A new challenge of riding from London to Paris has emerged for two members of the SBR team
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
Florida Kees
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
Video link of the Monaco Ironman 70.3
http://www.xtriathlon.com/videos/23-Ironman_70.3_Monaco_2007.html
Monday, 29 October 2007
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
Post event lessons
And so to the results!
Andre
FRA
M45
46
00:37:22
00:04:44
03:26:58
00:03:49
02:50:02
06:54:22
Andrea
ITA
M30
27
00:31:23
00:03:25
02:58:22
00:03:03
01:44:08
05:13:53
Fiona
GBR
F35
3
00:43:22
00:04:58
03:48:36
00:04:03
01:51:20
06:23:18
Kees
NED
M40
61
00:34:46
00:04:41
03:30:32
00:03:38
01:53:45
05:59:03
Pablo
ESP
M30
44
00:40:15
00:04:13
03:15:52
00:03:26
01:36:11
05:32:18
Marna
RSA
F30
00:42:20
08:12:25
00:00:00
Uwe
GER
M45
18
00:43:30
00:03:40
03:10:08
00:03:37
01:40:30
05:34:08
Chris
GBR
M40
83
00:39:55
00:07:31
03:27:19
00:06:10
02:12:02
06:19:16
Lindsay
GBR
M40
115
00:43:02
00:05:07
04:07:11
00:04:53
02:14:50
07:05:03
Matthias
GER
M45
47
00:47:10
00:06:40
04:05:31
00:05:28
02:03:03
06:55:44
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Don't get a bee in your bonnett
I took the helmet off and the bee flew off into the mist unharmed.
I think he was trying to smuggle himself to Monaco!
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
Water water everywhere
Thursday, 23 August 2007
Narcissism rules OK!
Chris Bennett: 'call me Ironman'
If you see a cyclist speeding past you on the way to work, a runner sprinting up the mad mile to Banstead or a a wet-suited figure in the Guildford Lido on Tuesday night it is probably Optician’s editor Chris Bennett.For the last eight months Chris has been training to take part in the Monaco Ironman 70.3 triathlon and this has meant up to 17 hours of training a week to be ready for the event.On 2 September Chris will swim 2km in the sea, cycle 90km through the French mountains and then run a half marathon. But this is no fun run and cut-off times mean anyone not completing the course fast enough will be removed from the race.Some might ask what possessed Chris to agree to partake in such a punishing event. Surprisingly, he maintains it's all a matter of professionalism. "Last year optical companies Oakley and Transitions decided they would put together a team of opticians to take part in the event and as Optician is the leading journal in the sector they invited us to cover it," he explains. "The coverage impressed the organisers so much they invited me to become their media partner and cover all the athletes’ progress. After a short time they asked me if I would like to take part in the event and it seemed like a good way of getting into the story."When the coaches explained to Chris that Ironman was a life-changing experience, he didn’t quite understand what they meant. "To be able to compete properly you have to change your diet, your sleeping habits and your lifestyle," says Chris. "Exercise becomes an everyday part of your life and the once-impossible becomes your normality."As a father of three, Chris says time is the tightest commodity. "Trying to fit in all the training takes thought and planning. I have three kids, all with friends and clubs to be taxied to, there are things to do around the house, holidays, plus all of my work commitments to juggle," he says. To illustrate this, he describes an average training week.
Monday: visiting clients during the day. Evening: Lower body and abdominal workout at home.
Tuesday: cycle 12 miles to work and 12 miles back home. Evening: 2.5km swim in Guildford Lido.
Wednesday: cycle to work and run home. Evening: yoga and stretching.
Thursday: 3.6km wetsuit swim in Guildford Lido with training drills in the evening.
Friday: run into work and cycle home. Evening: flexibility training.
Saturday: bike 32km then straight into a 5km run – repeat three times consecutively.
Sunday: one-hour recovery run.
And this is for just half the full Ironman distance - the 70.3 is the distance of the race in miles.Despite the gruelling training schedule, Chris insists the Ironman philosophy improves your whole life. "Ironman is as much about the mental as the physical," he says. "You have to plan your life, family and work to live in harmony. This makes you take a more measured approach to everything."As well as the commercial benefits for Optician, the project has helped the magazine engage its community of readers and develop web 2.0 streams. "Optician invited readers to become part of the Ironman team through the magazine and lots of readers expressed interest. The eventual team member's progress has been followed in the mag and she has become a minor celebrity within optics."At the heart of the coverage is Chris’s team blog, which has been phenomenally successful and, he says, could easily work across markets as a blueprint for other sponsored, third-party blogs for similar events.In fact he believes triathlons could be an ideal event for other RBI magazines to explore as commercial sponsored events. "You would be amazed by the type of people taking part in Ironman events - they are successful business people not sports jocks," he says. "The Monaco 70.3 is sponsored by an investment bank and the participants are intelligent, successful people who use their training to maintain their physical and mental edge. It also has the attraction of including loads of gadgets and travelling to exotic locations. The ethos is all about excellence and achievement in an atmosphere of exclusivity."For Chris, the personal rewards far outweigh the commercial possibilities. "When I first agreed to do the Ironman my concerns were whether I could finish, now I am beginning to think about how good a time I can get. The changes I feel physically and mentally are staggering and I feel empowered by the whole process. My body has changed shape and I have endurance to do things I would never have considered before."But, of course, not everybody shares his enthusiasm. "My partner thinks I’m having a mid-life crisis and have become obsessed with exercise. She nearly fell off her chair when I said no to a beer last week," he says. "All I Know is I feel great, if a little smug, when I hear the ‘young free and singles’ moaning in the lift about how tired they are - it makes me laugh."
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
WHAT A JOURNEY …….OAKLEY TRANSITIONS AND LYCRA
Swimming in open water wearing a wetsuit in the freezing cold, or in the choppy sea and dirty lakes.
Learning to spot so that it’s possible to go in the correct direct whilst literally tasting both the salt water of the sea and the muddy water whist swimming in the UK lakes!
So many lessons for cycling:
From: what to wear (shorts too padded, not padded enough), Nutrition before, during and after training, what to drink (can be as simple as 100%pure apple juice with water and a pinch of salt).
To: how to assemble, set up and maintain bikes (and break them………managed to snap a rear derailleur) but also hours and hours of sitting on a bicycle up crazy hills with gradients of up to 25% and down steep hills judging when to break.
The running I thought would be ok but trying to run after cycling for 3-4 hours is like having legs that feel as though they belong to someone else, and that they are also in control of these legs.
The UK weather always presents a challenge for the intense training: -frost, rain and also the blazing heat of Monaco, not forgetting the high winds of Futurventura. These are all factors that have to be overcome to dig up that motivation. Oakley Transitions Half Jackets satisfies nearly all of such weather conditions. The rain it seems is still difficult one.
Already I have reached limits of training that I didn’t know I was capable of and I cannot believe. I also feel as though I have someone else’s body (and I think my Husband thinks that too) with muscles that I never knew I had but also sooo many clothes that don’t fit!
And finally one fear and probably the most intimidating of all is ‘the triathlon race suit’…….bright blue ‘spandex’ looking babygrow! An old Gentleman was awaiting his eye examination today as the lycra race gear arrived at work, all I can say is …he was smiling!
Monday, 20 August 2007
The final furlong
We are all on the final leg of our journey now so I hope everyone is ready. Why not share you final thoughts with the rest of the team?
Chris
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Impressed and jealous
DearPablo and Fiona,
You guys are looking fit! I was feeling pretty good with my own training but how am I going to keep up with you two. I am really impressed you should be proud of your acheivements.
Also Pablo I am really jealous of your scenery and your weather. Autumn has arrived early in England, the wind is blowing and the rain is falling I have been riding with my raincoat on this weekend.
Sunday, 12 August 2007
2 ½ weeks to go and I literally cannot afford to loose any more weight!
1hr 15 minute swim,
3.5 hr cycle,
1hr 40min run
Another 1hr 15min swim
Plus……..
2 BRICK sessions (brick being either a swim followed by a cycle or cycle directly followed by a run )
1hr swim followed by 1hr 40min cycle
And………
25km cycle followed by 30min run (Repeat this 3 times!!)
About 3 or 4 weeks ago my suits for work were hanging off me (my step son Jake used the words of Vicky Pollard ‘it is well shameful, dressed like that’)
So a few weeks ago I went shopping with my Aunt Pat and brought some new suits but can you believe it, even these are becoming too big!
I thought this weeks schedule may be a little easier …………….only 13-14hrs not 15!
(but the crazy thing is i love .......i'm addicted!)
Friday, 27 July 2007
Work life balance
People are beginning to talk.
And I think I know why, here is a shot of me at my desk.
This week I decided to go for it and run to and from work. I live about 12 miles ( 19km) from work which makes it the ideal distance for one of Mario's endurance runs. I have cycled in for years but decided to cycle in, leave the bike here and run home, then run into work a couple of days later. Excellent training. The only trouble is my desk has ended up looking like the end of season sale at the sports shop.
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
BORN TO TRI....
Swim ok, very good, no fast but never stop, I finish not very tired, some annoyed...
Thursday, 19 July 2007
THE ONLY BONUS OF BEING SICK …………….
How about this for a challenge.. The Irongorilla
Monday, 16 July 2007
The Surrey Slog
Monday, 9 July 2007
This sporting life
Share your thoughts.
Wednesday, 4 July 2007
Pablo ( Picasso) ?
An exciting swim
Apparently swimming pools have to be closed for 30 minutes after lightning has been heard in the area for safety reasons.
In the end we got in the pool and had a swim, after aboit 10 minutes the heavens opened and it started to hail really hard -- a most bizarre experience. It's great fun until you have to get out and change!
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
Monday, 2 July 2007
Something to cheer up Fiona
Fiona, If it is any consolation I went out for a couple of runs this weekend and a cycle on Saturday morning. It absolutely pi**ed down with rain. I did a hilly circuit around Leith Hill through the country lanes. there was one lane where the farmer takes the cattle out so I also has a cowshit shower --just to top it all off.
Get well soon.
Friday, 29 June 2007
wot a come down
Wow my shoulders ache
Thursday, 28 June 2007
send me those pictures!
Thursday, 14 June 2007
A quick trip into history
Needless to say I have renwewed passion for the bike and a great retro Peugeot jersey to go with my leather Brooks saddle.
Monday, 11 June 2007
How many speeds do you have
I have three speeds: Slow, not quite so slow and dying.
This week I had this in my prgramme:
Run (80')10 mins warm up - 3200m Zone2, 30 s rest - 1600m Zone3, 30 s rest - 200m Zone4, 60 s rest - 200m Zone2, 30 s rest 200m Zone4, 60 s rest - 200m Zone2, 30 s rest - 400m Zone1 - 10 mins cool down Mini speedwork is introduced. Best done on a treadmill or track.
I will try my best
Wednesday, 6 June 2007
Ooooooppppss
Resting is hard work
I read Lance Armstrong's book ' Every second counts' on the way there so I was all fired up when I returned on Monday.When I returned home I saw that Mario had put some stretching and strength session into Sport-Control for me.
Having got into the habit of 4hour Sunday rides I thought this would be easy. No way
Wow, it's hard, I haven't ached so much since Feuteventura!
Thursday, 31 May 2007
Has Mario gone soft?
Saturday 240min bike bricked with 30 minute run
Sunday 3kms in the pool
Monday (holiday in the UK) 22km run ( in the rain)
I checked into Sport Control to fill in my details and I had a surprise.
Mario has given me a rest!
How is your training????
I am going to send everyone an email with some questions about their training so look out for the email and fill it in!
Friday, 25 May 2007
That shirt gets wide exposure
The Transitions Tri-top got more exposure this week when I was put on a shortlist of the 'best dressed' in the company. I was caught in the lobby on my way to change into my work clothes. This image has been posted on our intranet site for employees to vote on so about 4,000 magazine and website publishing folk are looking at it now.
I hope I win there's a £50 prize.
(sorry about the Rudy Project glasses)
Thursday, 24 May 2007
Latest on Uwe
thanks for demand
it could be better...recovery is very slow
on sunday I tried the first tour on bike...but, after one hour my knee looked like a water melon..puh
..frustration
so I have to change my goal ( a little ;-))...the challenge is: to train without pain and to stay in
the otit team
best regards
uwe
training impossible...but publicity for Transition and Oakley
the very special transition lenses..not only for outdoor sports :-)
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
Get those wetsuits on guys
If you get the chance it is well worth swimming in your wetsuit to see the difference in buoyancy( good) but also in the restriction of movement( bad).
One of the guys there also said you should change your technique in a wetsuit to reach more. My wetsuit is 10 years old, I don't think I have changed shape that much but the suit may have lost some flexibility. Does anyone know anything about swimming wetsuits?
I must admit I was blown away by the scene. It was a fabulous sunny evening with the sun shining on the water. I've suddenly decided that swimming isn't so bad after all.
Monday, 21 May 2007
Am I hallucinating?
On Sunday I had another four hour ride starting at 6 0'clock in the morning. The brids were out: pheasants, jays and woodpeckers. The lambs were frollicking in the fields, I saw some deer and what the hell's that? A white rabbit crossing the road!
At least it wasn't six foot tall ( and called Harvey).
What a great ride; 3 hours 55 and 109km including a few hills average heart rate 119.
I have found a magic formula for food.
On the bike:
1ltr of water and 0.5lt of power drink ( High 5)
In pockets:
1 banana
1 peanut butter sandwich
1 handful of raisins
After 0.5hrs -- start drinking water, then continue as you see fit
1hr eat banana
2hrs eat peanut butter sandwich
2.5 -3hrs start on the power drink
3-3.5hr raisins and last of the water
Thursday, 17 May 2007
The latest Optician article
http://www.opticianonline.net/assets/getAsset.aspx?ItemID=2453
Pablo rides again
Uwa with a big fall on bike, Andrea sick, and the other members are ok??
I hope yes.
Kees, CONGRATULATIONS!! i think you are very good, no injured and go to married in the next days, it´s perfect.
For me, i´m well, some days better, somedays no so much better, no so much time for to make all. Yesterday I saw the accident of Uwa , and i think, i have to have becarefull with the bike, is dangerous..., and today, i can´t believe!!! i have had and accident also!! I don´t see a stone in the road and i went out of the road. NO problem, I´m ok, was a fall in the field, I went away out of the highway, lucky for me, blows for all body, back, head (with helmet ofcourse), arms.., but only I have a litle pain in my neck. The bike is ok, is neccesary adjust, but i think is no a problem. My MP3 is dead..., 1 minute of silence please..., and my Oakley Sunglases (the firts, the best for
me...) are dead also... another minute..
Wednesday, 16 May 2007
Swimming in the rain
Tuesday, 15 May 2007
Has anyone done any open water swimming yet?
Thursday, 10 May 2007
Ouch, that' s got to hurt
He wrote to Roland:
But since last friday it´s impossible for me to do any training.
I had a bad accident with the bike...and now I´ve a big problem with my
knee and my hip
But, I´ll try to give my best and hope to see you
in Nizza !!!
all the best.... and take
care!
mh, "the last minutes on the bike"
I'm sure I speak for everyone when I wish Uwe the speediest of recoveries.
Tuesday, 1 May 2007
Fiona in the spotlight
Tuesday, 17 April 2007
Peter's Nutrition Talk
The evening session on day two focused on nutrition. This was a popular topic of
conversation among the team.
This was lead by Reid. ‘Nutrition is the one
topic everyone wants to know about,’ he said outlining the different stages to
consider. On race day everyone wants to know what to eat but how to avoid
stomach problems.
‘As a science I consider nutrition to be in the dark ages,
we just don’t understand it and there’s no magic formula. I can have two races
where I eat the same. In one race I will be flying and in the other I will feel
terrible. Everybody is different, it’s a question of trial and error. Before
giving his experience he warned: ‘This isn’t the bible, but it might help. Don’t
experiment on race day, do it during training.’
There are four kinds of food
he said:
Junk, don’t go there
Protein, such as fish, meat, or vegetarian
alternatives.
Carbohydrates like breads, pasta and vegetables
Fats such as
butter, milk and yoghurt
Reid explained the idea of the eight week rule
where, within reason, anything goes until eight weeks before a race.
If you
try and anal about the quality and quantity of the food you eat all year round
you will crack, he predicted.
Reid said the eight week approach was taken by
Lance Armstrong and was the one he chose to follow during his winning stints as
the world triathlon champion. Reid said as the race approach the regime must
become stricter so no additional bodyweight remained by race day.
‘Ironman
athletes are like supremely efficient cars that can go on forever on a litre of
fuel. Sugar is an evil potion. Good on race day to get you to the line but not
good to get you ready.
All of the food going in should be quality. Quality
fats, quality proteins, quality carbs
The issue of vitamin supplements was
another hot topic for Reid. He said while he had tried them he didn’t believe
anyone with a good diet would really benefit . But, ‘If it makes you feel good,’
why not take them.
Huys took a slightly harder line. ‘If you buy vitamins the
only person who wins is the guy who sells you the vitamins.’
Reid took an
equally hard line on ‘lite’ products. ‘The majority of lite products have
sweeteners in them that they feed to pigs to make them eat more,’ he claimed.
The product might not have calories but it messes with your brain, said
Reid.
One of the worst things you can do is have something high in sugar
before a session because your body wants to burn that sugar you will not be able
to have a fat burning session.
Of interest to some was the issue of losing
weight. Reid suggested upping the amount of protein consumed. Protein was a good
regulator of hunger so eat plenty at breakfast and you won’t be so hungry after
your workouts. When shopping look for full fat foods such as yoghurts because
they have more protein. ‘Whey is the best form of protein you can get,’ he
added.
Once you are close to the race there are other issues to
think about. Don’t have a massive meal the night before a race have it two days
before and eat normally the day before the race. Two to three hours before the
race have a shake.
Once out of the swim get on the bike and have a Power Bar.
On the bike have Power Bar drink, water and gels. During the race you don’t have
to do the right thing you just need to get to the finish line.
Use the
proprietary drinks like Power Bar that have sodium and electrolytes in. Use
preparations with Maltodextrin, a complex slow burning carbohydrate. This
releases slowly into the blood so doesn’t create the sugar spike of sugary
drinks. But beware, take water on board too as the stomach can only take so many
sugary drinks.
Half way around the race you get a special needs bag so put
something in it you can look forward to. But make sure it is something that will
taste good during a major workout. Exercise changes your taste buds.
The
final warning from Reid was that a lot of people overeat during the race. ‘There
will be plenty of food at the finish line,’ he added:
After a race
and after a training session have a banana, yoghurt or toast within 30 minutes
to replenish nutrients and energy within and hour and a half have a
meal.
There were many other points of contention such as training on an empty
stomach or a full one, training in the morning or the evening discussed by Reid.
But, he concluded that everyone is different and so much of it is common
sense.
Just strip back your diet to the basics of protein, carbs and fats and
everyone can eat well, loose weight and be healthy, said Reid.
Monday, 16 April 2007
A quiz
Hit in the face with a brick
Friday, 13 April 2007
Links to Fiona coverage
Monday, 2 April 2007
Le Grande depart -- look at the link
All safely back home
Thursday, 22 March 2007
I'm ready
yes the flight is OK, IB 878 IBERIA arrival time 14:00 in fuerteventura.
Chris my bike is just in a hard box all pieces taken apart,a friend of mine has lend me.
See you in feurteventura
regards
ANDREA
A white wedding?
The snow interrupts our training on the bike but the camp in Fuerteventura will be even more special -- sun and warmth.
Dear Fiona,
I am sure I speak for everyone connected with the Oakley Transitions Ironman Team in wishing you the very best for your wedding tomorrow. Hope it goes well.
Chris GBR
Wednesday, 21 March 2007
Living in a box
If the answer is "no" then I suggest you do it quick. It is not as easy as you might think.
So far this has been the most painful aspect of my Ironman preparations!
Monday, 19 March 2007
Mario, in answer to your e-mail..........
how are you? Few days and see you in Fuerteventura.
I can't write an e-mail to Mario, all 3 that I've wrote him are come back with an error, and so I hope he read this blog.
FOR MARIO:
Hi Mario,
I'm well and I hope are you too, in answer to your e-mail:
yes I'm looking forward to meet all you in fuerteventura and to made many km in bike in group. I'm following exatly your training plan but I'm not still sure of my maximun heart rate. First week after Monaco I assume my hr max 185 and I have regulated my cardio computer with this value, but the training I think was too hard, for example to run at 85% the pace was 3'50" at km and this is near to my max pace on 10 km,this was suspicion for me and so I've changed in 180 the max hr.Two weeks with this value and now in this week I have tried to see my real max hr and by myself I have cheked.In a run of 1600m 4 time 400 m increase to max.With this metod my max hr is 172.
Is it possible for you?
How do you think?
In Fuerteventura can you check my hr max in the run?
Sorry for your time and see you in Fuerteventura.
Regards
Andrea Strada
All hail the Ironman
What a fantastic morning Sunday was. Sunny and crisp.
Got out of the house nice and early, well it was Mothering Sunday after all, to get the bike ride in before the day got underway.
Got half way up Box Hill and what this? Snow, wind and hail. I know we British have an obession with the weather but what is going on. Is is global warming or El Nino?
Chris Bennett GBR
PS- Sorry for pushing Ceorgia's picture off of the top of the blog!
Saturday, 17 March 2007
Swim problem
From yesterday i'm 39° fever, stop training again......but today is just better,and maibe tomorrow i restart.
Dear Kees and Pablo,
these are my two methods to count lengths: if i have to swim for a long distance continuosly (1000 m 1500 m),i count how many times i complete 200 m,it's more easy to hold in mind. Another metod:if you know your average pace on 100m,at the end of session you can control your total split to be sure to have completed the distance, in this case you need a cronograph. I hope is useful for you.
Regards
see you soon in fuerteventura.
ANDREA
Friday, 16 March 2007
Vous avez raison!
I only have ten fingers Vladirmir, can I stop at 10 lengths?
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
1.500 m SWIM, 60 LENGHTS OF SWIMMING POOL
I get lost..., 23, 36, 48, .... 46? , 58? shit, it was taking 48? 58? 44?
I am doing two more or less, or ten more or ten less, probably they were 58 ....? That madness, another day there were 160 lengths.....
See you in Fuerteventura!
Pablo ESP
TEAM PROGRAM IN FUERTEVENTURA
I'm joking, i'm looking forward for this.
Were we will swim? in the sea or in the pool?we must carry the westsuit?
How many degrees there are in the night?
It's possible rain easy?
Thank you
Andrea
Monday, 12 March 2007
Things that make it all worthwhile
I will try and remember to take a camera next time!
The rest of the day was even harder as I have to get my allotment ( vegetable garden ) in order before the Spring arrives for real.
Chris GBR