As you might have fed back, I've been pretty poor at writing my blog for a few weeks (ok bit more than a few)....
Firstly there was the week that I ran over 40 miles (still reeling from the shock of that one... as are my knees!).
Followed by the epic KVG L'lle Tweps tour (four countries, three days) which saw horrific weather, and a dastardly railway crossing which took down 8 out of 14 riders, smashed poor Jenny's rear mech (thank goodness for Paula's spare bike) and saw the van crew have to rescue half of us with only 10 miles left. All that said, it was an amazing trip (with some beautiful routes if I say so myself, ahem) with the best company you could ask for. Never have I seen so many people work as a team to make sure that the last day, albeit shorter than the original plan, happened without a hitch. For the full story see our blog: http://kvgabroad.blogspot.co.uk/. Thank you to everyone involved but especially to Paula, Naomi and Emma for their hard work planning the trip and Tim and Claire for being the most amazing support crew ever.
At the end of May I went on one of Giovanna Richards Tri faster courses (highly recommended) and picked up some excellent tips for the following day's race: my second olympic distance triathlon (first being Barcelona last October) at Dorney Lake, and got a personal best by over 8 minutes despite being flustered after being stuck in traffic on the M4 on a Bank Holiday weekend (curse those legolanders).
After another couple of standard 12-15 hour weeks, I got up last Saturday, put my kit on, sat down to breakfast and never finished it. Let's just say that my stomach and I were not on the best of terms for several days resulting in 5 days of complete rest (from a training perspective) and one very grumpy triathlete.
On Thursday I tentatively got back on the turbo trainer and what should have been a relatively easy session was tough but mentally I felt so much better by the end. Which was a relief, as the weekend ahead was scheduled to be the three hardest and longest sessions I have ever done.
The sun was shining on Friday evening which offered a false sense of security, so that the water temperature in the lake was a bit of a surprise. The furthest I've swum in one go in training is about 3 km. The race is 3.8 km (2.4 miles for those of you still working in old money). So it was time to go long. The lake was the clearest I've ever known it (although fortunately I missed the plastic skeleton put there to make things more interesting for the divers - I'm scared to death of seeing it and freaking out). I didn't want to push too hard after being ill so I took it steady, watching my stroke, concentrating on not kicking too much and cruised around the perimeter 3 times. Getting out of the lake I was a little disappointed to have taken 1:34 but reading the routes marked out I did some extra distance by hugging the bank so it was probably more likely around 4 km.
The heavy rain woke me up about 4 am on Saturday and I just had to hope it would blow itself out before morning. It was beautiful and sunny when I set off at 7:45, but the clouds started gathering the nearer I got to Hilden. To add a bit of distance I headed down Powder Mills and ran into my fellow Outlaw in training, spun around and as we headed back from Leigh to Hildenborough the heavens opened up. Then the hail started. Soaked through we arrived cold and wet to find most of the others cowering in the coffee shop trying to delay going out (the sun was shining again). Needless to say they were given short shift and told to get on their bikes, some of us had mileage to do. After a fabulous 29 miles with the girls (thanks to Paula for leading and to Sophie, Hatty and Claire M for your company - especially Sophie for sharing unspeakable tales that make me feel so much better). Quick pit stop to use the bathroom and refill the water bottles and Paula, Claire and I set off again for another 30 or so, this time with a hellish headwind. At 72 miles we parted company and I set off on the next leg alone. Things had been going far too smoothly, 8 miles later I got stung on the leg (though my shorts!) followed by a flat on the back. After a quick change of inner tube I headed for home and changed the gas for air before setting off for the final leg. A total of 113.5 miles for the first time ever.
Sunday was never going to be my idea of a good time especially on tired legs and the going was slow as I set off running, but after around 8 miles my legs seemed to remember what they could do and my pace picked up to its normal speed. Big thank you to the guy in Kings Hill who shouted "You Go Girl" from his van, to the old man in the Poet's estate in Larkfield who said "Keep going, you're doing great" and the person in the black BMW estate who pipped at me twice (once by Morrisons in Larkfield and again coming out of Kings Hill) - no idea who it was but I appreciated the encouragement. To hit 20.1 miles for the first time in my life (3:40) has given my confidence a massive boost. I might actually be able to do this race!
So if you haven't already sponsored me (enormous thanks to those of you who have) and would like to please check out my just giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/Helen-Hardware/
Firstly there was the week that I ran over 40 miles (still reeling from the shock of that one... as are my knees!).
Followed by the epic KVG L'lle Tweps tour (four countries, three days) which saw horrific weather, and a dastardly railway crossing which took down 8 out of 14 riders, smashed poor Jenny's rear mech (thank goodness for Paula's spare bike) and saw the van crew have to rescue half of us with only 10 miles left. All that said, it was an amazing trip (with some beautiful routes if I say so myself, ahem) with the best company you could ask for. Never have I seen so many people work as a team to make sure that the last day, albeit shorter than the original plan, happened without a hitch. For the full story see our blog: http://kvgabroad.blogspot.co.uk/. Thank you to everyone involved but especially to Paula, Naomi and Emma for their hard work planning the trip and Tim and Claire for being the most amazing support crew ever.
At the end of May I went on one of Giovanna Richards Tri faster courses (highly recommended) and picked up some excellent tips for the following day's race: my second olympic distance triathlon (first being Barcelona last October) at Dorney Lake, and got a personal best by over 8 minutes despite being flustered after being stuck in traffic on the M4 on a Bank Holiday weekend (curse those legolanders).
After another couple of standard 12-15 hour weeks, I got up last Saturday, put my kit on, sat down to breakfast and never finished it. Let's just say that my stomach and I were not on the best of terms for several days resulting in 5 days of complete rest (from a training perspective) and one very grumpy triathlete.
On Thursday I tentatively got back on the turbo trainer and what should have been a relatively easy session was tough but mentally I felt so much better by the end. Which was a relief, as the weekend ahead was scheduled to be the three hardest and longest sessions I have ever done.
The sun was shining on Friday evening which offered a false sense of security, so that the water temperature in the lake was a bit of a surprise. The furthest I've swum in one go in training is about 3 km. The race is 3.8 km (2.4 miles for those of you still working in old money). So it was time to go long. The lake was the clearest I've ever known it (although fortunately I missed the plastic skeleton put there to make things more interesting for the divers - I'm scared to death of seeing it and freaking out). I didn't want to push too hard after being ill so I took it steady, watching my stroke, concentrating on not kicking too much and cruised around the perimeter 3 times. Getting out of the lake I was a little disappointed to have taken 1:34 but reading the routes marked out I did some extra distance by hugging the bank so it was probably more likely around 4 km.
The heavy rain woke me up about 4 am on Saturday and I just had to hope it would blow itself out before morning. It was beautiful and sunny when I set off at 7:45, but the clouds started gathering the nearer I got to Hilden. To add a bit of distance I headed down Powder Mills and ran into my fellow Outlaw in training, spun around and as we headed back from Leigh to Hildenborough the heavens opened up. Then the hail started. Soaked through we arrived cold and wet to find most of the others cowering in the coffee shop trying to delay going out (the sun was shining again). Needless to say they were given short shift and told to get on their bikes, some of us had mileage to do. After a fabulous 29 miles with the girls (thanks to Paula for leading and to Sophie, Hatty and Claire M for your company - especially Sophie for sharing unspeakable tales that make me feel so much better). Quick pit stop to use the bathroom and refill the water bottles and Paula, Claire and I set off again for another 30 or so, this time with a hellish headwind. At 72 miles we parted company and I set off on the next leg alone. Things had been going far too smoothly, 8 miles later I got stung on the leg (though my shorts!) followed by a flat on the back. After a quick change of inner tube I headed for home and changed the gas for air before setting off for the final leg. A total of 113.5 miles for the first time ever.
Sunday was never going to be my idea of a good time especially on tired legs and the going was slow as I set off running, but after around 8 miles my legs seemed to remember what they could do and my pace picked up to its normal speed. Big thank you to the guy in Kings Hill who shouted "You Go Girl" from his van, to the old man in the Poet's estate in Larkfield who said "Keep going, you're doing great" and the person in the black BMW estate who pipped at me twice (once by Morrisons in Larkfield and again coming out of Kings Hill) - no idea who it was but I appreciated the encouragement. To hit 20.1 miles for the first time in my life (3:40) has given my confidence a massive boost. I might actually be able to do this race!
So if you haven't already sponsored me (enormous thanks to those of you who have) and would like to please check out my just giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/Helen-Hardware/
