Helvellyn Tri 2005

..it's never too late to start the Tri season...Saturday 10th September

A mile swim in Ullswater, a 37 mile bike ride (climbing 4250 feet), taking in Kirkstone Pass and the infamous 1in4 Struggle, followed by a 9 mile run (climbing 3150 feet) up Helvellyn, England’s 3rd tallest peak.

Although seriously un-swim-fit - I just had to tri ;) this event out. I’ve never had the pleasure of a hill run in a tri before. 400 entries – possibly 50 odd no shows..

I got a rotten dose of calf cramp in my right leg as a result of a really poor swim - (I see from the results there were less than 20 bikes left in transition when I got out the water...!!) It made itself known on that first climb away from Ullswater, then kept threatening to lock up all the way round. Scared to stand on the pedals properly for fear of being unable to continue, I stretched and drank and stretched and drank and drank and stopped and peed and stretched until eventually it loosened off before Ambleside (80% of the way round). I'd been to and froing with this elderly lady on a sit up and beg bike with mudguards... very humiliating. I was fortunate my calf didn't lock up on The Struggle, though. Managed to make up 100 or so places on the bike.

Run went well - although I paid for all the previous anti cramp drinking with 2 more pee stops! I must have made up 50 or so places on the climb and another 30 or so on the descent. It did feel a little weird to be up in the fells in a triathlon unitard, however...

What a great race - no contrived distances - no artificial trademark - just a mile in the water, a complete tour of the Helvellyn massif on the most logical (and challenging)
bike route and a trip up the mountain and back on your feet (just).

More details here: http://www.trihard.co.uk/HelvellynHome.htm

Although it was a little bit of a rush getting my buddy from Chester back to Oxenholme for a train at 19.30, we managed to get up Scafell, then scramble over to Scafell Pike on a beautiful Sunday. England's 3 highest tops in a weekend and back in Inverness before 1 am, Monday.

Have it!

Edinburgh Marathon 2005 - on residual fitness

A drizzly start saw a reported 11000 runners take to Edinburgh's streets to try a flatter course over the classic 26 mile distance. Despite less than 30 miles running training in the last 6 months I decided to "give it a bash" as some kind of weird experiment to see what sort of "Residual Fitness" I typically retain over a winter of skiing at 8000 - 10,000 feet and beer quaffing. The opportunity came on 1st June as one of Chris' colleagues decided he wouldn't be running.

Armed with loaded bottle belt and far too many gels, I (code name Bill Fisher) set off through the streets and bike paths of my Senior School and University days.. The weather cleared up and I managed to maintain a reasonably constant 8m30 pace until about the 17 mile mark where it started to get sore..

Worst bit was Miles 20 through 23 - I think they took me about 30 mins with repeated stretching stops and various false re-starts !!

Finish was fine - Miles 23 through finish in about 23 minutes - seemed easier running uphill !!

Managed 3h45m26 which was quicker than I could have hoped for and only a few minutes slower than my Ironman run split (the only other time I've raced the distance - albeit with 3.8kms swimming and 180kms cycling before it) last year..

New course was ok if not a little dull along the sea front from Cramond to Portobello.

Full results here:

http://www.edinburgh-marathon.co.uk/uk/results/