smart phones, to find out who won the medals. You could hear the crowds erupting from the village green a block away, which clearly signalled the news that Wiggins had won Gold. <br />
<br />
A proud nation, a proud village, and a proud team of gamesmakers that were pleased to be part of such a great Olympic event. <br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/05/2421.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/05/s_2421.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
<br />nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-68127283290581910972012-07-30T21:30:00.000+01:002012-08-21T10:20:44.849+01:00Monday Night Sport: BBC radio Northampton interview<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monday Night Sport: BBC radio Northampton with Geoff Doyle and Laura Cook <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="http://static.bbci.co.uk/programmeimages/144x81/brand/p004b0sf.jpg?nodefault=true" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static.bbci.co.uk/programmeimages/144x81/brand/p004b0sf.jpg?nodefault=true" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was invited to the studios in Northampton to be on the
show, all Olympic theme, due to the fact that I am a Games Maker, and because I
recently found out that I got onto the GB team for the world championships for
a fourth consecutive year. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
If anyone says that men cannot multi task, then they should
visit a studio and see what a radio show presenter has to contend with. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Geoff was positioned in the hot seat, with Laura as the
assistant. He had a huge range of knobs and dials, and over Laura’s shoulder,
through a window he was in eye contact with Jon, who was in charge of the phone
calls coming into the show. Over Laura’s shoulder and to the right, there were
two TV screens showing Olympics footage, with subtitles, which he was also
watching, in case there was any breaking news to report. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
I was handed some ear phones and a mic. Over Geoff’s
shoulder in the corner was a board that was showing me when my mic was live and
when it was off. Laura was sitting to my left, and Geoff and his desk of dials
in front. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were listening to what was going out live on air, through
the earphones. You could only wear them on one ear, because the two presenters
were also talking to each other and to me explaining what is happening and in
what order, in between songs, news, etc. It was a whirlwind! It all sounds so
easy when you are just listening to it! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spent 40 minutes in the studio with them, during which
time they talked to a range of different people, and they encouraged me to join
in the conversations. Here is a transcript of the part of the show where they
interviewed me. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LC:</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Its Monday night
Sport on BBC radio Northampton and we are talking about the Olympics. Mel
Ryding from Wellingborough still with us in the studio. Mel, We mentioned it a
bit earlier, but you have qualified for the fourth time for the GB team for the
World Triathlon championships in New Zealand. Firstly Congratulations. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">MR:</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Thank you</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LC:</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> How did this come
about then? Take us back.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">MR:</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> This season has been
a difficult season because last year about this time I had a bike accident. I
cannot remember what happened. I was found unconscious in the middle of a
roundabout by a passing motorist. My helmet was smashed to pieces. That was 8
weeks to the day to the 2011 World championships. I had paid for the plane
ticket the day before, so I was determined regardless of any advice from any
medical professional that I was going to be getting on that plane. Standing on
that start line I was incredibly proud of myself that I even got there. But my
winter training to get my fitness back was much harder than I expected. Of
course all my competitors are just trotting along doing their thing, getting
better and better and I am playing catch up for a whole year. So, I wasn’t sure
I would even make it this year because of all the extra work I had had to do.
So, when I got the result that I got in Bristol the other week, I was
absolutely over the moon. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LC:</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> It must have been
incredibly special knowing all that dedication to start with that you had to
put in, how much of a set-back do you think, looking back on it, that you had,
because of the missed time, that your body had to go through to heal, how much
extra work did you have to do to get back<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">MR:</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> I think I probably
lost a year of training. <o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LC</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">: That makes it quite
something that you got to this stage?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">MR</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">: Yes. And this year is
more competitive than any other year to date. There are three times more people
trying to get those spots than any year in the past. <o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LC:</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> And why do you think
that is? <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">MR:</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> maybe because its New
Zealand, it’s a trip of a lifetime. People do it because it’s so far they won’t
get the chance to do it again. Maybe they are testing themselves out for London
next year, because London has the World Championships Grand Final next year.
That will be a massive team, and there will be a lot of competition to be on
that team and be in Hyde Park where they are going to be next week. <o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">GD:</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> as a Games Maker are
you going to be involved in the triathlon? <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">MR:</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> absolutely I am<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">GD: </i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Team GB have a great
chance, haven’t we? <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">MR:</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> We have but
statistics are stacked against us, but I don’t care, we are going to win both
Gold medals. <o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">GD:</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> why are statistics
stacked against us? <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">MR:</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Historically, since
triathlon has been in the Olympics the race favourite has never won the Gold
medal, and the two race favourites are both British, but they will.<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LC: </i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Accident aside, how
do you fit everything in? You are a teacher, you run your own business, how do
you find time to any of those things and also train to this level... and do
your nails... I have to say your nails are wonderful and should be part of the
Games Maker uniform. We are going to tweet these nails because you have
obviously spent a lot of time and it is the union flag on every single finger.
Anyway, go back to the important question, how do you find time? <o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">MR: </i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I get up quite early!
Sometimes things have to take a back seat, and things go in a priority order,
so at the moment its training. At the moment I am not working because I am a
teacher, which is useful because there’s not all the days in the week that I have
time for everything. I have so many things I want to do in my spare time that I
just don’t have time for the day job! <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">GD:</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> wow<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LC:</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> unbelievable<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The show then went on to talk to some callers, interjecting
with conversations with me in between. It was incredibly eye opening, and I
have new respect for people that work on the radio, all the millions of things
that they do at once! Thank you BBC radio Northampton for inviting me on air.</span> </span></div>
nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-45285765095129214392012-07-29T18:36:00.000+01:002012-08-10T16:46:24.209+01:00Olympic Road Race; the Gamesmaker's viewTwo long days ahead - with very early starts but who's complaining, this is the Olympics!!! <br />
<br />
With great excitement I donned my uniform I set out from my friends house to Uxbridge tube station to travel to my first Olympics shift on Saturday 27th July. Dawn was just breaking, and from a house just down the road out came another gamesmaker, well, who else would be about at 4:30am on a saturday?! Londoners dot talk to strangers though, right? Wrong! Rob and I had a great chat on the way to the station, he was heading to Lords for the archery, lucky enough to be working on the Olympics all of week 1, And the proud owner of stadium tickets for week 2! <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
I arrived at the station BEFORE the driver of the first train out of there, in fact he too stopped and had a chat with me on his way to the cab to start his shift. The train was deserted. I haven't ever been on a tube train where I was the only one! So I took a photo! <br />
On the Sunday (the women's race) even though I was able to catch a slightly later 6am tube train, I still arrived before Metro, the newspaper had been delivered to the station. <br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/03/1798.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/03/s_1798.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
I wasn't able to get one till I arrived at Hyde Park tube station.<br />
At check in in Hyde Park, we collected our lunch, (and several free coffees!) before we walked to our bus stop, to get bussed out onto the course ready for action. It made me feel very important being on a bus full with gamesmakers travelling through a road block and down closed roads! <br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/03/1799.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/03/s_1799.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
Fulham was our destination, and we we're divided into crossing teams. Ours was situated between two bends (not ideal) but right outside a cafe, subway, and newsagents, and not far from cafe Nero and a bar that had several live TV feeds showing. Perfect! <br />
<br />
The G4 staff who were in control of crowd management 'left us to deal with it' but the support from the police was great. I didn't know that the police were drafted in from all over the country, just on our patch we chatted to police from Greater Manchester, London, Norfolk and Cumbria! They said they were down for the week. It is just mind boggling the sheer amount of people it takes to make an Olympic Games happen. 1700 Gamesmakers alone, marshalling this one event! <br />
The sun shone (mostly!) on the men's race, but unfortunately the women faced heavy rain and thunder storms. This didn't deter the crowds, who were 5 or six deep in places in anticipation of the men coming through. <br />
<br />
People's were on rooftops, on top of phone boxes in bikinis, hanging out of upper floor windows, all trying to get a vantage point for their own photographic piece of history. Locals camped out at the barriers with stools and picnics, it was a truly incredible atmosphere. People from literally all over the world were there, many people wanting photos with us the Gamesmakers, making us feel like mini superstars! <br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/03/1801.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/03/s_1801.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
The position we were at was 5 minutes from the start / finish line. This meant that the peloton paraded past on their way out, then the return passing was quite different as they prepared for the finish! <br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/03/1803.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/03/s_1803.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
The police out riders were also getting in on the superstar feeling, high 5ing the crowds and playing tunes with their sirens as they passed, what seemed like thousands of times! <br />
<br />
Of course, the start of the women's race was quite different, as a Brazilian had already made a break away in the opening kilometres, passing us solo with the peloton close behind. We knew she would not make it to the London outskirts before she was caught again! <br />
<br />
The crowd waited in expectation for the men to return, well most of them! The favourite questions of the weekend were 'so, what's happening here then?' I was asked, while wearing London 2012 uniform and standing next to a matching barrier! <br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/03/1805.jpg"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/03/s_1805.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="180" /></a></center>
<br />
<br />
In the lull between out and return, (a good few hours) I was asked 'so, when are the runners expected?' to which I replied 'you mean cyclists?!' <br />
<br />
It was hard to pick out the GB kit with it being only blue and white, but we knew immediately that there were no GB men in the break away lead back as they passed us in Fulham preparing for their sprint finish. The women's story was quite different and they returned to a wall of noise, Lizzie Armistead in the lead three and almost guaranteed a medal as they sprinted past us preparing for the finish. From under my rain poncho I had the TV coverage on via 3G to my iPhone, with the crowd peering over my shoulder to see, and listening intently. From the other side of the crossing they yelled 'what's happening?!' and I shouted across minute by minute updates, with a HUGE roar as I reported that Lizzie had got a silver, and GB's first medal in the London Olympics! The policeman standing nearby got on his radio immediately to report the good news across the police force! <br />
It's a shame then, that in today's Evening Standard Lizzie Armistead says that although she carries her medal around with her everywhere, no one knows who she is. <br />
<br />
Armistead has brought up the issue of media coverage in women's cycling in her recent press interviews. She says with 300m to go she had a sudden thought 'I could be Olympic champion!' <br />
<br />
What would have happened otherwise? Who knows, but she will be hunting down that Gold in Rio for sure! <br />
<br />
Shame I won't be a Gamesmaker there too, eh? ;)<br />
<br />nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-76930845128225200902012-07-22T22:08:00.000+01:002012-07-22T22:08:03.919+01:00Blood sweat and gears: the day I almost quit<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">It's been
a hard year, I suppose you have guessed that already. In fact, it was only
today, when a friend congratulated me on gaining a spot on the GB team for my
fourth world championships that she also reminded me how well I had done,
considering I lost a whole season to the head injury last year. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I managed
only two races last year, before spending two months recovering from a head
injury and memory loss, sustained when out on a solo bike ride in the local lanes.
Luckily, I qualified for the 2011 world championships in one race, and
qualified for the 2012 European championships in the other. Then I spent 8
weeks patiently waiting for the severe concussion to subside, only able to
turbo in the garden for very short periods, and only after several weeks of
complete inactivity. For a good month I was unable to walk unaided, I was that
unsteady on my feet. You can read all about my recovery in a separate series of
blog posts - click the tag <a href="http://melanieryding.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/helmets%20save%20lives" target="_blank">'helmets save lives'</a>. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">After
merely getting round the world champs in Beijing (feeling incredibly lucky to
even make it to the start line) - I set about trying to recover my lost fitness
in the winter season. This was also coupled with real life challenges; work. I
was incredibly unhappy and actively seeking another job - which I did, and
started after Christmas. The problem was this job was a 45 min commute away,
and the previous was ten minutes up the road. I struggled to logistically fit
in the training like I had done before, now I had to fit a commute in as well.
I was getting up at 4:30am to fit training in before work, then doing another
session as soon as I got home at around 6:30pm, so there wasn't much room for
anything other than swim, bike, run, eat, sleep and work. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">This was
clearly not sustainable and it didn't take long before I simply didn't have the
time to train like I had been doing and still operate the rest of my life. My
husband simply didn't see me. It took some strength to face the fact that work
and life were the important things and training was second to this, so the
training had to be cut back while I worked out how I would balance everything.
This made me feel sad. I felt like I had failed. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">This
coupled with an incredibly cold icy snowy winter meant that training did not
take the same path that it had in previous years. When the triathlon season was
looming, with the European champs as the first race, I had no idea what shape I
was in and wasn't feeling very confident at all. On reflection, there was the
complete loss of fitness ALL summer that I was fighting to get back, coupled
with work, stress and the weather. I had a lot of factors playing against me. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">This
would be an all or nothing season and all the qualifiers were in the same month
immediately after the Europeans, making for a pretty relentless schedule. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I had
what seemed like a great result with my 5th place in Eilat, and I should have
been happy. Truth has it I had an awful race, a personal worst run and a
personal worst overall timing result. Competitors that I raced against and had
to fight to stay in front of, I have since raced and comfortably beaten by
several minutes each time. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">When I
returned, and faced the world qualifiers I really wasn't sure if I would make
the grade. I felt less sure than I ever have in all the years I have raced for
GB. There were a great many tears shed and many conversations where I actually
wondered why I was putting myself through this. I seriously considered retiring
from triathlon and I ended my coaching agreement with my coach who had been
with me since day 1. I needed time to think. Don't get me wrong, I am
incredibly grateful for all the work they had done with me. They turned me from
a beginner into a GB age group triathlete and never had any doubts in my
ability, even when I did. I am not an easy person to coach, I ask lots of
questions and am a very emotionally demanding person but you can guarantee I
will give 100%, but I just wasn't sure if that was enough anymore. I compared
the results history and I couldn't see progress in my statistics, and this
frustrated me. There has to be more to life than triathlon. I needed time to
myself to sort this all out. The only route seemed to be to quit triathlon.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">BUT there
was still work to be done: I was still entered for races, what would I do, race
them, do them for fun, not do them? I just didn't know what to do.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I noticed
a passing comment Emma Davis (Irish elite triathlete) made on twitter and
responded asking could we meet. At the time I still wasn't sure what I was
going to do.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Emma was
very positive despite my mass negativity. She was sure that she could turn me
into a runner (still my weakness area) and help me move off the plateau into
more performance gains. I thought it was worth a go. I came away feeling like
there might be light at the end of that long dark tunnel. The timing wasn't
great though, right in the middle of the race season isn't the best time to try
something new. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I did the
remainder of my races with a completely different mindset. I was worrying far
too much about the rest of the athletes and using the qualification as my bench
mark. I had an NLP word with myself and realised I should be focussed on doing
the best I can do, and see how that pans out. World qualification wasn't the be
all and end all. We decided a family holiday somewhere NOT triathlon related
would be what we would do instead. It would make a nice change anyway, as well.
I was fine with that.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">So, then
there was Bristol. I worked to my strengths: swim-bike. Well, if it was good
enough for Loretta Harrop then it was good enough for me. And it worked!! I
exited the swim in 4th, exited T1 in 3rd, started the run still in 3rd, and
ended the race in 5th. I lost the two places right at the start of the run, I
saw them come past, and they both looked like runners. I didn't lose any more
positions after that. That was a MASSIVE step forward for me. </span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">So, I
have qualified for my 4th consecutive world championships, I pre qualified for
next year's Europeans meaning I don't have to do any of those qualifiers, the
pressure is now off. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">All
things considered I feel very very proud. The competition this year is massive.
The winners I am chasing are getting faster and faster each year as the calibre
of athlete sky rockets. This year there were twice as many women fighting for
the same amount of spots on the team, and my age group was more competitive
than all the other women's age groups. With all that in mind, and all the
challenges I have faced, I will wear that GB suit in New Zealand this October
with more pride than ever before.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Now, I
have two months to go, I have work to do :-)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-27381706208531190852012-07-16T21:35:00.001+01:002012-07-16T22:20:42.851+01:00Bristol Harbourside Sprint Triathlon: last world qualifier<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Pre
race:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It wasn’t the easiest of pre race preparation, with my
husband being taken into hospital 48 hours before race day. He insisted I should
travel down to Bristol and race as planned, however. </span><br />
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5EVUA5EYS00/UAR4q2Bhg0I/AAAAAAAAA8g/8c7NiQIl0G8/s1600/IMG_1838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5EVUA5EYS00/UAR4q2Bhg0I/AAAAAAAAA8g/8c7NiQIl0G8/s200/IMG_1838.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My hotel :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After making it through
over an hour of gridlocked traffic (due to several public demonstrations,
Bristol pride and an EDL rally, which caused riots, leading to many arrests,
riot police, choppers up, the works!) I arrived to registration carnage as the
very very small car park of around 30 spaces simply could not cope with almost
1000 athletes trying to arrive at once to a building situated in a one way
system under a flyover, on an island between two bridges! </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Luckily my hotel was situated well away from the melee in
Clifton – which is at the top of the opposite hillside (STEEP roads up to
there!) but what I wasn’t prepared for was that my hotel, at the top of that
hill in Clifton, was CLOSER than the suggested race parking. Great. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Race
morning. <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fDSGM85BR_8/UAR4ZqOn50I/AAAAAAAAA8Y/zUc-CtK3N0I/s1600/IMG_1835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fDSGM85BR_8/UAR4ZqOn50I/AAAAAAAAA8Y/zUc-CtK3N0I/s200/IMG_1835.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7am race morning: <br />
I like midday starts!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The transition was incredibly long, narrow, and open all
day. This spelt chaos. People CONSTANTLY getting in the way of racers coming
through on foot, or with bike. On arrival I noticed the racking was very very
low, and my bike would not fit under (normal for me, and I usually ok it with
the referee to rack by the brake levers). I asked a marshal could I speak to
the referee. He informed me there was not one. I said ‘what!?!?’ He wanted to
know why I needed one. I explained, and he said ‘oh, no, that won’t matter, you
can do what you like’ !!!!! I took a walk, and stood by bike out for a bit,
surveying the scene. I asked why were there two dismount lines. ‘Oh, that one
was a mistake’ they told me. A referee came by, and was nearby when several
bikes came through, shoes flying off, people NOT picking them up, one guy threw
BOTH his shoes down and carried on. I was aghast! People are usually
disqualified for discarding gear. I asked the ref was he not going to be
penalised for throwing both shoes. He said oh, I never saw him, who was it? I
suggested he TAKE the shoes, then he was sure to find the owner! He said ‘oh
yes, good idea’ !! When I got chatting to the guy – querying the previous
marshal telling me there were no referees, he revealed that he had been there
since 5am and he was the only real referee, the other three were all trainees.
That figures because two others I talked to, to ask would they talk to the
competitors near me because they were racked wrong, informed me it didn’t matter,
you could rack whatever way and in whatever direction you pleased, there were
no rules. Oh. My God! The lady next to me queried was I ok, decided I wasn’t and
wanted to make small talk. She asked was I trying to qualify. I said yes, She
said oh, what time are you hoping to do, 1:40? !! I walked away before I got
tangled up in any more arguments or got any more stressed, checking briefly
before going to the swim start that nobody had moved any of my gear!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Swim<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wvju3yTdpE4/UAR4J7Lm3oI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/wksp4ofKAxw/s1600/IMG_1817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wvju3yTdpE4/UAR4J7Lm3oI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/wksp4ofKAxw/s320/IMG_1817.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swim exit pontoon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By this time I was feeling like I seriously just wanted
to get started (and finished!) So I was glad when we were let into the harbour
with a few minutes to go. Quite a busy narrow start area but no matter, I
picked my spot, only one back from the front row. The woman floating nearby
asked what time I was likely to do. Stunned at the question, I replied 13-14
minutes roughly, why? Oh Jesus, you’re fast she exclaimed! (Er, no not really
in the grand scheme of things!) Air horn and we were off. I went hard out, as
per race plan, to get clear of the scrum, which worked nicely. Then I settled
into my rhythm, catching and passing two breast strokers almost immediately. I
focussed on my stroke, gradually making inroads into the people ahead of me.
After screwing up the first turn under the narrow walkway, the rest went
smoothly and I exited around on target time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">T1<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A MAMMOTH long run down an incredibly long transition
barrier, (past a girl who got out just ahead – excellent!) and into T1. I
arrived after and left BEFORE another girl nearby who was wrestling her wet
suit and her bike shoes, as my kick and flick wet suit technique worked nicely
despite the HUGE timing chip! I spotted Pink Sparkly up ahead (Vicky my
clubmate – easy to see in pink calf guards!) as I mounted and started the bike
ride. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Bike<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fHDKKpyjB7o/UAR59E6z7oI/AAAAAAAAA88/pO0qT7DJiVg/s1600/555998_10150912982436020_1509341350_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fHDKKpyjB7o/UAR59E6z7oI/AAAAAAAAA88/pO0qT7DJiVg/s320/555998_10150912982436020_1509341350_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">end of lap 1: Pink sparkly right behind!<br />
Thanks Ian Roberston for taking the pic!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was looking forward to this ride, reporting to be quite
flat, like 2 x 10km time trials. I set about my thing, pedal stroke, nutrition,
and drive those legs. I was catching the cyclists in front and just before the
first U turn I caught and passed Pink Sparkly (Vicky) and a few others. I continued
to drive on hard, not knowing what the people I had passed were doing, and
knowing for sure that here is where I would make the ground up, as this was my
strength. Lap 2 started and as the photo suggests, Vicky must have been chasing
me after I passed because I caught her quite easily, but once in front, she stayed
not far behind! Lap 2 was harder, as I now had no physical targets, the road
was almost deserted. I seriously need to practice my dead turns though, the only
place I must have ever had to do them is abroad because right hand U turns felt
very kack handed! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">T2<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s hard running the length of a transition that must
have been a good 300m+ long, in bare feet on tarmac! I felt like I wasn’t in
control of my limbs! What with that and the dodging people who were in there
milling about! I was glad for once to get the running shoes on and be off! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Run<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I passed a girl as I exited T2 (yay!) and off I went on
the last leg. It was an up and over the bridge, then ‘flat’ tow path run. I was
expecting it to be flatter than it actually was, although it was like small
rises rather than hills, but cinder paths, and quite wet in places. As I crossed
the bridge a couple of runners passed me, including one who I was sure was in
my category, and pink sparkly (dammit, but its ok, she’s not in my age category
anyway!) then off I went down the tow path. I was concentrating really hard,
several things in my race plan specific to the run section came into play here.
I focussed on the effort level, keeping it high and keeping the path ahead of
me only in my zone of vision. I noticed Lisa Greenfield coming the other way,
she acknowledged me as she passed me (F35 – thank goodness) and Andri (another
F35 and a friend) thankfully told me I was nearing the turn as she passed me
going the other way. As I rounded the U turn to do the final leg back, I noticed
I had run under the Clifton suspension bridge, high above me, and I must have
cycled under it too. I also noticed that some of my ‘enemies’ were behind me
coming the other way. It was a good sign, but I needed to remain focussed and
keep this position that I had earned. I could see far in the distance the tall
red brick building that was adjacent to the transition area, and that was my
focus. As it got nearer, I felt better and better, knowing with each step that
no one had come past me since the turn point at half way. I might just do this,
and keep this run position to the end. This and that finish line, and that GB
place on the world championships team was my driving force. I couldn’t let up –
who knows what the winners time was, every second might count. When I got back
up onto the bridge, I knew there wasn’t far to go. With a glace over my
shoulder I could see a long way behind me back down onto the tow path, and
there was no one nearby. This was excellent, I had managed to keep the run
position that I had at half way. I had only lost a few places perhaps, at the
start of the run, as far as I could tell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I crossed the line knowing that was EVERYTHING I had, and
I had executed all my plans as I had wanted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As I await the official results, I THNK it was enough for
a GBR place on the world championship team. I await that exciting confirmation
email!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-78705715403262443842012-07-01T21:49:00.001+01:002012-07-07T11:20:40.118+01:00Deva Triathlon - First Olympic Distance in 4 years!<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The first
Olympic distance triathlon in almost four years, and it was fair to say I was
feeling a little apprehensive. Why did I do it? Why not :)</span></span>
<br />
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The
main goal for this race was to see if I could hold the new run form I have been
practicing when fatigued.</span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Swim</span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sBV7Ot1r06E/T_C3AvlLYQI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/7K6SWM35pfI/s1600/IMG_1781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sBV7Ot1r06E/T_C3AvlLYQI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/7K6SWM35pfI/s320/IMG_1781.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Been
a good few years since I swam in a river too. It was hard to judge the pace of
the flow from the bank, the start are was quite sheltered and the river Dee
meanders through some curves at the point where we were swimming. It was nice
and wide though so I wasn't too concerned about crowding. I know close to the
bank would be best at the start, as the first 350m to the turn was up-river,
before swimming the rest of the distance downstream to a different exit point.
But this would also be where everyone else would be, so i went for left of
centre. It became apparent very quickly that there was quite a flow - I was
being washed WAY off the start line very quickly if I didn't pay attention! </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xXqU3_34zRI/T_gMbzt6rhI/AAAAAAAAA7w/t1ZsFLucJR8/s1600/Swim-7291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xXqU3_34zRI/T_gMbzt6rhI/AAAAAAAAA7w/t1ZsFLucJR8/s320/Swim-7291.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The
front of the men's in the wave in front were passing is on their return
downstream just as we were preparing to start. It was a bit of a busy washing
machine, so a bit of a sprint was needed. It was also quite hard work and
stayed very crowded till way way pat the return. At least two people stopped
bolt upright in front or nearby and started breast stroking before we had
completed the 350m to the turn. I got back level with the start line just as
the next wave was starting. 700m ish in 10 minutes, this swim must have been
going well! </span></span></div>
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I
stayed centre of the river on the way down through the meandering bends to the
exit point, to make the most of the flow. It seemed quite a distance when I
looked at it from the bank stretched out in a line but it felt great as I was
doing it. I looked at my watch as I exited and was utterly astounded to see it
read 21 minutes! </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Bike</span></u></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> </span></span></div>
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">When
we drove this course it seemed like MILES AND MILES!! Very scenic, but by NO
means flat, and quite a lot of country lanes and villages. In fact you cycle to
Wales and back! </span></span></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tqy_yMwhHKQ/T_C3iP7xN1I/AAAAAAAAA7g/00C5GCDxi_E/s1600/IMG_1787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tqy_yMwhHKQ/T_C3iP7xN1I/AAAAAAAAA7g/00C5GCDxi_E/s320/IMG_1787.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The
course was deceptive. Although there were some straights, it was windy, there
were cheeky inclines and sharp hills too. That meant I ended up playing cat and
mouse for the entire course with a girl in pink. On the flats, away I went, on
the hills, back she came! I was very conscious fuelling would be very important
at this distance and I had a plan. But the Guu chomps were WAY too sticky to
get out and eaten. Just as well I also had three gels and a drink. I don't
think I took the second one quite early enough, it was the dip in speed and
increase of fatigue that reminded me! SiS smart gels are great though, I felt
like Popeye within ten minutes! </span></span></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-COuJ0jKLoLo/T_gMpdjf7HI/AAAAAAAAA74/vsiuADWXec4/s1600/Deva-Triathlon-2012-3207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-COuJ0jKLoLo/T_gMpdjf7HI/AAAAAAAAA74/vsiuADWXec4/s320/Deva-Triathlon-2012-3207.JPG" width="214" /></a><br />
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">There
was a great view of the Welsh hills on the way out that to be honest, I didn't
notice when cycling, only when driving the route the day before! The sign
telling me I was passing 20km only reminded me that this was an Olympic
distance, and I had exactly that to go again before I could stop cycling! It's
crazy because I cycle way further in training! Boredom was a serious factor
though and I had to make sure I remained focussed on the task at hand. There's
something to be said for sprint racing, each section over quickly even though
it hurts a lot! It's a very different race focus for Olympic distance racing.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Run</span></u></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> </span></span></div>
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Uw-nCcB0mM/T_C3XvdYg4I/AAAAAAAAA7Y/ix648oczW8k/s1600/IMG_1785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Uw-nCcB0mM/T_C3XvdYg4I/AAAAAAAAA7Y/ix648oczW8k/s320/IMG_1785.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the run course... erm... yes, quite!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The
run course was 2 laps of 5k. When i walked it the day before, it seemed easy to
segment it into bits, the meadow, the college lap, the park lap. We didn't walk
it all so some parts came as a not so pleasant surprise! I was very conscious
of the fact that by the time I hit the run I was working way over the usual
time my race takes. I had no idea how this part would go. My main aim was to
hold the new run posture I had been working on, and that was the sole focus. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The
meadow - flat and gravel paths, not a problem. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The
college - a flight of steps and a wickedly steep hill! The only consolation - a
water station at the top!! </span></span></div>
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D7RrQorYwzw/T_gNDB42XjI/AAAAAAAAA8A/sJ2WCsvktN0/s1600/irvin-newbitt-melanie-ryding-6414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D7RrQorYwzw/T_gNDB42XjI/AAAAAAAAA8A/sJ2WCsvktN0/s320/irvin-newbitt-melanie-ryding-6414.JPG" width="214" /></a><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The
park - sheesh kebab! Another steep hill with the race photographer and my
husband positioned at the top! Brilliant! The loop through this park was way
longer than I thought. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The
clever race organisers had timing mats positioned half way round each of the
three sections - to make sure no one took any short cuts! </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Then
all that all over again! Inclines felt like mountains the second time round! I
had to work hard to concentrate on posture. I didn't manage it consistently all
the time but for sure<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it was better than
usual by far. </span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong><em>I
discovered that:</em></strong></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 9pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 9.0pt; text-indent: -9pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica; mso-text-raise: -1.0pt; position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">•</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">I
am still a pretty good swim/biker despite the focus of training being
completely off both of these disciplines lately </span><span style="mso-text-raise: -1.0pt; position: relative; top: 1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 9pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 9.0pt; text-indent: -9pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica; mso-text-raise: -1.0pt; position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">•</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">I
was in front of some people I never expected to be in front of at the start of
the run</span><span style="mso-text-raise: -1.0pt; position: relative; top: 1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 9pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 9.0pt; text-indent: -9pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica; mso-text-raise: -1.0pt; position: relative; top: 1pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">•</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">You
cannot do an Olympic distance race and expect great results on the back of
solely sprint distance training!</span></span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="BodyBullet" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br />
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">All
personal targets achieved however, so onwards and upwards!</span></span></div>nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-69607193345475717092012-06-19T22:51:00.004+01:002012-06-19T22:51:56.733+01:00Collecting the Olympic Gamesmaker Uniform<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was dead excited about this, purely because I will have
the kit that will be all over the TV in just a few weeks, when I join history
in the making as part of a 70,000 strong volunteer team that will help make the
Olympics happen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6mSht5QEygo/T-DzealvlWI/AAAAAAAAA6o/LgENYBrIV8s/s1600/IMG_1731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6mSht5QEygo/T-DzealvlWI/AAAAAAAAA6o/LgENYBrIV8s/s200/IMG_1731.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a windy wet day when, in the shadow of the huge new
Olympic torch sculpture outside the stadium, I approached the unassuming
building with a sign attached to its corner, signalling that it was the UDAC –
where I have to check in. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gt3oZymPeYc/T-Dz3rCuSVI/AAAAAAAAA68/6Wa89pco6DI/s1600/IMG_1732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gt3oZymPeYc/T-Dz3rCuSVI/AAAAAAAAA68/6Wa89pco6DI/s320/IMG_1732.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a precisely organised affair which involved following
lines on the floor that led you to the next line that you had to join, in a
sequence that meant that by the ‘check out’ you had everything you needed to
make you a London 2012 Gamesmaker. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t5BUxc_qD2k/T-Dz-s5F9WI/AAAAAAAAA7E/zt1ctwahZ1Y/s1600/IMG_1736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t5BUxc_qD2k/T-Dz-s5F9WI/AAAAAAAAA7E/zt1ctwahZ1Y/s200/IMG_1736.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The moment we were given our accreditation passes we were told
to wear them. I didn’t pay much attention to be honest, till I noticed that
everyone seemed to be staring at each other passes to work out what everyone
else was accredited to do. It was only then that I noticed that a lot of people
were staring at mine. When I looked at it more closely, I noticed that I had
clearance to seven different locations including the Olympic stadium, whereas
most others were cleared for one or two locations! People started to comment on
it saying how many things I appeared to be doing! </span></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QYOXnkoiPMM/T-Dzq0WayaI/AAAAAAAAA6w/lPR2qTMjPvg/s1600/DSC_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QYOXnkoiPMM/T-Dzq0WayaI/AAAAAAAAA6w/lPR2qTMjPvg/s320/DSC_0492.JPG" width="143" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was only then that I started to feel extremely privileged
to be marshalling four Olympic events, the triathlon, roach cycling, road time
trial and the marathon. I am still curious to learn what exactly it is that I will
be doing in the Olympic stadium! </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here I am, an extremely proud Gamesmaker.... Let the
games commence!!</span> </span></div>nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-60124146648546037912012-06-14T19:09:00.001+01:002012-06-14T21:01:43.758+01:00Finding the positives in the negatives.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another go at the same 10 mile time trial As a few weeks ago, however this one not quite to plan.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Am I worried? No. Here's why.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a><div>
</div>
</span><div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago I did this local time trial - and it was the first time in a couple of years. I came away thinking perhaps I wasn't dying as much as I should be, and was accused of dilly-dallying by a cyclist who FLEW past me at a roundabout. Oops.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div>
</div>
</span><div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week I was determined to walk away knowing that was all I had. So you can imagine my surprise when I discovered it was a good 30 seconds slower. </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I KNOW it was better focus than last time. I was first (not great - because there was no cyclist down the road to catch - even though I normally can't see them till at least half way) so I had to try to make sure I wasn't caught. Not my favourite place to be! BUT I focussed on me, my pedal stroke, my heart rate. Was the HR slacking? Were my legs still hurting? I focussed on the patch of road in front and nothing else, asking myself those questions over and over till the end. Yes, that was all I had that day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I began to notice when I fatigued on the return leg and dipped my head that it made a huge difference to the aerodynamics around my aero helmet and I could feel the difference in the resistance. So it MUST have been more windy because I didn't notice that last week.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> last time I was home in plenty of time to have tea well before the race. This time I wasn't and had only had a snack and a carb drink. fuel is a massive reflection on sporting performance so this was a disadvantage before I even started</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div>
</div>
</span><div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Normally it would bother me that the statistics are so much worse, however I don't care. why? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div>
</div>
</span><div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because I gave all I could give and focussed well. That was the aim. Target achieved.</span>nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-17433745122734492232012-06-10T21:33:00.001+01:002012-06-10T21:49:54.701+01:00The art of the longer ride?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm very luck to live in a place like I do. 5 minutes of cycling in any direction of my house and I am in the countryside, yet ten minutes down the road I have a high speed rail link to London. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As with everything, we get wrapped up in our daily life, training, racing, and forget to look up and what we have around us. Today, I did a 35 mile ride round the country lanes of my local area, and once again rediscovered the reason why I do what I do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zWd0cPzh0oo/T9UEorMFZ6I/AAAAAAAAA6c/KbHoKs-3x64/s640/blogger-image-66726821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zWd0cPzh0oo/T9UEorMFZ6I/AAAAAAAAA6c/KbHoKs-3x64/s400/blogger-image-66726821.jpg" width="296" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just before I left I was reading Chrissie Wellington's autobiography, and was at the point where she talks about how mental resolve and focus is key, specially for an ironman. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>'of all the body parts we train for this unforgiving pursuit of ours, none are more important than the head'</em> </blockquote>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a sprint athlete, this isn't something I have had to think about much till today, training is usually fast, furious, and over within the hour! As an NLP practitioner though, I am well aware of its power. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I split my route up into race routes, various sections of my ride also doubled up as parts of the bike route on a couple of local triathlons. For many, 35 miles is not far to ride, but for a sprinter, over 12 is far! Things were going well, after my legs warmed up I felt good. I enjoyed the scenery. I was amused that a sign which told you your speed as you entered a village (designed for motorists) told me my speed too - 18mph... Well I was going up a hill! Lots of cyclists out today too, one poor woman was passed by both me and a car simultaneously! (stupid car, not waiting for me to pass first!). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was when I reached around 24 miles, and was on a straight B road that had no traffic, that my mind started to wander. I was remembering ...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...when a couple cycled out of a nearby field - lifted their cyclocross bikes over the hedge onto the road and carried on </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...when I reached the part of the road that was the route I took on my very first half distance race...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MEL! Focus!! What was Chrissie just telling you?!! Yep, the speed had dropped off, the technique had too! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got the focus back, enjoyed the rest of my ride (after discovering how much more important nutrition was on longer rides!) and made it home ten minutes faster than the records say I managed this route a good few years ago. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, still the run to do... And oh my legs didn't want to do it! Another surprise - a much faster pace than my legs felt like they were running at! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pain of muscle fatigue - not a problem. The pain of quitting - a huge problem! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As long as you are AWARE of when you lose focus, and are able to get it back, that's the key. No one is perfect. Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Believe, and you will achieve.</span>nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-59390598891739168962012-05-30T21:00:00.000+01:002012-06-02T14:22:13.327+01:00The first 10 mile Time Trial of 2012: N7/10<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seems I manage to leave at least 12 months between visits
to the local cycle club weekly time trials, even though I quite like them!
Hmmm?! This one I was not looking forward to though, thunderstorms were
forecast this evening, and I drove through an ALMIGHTY one to get home from
work, plus, the cycle club web site was reporting that a guy was hit by a car
while racing this course last week. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, I cycled there anyway thinking come on Mel, man up! I
had fluorescent rain jacket, doubling up as a go faster hump in my back pocket
if I didn’t need to wear it! As it turned out – monsoon style weather was before
and directly after, but it stayed dry during the actual time trial. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RfMuiKTghHc/T8oS7k4sXXI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/yweQT_iAULU/s1600/N7+10+TT+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RfMuiKTghHc/T8oS7k4sXXI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/yweQT_iAULU/s400/N7+10+TT+.jpg" width="266" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I always feel a bit freaked by time trials. All these folk
standing around nearby are all CYCLISTS. All the do is ride their bike.
Meanwhile me, I have to fit in cycling swimming AND running. Please don’t leave
me behind will you guys!? I was given number 8, and asked number 9 politely not
to whizz by me too early on! </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The course is pretty flat, after a hill up to the first you
turn to return back down the A45. I was focussed on keeping the effort level
up, and it was here on this stretch that no9 got past me. I tried to stay with
him but couldn’t so I gave up focussing on his wheel and went back to focussing
on my legs. I realised I was gradually catching him back, but he managed to
find a second wind and as we exited the slip road to do the dog leg before the
return, he pulled away a lead. As I returned back down towards the A45, here is
where I cocked up. I approached the roundabout, and saw a car coming. I wasn’t sure
of the road layout so slowed down. No 11, behind me knew exactly the road
layout and stormed past me up the inside, later accusing me of dilly dallying.
Yup. Point taken! No 10 managed to catch me as I approached the final stretch
off the A45 to the finish line, but apart from my senior moment at the
roundabout, I did what I could do. The dilly dallying might have cost me
though, I was 20 seconds off a course PB. Dammit! </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Note to self:</b>
Time trial means KILL IT - and leave it ALL out there! </span></div>nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-12966756301427883392012-05-27T18:38:00.000+01:002012-05-27T18:38:02.344+01:00Emberton National Sprint Championships 2012<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It would
be fair to say I was a little nervous going into this race. I know that the
standard and popularity of triathlon has exploded this year, and nothing less
than an outstanding race would do, given the massive field expected here this
weekend.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last
time that Emberton hosted the national sprint championships and a world
qualifier rolled into one,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a massively
talented field dotted with pro and ex pro athletes turned up, setting the bar
extremely high. I was expecting the same again this time. With a start list of
well over 900 athletes this was going to be a BIG race. Just up the road in
Belvoir, Leicestershire, another well known race the Beaver olympic and speedy
beaver sprint triathlons were taking place too, with only 150 athletes in each,
you could be sure They were mostly all down here at Emberton instead! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All this
did not help the fact that I don't actually like this race much (despite it
being right on my doorstep!) because the run is long, which doesn't suit me,
and the lake holds some horrid memories of being kicked in the head, thumped,
dunked and swam over the last time I was here: very small tight course and big
wave starts. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still,
you can only influence yourself so I focussed on MY race. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wasn't
sure if the fact that transition was organised in A-Z alphabetical order was
good or bad, not wave starts as usual. The positive: I could hide effectively,
the negative, I would have no idea how I was doing relative to my age group! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SWIM</span></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was rather
a confusing start, to be honest. The race organisers seemed more intent on
starting the race on time rather than starting it properly. They let us in 4
mins before the start, and with a minute to go called us back. Some women' were
almost out to the first bouy doing their warm up - and the guy continued
shouting and continued the count down. He was demanding everyone stand in line
by the bank, which is where I returned to, but before everyone had made an
attempt to move back (some still floating around aver 50m in front of me) he
blew his whistle to start. Some people who were still retreating had to turn on
their heel and start swimming with almost no warning at all. It seemed very
unfair and disorganised. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was
determined to be aggressive this time and not get smacked so each time anyone
swam nearby I stuck out elbows, or kicked harder. I think I may have kicked a
few people in various places including the head, but they were NOT getting me
this time! The course was a bit confusing as I realised half way round that
there was 1 more bouy than he ha mentioned in the briefing. So I followed the
other swimmers! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">T1 was
rather uneventful, all went smoothly, no idea how was doing - onwards and
upwards. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">BIKE</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After
negotiating carpet, grass verges and a layby, I was out on the road. I knew
being first off in the 40+ wave that anyone who came past was an issue for me
so I had to stay focussed. Jane Saunders (50+ friend) came by soon after the
start, and a few others. I had my eye on the legs (for age group letters) while
focussing on what I was doing. This was no good, I had to just focus on what I
was doing! I began to catch people up ahead this way, but when I joined the
main road on the back of the course, it started to get more frustrating. I was
in close proximity with a couple of H athletes, a J and a K. It was like cat
and mouse. They kept passing me then dilly dallying around in front. I was very
concerned about being accused of drafting so I was forced to constantly get
back in front of the group. This went on for miles. One shouted something at me
on one time I passed her, who knows what it was, I just kept on peddling. It
was hard because it was taking my focus off the business of pedalling
consistently hard. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got all
the nutrition in before the end of the bike leg but it hadn't been ideal
playing sprint leap frog with others. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">RUN</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here
would be the test. It was warm, it felt hard. I focussed on me, and my
technique, reciting my mantras to myself. I knew though as i came to the end of
the first lap and the announcer was saying someone was finishing in 1:08 that
either my age group winner was finishing, or had done already. Either way, oh
dammit, that was fast. I kept on going, focussing on me, keep it together Mel,
and picking off people from other waves gradually knowing that the finish line
would come soon. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Result?
For me, not so great. As it turns out, my age group winner was over 2 minutes
faster than last weeks age group winner, and someone I have never heard of.
Rachel Bown who was third behind Shona Girdwood, said the winner was a
duathlete for sure, setting off out of T2 like a bat out of hell and taking an
immediate commanding lead. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I
guess it's Bristol here I come. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Reflections</span></u></b><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> </span></span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wm0-YJna6U0/T8Jlc6E61NI/AAAAAAAAA28/qNoN9De-FjY/s1600/IMG_1679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wm0-YJna6U0/T8Jlc6E61NI/AAAAAAAAA28/qNoN9De-FjY/s320/IMG_1679.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several
people alluded to the fact that the standard has massively increased as has the
interest in triathlon particularly this year. A guy from my club who always
gets on the odium at races was 4th today. A a girl I know who wins every race
she usually enters was 4th today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
woman who is world and European champion in her age group was 2nd today. A
silver medallist from the Europeans was 4th today.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Triathlon
gets harder and harder, the field gets bigger and as you get older the women
get faster!! The F45+ winner today beat the F40+ winner - by almost 2 minutes!!
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To all
those who continue to earn GB vests, big respect. You know some serious hard
work goes into that. We have one of the biggest most competitive Age Group
triathlon teams in the world. A space on that team was never going to be easy
now was it. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bristol
here I come, I guess! </span></span></div>nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-35701707189763690372012-05-20T21:33:00.000+01:002012-05-20T21:33:36.294+01:00Race report: Eton World Qualifier no 1, 2012<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nervous apprehension I think would be a good way to describe
my mood going into this race. Training had been going well, but this was not
reflected really in the Eilat race times, as I suffered majorly from
dehydration which really affected my run. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a>Therefore I really didn’t know if my
training pre would translate well into racing. Also this year, there are many
many new faces, and a sudden explosion in the interest in qualifying for the
Great Britain team, making gaining that spot more and more difficult each year.
Only Sunday will tell, eh? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Swim<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided on a left had side start, as I had watched the
previous waves and there wasn’t much space, everyone seemed to bunch to the
right. As the starter did the count-down, the people pushed forwards, and I no
longer had my front line spot. No matter, I could see who was in front and I
knew I was a faster swimmer, so I would just need to do a sprint start and get
clear water around me. This worked out well, and I settled into a steady
stroke. I came upon traffic as I approached the first buoy, and a few zig-zag
swimmers. I toyed with the idea of staying on their feet, but to do so I had to
slow down, and the whole idea of drafting is for someone to pull you along, so I
decided to pass, focussed back on my own stroke and had clear water back to the
exit ramps. To be honest I thought it was a rather average swim for me, so I was
very surprised to see I had taken almost a minute off my swim time from this
race last year. </span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bike<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oqsWU6obnk0/T7lUbtrukvI/AAAAAAAAA2w/_vA_rY8dFIk/s1600/DSC_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oqsWU6obnk0/T7lUbtrukvI/AAAAAAAAA2w/_vA_rY8dFIk/s320/DSC_0361.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I noticed as I came through that fellow club mate Jo Love
was already gone, to be honest I was rather shocked! Through T1 with rather
more urgency than in Eilat, and off I went on the bike. Glad I had my elastic
bands, I cannot count to four as well as being under the pressure of racing! Much
better conditions than the gales of last year meant I could settle into my rhythm
and focus on the pedal strokes, the speedometer and the effort level. Gradually
I began to catch and pass people, and by lap two I had Jo back in my sights. I wasn’t
sure I could pull out enough of a lead on her with only half the bike leg to
go, but no matter, I focussed on my own race plan and carried on. Very happy
with the average speed, it felt good. </span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Run<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through T2 onto the run and I knew this was where I had to
focus the most. I have been working on some mantras to help me keep it
together, and all was going ok, till I allowed external factors to get to me
too much, I had lost the internal focus a little, and with that had taken the
foot off the gas, and let the form go. I had a serious word with myself and
dragged myself back together for the second and last lap. Hubby said I looked
better, smoother and quicker on the second lap so my self-talking to clearly
worked! </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ff7YtZyA7-k/T7lUNyjOUFI/AAAAAAAAA2o/H6PvpyeDrTM/s1600/DSC_0381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ff7YtZyA7-k/T7lUNyjOUFI/AAAAAAAAA2o/H6PvpyeDrTM/s320/DSC_0381.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Since me and the ad matched, I had to get a photo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, I have no idea if I did enough to make it onto the
team. I know one thing for sure, the competition this year is harder than ever,
and the people trying to qualify is getting bigger than ever. Triathlon is
becoming very popular. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All I can do is focus on me. If I look at that for a second,
my swim was faster, my bike was faster (and it was 1.2km longer too!) and my
run was faster than my race there last year. I can’t ask much more of myself
than that. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roll on next week, and qualifier number 2!</span></div>nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-76629246267235047402012-05-06T12:12:00.001+01:002012-05-06T12:12:11.380+01:00The Perishing Waters of Box End<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I often wonder why I do what I do. Why was I up at 6am today, why was I even considering a dip in a lake when my car thermometer was telling me it was 4 degrees outside! Why are we considering this an improvement on the weather lately (today being dry and still and cold, rather than windy, rainy and cold!) This is May, isn’t it? Well, I thought it was!</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a name='more'></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought my first dip back in April was cold, when the ice cream brain never ever went away for the 45 min <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">swim,</span> and I needed periodic pauses to let the dizziness subside and the sight return. This is serious stuff, us Brits must have a screw loose!</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today there were around 30 swimmers. The triathlon race season starts in earnest next week, yet it still feels like winter. The thermometer in the shallow water by the cable hut was reading 7.5 degrees. Thankfully I didn’t notice this! I got in thinking WOW its cold in here, several were still standing on the side and some didn’t get in I don’t think.</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wasnt sure what to expect when I left the house to be honest, because the lake has been closed due to the fact that the area was flooded (the local river burst its banks). At the very least, murky water was fine by me, it means i cannot see the fish!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EcTiMRmmLWA" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was surprised to discover that the intense freeze brain feeling that I got at first did actually go away after a while, when my body became accustomed to the very cold water. Here’s me thinking it’s a little warmer than on my last visit, when my head didn’t stop hurting till I got out of the lake! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People poked fun at my ‘gimp hat’ and socks, but as I strutted to the lakes edge, I declared loudly that I didn’t care how stupid I looked, they would be laughing on the other side of their faces when they leap out because they cannot cope with the cold! Rightly enough, I was one of very few who actually did 3 x 850m laps, although I did have to pause for a moment at the end of each one to let the dizziness subside. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the time I got out I could no longer feel my feet or hands and I was starting to slur my words, my face was so numb. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grazy? Well ‘Ard? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ll let you decide!</span></div>nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-82154517685804917602012-04-25T13:30:00.001+01:002012-04-29T15:03:37.392+01:00ETU European Championships, Eilat<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Race report, photos and video footage of my trip to Eilat for the European Triathlon championships 2012</span><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NbPrEGdl4_E/T5ftQt_rARI/AAAAAAAAA2c/0Gv3nhPpWHs/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NbPrEGdl4_E/T5ftQt_rARI/AAAAAAAAA2c/0Gv3nhPpWHs/s200/DSC_0018.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The weather was forecast to be 36 degrees, partial cloud and a strong wind, headwinds out to the turn point on the bike course. When I got up, the cloud cover was welcomed, as I knew clear skies would mean a very hot run indeed. </span></div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last minute set ups, pump the tyres on the bike back up (I let them down because it had been racked in the 36-40 degree sunshine since 4pm the previous day) and I was out of transition with plenty of time to spare before I had to be in the pre start areas.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ysnkKeGomrY/T5ftB6Q1LaI/AAAAAAAAA2M/NCWNV1H3NVU/s1600/swim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ysnkKeGomrY/T5ftB6Q1LaI/AAAAAAAAA2M/NCWNV1H3NVU/s320/swim.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The sea was 21 degrees, so I chose to wear a wet suit. The choice was a very split one, as some GB athletes chose to wear one, some didn’t, and many of the Israeli athletes chose not to wear one. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">SWIM </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the pre start, we had to line up on the beach along some matting that had numbered squares. I was aiming to get a spot towards the left side of the start line, but sadly, was muscled out of position by other more forthright athletes, meaning I ended up at the far end of the line, with all the local non wet suited athletes. No problem, I thought, it simply meant that I would need to sprint down the beach and swim out hard to get clear water. The start went to plan, and up to the turn I had the leader in sight. On the return leg it didn’t seem to go quite so well, and the leaders got away. Every time I turned left to breathe I had sight of an Israeli athlete who was keeping up with me, while NOT wearing a wet suit! Perhaps I should have continued the ‘swim hard’ and not backed off quite as much. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R7_uSovdXx4/T5fsjy1sjnI/AAAAAAAAA1k/w_JpQAXWNfU/s1600/bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R7_uSovdXx4/T5fsjy1sjnI/AAAAAAAAA1k/w_JpQAXWNfU/s320/bike.jpg" width="213" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">T1 </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The run to T1 was LENGTHY! It went up the beach, through a shower, past some shops, round a car park, past two hotels and through the expo! This did me no favours and Angela Ackerley caught me up in T1 while I was wrestling with my wet suit heels! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">BIKE</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The bike course was a very gradual but constant 10km upwards incline into a head wind, and it felt relentless! The speedo was not showing me nice numbers at all and all I could do was grind it out and grit my teeth till I got to the turn knowing that the return leg would be much easier. The ‘bridge’ that scaled the central crash barriers was hilariously small and shallow, with a very short steep ramp up, and only one lane wide instead of the expected two. I couldn’t understand why they hadn’t used the whole width of the road. A marshall was positioned on the bridge to ‘catch’ you as you attempted to negotiate the tight turn, and I was forced to unclip to make it round and down the other side. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I set off in pursuit of all the small athlete ‘targets’ that I picked off one at a time on the decent,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stopping for no one, no brakes, not even for the speed bumps at 12km! As I approached the left turn roundabout to take me back round the airfield, a male back marker held me up, but so did the ITU bike! Don’t mess with them, I thought, so held off till there was a safe point to get past. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2k9WXwAyytI/T5fs_m-PBfI/AAAAAAAAA2E/KAYw1xjJgQE/s1600/run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2k9WXwAyytI/T5fs_m-PBfI/AAAAAAAAA2E/KAYw1xjJgQE/s320/run.jpg" width="213" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Run</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Into T1 I knew I was still third Brit, but I didn’t know by how much. I set off on the run and immediately discovered that the legs didn’t feel as smooth as they usually do. It was at this point that the cheers on the run course were vital. There were some people dotted about, cheering on GB, and it lifted me. I saw that 4<sup>th</sup> GB was a whole dog leg behind, so I thought that perhaps I might have done enough to hang on to my position. On lap 2 (of 2) I could no longer see her, little did I know that she was in fact chasing me down and with 500m to go, she came past. With a jolt, I immediately kicked, I was determined NOT to lose any age group positions on the run leg – which would be a first if I could manage it. I sprinted for my life. I had no idea if she had a sprint finish in her legs, it was the first time I had raced her. At the turn into the finish shute (around 150m to go) I glanced over my shoulder. She was only a few metres back. It wasn’t enough to be sure, I was going to have to sprint all the way to the line! I had not sprint finished from so far out before, I didn’t know if I had it in me. I continued to give it everything, and crossed the line in 5<sup>th</sup> position and 3<sup>rd</sup> Brit, managing to pass another GB athlete (45-49) in the process, which was a bonus! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R7QiKU41x0c/T5fsuddbUGI/AAAAAAAAA10/o4DRje3q1yI/s1600/finish+assistance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R7QiKU41x0c/T5fsuddbUGI/AAAAAAAAA10/o4DRje3q1yI/s320/finish+assistance.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qqeYpk5cjzw/T5fsmjNsxUI/AAAAAAAAA1s/aT76w_FwZFM/s1600/finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qqeYpk5cjzw/T5fsmjNsxUI/AAAAAAAAA1s/aT76w_FwZFM/s200/finish.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I collapsed. I had given it EVERYTHING in that final sprint, absolutely everything. I was assisted by three officials, who tipped water on me, in my mouth, then helped me to my feet and assisted my walk to the recovery tent. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Several minutes later, I was ok. Proud to say I achieved 5<sup>th</sup> position, 3<sup>rd</sup> Brit. I patiently await British Triathlon writing their 2013 prequalification policy for 2013, so I can see if I did enough for a pre qualification. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fingers crossed! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Geq-Gsrmq4I/T5ftJtpj6CI/AAAAAAAAA2U/ap9kmk_LcZk/s1600/DSC_0181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Geq-Gsrmq4I/T5ftJtpj6CI/AAAAAAAAA2U/ap9kmk_LcZk/s320/DSC_0181.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
For the rest of the photos, visit my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/melryding" target="_blank">facebook page. </a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br /><br /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Video footage of the races.</u></strong></span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fH7WANhxWd4" width="420"></iframe>nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-3151294828048488792012-04-11T17:37:00.001+01:002012-04-11T17:37:54.356+01:00First open water outing of the season!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Normally I would not be dashing to the shores of Box End
Lake the moment it opens in April, due to the incredibly harsh water
temperatures involved with early spring in this wonderful isle of ours. BUT,
due to the fact that I fly to Israel next week to compete in the European
Triathlon championships, I figured I had better get in that wet suit at least
once before my incredibly high profile first race of the season! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am not sure
how well this will prepare me for the race, when the red sea is 21.5 degrees
and the lake is a mere 10 degrees!?</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NvQO5Y6qUnY/T4WzLNJPtuI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/eeJUwVuQ0hQ/s1600/IMG_1495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NvQO5Y6qUnY/T4WzLNJPtuI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/eeJUwVuQ0hQ/s320/IMG_1495.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My local lake opened its doors to swimmers on Saturday 7
April. I was not one of the dedicated few who tip toed over the ground frost to
get their first open water swim of the season in, however I was there only a
few days later, this time later in the morning, I figured it had a tiny bit of
time to warm up, right? Hahahahaha</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was well equipped with neoprene scull cap, (unkindly named
a ‘gimp hat’ by some of my local triathlon friends!) and neoprene socks! (Trust
me, if I had gloves, I would have worn them too!) I decided that the ‘go for it’
approach was the best one, so I ignored the sharp intakes of breath as the
other swimmers got in, and didn’t dilly dally, I just got on with it, the
sooner I acclimatise and generate heat the better I figured! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The instant ‘ice cream head’ brain freeze pain was the first
thing I noticed, followed by a similar hand sensation! Nope, it did not
subside, gosh it was cold! I think my hands stopped hurting because they went
numb but my ‘ice cream head’ didn’t go away at all, I just got used to it
instead! I felt like I was flailing along, I certainly wasn’t gliding, and it
took almost the entire 850m lap for my arms and legs to decide to co-ordinate
and begin moving in some kind of swimming fashion! I did have to stop for a
moment to let the dizziness subside before the second lap, which felt a little
smoother but gosh it was hard work to motivate my muscles! After standing up
for a while to allow the world to stop spinning after lap two (a little too
long because the head thawed out, thus meaning that when I started lap three
the brain freeze feeling started all over again, just when I had managed to
ignore it!) Three laps was easily quite far enough (and one lap more than I had
expected to stay for). I had to stand there for a while to get my bearings
before I got out, and clearly didn’t thaw to air temperature for long enough,
because the shower felt like it was scalding me! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am sure that brief, arctic like experience will prepare me
for the race next week, somehow!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isn’t it funny the things we do for entertainment and ‘pleasure’!</span></div>nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488687593399154281.post-41697357976110001862012-04-06T18:39:00.000+01:002012-04-06T18:39:22.621+01:00Winter training – getting the fitness back!<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I started the winter, it was with the knowledge that
unlike other years, I was not progressing from a great seasons racing, I was in
fact starting on the project ‘regain fitness’. I lost over two months training
and racing during last summer due to the head injury, and I knew there was a
lot of work to be done. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also faced a traumatic time in the day job, and a change
of job which meant an added commute all contributing factors when it came to
winter training. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I was thankful for though, was the new employer was
every bit as supportive of my GB triathlon pursuits as I needed them to be.
When they called me to offer me the job just before Christmas I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">said ‘erm, there’s something I didn’t get
the chance to tell you, I actually compete for great Britain in triathlon and
will need some time off in April, do you still want to offer me the job?’ </i>Thankfully
they said yes!</span></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ux_jtI0YV3g/T38o80di_tI/AAAAAAAAA1A/jKkMXzddQM0/s1600/IMG_1346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ux_jtI0YV3g/T38o80di_tI/AAAAAAAAA1A/jKkMXzddQM0/s320/IMG_1346.JPG" width="320" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Into the Gym<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The strength training was initially the key focus. I had to
get back the strength that I had lost. Strength = power = speed. The reps were
higher, the weights heavier than before. Coach meant business. One thing I am
good at is doing what I am told regards training as best as I possibly can. </span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Track speed sessions <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many athletes say that winter is about the long slow miles,
base training. Maybe so, but when I asked Jodie Swallow that a few years back,
she said that she continued speed work all year round. So do I, and I have done
since I started working with my track coach Keith Molloy. </span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s all in the mind <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, it most certainly is! When I started my new job in
January, it was a promotion. Most people would be happy about that. Well, I was,
but it also forced me to redress an imbalance that I had had for a long time:
training. I used my training as a way of focussing my anger and frustrations
from the general every day melee and thought about the next training session
quite a lot of the time. In the new job that was not as prominent, and I began
to feel guilty that I was not thinking about training, I was actually
concentrating on working! </span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Putting things in
boxes<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is how I dealt with it. When I am working, I focus on
that 100%. When I am training, I focus on that 100%, and I make sure there is a
slot in the day when I am actually doing neither! I know that each day there
will be a slot for each, and that is ok. In fact, I waste less energy this way,
which should make me more effective. </span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The head injury<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Bc7RofRMQg/T38pXnZhBYI/AAAAAAAAA1I/KExC8FkHPfc/s1600/1244941322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Bc7RofRMQg/T38pXnZhBYI/AAAAAAAAA1I/KExC8FkHPfc/s320/1244941322.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have put the head injury and the losses I incurred as a
result behind me. I cannot change it, I cannot affect it, it is done. I have
moved forward. I still get asked about helmet safety from time to time, and in
fact have been asked to talk to a local Scout group about the importance of
bike helmets. I am pleased that the message is still trickling out, the cases
are still rolling in and I am still adding them to my campaign. I also thank
the Bicycle helmet initiative trust for their continued support with getting
this important message out. </span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The season ahead <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j11X2AYvK1I/T38p2xVzK8I/AAAAAAAAA1Q/hJh-Pyg2f84/s1600/FK7C8840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j11X2AYvK1I/T38p2xVzK8I/AAAAAAAAA1Q/hJh-Pyg2f84/s320/FK7C8840.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The season looms, the first race is only two weeks away, it doesn’t
seem like two minutes that I was complaining that the winter was upon us! I
will continue to look forward with focus, drive and determination knowing that I
continue to give it 100%. That is all you can ask of yourself, and I have a fabulous team of sponsors all of which make all this possible. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you!</span></div>nuuutymelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809144753635571618noreply@blogger.com0