DGTri Athlete Report - James Harman

The Belvoir Marathon

I had been looking forward to this race all through the winter. Not only was it the first race for the new year but the first marathon i had entered since Ironman uk and i wanted to see what sort of time i could put in with only the marathon involved and not a bike or run beforehand.I had planned on just trying to beat my previous marathon time of 4hrs 17mins with a sub 4hr finish but we had no idea what the course would be like and if the weather would hold out or not as the course was 90% off road through fields and trails. The previous few weeks had gone really really well in training and i had put the miles in but it wasn't until the last week before the race that the magic started to happen and by friday evening on my 30minute pre race run i felt strong, Stronger in the run than i had ever felt and i put all this down to not only the programme that Dermot had given me but also the nutrition plan that Johanna Calleja had sorted out for me. Bill picked me up at 07:30 and we made our way to the venue. On arrival i thought it was quite cool and opted to wear my leggings and sleeveless jacket with compression top and a hat. The race started at 0900 and i started running. I didn't really get to the front for the start as there were so many people there so i had to wait until we got going before moving through the slower runners. Infact all i seemed to do was pass people with nobody passing me. I was checking the heart rate monitor and my pace and holding 7-8min mile pace on the flat and my heart rate was very steady and i can remember thinking i feel so strong, Infact i was quite excited and pumped which seemed to give me even more energy. I remember clocking the miles up first 10 then 12 then 16 and at 18+ miles still feeling strong and smooth with a verygood light running technique. The weather had got a lot warmer and i was sweating quite a lot and had not took any electrolytes as i thought i would not need them. At around 20 to 21 miles i started getting cramps in my hamstrings and at 22 to 23 miles they had got so severe that i had no alternative but to slow down and try to stretch them off. It was almost unbearable!I finished the Marathon by my watch in 3:59:50 however the official time by the organiser was 4:02:9 so i don't know where they found the extra 2 minutes. I was a bit disappointed as 3:59 is a sub 4 hour and 4:02 is obviously over 4hrs but never the less it still turned out to be a very good time considering the course and put me in 21st position from 211 people so considering i am not a runner and it was my first ever marathon on its own it was a fantastic result that i am very proud of. If things had worked out the way i had planned then maybe there would of been a top 10 position for me. Maybe next year! I hope all of your training is going well and to plan and wish you all the best for the coming summers events.

See you all very soon.

Buzz

DGTri Athlete Report - James Harman

Full Boar Middle Distance Triathlon

The Full Boar middle distance race was the last Triathlon for me of the 2011 season. I had intended to have a good race but take it a little easier and just generally use the event more as a social outing to catch up with everybody at my local club 1485 and in the DGtri training camp and to be honest i had been a little fatigued with all the previous months training and finishing IM uk.

We got to the lake for around 8am which left us plenty of time to sort out the kit and transition area as the race didn't start untill 9:30am. I always like full boar start times as i get a lie in.

The previous few days had been really quite cold and wet with the weather report giving much the same forecast for Sunday so i opted to wear my compression leggings, Compression top and t shirt as i thought by the time i exit the cold water and got on the bike it would be difficult for me to get warm. How wrong was i!, Robbo signalled the start of the race and we were off to complete two laps of Bosworth lake. The water was quite cold so it took a while to get the lungs arms and shoulders warm and for the first 400 meters or so it was a bit of a struggle. I got around the first buoy and and received a kick in the face knocking my goggles off so i had to re-adjust but hey no drama's and it cost me very little time. The rest of the swim was pretty standard and i exited the water in 33mins.

T1 went ok but i had a little trouble getting wet socks on. I did use talc but it didn't seem to make that much difference and i thought i may as well struggle with the socks now instead of after coming in from the bike plus i didn't want to get cold feet with all that terrible weather that had been forecast.

The bike leg was Four laps of the Thirteen mile loop and i had been training on the bike course so i knew what to expect. There are not many hills on the bike course but the wind can cause problems as its pretty open in places. Especially along the A444 which can really grind you down however the conditions were as good as i had ever seen with little or no wind and still no sign of any rain. I decided to spin up on the few hills the first lap taking my time and then to push a little the second, Third and fourth lap. I really felt quite strong on the bike from start to finish and was really getting some good speed in places. Every time i looked at the speedo it was showing 19,20 or 22mph and even faster in places so i knew my average speed would be quite good and 18.5mph avg speed is pretty good for me. Hopefully the bike will start to come now as i had really been struggling through the summer months to see any if little progress. I finished the bike leg in 2hours and 50mins and was really quite chuffed with myself.

T2 went ok and after getting my trainers on and having a gel i was out of the gate to start the run leg. Short steps were all that i could manage for the first ten minutes or so but soon found my stride and settled in quite nicely. By this time the sun was really burning through and the weather and done completely the opposite of what had been forecast and i was still over dressed for the occasion lol. I was sweating that much and hadn't taken many electrolytes on so at the start of the second lap i was getting cramps in my hamstrings. I had to slow down a little on the run and try to stretch out a little but it didn't really help and i had to slow down a little. I came around the corner and on to the finish straight where my son was waiting for me and started to race me to the finish lol. I tried to sprint but my hamstrings were in bits and felt like they were going to just snap ouch!, So yes my 5 year old son beat me to the line and he is not letting me forget it. Mind you his little legs were going like butterflies wings lol. I finished the run in 1hour 43 mins
giving me a total event time of 5hrs and 12 mins. Happy days!

I am now looking forward to making even more progress with Dermots help next year. Enjoy your racing, Stay strong and keep pushing!

Jamie (aka Buzz)

DGTri Athlete Report - James Harman

Ironman Uk Bolton.

We arrived in Bolton early Saturday morning as i wanted to get a swim bike and run in before the big day. We got there a little to early and registration wasn't even open. After signing on we went across to the lake and did a small session before taking the bike and bike kit to t1 which was at the lake. After that we then had to go to t2 which was about 10-12miles away if i'm correct and drop the run kit off. A little bit of messing around and not much advice on hand but we got it sorted in the end and parked the van at the reebok stadium which is where we slept as there were no hotel rooms available. The airbed in the van was quite comfortable though. I managed to get 3-4hrs sleep before the alarm went off at 0400 and i got up got dressed and prepared my drinks for the bike. I then made my way to the bus which took us to the lake. On the bus i realised i had left my timing chip and race number in the van!, Gutted and panic stricken i had been that worried and nervous i had forgotten the most important piece of kit. I got to the lake and went to see race control where they sorted me another chip out and i had just finished getting ready for the swim at 05:55 lol. Race started at 06:00 so i was at the back going into the water. Once in the water i was surprisingly calm and once we got out to the starting markers the race started almost immediately so there was no waiting around in the cool water. I was surprised to find my swim pace quite quickly!, Maybe after only three or four hundred meters and managed to pass a few people. At the the start of the second lap i had passed a few yellow caps and that gave me even more of a boost. Infact there were a lot of yellow caps behind me. I exited the water on 63mins and was quite happy even though i did want to do the swim under an hour but too many people swimming across my line caused delays.

I then ran to t1 changing in to my bike kit and eating an energy bar exiting t1 after about 5mins. I didn't want to rush as i needed to make sure i got everything spot on. The bike started quite well but on the start of the first lap after biking up there about 14miles i started to feel really quite poor. Infact i could of thrown the towel in. I was really quite upset and low but didnt understand why. I had a gel and kept up with the fluids but still felt crap coming to the end of the first 30mile lap. I was quite poor again and though maybe i wasn't taking enough food on. I took a chance and ate two powerbars and within about 5mins felt excellent. That was it not enough calories so i upped the cals and was quite strong until the last 20miles as a headwind had kicked up on the way into t2. I did the bike section in about 7hrs 15mins so a little more bike practice needed.

I again spent around 5mins in t2. Had some water and an energy bar and set out on the run leg stretching my calfs as i went. My calfs and feet were quite painful at the start of the run but i soon ran it off then the reality of the 26mile run sank in. By this time i had just found my pace switched off and kept going. The first 12-14miles were steady running all the way but after this it became very difficult and i did have to walk some of the way. Especially up that small hill out of bolton town centre which by now had turned into a mountain. I had made the turn onto my last lap of the run and as i got to the top of the road to collect my third and final lap band i suddenly came alive!, You know the feeling if you have done Ironman. It was yes i am there!. 3 miles and its all over. I started to pick the pace up running quite fast celebrating with a huge smile. I remember coming around to get onto the red carpet with the crowd going mad. I crossed the Ironman finish line in 12hrs 48mins with a Marathon time of 4hrs 17mins. What a result for a big boy like me. I am very happy with my result. It was a tough challenge. I would again like to thank Dermot Galea for helping me to complete what seemed like an impossible goal and Alfonso Jiminez who ran the whole marathon with me taking pics and getting very excited lol. Also thanks to everybody else for your support. There are too many to mention but you know who you are.

What's next for me?. Lose some more weight and try and get a little faster. Concentrating on Olympic distance the rest of this season and next season then an Ironman distance race in 2013.

Enjoy your racing!, Jamie.

DGTri Athlete Report - James Harman

70.3 Half Ironman UK

Exmoor lived up to its name and so did the Hardest Middle Distance Triathlon in the World!. Rain, Wind and Cold were all factors in the Days leading up to the Race and on Race day its self. We got down to Exmoor on Friday afternoon in the pouring Rain. It stopped for about 10mins and i put the Tent up. It then started to Rain again and did not stop all night so there we were the Four of us Louise, Me and the Children stuck in a Tent in the middle of Exmoor in the Cold and Wet!. Saturday Morning came and it was time for a dip to test out the Water and get a little training session in before the big event. As soon as i got into the water i realised it was cold. Colder than what i was expecting for this time of Year and i don't usually suffer with feeling the Cool Water temp but i managed a trip to the Third Buoy and back giving me around 15-20Mins in the Water. I got back to the Tent and had a little snack contemplating if i should take the Bike out but decided against it as the Mud was totally unbelievable and my Core temp was way too Low to start Cycling in the Cold Air plus i wanted to keep my Bike and Kit Dry and Clean. I decided to go for a Run on the Road and did around 15-20mins before going back to the Tent and taking a Shower in the Mobile Shower block supplied which was as last Year very good and clean with nice Hot water.

Saturday evening came and with still more Rain but this time Torrential downpours and with Strong winds. We decided to hit the Sack at around 7pm as it was way too cold and wet to sit outside and that's when i noticed i was not feeling too good. I was Coughing most of the night and cold to the Core. No matter what i did i could not get my core temp up. Just too many hours in the Cool damp air and i was paying the price!. Sunday Morning came and i did not feel like Racing at all!. Infact i wanted to go Home as the Children were now suffering which wasn't fair but i decided to give it a go. I stuck to my plan for the Swim start and did not do what i had done last Year. At these events they like you to all meet up and walk down to the Lake together, They like to get everybody in the Mood for the Race but i feel it was like being Kettled so that the Pro's could get a good advantage on the Swim start so i waited for the shout over the Loudspeaker and Ran down to the Lake on my own getting a good position near the front of the Buoys with all the Pro's with there different coloured Swim Caps lol while the other1600 People made there way down to the Lake. This was a bad mistake!, They had to get all these People into the Water and the Race was supposed to start at 0700. I got into the Water at 0640 and by the time the Claxton Blew i was shivering and cold again despite Swimming around to try and keep Warm. The Swim was ok but i was expecting a better Time especially as i had been doing 3800mtrs in less than an Hour in Training however everything that could of gone wrong did do!. The glare from the Sun and Spray across the Water made it near impossible to see marker Buoys and the fact that people with very little Open Water swim experience made it very difficult. I remember being stuck behind Two People and every time i tried to pass they seemed to just block me on purpose but the fact of the matter was they could not see and had no idea where they were going!.

The Swim section ended for me in 37mins and it was a long run up to T1 to get onto the Bike. The Wetsuit came off easily and i was on the Bike and away to start the first of many climbs. The first Climb out of T1 is a 3 Miler which as i was so Cold still was very Thankful of however by this Time i could of so so easily quit!, The fact that friends had travelled to watch me, My Family were there to watch me and general Peer Pressure meant i had no way of just giving inn after Months and Months of Training. I got up the Hill and Turned Left to start the Flattest section of the Course at its highest point and immediately hit a Cold Headwind. This went on for about 10-12 Miles so by now i was absolutely freezing again!, Even with my Jacket on. After the flat section you have a couple of small rises and then drop down a big decent so more Cold air and not much peddling to keep warm before the few Big Climbs. Even though by now the Rain had stopped it was overcast and the wind was blowing a Cold breeze. Lots of People in just Tri-Suits were dropping like fly's through just being too cold. It was much the same for the second lap only towards the last 20miles i was just Grinding it out!, No Skill!, No Technique! Nothing!. Just a long Hard Grind and Pain. I then started to think about the Run!, How far i had to go, How much it was going to hurt and yes again those Demons were ever so present by this time!. I got into T2 had a Gel and everything went to plan. I tricked myself saying i would try one Lap and se how i felt which i was surprised about.

The first lap was great. I had a Gel in T2 and another at around 2Miles into the first lap and was just picking People off feeling really strong. Usually my Run starts pretty weak and i just get faster so i thought shit i am flying!, I'm going to really make some time up here! I got past the Lap 1 marker and started Lap 2 feeling a little weaker so decided to have another Gel which did not seem to make much difference. I banged another one maybe 10mins after that then at a Feed station had a bite of Banana with some Gatorade (Crap). 10-20mins later that was it!. I had a knot in my Stomach and bad Wind. I tried to hold back but oh Shit!. Yes, Need i say more!. Again the last lap was just a Grinder and i got Slower and Slower. I finished the event (Just) in 6hrs 50mins knocking 33mins of last Year!. And when everybody else's time was going backwards i made a Huge improvement. I did want a 6:30 but given the Severe conditions i now realise i was lucky to just Finish!. I would like to Thank Dermot again for Coaching me as i now know without his expert advice there is no way i would of been able to Endure and make the Cut off!. I would also very much like to thank My Friends and Family Mathew Farmer and Jemma Butler for coming to watch me and Help out and Believing in me!. And Louise my Partner, Ciaran my Son and Sophia my Daughter for putting up my my Mood Swings, Mardyness and generally Difficult stubborn ways!. Also Blue the Dog who had to Sleep in the Cold for two Nights on just a Groundsheet!. Here is some interesting info and if my Maths are correct then Wow! according to the Race Programme 1661 People entered the Race. 1105 Finished. 131 attempted to Finish but recorded DNF'S. What happened to the other 425 People???. Anyway just a little one to get out of the way now at the end of July and its home and dry for me for a while!. Good luck with Life and Racing!.

Don't forget to enjoy!.

Jamie aka Buzz!

DGTri Athlete Report - James Harman

Market Bosworth Full Boar Standard Distance Triathlon:

The Full Boar Triathlon was the first Triathlon of the 2011 Season for me and i was looking forward to seeing what if any improvements had been made. Last Years event took me 2hrs 59mins and i was expecting to be a little faster this Year due to having a Coach (Dermot Galea) pushing me for most of the Winter/Summer Months during Training and getting me ready for the Season ahead.

This Year i have entered Wimbleball Half Ironman and Bolton Uk Ironman so i thought that a Standard distance Tri would be an ideal opportunity to dust the Cobwebs off and get my Transition sorted out. The Weather was a little cool in the Morning but there was generally as always a very good atmosphere amongst the Athletes with everybody looking forward to getting stuck in!.

The Race started at 0930 and i found the Water to be really quite Warm. It was the second Time only for me in Open Water this Season and the Second time in my Wetsuit as i have been Training mostly in the Pool. I Felt quite strong in the Swim for the first 2-3 Hundred meters but after that felt like i was struggling to get my Breath. I think this was due to the fact that i had not used my Wetsuit much and also all the excitement pushing up the Heart Rate. By the Time i had got around the top Island and half way down the Lake i was settled in and Breathing ok with nice long smooth strokes and what felt like a good technique. I managed to pass a few people who i noticed were Using the bank to sight off where i was cutting straight down the Lake Buoy to Buoy. I finished the Swim leg in 25mins which i was quite happy with although i was hoping for a 22-23min Swim.

The first Transition went well and the Wetsuit came off quite quick and easy. I noticed quite a few bikes still in Transition and thought that must be a good sign as i had no idea what my swim time was due to getting my watch caught in a Buoy and stopping the Timer. The Bike was Hard for a start heading up the Hill towards the A444 and i just decided to Spin up in a Low gear to get some Blood into the Legs and hopefully get them moving a little quicker. By the time i got onto the A444 the Wind was quite strong and behind me and i had managed to hold a good pace of 20-30mph in places. Even 18-19mph up the Hills which was excellent. The route took us along the A444 to Shenton Lane and then Left which was back into the Wind and uphill towards Market Bosworth. The Wind in this section seemed to be channelled along the Road between the Hedge Rows and into my Face which was really quite tiring. The open sections with no Tree or Hedge cover were even worse so again it was Time to get the Head down and Spin up in a Lower Gear. This seemed to do the trick and made the Journey into the back of Market Bosworth a little easier. None of the Hills are very big in this section of the course but just seem to Grind you down with the Wind. After going through the Town Centre and Market place it was a left turn and back down the Hill through another Faster section of the course and out past the Lake entrance to start another lap. The second Lap went much the same as there was no change in the Wind however it felt a little easier as my Legs were now warm and feeling quite Strong. I finished the Bike leg in 1hr 20mins which again given the windy conditions i was happy with as i had been struggling to find any Speed or Strength with the Bike during Training.

I lost a few seconds in the Second Transition as had i made a bit of a Schoolboy error!. I Racked the bike, Removed the Helmet, Put on my Trainers and started to Run towards the Transition exit but noticed my Trainers did not feel right. Infact they felt very tight around the Toes!. This was because i had left my Socks in the Trainers and pushed them in tight when i had put them on lol. I had to remove my Trainers and take the Socks out then put them back on. Lucky for me i had bought those Elastic Lock Laces so it did not take many seconds but they all add up when your trying to crack a Pb. My Run at the Start did not feel comfortable. I just tried to make what i felt were small but quick steps. I knew my Legs would eventually loosen up and i would get quicker but it was a case of when!. I think it was towards the end of the Second lap my legs started to free up and i could really get them going. The Third lap was strong with me either Running fast or Sprinting in areas and on the last lap i Ran Fast with a good strong Sprint finish and crossing the line with a 44minute 10k Run Finish!. That is the fastest i have ever Ran 10k and on the back of a Bike its quite unbelievable even now. The Race took me a total time of 2hrs 35mins knocking very nearly a Whopping 25minutes of last Years Time. It would of been nice to crack 2hrs 30mins which is what i was aiming for but given the Wind and Trainer incident a 2hrs 35 will do. Next race is Wimbleball Half Ironman on June 19th then Bolton Uk Ironman at the end of July. After that i would like to work more on speed and see if we can make bigger improvements on Times which i am hopeful about with Dermot's Coaching. Thanks Boss!

Thanks for Reading my Report and good luck for the rest of the Season ahead.

Jamie

DGTri Athlete Report - James Harman

The Story so far. My Triathlon Journey. I come for a varied Sporting background but mainly Rugby for 16+ Years at my Local Club Coalville. I didn't bounce too well after i hit Thirty and to be honest wanted a new Challenge. A Friend recomended i enter a Triathlon and towards the end of Season 2009 i entered Barton Marina Standard Distance Tri. I Finished the Tri in 3hrs+ which for a 114kg Athlete at the time i didn't think was too bad lol. After that one single event i was absolutley Hooked. I always Ran as i needed to do this for Rugby but Swimming and Cycling were completley Alien to me apart from nipping out on the Mountain Bike now and then. I read and Studied the Internet for Hours looking at different Training Programmes, different Training Routines, Swim Drills, Run Drills Brick Training and designed a Programme for myself which did suit me at the time. I entered 2 More Standard distance Tri's and then did IMUK Wimbleball Half (The Hilly Half) in 7hrs 23mins a little slow you might add but again i was around 114kgs so still not a bad result. I am not one for excuses but also had a Puncture and while changing the Front Tube lost my Nut from my Front Skewer! Nightmare!!!. I was Gutted and almost in Tears that i may not be able to finish the event as my kids were watching me and i wanted it so bad.

I remember going over the Finish line and that Feeling. I had never felt anything as good since the Birth of my Son. Not as good as the Birth of my Son but pretty close i can tell you.

A week after the event and Ironman Blues had kicked well and truely in i entered one Final Race that Season which was the Full Boar Market Bosworth Tri a low key but Fun event ran by my Club Members (1485 Tri Club, Robbo). I suppose your wondering where this is leading to and here's where Dermot comes in. Under my Wiper after the was a Flyer advertising Triathlon Coaching supplying a Training Programme and one to one Comms through email. I had decided that i had gotten myself as far as i could and needed someones Expert input if i was to go all the way and Finish a Full Ironman. I got in touch with Dermot and in October or Nov 2010 Dermot was Coaching me. I paid and entered the Hilly Half again for June this year 2011 and Full Ironman Bolton in August this year also. Dermot also recomend i find a Half Marathon to enter early 2011.

We started the Training Programme quite steady and my thinking at the time was maybe a little too steady but i Trusted Dermot and did exactly as told just adjusting sessions and sessions times when i had to due to work or Family commitments.

Late November to early December things started to pick up and the Training really kicked in with Dermot pushing and giving me new Sessions which were both Interesting and very Challenging, Sometimes too much so but i kept on pushing. I went through some pretty dark times with Training during the early few weeks, You know the feeling why bother?, Whats it going to prove anyway? its too much and all of those negative thoughts you get in your head at times but i stuck with it. I didn't really enjoy Running on its own as i found it was Boring but necessary for Base Fitness however i was not really improving in Speed or Endurance as i did not have the Knowledge to know how to improve. Dermot was providing me with Sessions working in Different Heart rate zones for different time periods and pretty soon i was getting for me quite fast and able to hold a good pace for longer periods of time. On a good day 8:30min Miles for 6-8 Mile distances and i'm happy with that. I finished my First Half Marathon in 1hr 58mins which i am over the Moon about. I am still 109kgs and the Conditions were in places very Muddy and by no means Flat. I think on that Day with a Flat Road Course maybe i could of managed a 1hr 50min but we wont know till next time.

With Dermots expert advise i still continue to improve every Week in all areas especially Swimming. I feel i am getting stronger and stronger. I am really enjoying the Training at the moment and so continue to push Harder. Like i said have been through the Dark times and stuck with the Training and now i'm really starting to Reap the Huge Benefits.

I had been looking at just finishing the Ironman and that for me or anybody that botheres to Train for Hours a Week would of done and been a Massive Achievment but i'm quietly confident now that for my First Ironman Finish there will be with Dermots help a good Rock Solid time!, Fingers Crossed.

Hope you are all Training hard at whatever level your are at and remember!, Dont forget to enjoy it!. We are different to 90+% of the population of the Uk and World. We are Triathletes!!!

Thanks for everything Dermot and lets Finish this!. All the best Jamie. aka Buzz.