Milford New Year's Eve Duathlon

Milford New Year's Eve duathlon Race Report

Another New Year's Eve, another Milford duathlon. My third in four years and, in my humble opinion, another fantastic event from David Denton. Much like last year the weather was crisp and clear and brought a good turn out of 44 athletes including the relay teams. I was lucky enough to have a small support crew this year (three friends wanted a lift to London and they had no choice but to come with me to the race) and as they sat in the club house I went through the motions of a warm-up before concluding it was far too cold and retired to the club house as well.

It was a cold morning, the lack of hair may have had an impact...?

As always we started at 10:00 prompt and about five athletes set off at the front for the first of two 2.5 mile runs. The undulating course is always a challenge and having not run quickly in many moons my legs spent the first couple of miles wondering why I was going at quicker than Ironman marathon pace. Darren Ridout, an accomplished runner with a sub-34 minute 10k, led the way and we arrived into T1 neck and neck.

Rarely do both feet leave the ground AT THE SAME TIME!

In a moment of deja vu from the 2008 edition he told me that he wasn't the sharpest biker on the planet but I knew the short opening run wouldn't have done much to separate the field and so did my best impression of a quick transition and led onto the 9.2 mile bike leg. Within a mile a cyclist (who I hoped was from a relay team) flew past me and I later found out he posted a huge 23:26 bike split, more than three minutes quicker than my own time and nearly five minutes quicker than the third fastest cyclist on the day! Knowing I stood little to know chance of catching him I settled into my rhythm and focused on beating last year's bike time.

Sometimes people like to know who they're lapping

As I approached the short climb to T2 the relay team (my Mum as communications director reliable informed me I was first individual!) were a considerable distance in front and I had a good lead on third place. Not being one to hold back, and with my coach having given me the rare treat of permission to go hard I pushed as much as my leaden legs would let me and managed to finish with an advantage of just over two and a half minutes from second place Tony Caulton. Slightly slower than last year on the run but seeing as I've spent most of my time over the last two months in the pool this didn't come as much of shock. To cross the line first today was fantastic.

This face is why I race Ironman, lactic acid is not my friend

As always a marvellous race and as well organised as any I have taken part in. The hospitality shown by organisers and competitors alike makes this one of my favourite races of the season and a great way to round off a wonderfully enjoyable 2009. Thanks to everyone who has helped me this year, Alex at La Bicicleta, Sheffield, Lee and Sam at Tri-Topia (can't wait to head back this summer), Scherrit and Corrine at the Bike Whisperer and everyone at Hillingdon Triathletes. What ever 2010 may have in store I wish everyone the best of luck for their up and coming racing season.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Vote John/(Sorry Kitchner!)

It's the closest I'll ever get to a Kitchner-esque 'tashe,
but I still look more like a 70s porn star.

Ah a return to crappy paint-doctored images, this can only mean a special occasion. I found out today I have been nominated for the Triathlon 220 Age Group triathlete of the year. I am genuinely honoured considering some of the names that are on the short represent the best in short, middle and long distance racing in the country. (I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a tad out of place, but what the hell!)

So faithful blog readers, mobilise your friends, family, pets and alter-egos and vote en mass for John.

VOTE HERE

On a more important note, what ever happens thank you to every single person who nominated me, it means a lot. Also, votes for Dave Wardle, Sky Draper, the Tri247 website and all things Hillingdon would be a votes well spent.

1 year older (again)

With annoying consistency my birthday roles round each and every 29th of November. Between the ages of 0-21 it was a novelty to be celebrated with gusto but I seem to have slipped into the mid-20s malaise where its worth a meal out and a beer rather than a huge piss up with several days recovery to follow.

Before writing this I looked back at the similar blog I wrote this time last year regarding where I had come from and where I thought I would be in a years time and once again I am reminded that even the loftiest goals are attainable through hard work and perseverance. I always had a Kona slot in mind when I sat at the Hillingdon Xmas bash in 2008 but never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be the top British age grouper at the event. It has been yet another fantastic year and even though a quick review of 12 months of blogging reveals some major lows, they are out-weighed by the phenomenal highs.

I already know what my targets are for next year in my three "A" races (Roth, Louisville and, if Louisville is a success, Kona) and this year I have more riding on my results than ever. I have told myself that, extenuating circumstances, aside I MUST hit 2/3 of my targets in these races to even consider continuing with triathlon as a career into 2011. These targets are written in black and white on my bedroom door so there is no escaping them.

For once I won't be sharing these targets (yet) as they seem, even to me, to be lofty. Only time will tell if I have ideas above my station (in which case I'll be sat here in 12 months time writing about a significant change in direction) or whether I really can make it in what is one of the toughest and most competitive sports on the planet.

I'll finish with a quote I read on Gordo Bryn's website this last week from the swimming coach Dick Jochums. "People will do the minimum required for success. This is why extremely motivated people can compete with extremely talented people."

Amen Dick, Amen.

Part of new regime is to get strong. I think the paleo diet has its advantages for sure, but if you aren't careful it is just too easy to lose weight and when you're 6'4" this isn't always a positive. I raced South Africa at 73kg and thought skinny = fast. Well at Kona I was about 79kg and I out split myself in the bike and the run, my swim was only 90s slower and without a wetsuit. The last few weeks have seen me hitting the gym and for the most part I've enjoyed it but one thing really annoys me, the people!

I am fortunate enough to have been coached for two years by people who know what they are talking about. An ex-olympic rower and the coaches at the English Institute of Sport taught me how to lift weights. No mean task given I'm not famed for my above par coordination. The contrasts between a "proper" gym and a commercial gym are many. Proper gyms have lifting platforms, free weights, people who have leg muscles, people who have a core and therefore DO NOT require a weight belt for bicep curls. They have athletes who spend as much time lifting as they do resting and no one, repeat no one, would even consider bringing a bleeding mobile phone into the gym to use between sets. No one wears baggy jogging bottoms or casual trainers and the main goal is performance, not the holy trinity of biceps, shoulders and chest!

Anyhow, imagine my delight when looking for the changing rooms at my nearest track I walked into a room I hadn't seen before and was greeting by the site of lifting platforms, bar bells with proper free weights and a proper squat rack. I've just finished my first session there and it was blissfully painful. Know waiting for the bloke on his mobile, in fact, not a mobile in site as I was the only one in the room, free to punish my errant quads as much as I wanted... heaven.

On another note I "raced" the Thirsk 10 miler on Sunday. It was a great day and although I was given strict instructions not to race I thought I'd put the hammer down in the last 2 miles as a birthday present. The photo below was taken just before the aforementioned hammer was dropped. As with all pictures of me at running races I seem to look like a giant.