Lanza day 5 - best day cycling EVER!

What a difference a day makes.  Today was blue skies, 32.5 degrees and a lightish wind (it´s all relative in Lanza!).  We were going to tackle the big climbs and the frightening descents as the conditions were good.  We started with the Tabayesco right up to the top where the cafe is, a 6km climb.  Then we descended fast to Teguise only to climb back up after a burger and a coke for energy.  This was followed by a steep descent with hairpin bends with 1,000 ft drops on the other side - it was awesome but would have been impossible the day before.  We worked our way up to the highest point, Mirador del Rio and then flew down the other side.
In total we climbed over 5,000 ft in the 4.5 hours we were out and the scenery was breath taking - literally.  When I got back I went for a 20 minute run off the bike to the beach and a quick swim in the sea.  It´s amazing how much I have learned about bike handling skills in the last five days but I´ve always been told it´s about time in the saddle and miles in your legs.
Tomorrow we will be going for a more leisurely ride and probably a longer run.  The the bike will be packed away and Sunday will be spent travelling home.  I´m not sure how I will react to the drop in temperature especially when I am next out on a run or the bike.  Now for some food - I´m starving!

Lanza day 4 - the road to hell

The weather forecast today was for a 10 mph wind.  So we intended to do the 112 mile Ironman course.  The first 1.5 hours was brilliant.  Then someone turned on the wind machine.  It was horrendous.  At one stage the wind brought us to an almost standstill.  One rider had to get off.  I was two yards ahead and had just about stopped but turned my wheel and the wind caught me a hurled me down the road.  We spend a large part of the day riding at an angle.
It was too windy to take a hand off the bars to reach for food.  The road around El Golfo took every inch of courage I had to stay on the bike but all I did was focus on my heart rate and cadence and I got through it.  When we reached "death valley" we made the decision not to complete the 112 mile course for safety reasons.  I had to take my contact lenses out as there was a sand storm - it was as close to cycling through the desert as I could imagine.  Yet we kept going.  Gusts of wind would either take your bike into the centre of the road and oncoming traffic or towards the rocks.
In the end we completed 75 miles in 5 hours and 15 minutes.  The average speed was low at 14.1 mph but that didn´t matter.  I finished the ride strong and having kept within a heart rate and cadence range I could easily have gone on.  My worry about a speed wobble have disappeared as I have fought side winds that could upend you at any time and stayed on the bike.  This was an epic ride but only cause I survived!  It was the road to hell but I hope tomorrow we can take on the high points in the island again in relative safety.  Bring it on!

Lanza day 3 - Risk Assessment

I could hear the wind howling as I slept and when I got up this morning it didn´t take long to come to the conclusion it was too risky to ride.  So we decided instead to go out for an early morning run along the front.  That was a hard enough battle with the wind and we realised had we gone cycling someone would have got hurt.  This was reinforced when we finished our run and watched two wetsuit clad swimmers in the "sheltered" cove swimming.  The breakers were coming in and they had got knocked about on their way across the cove but decided to go back.  We watched in horror as the waves took them towards the rocks - these were strong swimmers but mother nature generally wins.  They were in serious trouble and couldn´t swim their way out but fortunately for them someone climbed down the rocks and managed to help them in.
We were considering a swim but again decided this wasn´t wise.  So for the rest of the day we are resting, reading and eating.  Later we will go out for a second run followed by some stretching and dinner.  Tomorrow, subject to wind levels, we will tackle the full Ironman 112 miles around the island.  We´ve cycled 95% of it and all of the tough sections but want to imprint the route on our minds before the event in May.  As in life everything is a risk but some are more certain and the consequences dire so give consideration before taking them on.

Lanza training day 2

Another tough day in the windy island of Lanzarote.  We upped the mileage from the day before by 50% to 67 miles with over 3,000 ft of climbing.  Two really tough climbs to start before we hit "Fire Mountain" which is one long never ending slog.  Again the downhills were "challenging" with the cross winds but I used my experience from yesterday.  I felt strong and spend plenty of time on the aerobars to reduce my resistance to the wind.  However the cross winds had me getting onto the droops bloody quick otherwise you could end up being blown off the road.
A small disaster at lunch when the most delicious pitza arrived and to my horror was covered in garlic - no mention of it on the menu.  I had to settle for banana cake and ice cream as there was no way I could have eaten it and kept it down with the journey ahead.  The end of the ride was really tricky with guess what?  You guessed it, a strong cross wind.  A poor German who was sheltering from the wind by sneaking up my inside got a facefull of spit because I didn´t see him and he should have let me know he was there,and taken on some of the workload.
We did a short run off the bike and it felt good, even after 4.5 hours in the wind and sun.  Straight into the pool to cool the legs off which is the equivalent of an ice bath.  Then for a recovery snooze.  Now for dinner, I´m starving!

Lanza training camp day 1

What a day.  Sunny skies but the wind is incredibly strong.  We cycled to the highest point on the island and the Ironman route.  On the final climb there is a drop of over 1,000 ft on the left side of the road and the wind was really blowing - lower down one of our group was avtually blow off the road but wasn´t hurt.  If that was scary then the descent was even more so.  I fought the side wind all the way down and had to use some techniques I had read about to stop the speed wobble which is also know as the death wobble.  Kept my speed to 34 mph max which was enough for me.  I am hoping at the end of the week to have improved my confidence at cycling in these conditions.
Then for lunch followed by a swim in the sea.  We found a protected area as the waves were crashing in at other points of the coastline.  I hadn´t swam in the sea properly so you have to get your head around the fish that are accompanying you.  They were fine but the jelly fish (1) did cause me some panic.  Swimming in the sea is easier than a pool because you are more buoyant and have a wet suit on however the waves that did get through need to be handled in a certain way.  I came out feeling good and confident.  Off for a big dinner and early night.  Tomorrow will be another adventure!

Hills, wind & heat

Yes tomorrow I am off to Lanzarotte for 30 hours of swim, bike & run training.  The plan is for 2 disciplines a day with the bike being the main feature.  I want to be sure of the hills I will be tackling on 19 May and also confident on the descents which are fast and tricky with side winds.  I need to get used to swimming in the sea which will be a first for me i.e. 2.4 miles in the sea rather than run in and run back out screaming!  I will also be testing out my nutrition and hydration which is critical to my success (and health!).
Yesterday was a rest day but I had a meeting with my coach to go over my previous weeks results.  In addition I needed a sports massage as my glutes were playing up again giving me lower back pain - not ideal before a hard weeks training.  However they are now better but my wife (and yoga teacher) will be giving me some exercises to help while I'm away.
Today is all about packing including the most important item, the bike.  It takes time to get it into the bike box and you have to be so careful with these carbon framed bikes.  It's a relief when you get it to the other end and it's still in one piece!  This afternoon I am giving in to 3 years of pressure and will be shaving my legs so I can pretend to be a real cyclist.  It will certainly make the sports massage easier but I have no idea how good it will look! I'll blog while recovering after a hard days training but if I don't have access to the Internet then you will need to wait till I return with my tales of woe.  Now where did I put that razor.....ouch!

Sacrifices

I remember the first book I ever read about triathlon.  It was called "How Ironman ruined my life" - at that stage I had no idea I would be taking part in Ironman as it sounded near impossible.  It was about a guy whose first triathlon was Ironman and it was an amusing read, but there was a lot of truth in what he said especially around the amount of time required and how this impacts on family life.  Fortunately my family support what I am doing especially as it raises so much money for Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres (www.justgiving.com/Derek-Stewart0).  However I do try and plan all the activities in such a way as to minimise disruption but winter training makes this difficult with the limited daylight.
This morning was a 3k continuous timed swim - another PB.  Tonight was a 1hr 15 min run at three different paces.  I ran most of it with three other runners which is unusual for me but it certainly increased the pace.  However when they had finished I still had another 20 minutes to do on my own at a faster pace than we had finished, but I made it.  Now home for some protein and rest.  Two days off training before I travel to Lanza for an exceptionally tough week of training in the heat.  Bring it on.