This morning it was good to welcome Jack back to Bedford Parkrun after a bit of a break, his time wasn't too shabby either.
Conditions were good for running as there was no wind and the early rain had stopped before the run started. Sian took full advantage and clocked a new PB in her 101st Parkrun and in the process broke through the 35 minute barrier!
The times were:
Chris Wright 29th in 21.53
Jack Wilkinson 34th in 22.18
Les Potts 67th in 24.40
Pete Jones 80th in 25.34
Sian Jones 166th in 34.49
Well done all.
Saturday 29 November 2014
Tuesday 25 November 2014
In the wheel tracks of Olympic champions
Yesterday I had a day out to remember courtesy of a birthday present from Lois. As a complete surprise to me she got me a voucher that entitled me to go and ride on the Olympic Velodrome at the Olympic Park in Statford, home of the 2012 Olympic Games and the venue at which many of Britain's gold medals were won.
Lois accompanied me to the velodrome and acted as supporter and photographer.
It was an amazing experience and the building and track were superb. Having only seen it on TV it is hard to imaging how steep the end banking is and I have to admit to being a bit nervous before things got started. This didn't help when I was changed and ready to go in the centre of the track.
Thankfully there was a very experienced coach on hand to take us through the technical and practical aspect of the experience. One thing that was very tricky, for me at least, was the fact that the gearing is fixed, i.e. if the wheels are going round so are the pedals. Also there are no gears and no brakes! If you are going round at speed you cannot stop quickly (unless you hit something) and you must keep pedalling.
We started off on the inside of the track and then eventually moved onto the lower level of the track itself (and the steeper banking). It transpired that the key to being safe on the banking was to keep pushing on and we were warned about taking it easy on the banking which was flagged up as being a recipe for disaster.
After initial forays on the flat area and the lower levels of the track I very quickly found myself told to move up to the next line (the black one) and to speed up. Next time round it was "up to the red line and speed up" and again on the next lap "above the blue and speed up some more". By this time my cadence felt pretty quick and after 5 or 6 minutes at that cadence and pushing round the bends I felt very warm and rather weary. Mind you I didn't dare slow down at that point for fear of falling off on the banking. Thankfully we were all told to slow down and stop for a quick debrief at that point.
With 15 minutes of our session left we were told we could go for it again and that we could keep going for the rest of the session. That doesn't sound like long but at speed on a fixed wheel bike and pushing through the corners it sure felt like it to me. Thankfully my fitness levels were just good enough to last out the session, which was good as i got to whizz past some of the youngsters towards the end of the session that had been passing me earlier.
All in all a really great experience and I have a feeling Lois and I may end up back there at some point possibly to try out their mountain bike track.
Here are a few photos and, if it works, a video clip taken fairly early on in the session.
Chris
Lois accompanied me to the velodrome and acted as supporter and photographer.
It was an amazing experience and the building and track were superb. Having only seen it on TV it is hard to imaging how steep the end banking is and I have to admit to being a bit nervous before things got started. This didn't help when I was changed and ready to go in the centre of the track.
Thankfully there was a very experienced coach on hand to take us through the technical and practical aspect of the experience. One thing that was very tricky, for me at least, was the fact that the gearing is fixed, i.e. if the wheels are going round so are the pedals. Also there are no gears and no brakes! If you are going round at speed you cannot stop quickly (unless you hit something) and you must keep pedalling.
We started off on the inside of the track and then eventually moved onto the lower level of the track itself (and the steeper banking). It transpired that the key to being safe on the banking was to keep pushing on and we were warned about taking it easy on the banking which was flagged up as being a recipe for disaster.
After initial forays on the flat area and the lower levels of the track I very quickly found myself told to move up to the next line (the black one) and to speed up. Next time round it was "up to the red line and speed up" and again on the next lap "above the blue and speed up some more". By this time my cadence felt pretty quick and after 5 or 6 minutes at that cadence and pushing round the bends I felt very warm and rather weary. Mind you I didn't dare slow down at that point for fear of falling off on the banking. Thankfully we were all told to slow down and stop for a quick debrief at that point.
With 15 minutes of our session left we were told we could go for it again and that we could keep going for the rest of the session. That doesn't sound like long but at speed on a fixed wheel bike and pushing through the corners it sure felt like it to me. Thankfully my fitness levels were just good enough to last out the session, which was good as i got to whizz past some of the youngsters towards the end of the session that had been passing me earlier.
All in all a really great experience and I have a feeling Lois and I may end up back there at some point possibly to try out their mountain bike track.
Here are a few photos and, if it works, a video clip taken fairly early on in the session.
Chris
Monday 24 November 2014
Milton Keynes Movember Run 23.11.14
It was like a FlitwickTri day out at Milton Keynes on Sunday morning. It was however a great shame that the weather decided not to cooperate and the annual MK Movember run took place in deluge.
The wet weather did not however stop 693 runners taking part in the 10K run and 247 people taking part in the 5K run.
There were some excellent outfits on display including santa, his elves, a turkey and his sleigh.
Jason came along to act as shelter (with a large golf umbrella), bag drop, photographer and support. All much appreciated by some very soggy runners.
The times and places were:
10K
Chris Wright 51st in 47.40
Fiona Jones 455th in 1.05.55
Pete Jones 456th in 1.05.55
5K
Les Potts 135th in 34.39
Chloe Potts 136th in 34.39
Sian Jones 183rd in 38.14
Here are some after and before pictures.
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Despite the weather a good time was had by all.
Chris
The wet weather did not however stop 693 runners taking part in the 10K run and 247 people taking part in the 5K run.
There were some excellent outfits on display including santa, his elves, a turkey and his sleigh.
Jason came along to act as shelter (with a large golf umbrella), bag drop, photographer and support. All much appreciated by some very soggy runners.
The times and places were:
10K
Chris Wright 51st in 47.40
Fiona Jones 455th in 1.05.55
Pete Jones 456th in 1.05.55
5K
Les Potts 135th in 34.39
Chloe Potts 136th in 34.39
Sian Jones 183rd in 38.14
Here are some after and before pictures.
Despite the weather a good time was had by all.
Chris
Saturday 22 November 2014
Bedford Parkrun - 22.11.14
It was a big day at Bedford Parkrun this morning as Sian Jones joined the 100 club completing her 100th Parkrun. Very well done and a great achievement.
As well as Pete and Sian Jones there were another 203 runners taking part.
Times were:
Pete Jones 196th in 35.52
Sian Jones 197th in 36.55
As well as Pete and Sian Jones there were another 203 runners taking part.
Times were:
Pete Jones 196th in 35.52
Sian Jones 197th in 36.55
Friday 21 November 2014
Bedford Parkrun - 15.11.14
Last week there were three FlitwickTri runners taking part in the weekly Parkrun as part of a field of 228.
Conditions weren't too bad for running and Steve almost took advantage of this and finished just outside hi PB.
The times were:
Steve Clough 38th in 22.43
Pete Jones 114th in 27.36
Sian Jones 220th in 37.44
Conditions weren't too bad for running and Steve almost took advantage of this and finished just outside hi PB.
The times were:
Steve Clough 38th in 22.43
Pete Jones 114th in 27.36
Sian Jones 220th in 37.44
Sunday 9 November 2014
Stort 30 Ultra
The STORT30 is an out & back 30 mile ultra race along the River Stort in Hertfordshire. The route is mostly grassy trail or footpath. Importantly it is generally flat although uneven underfoot and muddy in places. There were checkpoints every 5 miles.
The weather was pretty good being cool, dry and only a little wind.
Given the distance Liam & I planned to run at a modest pace with the emphasis simply on completing our first Ultra rather than trying to finish in a predetermined time.
The first 10 miles went relatively well albeit we probably ran faster than we should have given the conditions underfoot and the race distance. However by the time we reached the halfway checkpoint I was suffering. One knee, my calves and in particular those muscles just above the knee were painful with cramp.
Unfortunately I only managed a further 5 painful miles when given that there was still a another 10 miles to the finish I decided to retire and was transported back to base by a nice young lady.
Liam, having stayed with me until about mile 17/18, was relatively "fresh" He continued the race and despite suffering some painful cramp in the latter stages completed his first Ultra in 5 hours 59 minutes. He would have been at least 15 minutes faster had he not stayed with me for so long.
Liam was placed 145th out of a field of approx. 200.
Bedford Parkrun - 08.11.14
Yesterday it was left to me alone to represent Flitwick Tri at the Bedford Parkrun.
The weather was pretty much ideal with dry conditions and a cool temperature. This meant 228 runners were attracted to the race.
I managed to get round the 5K in a time of 21.48 and that was good enough for 22nd place.
Chris Wright
The weather was pretty much ideal with dry conditions and a cool temperature. This meant 228 runners were attracted to the race.
I managed to get round the 5K in a time of 21.48 and that was good enough for 22nd place.
Chris Wright
Saturday 1 November 2014
Bedford Parkrun - 01.11.14
The morning looked rather grim when I woke up but as Les and I made our way up to Bedford the sky became more and more blue. By the time the start arrived the weather was lovely.
The morning was the annual Halloween fancy dress run and there were plenty of the 208 runners in fancy dress. On witch in particular was particularly impressive.
Our results were:
Chris Wright 19th in 21.58
Les Potts 64th in 24.58
The morning was the annual Halloween fancy dress run and there were plenty of the 208 runners in fancy dress. On witch in particular was particularly impressive.
Our results were:
Chris Wright 19th in 21.58
Les Potts 64th in 24.58
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