DGTri Athlete Report - Johanna Calleja

Swimming Time-Trial & 5.2Miles Mold Running Race

I was quite busy last weekend since apart from my usual course work, my parents were in Chester and I also had two races: a 1600 yard swim time trial on Saturday 12th March and Race 5 of the Borders Road Running League in Mold, North Wales, on Sunday 13th.

I have recently started swimming with the Chester Academy through the university swimming club and my swimming has improved thanks to some hard training sessions and very useful feedback and advice from the Academy’s coach, Barry. So I was very pleased with my time of 24:51 in the 1600 yard time trial organised by Chester tri club, which was the 5th fastest time out of the female club members.

About 18 hours after the swim, I was on the start line for the 5.2 mile race in Mold. My parents came with me and it was really nice to be cheered on by them (and they kindly held our extra layers as we all realised what a surprisingly warm day it turned out to be!). As we started the run, I realised immediately that it was going to be a very hilly course. None of the miles were marked, but I felt strong most of the way and was really pleased to finish in 35:26. Our club finished second overall again in the women’s first division league and I was first of the female club members and 11th out of 79 females from all participating clubs.

This means that I am still in the lead overall in the women’s winter club league. I’m really pleased with my results so far this season and I’d like to thank Chester Tri Club, Barry, my parents for coming to Mold to watch me race during their short stay in Chester and of course my boyfriend and coach, Dermot, for always believing in me and for his constant support.

Johanna

DGTri Athlete Report - Simona Carena

MILTON KEYNES HALF MARATHON

Sunday 13 March

Milton Keynes Half was my first race of the season so I was very keen to find out if the previous 3 months training would have brought the much needed improvement to my running to allow me to finish the race on the right side of the 2 hour barrier.

In 2010 due to the flaring up of the old bad back I had to satisfy myself with “just” a good PB on the Half; however thanks to Dermot’s ability, vision and support as a coach we did hit good results on the triathlon front in Blithfield Sprint and Perranporth Surf Tri, so yesterday I had an expectation and determination to do well.

Joe, Dermot and I had the luxury of being driven, parked and minded by a top class event crew composed by Bill and Sophie; the only worry was to get to the start line and churn the legs fast enough to get the job done.

I love running even if I am not a sporting talent, and the Half Marathon distance is my favourite due to the fact that does neither hurts like a 5-10k race, comparable to desperately dashing to catch a Bus, nor as I envisage the full Marathon would be like being run over by said Bus.

The day was overcast and it was drizzling, the event has a very large field but is very well marshalled, has closed roads, timing chips for accurate results, 4 water stations, and even 2 pit stops for those in need; starts and finishes from a city centre area with amenities and shops for spectators, so I would recommend it as a race. But not if you are after a prize T-shirt in your “goodies bag” as you would set yourself up for a big disappointment as our friend Joe! ;-)

The first 3 miles were steadily downward facing, allowing me to build a bit of “time in hand” for later on, then a 7 miles stretch mostly flat and the last 3 miles, very cruelly had a few ups that had many runners crawl to a walk. However as the run makes its way on a suburban area there are many small underpasses and frequent kerbs that soon start to take their toll on the legs.

My race itself was very uneventful, I tried to stick to a good rhythm, pushing the pace a bit but keeping constant. It is always hard for non experienced runners to gauge effort, but the burning sensation on the legs at about 6 miles was a good indication that for sure I was working hard. I also kept a close eye on the GPS watch and made sure that at each mile no more than 1 second overall average was lost on the flats, allowing for a bit of spare time for the last few miles where the hills where skulking waiting to slow me down.

The well planned training from Dermot stood me in good stead, and I was able to partially defeat gravity on the last tough uphill stretches and push for the finish line in the dreamed off time of 1:58:30. Somehow within minutes of crossing the line Dermot had me committed to a 1:55 for the next HM in May…! ;-)

Simona

DGTri Athlete Report - Johanna Calleja

On Sunday 27th February, I participated in the second duathlon organised by Chester Tri Club as part of the club’s winter league, consisting of a 5km run, 15km cycle and 5km run. The weather was very gloomy and as we prepared to leave, it started hailing and I wondered whether taking part was a good idea after all! Notwithstanding the weather, my friend Ide, who was racing in shorts(!), convinced me that I was a bit over-dressed, so I removed a layer of clothing and we were on our way.

From the first run, it was very close all the way between me and two other female club members, Kate and Kirsty, but my run of 21:48 was marginally faster than theirs. As soon as I got on the bike, I realised it wasn’t going to be easy. The weather on the bike was described in the tri club newsletter as “a howling gale and lashing rain”. But I worked hard all the way round the bike course and retained first place, having registered the fastest female bike split (32:07). As I entered transition, my feet were completely frozen and numb, which made changing my shoes on the wet grass really difficult and slowed down my second transition greatly! I started the second run, hoping that my toes would defrost and that I would be able to run fast enough to remain in first place.

However, Kate was running hard to overtake me and she passed me about 2km before the finish. As much as I tried to stay close to her, it was hard to increase my pace and the gap between us started to grow. I increased my pace about 800m before the finish and tried to reach her, but she was also sprinting towards the finish and she ended up getting there before me. Her run of 21:43 was faster than her first run, but I was very pleased with my overall performance, having finished the second run in 22:24. My finish time was 1:18:24, just 10 seconds behind Kate and over a minute ahead of Kirsty, who placed third.

My performance in the duathlon was also good enough to move me up into the lead in the women’s winter league. This weekend I also had a 1600 yard swimming time trial and a 5 mile race and my reports for these events will follow as soon as the results are out. My first triathlon of the season will be the Chirk Sprint Triathlon on 17th April.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=0AqN6PRn8NoRKdEV5ZUxqaG5jX0lpdHVOZndUbmwwYkE&hl=en_GB&output=html&gid=15
Johanna

Milton Keynes 10k Report

Chilly and rain was the theme of today's at the Milton Keynes 10km road race. I changed the original plan from a half marathon to a10km road race since at the moment am trying to get back my speed, the speed I lost with 5 Ironmans :)! Training has been going well lately so I thought I would try and improve on the 10km time I did 4 weeks ago. Unfortunately I was 4sec off the mark but the result turned out to be quite a good one considering the course. Who said Milton Keynes is flat????

10.20am start! I started at a good hard tempo. I wanted that sub 36min 10k time badly. I hit the first mile in around 5mins. I thought, oh thats fast, but I felt rather comfortable. I managed to keep a strong pace up until 5k which I covered in 17.31! Good I thought, 35mins here I come, until the hills started. I thought Milton Keynes was flat, and the race advertising was all about this fast flat course, where did these hills come from?? ... lol!

First hill, second hill, third hill..... come on guys this was not on the brouchure! Managed to finish the 10km in 36.49 and in 10th place. Fair enough I thought at the end of the race, might have been slightly slower than 4 weeks ago but first half was strong and if it had not been for the hills I would have got good pretty fast time, and 10th place with the runners is not bad going! So am pleased with that!! :)

Milton Keynes is in the bag and now we aim for the next one.... The Elite Duathlon Championships in Loughborough. The race is going to be held in an old air field so that should be flat no?? I never seen airports with hills...heheheheh!! It will surely be crazy fast with the likes of the Brownlees and Tim Don who might be on the start line!! Am expecting a sore bum after the race, and thats not from the effort I will be putting in it! :)

A big well done goes to DGtri Athletes Simona Carena who did a PB in the Half Marathon in 1hr 58mins and to Joe Brookes who also had a good performance even though suffering with flu all week. Well done!!

Dermot

DGTri Athlete Report - Richard Vella

27th February 2011

Mellieħa – Malta

MALTA HALF MARATHON 2011

My coach, to whom I owe a heap of gratitude, has asked me to share my experience of the Malta Half Marathon.

Warming up around the medeival city of Mdina, with a RAF hercules involved in Libya evacuation operations, rumbling in the distance.

This was the prelude to my first experience in the Malta Half Marathon. The chilly weather was showing no clemency with a prevailing strong wind blowing, but the atmosphere was warm enough.
Last September I contacted Dermot and shared with him my desire to run a HM. He forwarded me a program to which I stuck religiously. I handled the first month with a generous amount of confidence and ease. Training starts revealing its true face after the first phase. It is not easy to carry out a training session in wet and windy conditions. Anyhow, amidst minor turmoil I went through the 14 week programme. That is how I found myself on the start line of the Malta HM.

Strangely enough, compared to the past fortnight, I was feeling very confident and at ease with the challenge ahead. I felt well prepared and ready.

There goes the gun! Off we go. At 2K the route offered a the first surprise. Due to the downpour the day before, a puddle blocked the way. The only way around not to wet your shoes at such an early stage, was a 10 inch wide muddy side path. Another larger, wider and deeper puddle was waiting for us at 6K. This time the way out was to climb and walk on the sidewall.

So far so good, the sun was shining now. At 10K my legs were quite comfortable, but my brains were not. All the doubtfulness and speculations that tormented me during the build-up to this event, returned to haunt me. Why am I doing this? What for? What if I don’t finish? Older ladies run faster! And all sorts of other nonsense. It took me some time to kick them off and get my focus back, but I managed to replace them with more empowering thoughts.

The final 3K were so psychologically demanding. The finish seems so close, but yet so far. On and on until the finish. Yes I made it, it’s over 2:14:36. The stopwatch is not very relevant to me.
Having twice undergone surgery for cartilage repair in my left knee, a missing ACL same knee and a strong advice from my surgeon to “forget running”, I think it’s quite fulfilling for an overweight 41 year old who took up running a couple of years ago.

Fellow runners at the Malta HM and worldwide, come in all shapes and sizes. Each and everyone of them has his own story to share. Everyone encounters his very own hurdles and obstacles, but most of them make it to the start line. This only confirms the fact that – the only obstacle between you and your goal is just your own self.

Richard Vela

DGTri Athlete Report - Maria Vella Galea

Irrespective of the instructions, I can never take a race as ‘part of my training’. Once I am on the start line, I want to be the best I can be if not better. Sounds pretentious but in reality if this approach is not taken how can one improve their performance?

Sunday’s Cycling Time Trial event organised by Team Greens, was the second ever cycling time trial I took part in. Although the route was quite familiar – Salina Coast Road is a mecca for triathletes and cyclists alike, each race is different. Fitness, psychological, weather conditions are different.

As I wait in line to start the race I monitor my heart rate – at 150bpms I wonder whether it is the frustration of the race starting late. I try to focus on the route ahead of me as I clip on my shoes whilst the race official holds my bike and another starts the count down.
10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…..Go! I’m off, I am on my own, at one with my bike, picking up a gradual speed, trying to keep a steady cadence, building up as best a pace as I can. Since I have had to reduce my training hours due to a knee injury I have to make sure that I pace myself properly and make the most of the slight downhill’s to gather and up my speed. The wind coming from the opposite direction in the steepest part of the race does not help with my average speed, pushing me down to approximately 21km/hr in this part of the route.

My target, whilst not overly ambitious, is to finish the 20kms course, in 45 minutes without damaging my knee further but a race is a race and if I can push myself 120% I will do so.
Clocking in after 40minutes 16 seconds I am quite pleased of the result considering the circumstances. I have kept an average of 29.4km/hr, reaching maximum speeds of 45km/hr.

I promise myself the next race will be better!

Maria Vella Galea

DGTri Athlete Report - Johanna Calleja

Chester Triathlon Club Time Trial

I have been a member of Chester Triathlon Club since I moved to Chester last September. The club organises a winter league and a summer league for its members, with the winter league consisting of 5 types of events: running, cycling time trial, swimming, duathlon and triathlon. Each member can enter as many races as they like and their total score is calculated on the best result in each type of event.

On Sunday 20th February, I participated in the second cycling time trial organised by the club. I cycled at an average speed of 18.81 miles per hour, covering the 9.4 miles in 29:59 and finishing in third place. The temperature was about 6 degrees but the very strong wind made it feel much colder, and notwithstanding all the layers I had on, by the time I got home my toes were completely frozen!

Following solid performances in the swimming time trials organised by the club and Helsby half marathon in January, I moved up into third place in the league through my result in the cycling time trial. The next event in the league will be a duathlon on Sunday 27th February, consisting of a 5km run, 15km cycle and 5km run.

Johanna