Thames Turbo Triathlon

The Isle of Man has the TT races, well Hampton Pool has the TTT races. This morning David, Danny and I went along to observe the proceedings so we would have some idea of what to do if we wanted to have a go ourselves later in the summer.

Much as we all enjoy an early start and getting up earlier on a bank holiday than a work day; we didn’t quite make it in time for the pre-race briefing at 6.45am. We arrived shortly after 8am, which handily coincided with some of the slower swimmers doing their 12 lengths (it’s a long pool, 12 lengths is 400 metres). From our excellent view point on the balcony we tried hard to spot people who are equally  bad at swimming as ourselves. Hard to judge but there were plenty of breaststrokers out there and some people even took a very quick breather at the end of each length.

We also had a great view over the transition area and the exit point for the bike section, where we spotted all manner of bikes and lots of people not wearing clippy-cloppy bike shoes but bog-standard trainers. No one seemed to be participating on a Brompton though…

The next wave of swimmers then began their swim. Each competitor is given an allotted time to start their swim according to their time prediction, and within each wave swimmers start at 15 second intervals. If you want to overtake in the pool, the etiquette is to tap the feet of the person ahead of you, who will then let you pass at the end of the lane. However not everyone bothers with this and we saw sevaral near collisions. Oh well, at least people don’t actually swim over the top of you, apparently that happens in open water swims.

On watching these swimmers we were very glad we’d seen the previous lot. These guys were proper swimmers, all front crawling and tumble turning like anything.

We then went out on to the road to watch the start and end of the bike section. (This is 21 k and heads towards Sunbury and back). Due to the long staggered start of these races there is plenty to watch at all times. Gerry (a fellow Straggler (we saw many other Stragglers and bptters throughout the morning)) was in charge of the bike mount. You have to get on your bike (and off it again) at a specific spot or risk disqualification. It’s all very complicated this triathloning. Across the road was the bike dismount area. The roads are not closed for the event, so to avoid people getting run over there is a seven minute ‘time out’ during which you slow down and cross over when the marshalls tell you. Gives you a little breather before the run too… The whole event seemed incredibly well organised, marshalled and signposted throughout. It had a really friendly feel to it too.

We then walked through to Bushy Park to see the end of the run section (5k – none of us are worried about this bit!) and the overall finish. Strangely this seemed the most low-key part of the entire course – because of the staggered start no-one knows who is winning or how well any one is doing. It clearly requires lots of concentration and focus to keep yourself going at a good pace.

We then headed back to the pool and were forced to sit around in the sun chatting for half an hour or so – watching sport is exhausting. Some results were up but we couldn’t make head or tail of them and left before the prize giving.

David took some photos of the event which you can see here http://www.davidrowe.co.uk/photos/72157600058236477/

In order to take some of these shots he had to enter the ‘no spectators allowed’ section. However when he told them he was with swimkirsty.com they let him through no problem :o)

A very enjoyable morning that’s all done and dusted by 10.30!

Oh yes….. I’d better mention it…… David and I have both entered race 3 on 28th May……

Report on inaugaral swimclub outing – The Boat Race

Much excitement today as we had our first ever swimclub outing – to the boat race! We strolled through the cemetry (having an intellectual conversation about the difference between cemetries and graveyards) and went to collect Nicola and possibly Stuart. He decided to go on his bike so the rest of us set of for the bus stop. Danny and David appeared to get abducted by aliens on the way but were beamed back just in time to catch the bus.

None of us were 100% certain where we were going, and David’s handy map only confused us further and created several debates about where the north and south of the river are. However through the power of the mobile phone we discovered that Hammersmith Bridge was our destination, where we met up with Graham, Jon and Natasha.

More heated debate ensued about which was the correct side of the river to be on, eventually we found a spot which we mainly liked as it gave a good view of spectators who might get wet later. It was also next to some people who I briefly considered mugging for their picnic as we were incredibly slack in this area.

We stood around for a while discussing the important issues of the day i.e Graham, Danny and David’s bptt pbs. Nicola gave us regular updates on what was happening in numerous sporting events from her wide range of semi-working technology.

First bit of excitement was the b-team/reserves or whoever they were in the preliminary race. It was so exciting that I can’t remember who won or who was in the lead when they went past us.

Then shortly after half past four came the main event and real excitement ensued as the boats came into sight under Hammersmith Bridge. Oxford were leading as they went past us which displeased the Cambridge graduates amongst us. However through the power of Nic’s half tv screen we soon found out that Cambridge won so everyone was happy (because the rest of us didn’t really care either way).

Next on the agenda was food and drink. This involved a 10 minute walk which was a good thing as it was not really that warm for hanging about on riverbanks. We found a pub in Barnes but just as we were about to go in, Danny became fixated with the idea that he could smell fish and chips. We followed his nose (and the directions of a passing man eating chips) and eventually happened upon the most generous fish and chip shop ever.

We strolled back to the pub stuffing our faces and had a couple of drinks with Graham, Jon and Natasha (who had gone straight there). We had an interesting chat about the relevant merits of various races according to your finish position and then went for the bus home. On the bus Nic made friends with a nice friendly SA man!

We had a great time and I am already thinking about our next swimclub outing.

report on swimming club session #8

Session #8??? Wow doesn’t time fly. Small select group at swimclub today – me, Danny and David. Which was disappointing as my new swimmng costume got it’s first outing and the boys have no appreciation for this kind of thing. I liked it though.

We went for quantity over quality today, the aim being to swim 64 lengths (1 mile). We did of course focus on having excellent form at all times though. Danny did sets of 10 and then 4, David and I mixed it up a bit and did 10, 16, 20, 12 and 6. With a long chatting break in between each section obviously! We all completed our mile which was a good achievement.

No time for cake today, just a quick stop to adorn David in pink accesssories and we were off on our outing…..

report on swimming club session #7

Hello!

Danny, David, Sharon and I went swimming today – where was our teacher? She has obviously decided we are so good that we don’t need her anymore – it’s not true.  Or maybe she likes the flapjacks on Box Hill better than swimclub cake…. well the cake options were excellent today, big improvement on last week (although we did like David’s brownies).

Anyway, swimming, swimming, swimming. Danny, David and Sharon swam lots of lengths, about 56? I arrived later as usual and squeezed in 36 or so. As we had no teacher David and I did a bit of peer tutoring, mainly checking that we were keeping our legs up during front crawl. Sharon has invested in a nose clip and seemed to be getting on swimmingly (ba doom tish) with that, and Danny continues to make good progress with the head in the water issue. So lots of good work done today.

It seemed to me that the pool was colder than usual but the showers were hotter today.

Back to the clubhouse by car, bike and walking for the essential refuelling on tea and cake. Sharon had made a lovely chocolate cake, iced in pink with a particularly innovative and eye catching design. I think it will catch on in the cake world. I made the promised ginger cake, it was a massive improvement on the apple cake in that it actually tasted of ginger. And was lovely. David did his second pb of the day by eating four pieces of cake.

Next week we are having an end of term outing to the boat race after swimming club.

Kirsty x 

report on swimming club session #6

Present today at swimclub: Kirsty, Danny, David, Jo and new member Vicki. So no teacher again this week (she was cycling up and down Box Hill) but we all had plenty of homework to get on with.

Jo went early to swim a large number of lengths. Danny and David went early to swim many many many lengths and also to put in another rehearsal for their secret water ballet. I will post performance dates, times, ticket details etc when I get them. I believe the costumes are going to be pink with glitter. Anyway I digress.

Vicki and I arrived non-early, I have a big race to run tomorrow so did not want to peak too soon. Vicki was concerned that she might be crap at swimming but I assured her that was the whole point. She seemed ok to me, and was definitely the best at being tanned.

I swam 10 lengths of breast stroke and then starting practising my front crawl. After last week’s eureka moment of floaty-legs, they seemed to be a bit sinky again today. Oh well.

The pool was really nice and empty again today, this is such a good time to go. I recommend it highly. Especially to the people who haven’t even turned up ONCE yet! Stuart, Emma, Orlando, Suze ……. come on in guys the water is lovely!

In the changing rooms I saw some kids I know who were going in to play on the inflatable. One of them explained to me that you have to be eight, but she is seven so pretends to be be eight! She explained this in quite a loud voice with her mum shushing her and a lifeguard hovering around the corner. Her little sister then repeated it all in an even louder voice! I hope she didn’t get rumbled…..

Cakes today were some lovely chocolate brownies home-made by David (in the sense that he did make them in his home) and an utterly pointless apple and cinnamon cake made by me. If it tasted of apple and/or cinnamon there may have been some point to it. I think I should stop trying out new recipes and use the ones I know are good.  Next week – sticky ginger cake with ginger fudge icing.

Kirsty x

report on swimming club session #5

We welcomed two new junior members to the club today, and Ruby and Dylan proceeded to show us up by being rather good at swimming!

Danny and Nicola went early and did lots of warm up lengths before the lesson. I would have been early but got sidetracked in The Sweatshop on the way. When I did finally arrive at the pool I decided to swim in the lane for a bit of breaststroke, because I can do that without constantly stopping and annoying the serious lane swimmers. I did 20 lengths and got lapped several times by Nic, who must have done 120 lengths in the same time.

I then went over to join Danny in the mucking about section of the pool ready for our lesson, first the trauma of crossing the fast front crawl only lane, good grief it was like trying to cross the M25!

I did a bit of front crawl practise, trying hard to remember everything I’ve learnt. However it still seemed like a massive waste of energy to me, being completely exhausting (out of breath and needing a rest at the end of each length) and yet slower than my breaststroke. I explained this to Nic, so she watched me doing a length and said the problem was my sinking legs (obviously caused by muscles of steel!).

So I tried again, concentrating on keeping my legs up near the surface. WOW what a revelation! Ok it was still completely exhausting, but I was actually moving faster than a snail. Very happy with this bit of progress. Next step is to keep it going for more than a length.

Jo, Ruby and Dylan stayed for the inflatable, the rest of us went home, but NO CAKE! Very poor effort, sorry guys, will do better next time. I have made one this afternoon, a special Guiness cake for St Patrick’s Day. Actually that’s a big fat lie, I made it because there was a can of Guiness hanging around the kitchen. It looks nice though!

Report on swimming club session #4

I’m so excited I could crush a grape. However as it’s not Friday and it’s not 5 to 5 I’d better get on with the swimming report instead. The reason for my excitement is of course this lovely blog that Hollywood has set up for me. And it’s causing me to be such a net-nerd already that I’m using silly usernames. Anyway, thank you to my webmeister and on with the report.

The lesson today was due to start at 1.30, so like any sensible person I arrived at about 1.15 in time for a warm up. Jo is obviously a sensible person as she arrived just before me. However some people are clearly less sensible (or just didn’t have to have such a massively long chat with their coach first) and arrived about nine hours early. What they were doing in this time I’m a little unsure about, I *think* they were rehearsing some kind of water ballet. Maybe there’s going to be an end of term show…

Anyway, we got straight on with the task in hand. Danny had to practise getting his head wet, once he gets good at this he will be speedy gonzales. David seems to be pretty good at everything already (except he sinks a little bit), Sharon (the pb queen) had to practise breathing (quite a useful skill really), and our new member Jo, although having good technique seems to have the same problem as me – being completely exhausted after one length of front crawl. As for me I had to practise arms, legs and breathing. But I am making progress according to our lovely teacher Nicola. Everyone is actually. There can only be one star pupil though…

I wanted a target to achieve before I award myself a new swimming costume – Nic suggested 8 lengths of continuous front crawl. I can just about do two so far…

At the end of the lesson we had the traditional race but only 33% of the membership were brave enough to take part. I am still the undefeated intergalatic champion of breaststroke!

Everyone worked very hard today, we were so tired by kicking out time that we had no energy for the inflatable I mean the core stability programme. Sharon had enough energy to tell off some screaming kids though!

So back to the club house I mean my house for tea, cake and checking the bptt results; cake today was a lemon one made by Sharon. it was very nice although she spent the whole morning telling us it was no good. But it was. 

report on Saturday Swimming Club session#3

Sorry for late report, hectic day.

Anyway, session 3, numbers not yet stabilised due to other commitments (Emma ‘forgot’ her swimming stuff, Orlando was slaving over a hot laptop, Sharon was working, David was getting physical punishment (aka physio), Stuart was off to find a Thai bride (or something)), BUT we have potential new mwmbers (hello Jo and Suze!) AND the teacher finally turned up! (And she didn’t even laugh at us *that* much).

Danny and I arrived at 5 minutes to 12, Nic strolled casually in at 1 minute past. Bloody teachers, can’t get the staff… We got ready, blah blah, I’m sure you all have more than enough info on the changing rooms etc by now if you’ve been reading the reports properly, and did a few lengths of breaststroke to warm up. Nic was relatively happy with our arms but legs were not good. Need to stick them out more apparantly. So we practised that a bit, she smiled encouragingly….. and suggested we moved on to front crawl. Oh dear.

The bits I had wrong were my arms, hands, head, breathing, doing more than one length without drowning…… the legs were ok this time though! Danny would have been ok but for 2 things – his flailing head and his buns of steel which apparantly cause his legs to sink.

It all got very technical at this point, we had floats to hold on to, different floats to stick between our legs and lots of different techniques to remember. All top advice though and our teacher was very patient. And kind. And did laugh at us a little bit.

I think we did around 30 lengths in total by which time we were cream crackered.

No cakes this week, sorry, will do better next week, just a little piece of chocolate to sustain us for the journey home.

Kirsty x

report on Saturday Swimming Club session#2

Attendance at swimming club up by 400% this week!

So, Danny, Sharon, David and I braved the freezing (well, warmish) waters of Teddington Pool for the second session of swimming club. The display of buns and guns was nothing special (sorry boys), we were hoping for teeny tight speedos but were let down.

Some people arrived still plastered in mud from bptt, so first stop were the showers. Well, that was after a lot of – where are the changing rooms? what coin do I need for the locker? etc Some people obviously didn’t read last week’s report properly!

We then plunged straight in without too much girly squealing and set off to splash up and down for a few lengths warm up. It turns out that people really were not exaggerating when they said they were crap at swimming! Nicola you have your work cut out. If one was going to compare one might even suggest that certain people are better at swimming than certain other people. That’s correct, better at SOMETHING SPORTY!

A few races were held, but none of us were very gracious in victory (I’m a bad winner) or defeat (he’s a bad loser) so we gave up on that quickly.

The greatest challenge for some is twofold – putting your head underwater and doing more than a length without stopping for a cup of tea, a biscuit
and a bit of a sit down. But I’m sure we will see improvements.

By 2.15 chucking out time we were tired and wrinkly so we were quite grateful to get out, sit on the side……………………..

…………… and wait for the inflatable!

Some of us (David) apparently have no inhibitions whatsoever and lined up IN FRONT of all the ickle people for a turn. We laughed at him quite a lot, but then decided it looked fun, I mean a good opportunity to improve co-ordination, core stability and proprioception, and we all had a turn. Some of us managed not to fall off.

Then it really was time to go….. back to my house for tea and cakes. We refuelled with Jamie’s chocolate twister bread (really nice) and Nigella’s clementine cake (not that nice). I am happy to take baking requests for next week.

Then at about 4 o clock everyone FINALLY went home!

And in case anyone didn’t know, I got my purse back! And I am allowed to adiRun tomorrow!

 

Kirsty xx

report on Saturday Swimming Club session#1

Swimming club today was nearly as popular as the Bluewater time trial. Although to be fair some people wanted to come but couldn’t.

Anyway, I went to Teddington Pool, it was very nice and clean. It costs £3.10 for swimming. The changing rooms are communal but there are cubicles. You need a poiund coin for the locker – you get it back.

There was hardly anyone in there at all and very few pesky kids. Because at 2.15 they throw out the sensible/dull swimming people and have a fun session with a big inflatable thing. So there were loads of kids arriving when I got out. (I wasn’t up for the inflatable thing this week – any takers next week?!)

There are 2 lanes – fast and slow. I went in the slow lane where I kept overtaking people, but the fast lane was too fast for me. I did 34 lengths i.e 850 metres. Is that crap or ok? It took me about 20-25 minutes. I didn’t stop at all.

The shower was not the hottest or most powerful I have ever experienced but it was ok.

There is no cafe anymore, just a vending machine. But you can all come round to mine for tea and cakes if you like!

I definitely like running better.