We came to the Open 12 in third place in the Endurance series after failing to pick up one control at the 5+ but with 4o mins to spare. We knew the competition was going to be tight and so it was to prove. This year's 12 was a different format from previous years as it was to be based over two days with seven hours on the first and five on the second which would make it fast paced from the start. The first day was a mass start on to a score style run stage into a very nice Gorge special stage and then on to a bike score with pool dive near the finish.
Everyone, well nearly everyone was bused from the finish at West Burton, Yorkshire Dales to nearly Kirby Stephen. Neil, Mike Poole, Phil Humphreys & I however were last on the coach and there was no space so we got to experience James driving, but at least we had a bit of extra time to recover as we awaited the arrival of the coach. On its arrival we had 15 mins till the start of the race and recieved the control descriptions and values, so time for that last min planning. With the bang of the gun Neil & I were leading the way to the first control however as the pace settled down we slipped backwards a little but we picked a good route collecting all the controls up and around Wild Boar Fell only to be overtaken by Ant & Helen moving like a steam train. We managed to clear the run & quickly transitioned into the special stage, a scramble up Hell Gill, which was an extremly pleasant interlude to the hard racing. Neil & I skipped up the gorge and to our surprise coming out on to the bike leg to only be 5/6 mins down on all our rivals including John H and Tom G. With the bit between our teeth we started to real the other teams in. The hills were ridable but very tough in the heat, but the effort was worth it as the decents were really enjoyable all except the moment I went over the handle bars and landed on my head, I was certainly glad of my helmet if only a little dazed. Soon after we made a descision that probably cost us the race being a little worried about time we decided not to follow John and Tom to a control being only a couple of minutes behind and go for another loop of controls. We ended up at the finish area with 50 mins left and decided to go out for two last controls but the final climb ended being a push and the descent the slowest of the race meant we were 10 mins late losing 20 points putting us in 4th on the same score as Andy & Phil but ten mins back and ten points behind 2nd and 25 behind John & Tom . So close but the gamble did not quite work for us on Day 1.
Day 2 started in reverse order with an abseil leading on to a trail run from Hardraw around Hawes and over Wether Fell to Semer Water. The first half of the run we managed to hold position but as the climb stiffened and the temp got hotter we began to suffer and drop back. However with our arrival at Semer Water our fortunes began to change, the 600m swim was a great relief from the heat and cooled us nicely for the next cycle. The course looked clearable and so it was to prove, however racing for pride we managed to catch Andy & Phil having suffered a puncture and we also got past Alistair and Tom through better route choice and then came John & Tom G who had both suffered a puncture at the same point. After stopping to give them a tube we pushed on to try and gain a lead, we pushed hard up the final climb and descent into the finish. We managed to pull back five mins on third place, not enough but our efforts were rewarded with first place on day two being the quickest male pairs. However top honours have to go Helen and Ant on an incredible performance toping the leaderboard overall on time.
Looking forward to the 24... Thanks to James & Dave for a good weekends fun.
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Open 12
Monday, 21 June 2010
Cerist Triathlon - Owain Llŷr James
I took part in the Cerist senior triathlon on Sunday, with an early 6am start to Machynlleth. I was competing following my success at the Northwich triathlon the week before, where I was 1st junior and 13th overall, and also the Salford Aquathlon series in Manchester, where I came home with the spoils.
I set a blistering rate, coming out of the pool in the fastest time of the day, to complete my 400m swim in sub 5 minutes, and a PB. The bike leg involved an out an back course to Corris. A steady uphill climb was followed by a fast decent, which brought me back to transition in 34 minutes, shaving 5 minutes of the same distance in the Northwich triathlon the week before. Finally a 5kM run complemented an excellent triathlon. I was back from the run in 20:33, and fastest runner of the day.
I won the junior category and was 8th overall.
GB Cross Triathlon team 4th at Europeans
Inov8 athlete Tim McDowell powered through the Slovakian mud in his X-Talons, on his way to finish 12th at the European Cross Triathlon Championships last weekend. After a super hilly and muddy race the Great Britain team finish 4th.
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Lakes 24 hour record - Steve Birkinshaw
I tried hard to break the Lakes 24 hour record yesterday (78peaks, 90 miles and 40,000 ft of climb). But it did not work out. I gave up at Pillar after 55 tops over an hour behind schedule.
I am really disappointed. The weather and underfoot conditions were great but I still did not manage it.
The day started really well at Braithwaite at 3am. I felt great around the northern fells and came in around 7am about 10 mins down on schedule (but confident I could catch it up). Climbing to Great Dodd I suddenly felt really weak. I could not believe it, I had only been going 5 hours I should have been feeling strong. I was also cramping up and my stomach was really bloated. I was moving OK on the flats and descent but struggling up the climbs. I felt sick and the only things I could eat was Jelly babies and Mint Cake. It dawned on me that the conditions in my stomach were probably wrong. I had been having energy drinks and Nuun but also Gels with no additional water. Basically my stomach was not emptying and I was getting no energy from the food I was eating (apart from the really sweet stuff, which apparently can get absorbed before it reach the stomach). I needed to start drinking water but I stupidly did not ask for any. However we were going OK and not loosing any time on the schedule. We arrived in Dunamil and went straight through again this time with some water. We made steady progress to Langdale and did not loose any more time. but after that I was struggling and we were loosing minutes on each top. I knew it was slipping way. My support team was persuading me to eat more food in the hope it would help but it was just sitting there in my stomach. Eventually as we approached Esk Pike it all came out. I could not believe how much was in my stomach. I felt an immediate lightness and my stomach muscles stopped hurting. But it did not last long - the lack of energy hit me and I felt tired again. We arrived at Wasdale 45 minutes behind schedule. I carried on thinking I was not going to break the record but I could do 74 peaks or so. But the motivation had gone - I was just going through the motions. I lost over 10 minutes going up Yewbarrow and A similar amount up Red Pike. Going up Steeple I kneeled down dizzy and decided that was it. we took the easy route over Pillar and along Mosses trod back to Honister and home.
I must thanks my supporters on each leg, my roadisde support crew and in particular Jane saul who sorted out the logistics and generally stooped me having to worry about things.
I am now more impressed by this record than before I attempted it. There is no slack in the schedule, you cannot really have a bad patch and then catch it up again later. It is basically doing a BGR in 16 hours and then carrying on for another 8 hours. So hats off to Joss Naylor, Mark Mcdermott and Mark Hartell (and the guys that set the records before them) for each setting great records. It was good to have the two Mark's with me helping me yesterday. It shows what a really great group of people the Fell running crowd is.
Friday, 18 June 2010
Finland, Orienteering World Cup
Nordic 'O' Tour 2010
The Nordic Orienteering Tour started yesterday (17th June) in a small town called Tuusula, near Helsinki, Finland. GG and Sarah Rollins of Team Inov8 were running amongst others, for GB.
The race was special in that it started on a middle distance 1:10,000 type map and then after 30ish minutes there was a map exchange and we moved onto a 1:5000 map, sprint map. The event was televised live on the internet with a shortened programme for Finnish and Norwegian TV.
It was a great event and the racing was fast in both sections. Sarah made a mistake coming out of the 1st control unfortunately that cost her a minute but she then went on to have a very good run and in the end she finished in 17th spot. GG had irritatingly ;-) decided to copy her again (we both came 10th at the Europeans Sprint race last month) and came 17th too. He had a good clean run but the men's race was very tight. After nearly 40 mins running, the time to 17th was only just over 1 min down... for orienteering that is seriously close!
We have the Jukola relay tomorrow in a nearby forest where we will run for our clubs - GG for a swedish club and Sarah for a Norwegian one. Then we move on to Stockholm for the next part of the Nordic O Tour which will feature a very exciting set of sprint races, with 3 qualifying rounds before a final with only 6 runners.....fingers crossed!
Sorry no photos yet, but if I find a good one, I'll post it!
Monday, 14 June 2010
LAMM 2010 at Loch Fyne
This, my first LAMM, was held in a large area of wilderness on the west of Scotland, centred on Glen Fyne and including the Arrochar ALps to the South and the big Tyndrum munros of Ben Lui and Ben Oss to the north. Except for the Arrochar area, which I knew from the Arrochar Alps hill race, this was all unfamiliar territory to me - and what better way to explore it than racing between 16 disparate checkpoints with everything you need for the weekend crammed into a 15 litre Inov-8 Race Elite racing rucksack.
Ennerdale Fell Race (and edale country day)
(Pic from kirk fell on a recce)I loved the scree descent from kirk fell and set off up pillar fully expecting to be able to up the speed a bit for the final 7miles after the top.
Just before the top however I started to feel a bit sick and I had to go really slowly over to Haycock. The slow pace continued until after Iron Crag when I felt a bit better and ran ok down to the final climb up caw fell. There I felt aweful and a mouthful of water at the top finished my stomach off.
I finished in 5hrs34 with my bumbag over my shoulder (the only way I could run into the finish) having lost 7 minutes (to nathan) on the final descent alone....
Still, I really enjoyed the route and I am happy to have finished it as 21st woman. My legs felt ok at the end which I'm sure they shouldn't have so now I need to work out what made me sick so I can run faster next time (yes I will be doing it again!). Maybe I was dehydrated, maybe the gel I ate was a bad idea, maybe my bumbag was too tight and heavy with water in it....
On Sunday Stu from accelerate convinced me to run Edale short race (4.7miles 1300ft climb) with the words 'what do you mean your not completing the gritstone series? Your leading it!'. I never intended to try in this race as that would be silly! Points are calculated on time behind the winner so it wasn't going to be my highest scoring race but worth a go! As it turned out I didn't feel half as bad as I expected and took it steady but still managed to finish in 6th place, about 3/4mins off my normal pace! Unbelievably I got a PB by 3minutes! A good finish to the weekend, now time for a sit down!
Sunday, 13 June 2010
European Mountain Running Championships Trial Race, Keswick
This year the European Mountain Running Championships are to be held in Bulgaria and last Sunday was the trial race for the GB team. Held on a 3 lap course on Latrigg, Keswick, the race features a long, steep climb up the front of Latrigg and fast, grassy descents on each lap, before finishing with a headlong charge down the main Latrigg path back to Fitz Park. Its a punishing course, requiring quick transitions between lactic-inducing uphill slogs and fast-paced running, all with aching muscles and tired legs.
I raced in my new X-Talon 190s and they proved to be ideal for this course, being very flexible and responsive on uneven ground whilst also providing plenty of grip. Light as a feather too!
Lakes 24 hour record - Steve Birkinshaw
I am having another go at the Lakes 24 hour record next weekend, starting at 3am on Saturday 19th June at Braithwaite. The aim is to complete 78 tops (90 miles and 40,000 ft of climb) and return to Braithwaite within 24 hours.
I had a go last year and gave up at Wasdale after 16 hours over an hour behind schedule. The weather and a cold that I was suffering from did not really give me a chance. So far the forecast looks good and it is certainly much drier underfoot than last year. But I still have doubts about if I am capable of doing it. I can say I have trained as hard as I can and I have been taking it easy for a week and my strength seems to be returning. But I have not been helped by 3 colds in the last 3 months and I have a slight niggle in my knee (but that seems to be recovering well whilst I have been resting in the last week). I have a good groups of pacers lined up to help and Jane is again sorting out the logistics and road support.
After throwing up at the Fellsman getting the food and drink right on the day worries me but hopefully that was a one off.
I am having a GPS tracker with me (or at least with my pacers!!), so that my progress against my schedule can be seen. This is supplied by Rob and James at Open Adventure and it should be good if we can remember to transfer it between pacers. The website is:
http://www.openadventure.com/lakes24/
If anyone is around and would like to help my email address is:
s.j.birkinshaw@ncl.ac.uk
Friday, 11 June 2010
Tour Divide: starting from Banff in less than 1 hour
Just about to start the tour divide race - a truly epic ride from Banff to the Mexico it's going to take me a while!!!
I have a blog set up where you can follow my occasional musings (and donate some money to a good cause...) here
www.heathertourdivide.blogspot.com
and the race website is www.tourdivide.org
There are almost 50 of us starting today and I wonder how many will make it all the way? Hopefully I will be one of them but alot can happen in 2745 miles.
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
Jura Fell Race 29th May 2010
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
It's all about the bike
How I got beaten by some old guys on fancy bikes.
I'm trying to design the fastest bike in the world, with the help of some very knowledgable friends. Being greedy I'd at least like a shot at riding it to a new world speed record too. So as part of this I've been learning to ride a recumbent bike.
Now you may have precpnceptions about what a "recumbent" is, or you may have no idea what I'm talking about. In short: conventional cycle racing is heavily regulated when it comes to bike design. There are lots of fancy materials (but a minimum weight limit for road racing at least). There is talk about all the difference a degree of head angle makes etc., etc. But at the end of the day the differences in performance between two decent bikes really isn't much. as Lance Armstrong's biography is famously entitled: "It's not about the bike". Even though I won't deny the appeal of a nice shiny carbon road bike with fancy wheels and a nice groupset.
But in the Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) world things are very different. You could ride a conventioal "diamond frame" (or "safety bike" to use it's original title). You could use a rowing action to power your machine (not popular). Or you could ride a low racer (shiny and carbon framed if you wish and have the cash or know how) with your bum a few inches off the ground and around a third of the frontal area of a normal racing bike. This kind of bike was used to break most of the major world records in the 1930s. Then it got banned from regular competitions by the UCI.
On Sunday I joined the British Human Power Club at Castle Combe mtor racing circuit for a 2 hour endurance race. I rode a borrowed Kingcycle Wasp: a machine that was once HPV state of the art. I knew there would be faster low racer bikes there, but I figured a pair of strong legs and good size lungs would make up the shortfall. I didn't expect that after an hour spent mostly in the (rather minimal) slipstream of a couple of wiry, wily old guys, I would be spat off the back and limp around for another hour. During which they would lap me. Twice!
One of them was Mike Burrows who is famous in cycling circles for designing the Lotus bike, ridden to an Olymic Gold Pursuit medal by Chris Boardman in the 80's. You could say he knows what he's doing when it comes to designing bikes (all three of the guys ahead of me were riding his "Ratracer" design), but it still hurt.
Looking at previous race results, they were riding at an average speed of about 25 mph. But they weren't the fastest. The serious guys were riding fully faired machines at about 30mph. For 2 hours.
Time I got a better bike.
European Orienteering Champs 2010 in Bulgaria
European Orienteering Championships 2010
Scott Fraser finishing the 1st leg in the relay (Photo credit Soren Andersson)
Last week the British team, including Inov8 athletes Scott Fraser, Graham Gristwood, Sarah Rollins, Oli Johnson and Rachel Elder, travelled to Bulgaria to take part in the European Orienteering Championships.
Sunday, 6 June 2010
DIY – The Perfect Training ?
At risk of sounding like one of those bleedingly obvious government research projects , apparently a month of DIY and no running is not such good training after all. After the Bob Graham Round 4 weeks ago came a knee injury ( Medial ligament?) and this happened to coincide with us acquiring the house next door which needed a complete makeover ( still does unfortunately !). So, late nights and early mornings spent loading skips and generally getting knackered. But, it's got to be good for you right ? – Well actually it appears not. And so to the Paps of Jura Fell Race Admittedly the knee had eased a good deal by the time we went to Jura but then again i'd not run so hadn't aggravated it much. Still, 7500 foot of climbing and some hideous scree descents would sort it out one way or the other for sure. After last years race in the real pea soup i was convinced that it'd be a scorcher this year. Wrong again , another claggy day made for lots of nervous runners on the start line – maps were out once again. Weeks of stressy work, no training, a sore knee and 4 ferries to get here i was far from the right frame of mind ( or physical shape ) for the race ahead. We'd left home in such a rush that i'd even left loads of kit ( compass , gels, whistle etc etc ) But, It's a long way to come and not race so i gave myself a kick up the arse and told myself to get on with it. Gaffa tape to stabilise the knee and some cobbled together kit and i made it to the start line. After 15 minutes running we were in the clag and despite a momentary lapse in concentration on the way to the first checkpoint i found good lines throughout the race. I took the descents VERY steady for fear of trashing my knee and kept a reasonable pace over the Paps. It was quite heartening to be overtaken after an hour by Rob Jebb and Ian Holmes who had obviously had difficulties on those first few hills. I wasn't gonna be knocking out a PB today but i felt reasonably confident that i could still break the 4 hours and get that Whisky glass. The last 3 miles of tarmac felt like a long way ( it is actually 3.7 miles ! ) but i clocked 3:55 at the finish and was just Glad to have made it round . So, Next up – Open 12 AR in June followed by the Tour de Beaufortain in the Alps in July ( a mere 100km of mountain trail ) ... best get the gaffa tape in. Chris Near
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Salford Quays Aquathlons Race 1 - Owain Llŷr James
I was taking part in the youth category, which involved a 400m open swim in the Salford Quays, followed by a 2.5kM run.
Sunny weather welcomed all the racers, and a balmy 15.4C water temperature meant that wet suits were optional, although everyone was wearing one.
A good start saw me up with the leaders, and after 400m I was third in a time of 5.55, before having to leave the senior athletes to complete another lap, and the start of my 2 lap, 2.5kM run along the Quays waterfront.
A tricky transition followed, as I had a bit of a problem removing my wetsuit. Food for thought, and some practice before the next race on the 17 June.
Conditions were hot during the two laps run, and I came home in a time of 8.36. Total time for the race was 15.30, which included the slow transition.
Race report can be read here, and pictures can be seen on the sportpicturescymru website.
