The week started off well with a weigh in as I hadn't done one for some time. I knew I had plateaued at around 16 stone so was pleased to see I had now dropped to 15s9lb thanks to a few small changes I had been making with my food.
Despite the monster bike ride I had done on the Sunday in the Peaks I did an easy run on Monday evening with Amanda, surprisingly my legs felt ok and no detrimental soreness or problems.
The rest of the week saw a mix of the usual swimming and turbo sessions, though on Thursday I was back to Dunham Massey for Round 4 of the North Cheshire Grand Prix series. This time we ran over the same course but in reverse and it was noticeably quicker. I was pleased with a new 5k PB of 25:40
Threshold turbo session on Saturday and a hard swim set, Sunday was a long ride around the leafy lanes of Cheshire for a couple of hours, certainly a nice way to start the day.
The week to come has two races, with a 10k on Thursday and the final 5k on Staurday. Only two weeks to my second sprint tri, getting excited as should be out on the race bike this time.
Monday, 17 June 2013
Sunday, 9 June 2013
June 3rd to 9th - ends in bike hell
Lots of training this week, plenty of swimming which I am really enjoying, and really pleased to set a new 400m pb at the end of the main set on Wednesday; previously 7:35 and put in a 7:30. No idea where that came from but chuffed it's all going the right way.
Thursday was round 3 of the North Cheshire Grand Prix series in Bowden nr Altrincham.
It was a nice evening and thankfully it had cooled a little for the start. 2 laps that was flat and predominantly on road with a small section going through the Devesdale. Finish time was a little slower than round 2 in 26:17, but happy with the result, enjoyed the race. Next week we are back to Dunhan Massey for round 4.
Sunday ended the week on a monster bike ride in the Peak District, 48 miles of hills including Snake Pass and Holme Moss and lots of other nasty ones in between. Main mistake was trying to do the ride on a 12-23 cassette. It was a lovely day for a ride and enjoyed the effort but I think I was a little ambitious in attempting it at all, but it will stand me in good stead for future training efforts.
Sunday, 2 June 2013
It's been 43 weeks since I began my journey back to fitness, looking back day one was a bike to and from work. Things have progressed nicely since then, swimming is coming along nicely and I am enjoying myself.
So what has this weeks training brought;
Friday I did one of the master sets that Sarah Mclarty from the US puts up on her blog. These are worth a look if you want to spice up the swimming a little. It was a moster session as I covered 4100m which I the longest single swim set I have ever done.
http://mastersswimworkoutsbysaramclarty.blogspot.co.uk/
Saturday was the second of the North Cheshire Grand Prix 5k series races, and first time ever I have been able to walk from my house to a race start as it was within the village of Hollins Green. As a warm up for the event I did a 32 min Spinervals session and it paid dividends in the run as my legs felt fresh and ready to run quick from the off.
Final result was a new pb of 25:49 so 2 mins quicker that last weeks event at Dunam Massey.
I also went out for ride on Sunday, but had to cut is shorter than intended due to bloody traffic near Tattonm Park yet again blocking my route to Knutsford. That's twice now this has happened and forced me to go down the A556 which is a fast A road and not my ideal route to be riding.
Totals for the week:
4 swims, 4 bikes and two runs, a total training time of 10h 22m.and 110km covered.
So what has this weeks training brought;
Friday I did one of the master sets that Sarah Mclarty from the US puts up on her blog. These are worth a look if you want to spice up the swimming a little. It was a moster session as I covered 4100m which I the longest single swim set I have ever done.
http://mastersswimworkoutsbysaramclarty.blogspot.co.uk/
Saturday was the second of the North Cheshire Grand Prix 5k series races, and first time ever I have been able to walk from my house to a race start as it was within the village of Hollins Green. As a warm up for the event I did a 32 min Spinervals session and it paid dividends in the run as my legs felt fresh and ready to run quick from the off.
Final result was a new pb of 25:49 so 2 mins quicker that last weeks event at Dunam Massey.
I also went out for ride on Sunday, but had to cut is shorter than intended due to bloody traffic near Tattonm Park yet again blocking my route to Knutsford. That's twice now this has happened and forced me to go down the A556 which is a fast A road and not my ideal route to be riding.
Totals for the week:
4 swims, 4 bikes and two runs, a total training time of 10h 22m.and 110km covered.
Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Well it's been a while since I posted on my blog (poor standards I say) so thought I would bring things up to date as to where I am and what has been happening.
Since the last update I competed in two more races in 2012, a trip to my favourite hillclimb at Harewood where I finished second in class and a return to 3 Sisters but a different configuration, again finishing second in class; on both occasions to Mark Teale in his very nicely prepped 306 with Longman engine.
Sadly, funds down currently allow for me to compete in motorsport so things have been quiet on that front, which is a shame as the HSA Championship this year is looking to be one of the best ever.
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/
So how have I been filling the time?
Triathlon.
I decided that being extremely overweight, lethargic and generally unwell all of the time, and inspired by the Olympics (a cliche I know) I joined the gym and started to train again. Since then it's been a long steady road but I have lost 3 stone and completed a super sprint duathlon in November
The Lymm 10k, where I just managed to scrape in under the hour barrier (59:58)
But, my big goal had been to do a triathlon again before I was 40. My original target was the North West tri in September, however training has been going so well that I ended up competing in the Wilmslow tri a couple of weeks ago, and I bloody loved it. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it.
So whilst this blog was titled Chris Goes Racing, the focus will shift slightly for now to reflect my renewed passion for all that is triathlon and running. And hopefully I will be a bit more diligent in updating it.
Since the last update I competed in two more races in 2012, a trip to my favourite hillclimb at Harewood where I finished second in class and a return to 3 Sisters but a different configuration, again finishing second in class; on both occasions to Mark Teale in his very nicely prepped 306 with Longman engine.
Sadly, funds down currently allow for me to compete in motorsport so things have been quiet on that front, which is a shame as the HSA Championship this year is looking to be one of the best ever.
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/
So how have I been filling the time?
Triathlon.
I decided that being extremely overweight, lethargic and generally unwell all of the time, and inspired by the Olympics (a cliche I know) I joined the gym and started to train again. Since then it's been a long steady road but I have lost 3 stone and completed a super sprint duathlon in November
The Lymm 10k, where I just managed to scrape in under the hour barrier (59:58)
But, my big goal had been to do a triathlon again before I was 40. My original target was the North West tri in September, however training has been going so well that I ended up competing in the Wilmslow tri a couple of weeks ago, and I bloody loved it. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it.
So whilst this blog was titled Chris Goes Racing, the focus will shift slightly for now to reflect my renewed passion for all that is triathlon and running. And hopefully I will be a bit more diligent in updating it.
Tuesday, 7 August 2012
3 Sisters 5th August
It was a long awaited return to competition on Sunday at the 3 Sisters venue nr Wigan. This venue is only 20 minutes from home, so there was no rush or long tiring journey getting there.
So unloaded, signed on and scrutineered it was ready for action. It was going to be an interesting day with 14 drivers entered in the class, though the hot favourite had to be Tony Hart in the Renault 5.
Conditions for the first timed run were dry and looking at others on the track, people certainly weren't holding back.
The initial run felt ok, though the track was a little green and slippery in places with all the rain we have had recently, the first corner the back end went a little wayward, but an 85.52 put me about mid field and only 6/100ths behind Phil Skipp in the Astra. Unsurprisingly the class was being led by Tony Hart in the Renault 5 Gt Turbo.
Unfortunately, just as I was queuing for the second practice the rain began to fall, as such the track became very slippery, with standing water on a couple of the apexes making exiting the corners a little exciting. A time of 98.79, but nothing new learned due to the conditions.
The remaining cars in practice 2 and lunch break allowed the track to dry completely ready for the timed runs.
T1 didn't go as expected, with observations from my friend Adam and Chris Bennett, that I wasn't making best use of the track, but also I was locking a rear wheel on braking. Subsequent investigations revealed that the brake bias was set completely the wrong way, this was quickly rectified for the final run.
Time was slower than 1st practice at 86.21.
On to the final run of the day and this run went and felt far better, making better use of the track for one and the car being far more stable under braking with the bias now restricted.
Final time was 84.49, so a good improvement over the first practice. This left me just over a second behind Phil in the Astra who put in a great performance to take 4 overall with me finishing 8th out of 14. Winner of the class on the day was Tony Hart, putting in a 79.09 final time.
I'd set no expectations on my performance having not been in the car for so long, so getting used to the car again following the suspension and engine changes was the priority of the day. I'm glad to report that the car performed faultlessly and bodes well for future events.
Other HSA competitors were having a good day with David & Jim Spencer fighting it out for the FTD, finishing so close to each other with a 69.99 and 70.01 respectively. Tony Thomas showed that he is still trying to get to grips (quite literally) with the G20 Ginetta as he span out on his final run. Chris Bennett managed to overcome rival Paul Webb in the well attended Formula Ford class.
The end to the day was somewhat unexpected as I reached home in the middle of a thunderstorm, the interior of the car somewhat as waterlogged as the outside.
Next event is on the 26th August at Harewood Hill in West Yorkshire, with out a doubt my favourite venue in the UK.
So unloaded, signed on and scrutineered it was ready for action. It was going to be an interesting day with 14 drivers entered in the class, though the hot favourite had to be Tony Hart in the Renault 5.
Conditions for the first timed run were dry and looking at others on the track, people certainly weren't holding back.
The initial run felt ok, though the track was a little green and slippery in places with all the rain we have had recently, the first corner the back end went a little wayward, but an 85.52 put me about mid field and only 6/100ths behind Phil Skipp in the Astra. Unsurprisingly the class was being led by Tony Hart in the Renault 5 Gt Turbo.
Unfortunately, just as I was queuing for the second practice the rain began to fall, as such the track became very slippery, with standing water on a couple of the apexes making exiting the corners a little exciting. A time of 98.79, but nothing new learned due to the conditions.
The remaining cars in practice 2 and lunch break allowed the track to dry completely ready for the timed runs.
T1 didn't go as expected, with observations from my friend Adam and Chris Bennett, that I wasn't making best use of the track, but also I was locking a rear wheel on braking. Subsequent investigations revealed that the brake bias was set completely the wrong way, this was quickly rectified for the final run.
On to the final run of the day and this run went and felt far better, making better use of the track for one and the car being far more stable under braking with the bias now restricted.
I'd set no expectations on my performance having not been in the car for so long, so getting used to the car again following the suspension and engine changes was the priority of the day. I'm glad to report that the car performed faultlessly and bodes well for future events.
Other HSA competitors were having a good day with David & Jim Spencer fighting it out for the FTD, finishing so close to each other with a 69.99 and 70.01 respectively. Tony Thomas showed that he is still trying to get to grips (quite literally) with the G20 Ginetta as he span out on his final run. Chris Bennett managed to overcome rival Paul Webb in the well attended Formula Ford class.
The end to the day was somewhat unexpected as I reached home in the middle of a thunderstorm, the interior of the car somewhat as waterlogged as the outside.
Next event is on the 26th August at Harewood Hill in West Yorkshire, with out a doubt my favourite venue in the UK.
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