Results
North West Duathlon Championships 2007
(Series) Age Group "H" 1st Neal Prestage Rochdale Tri Club.
Tony Parkinson. Seasons results 2007
LRVC National Criterium Championship (over 40) 1st...Warington H/C RR, 1st...Oulton Park 1st vet 7th O/A...Elswick RR 1st...Oulton Park 1st vet 3rd O/A...East Coast RR 1st...Brigante RR 1st.
KENDAL DUATHLON 28/10/07
R 2.5 miles B 13 miles R 2.5 miles.
Around 100 competitors took part in the annual Kendal Duathlon on Sunday 28 October. Sunny dry and still conditions were setting the scene for a new course record. The Army triathlon teams’ Richard Hunt took advantage with a winning time of 59 minutes 24 seconds. Second back after the first 2.5 mile road run he soon took the lead on the 13 mile bike leg and kept a comfortable lead throughout the second run to win by over 2 minutes and chopping a chunk of the course record. Rochdale Triathlon clubs’ Andy Pilling settled into the first run to climb on the bike in 10th place. A strong ride took him up to 4th by the half way point and into second after the bike split. No chance of catching Hunt, he started the second 2.5 mile run hoping to hold off the chasers bearing down. He soon lost second slot to the fastest runner on the day and then 2 more positions in the final 100 metres to finish a comfortable 5th and first veteran in 1 hour 4 mins 4 seconds. Considering that he is focussed on long distance running for the Luton marathon in December this was a good speed effort.
The Triathlon season has come to an end now with just a few duathlon(run/bike/run) events left. The Rochdale club is keen to attract new members and introduce them to the challenge and satisfaction of multi sports racing and training. They meet every Thursday at 9pm at Middleton pool for a swim training session. All comers welcome.
Ironman Results
Andrew Pilling. Lanzrote May 19th 07
Swim 1:02:06...Bike 6:14:08...Run...4:54:31....
Total 12hrs 23mins 31secs
86th in 40-44 age group.
Graham Hahn...Ironman Austria
Swim...52:46:00...Bike...5:37:17...Run...5:10:59
Total...11hrs 41mins 02secs.
109th O/A
Original Mountain Marathon...Scotland.
Anthony Lowe and Paul Taylor have just completed the OMM in the Lowther Hills, this is the second time they have completed this event as a team. For those not familiar with the format, the event is for teams of two on a variety of courses; Paul and Anthony competed in the Medium Score Class. Each pair are entirely self sufficient for two days carrying all their food, tents, clothing. Formerly known as the KIMM the event is always on the last weekend of British Summer Time and usually appalling weather; and this year we were not disappointed!
Day one was cold, misty and miserable with the wind gathering in ferocity up to 40 mph by late afternoon and accompanied by the rain; despite this Anthony & Paul covered almost 30km in their 6 hour time limit over some savage terrain consisting of steep sided hills and valleys covered in heather, bilberry, bits of rock and tussocks of grass. It made the going very hard with little of it unable at any sort of speed as they amassed their points tally for the day. The overnight camp was a storm battered eighteen hours in a tiny tent unable to stretch they just ate and drank and got their head down to rest as the tent was battered by the wind and rain. Happily the only problem was condensation and the cramped conditions. The weather was bad enough for some teams to pack up in the middle of the night and walk out; some even abandoned their tents sheltering in the porta loos; nice!
Day Two was a 5 hour time limit and a better day for the weather; the rain stopped as they struck camp and the sun came out a 2000 foot climb soon got the body warmed up as the team set off to pick up more points and head for the finish. If you want to know more or would like to enter get in touch with Paul or Anthony, may be leave it a week or two until their memory filters out the hard stuff and remembers the good bits; the hot pot and the excellent hotel they found before the event
Lanzarote + The Big Woody....
About time I did an Ironman
More than 20 yrs doing triathlons, Isn’t it about time I did a proper one? I’d been putting it off for far too long so I gave in under the pressure from my peers. At the end of 2006 I entered Ironman Lanzarotte. With a ****ed up knee I contemplated wet and cold 5 hr rides and 20 mile runs. Paul convinced me I needed to forward plan so I did and it all gets a bit anal if your not careful. Thankfully the club has a wealth of experienced nutters to provide guidance and training company. We used and abused one another willingly. May soon came around and I’m at the airport talking to Douba, whose prep consisted of last years event and positive mental attitude(madness). Anthony, whose done loads of em so what’s the fuss. A days acclimatisation to the 25 degree heat and it’s 4am- alarm goes off- Oh shit! We leave Pauls gaff at La Donga in a daze and Paul, Sue Helen and Scott face 15 hrs of applying suncream to sweaty Spaniards, catching flying Trek’s and a bit of councelling for the lost ,lonely and confused. First bollocks up – forgot my ‘special needs’ bag for the bike. You get this around 80 miles when you can no longer face gels, power bar and banana. I had a cheese pasty and a flapjack being eaten by the ants on the apartment table. Try not to let this stress me but these small details ARE important. 6am, claxon sounds, 1000 plus multinational sadists leg it for the choppy waters. 1 hours carnage later and I’m on the bike. Feels like dozens of people are belting past me like it’s a sprint. I hold my cool and stick to my plan; comfortable cadence and a controlled effort. This lasts about 20 minutes before the donkeys ears are up and I’m racing. All well and good until around 80 miles (Special needs time remember!) and it starts to go tits up. Head wind seems ever stronger, legs dying and head down counting down the miles. Cramps start to kick in followed by pins and needles up the arms so that holding the bars sends electric shocks up them. Computer says NO; ave speed plummets from 21 to 18. Actually manage to do number 1’s on the move! Warm feeling not just pride. Coast in to T2 and wonder whether I can get off the bike without seizing up. Paul and Scott are there to help and Helen and Sue drag themselves away from some greasy Italian to apply factor 20 to my broken bod. They lie supportively when they say ‘you ‘re looking great’. I feel worse than shit. Trainers on, fistful of gels (vomit) and baseball cap, peak to rear to guard against the now scorching rays. Can I run? Not really. But you do. A shuffle gets me to half way but schedules are well and truly out of the frame. I’m beginning to move along like I’ve had a Friday night gallon and my only ambition is not to drop my donner . Each time I step into the portaloo I might not come out because the drop down back to the road is too far. Lap 4 of 4, the crowds are terrific particularly at the finish. I’m lifted and know I will finish and that’s all that matters. I run my best lap. Cross the line, 12 hrs 23 mins, get can of coke and saline drip – magic!.
Time to reflect and spend the next 4 days learning how to walk and waiting for my knees to return to their former state and not look like they belong to my 98 yr old gran. First one is a steep learning curve but learn you do. My lessons were 1/ forget times, relax 2/ stick to your plan (as long as it’s not mental) 3/ Don’t carbo load a month before the race thinking you’ll burn it off! You just end up starting the race as a fat bastard.
After a few weeks I can contemplate more racing. A decent outing at Ripon although still doing the marathon shuffle and then the superb Wensleydale formerly the Yorkshire Dales Tri. Awsome scenery, roads-1 in 4 ,and plenty of them, kamikaze sheep and a 12 mile fell run out of Hawes. Ironman training made this feel relatively short but still a killer. Leaves me wanting another Ironman before the end of the year. Find the BIG WOODY in Forest of Dean in September. Ironman distance without the hype. On the start line I’m a stone lighter than at Lanzarotte and out to enjoy the day. Swim is crackers but fun with 2 short runs between ponds to get distance up – still couple of hundred mtrs shy of full distance. Out well up and good controlled bike on a tough hilly course but accurate. Can’t believe how good the run feels (great forest trail and grass course) and whilst a couple of miles short, I have legs to spare. Finish 4th in 9hrs 35 mins. The legendary Spencer Smith supporting and greeting all the competitors home. It’s easy to get hooked on Ironman. I just wish I’d done it years ago and could have shared it with Scouser. You’re the man. Roll on Roth, 2008.
Andy Pilling
Saturday 9th June 07 WestmeadTeam 88 / Palletline 25 Mile TT Results
Winner Chris Storer Ashfield CC 55:38
BP-Silk Rochdale Tri Club 1:08:57... 57th