Coniston 14

Could the weather have been better ... not a chance .. the scores on the doors were:

Jude 01:51:22 468th
Michael 01:57:17 616th
Martine 02:02:47 743th
Julie 02:20:45 1096th
Glynis 02:23:34 1140th
Susan 02:29:17 1192th

There were 1400 runners overall and just to inspire you for next year ... a few stats:
Fastest (man) 01:15:10
Fastest woman 01:29:46
FV 35 01:35:08
FV 45 01:33:38
FV 50 01:32:52
Lantern rouge 3:38:12 slow but sure wins the race ..... the last man in (and it was a man ...) I think we were in the hot tub by then!

And remember - pain is just weakness leaving the body!

Clumber Park Duathlon, 10th March 2007
Had a great day out in the end and came 3rd in the sprint duathlon!! - 5km run, 20km cycle, 3km run. It all started in a bit of a panic when i realised 2 days before that registration was at 7.30am, followed by several militaristic procedures (it being a world and euro qualifying event). So i decided i needed to enjoy an M1 travel lodge the night before, then realised the road to get there closed at 8pm. So, arrived with wrong food, wrong clothes, dry cough, no friends! Warmed up with heavy legs, set off with lead trainers as everyone else sped passed me. Spent the first 3 minutes telling myself i would stop any second now and drive home. Then i picked up a little and decided i would only go home if the very obese guy passed me. Settled in, happy with transition (new elastics) and thoroughly enjoyed the bike ride (that had something to do with the olympic men all overtaking me, so the view was wonderful. Good 2nd transition, hawked by marshalls ensuring i didnt touch my helmet before my bike was racked. Short distance felt good and was determined that the woman i'd just passed was not overtaking me, infact i sprinted in with footsteps behind me, then turns out it was only a guy failing to catch me! So, i did do it. Hooray!!

Roddlesworth Roller
Mike and I had a good run this Sunday (11/3/07) - a pre Coniston outing and Mike's first running race. With spring like weather - a few daffs blowing the gentle breeze ....

Mike came in @ 48.07 and i managed 49.13 - both very pleased with our times - they defintely reflect the levels of discomfort on the home stretch!!

Here is Mike with his colleague Adam posing as medallion men - Adam managed was just under the hour - impressive considering his training!

Sunday 11th Feb 07 - Jude, Glynis, Mike and Martine managed a run on Sunday - three of us over the fells for an hour and Glynis enjoyed a walk- run -walk - run sequence on her own as her road back to fitness. Amazingly the sun shone (despite 2 inch of snow on Friday ...) and boy did we have a good lunch - homemade bread, gallons of soup (still some left......) followed by ginger cheese cake AND lemon drizzle cake ...

Pilates Anyone? Due to the spate of injuries and niggles many of us have suffering .. discussions have been had as to ways we might preserve our bodies ..... there is a one day 'Pilates & Body Tone' course on Saturday 23 June from 10.15am - 4.30pm @ Lancashire College in Chorley. The cost is £49 and this includes all tuition, lunch and refreshments. (I go there for my French course - it is a nice location and the food is good.)

The day offers the "6 power-packed Pilates Principles" and the following benefits:

· lengthened muscles
· improved posture
· improved flexibility
· enhanced energy & rejuvenation

More details and booking can be found at www.lancashirecollege.com/Learning%20Breaks.htm

One for the girls only! - a weeks fitness bootcamp! Spotted in the Guardian!

Women should check out The Camp (thecamp.co.uk, 0870 033 2375), a full-on seven-day residential fitness and weight-loss camp based in Scotland, run by ex-Special Forces fitness instructors, backed by clinical nutritionists and medical experts. The next course runs from February 17, with courses every month thereafter.

We have set up some "training dates" for the coniston - running from sunny Horwich - Mike and Martine taking responsiblity for routes and providing showers followed by soup/bread - cake baking volunteers welcome!

H-wags welcome - (Husbands, wives and girlfriends ...) - you can watch a dvd, take a local stroll and call in a cafe, try a some "runner spotting"with binoculars from the house ....

We will be aiming to do some hilly miles - but time passes quickly in the company of good folk. The list of mileage and route will be updated as we work it out! We can offer short cuts for anyone wanting less distance. Most will involve some time on the fells.

The dates are Sundays 10:00am

Sunday 7th Jan 07 Burnt Edge
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=608820
It will be muddy (very) so do not wear your best new white trainers! approx. 9 miles 1000ft climbing - you will need a hat, gloves, windproof jacket and thermal layers, plus decent socks (Sue!). Expect to be out for about 1.5 to 2 hrs.

If the weather is really really ..... foul then we have a contingency route - Yarrow and Pike
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=608839 - this is a lower level more roads and tracks taking in the delights of Rivington and back via Rivington Pike approx 9.5 miles 600 ft climbing - less if you cheat and miss out the Pike! Expect to be out for about 1.5 hrs.

Sunday 28th Jan Yarrow and Pike (If not done on 7th ..)

11th Feb TBC

4th March - Limbrick
A long one! - 11.5 miles - some tracks but mainly on roads - we are getting close to the 28th some distance is needed! Expect to be out for about 2 hrs.

If you need details of location/a life get in touch. Be useful to know who is planning to come!

If you are thinking about your new years cycling resolutions then take a look at Cyclosport UK - the site has info about cycle sportives in the UK (and abroad for the more adventurous! - Mike and I can advise on medical documentation ........ )

www.cyclosport.co.uk/events.aspx

For anyone who has not found this is a great tool www.gmap-pedometer.com which uses Google Maps and allows you to map out and measure your route from the comfort of your own home! You can do the Coniston 14 in a few minutes! You need to use the OPTIONS section at the top navigate to the UK.

You can also save it to impress your friends or refresh your memory!

Here is where Glynis, Dave, Sue, Julie, Martine and Mike went on Sunday across the Rivington tundra. It was a typical day on the moors - sun, rain, wind, mud and general wildness! All got totally wet and happy and even happier after Moroccan soup at chez M&M. Rematch is set for 7th Jan!

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=580918

Found this whilst surfing ........

The Polka Dot Challenge and the Spud Riley Memorial ride are 100 mile bicycle rides organised on the lines of the classic Italian Gran Fondo events. The Polka Dot starts in South Manchester and covers eight of the major climbs that have featured in famous tours such as the Milk Race, Pru Tour and the Tour of the Peak. As with most Gran Fondos the ride has an “easier” option of 70 miles which includes just four of the climbs. The Spud Riley starts at the same South Manchester venue and also covers 100 miles through Derbyshire and Staffordshire, there is a 54 mile option.

For both rides the whole route and all the climbs are fully sign posted and at the start of each climb is a sign describing the name of the hill and the distance to the summit. Food and drinks are provided at two feeding/control points on the route.

The dates for the 2007 events are:

The Polka Dot Challenge Gran Fondo - 17th June 2007
The Spud Riley Memorial Gran Fondo - 26th August 2007

Entry forms for the 2007 Polka Dot ride will be published on this site on December 16th 2006. www.polkadotchallenge.co.uk

Caldbeck Huddle - 6 -9th October

Cat and Fiddle Challenge - October 1st

September 24th Anglesey Marathon
Rog does a personal best knocking 8 minutes off his previous time and finishing in 4hours, 25minutes and 24 seconds!

North West Triathlon Sepember 17th

Jo 'queen of transition' - fastest in her age group for the Novice Tri.

Jude and Glynis showing off after doing a Sprint Tri - Jude came in 17th and Glynis (fastest over 50) came in 46th out of 140 women.

September 10th - BikeWales Event

Kay, Den, Glyn and Liz completed the 50 mile ride out of Rhyl towards Bala and back - Rhyl was at it's best and we were even better!

3rd September - Manchester 100m
Liz and Glyn did their best to beat their previous time of 6hrs 2mins - only to be beaten back by the wind to finish 25 minutes latter!

August 13th - 17th Castles and Coast Ride

The Cheshire Triathlon Girls - all achieved their personal best in this year's Novice Triathlon!

Jude (848) was our star achieving 2nd place with a time of 58:04 in her first ever tri. No trouble finding her competative spirit there!
She took two women out in the pool, passed another 6 and frightened the life out of the rest at the bike stands.









Jo giving us a HIGH FIVE here, knocked 6 minutes off her time from last year and did a stonking bike ride, the 16th fastest rider compared to her overall position of 28th. That new bike and bra did her proud - her time was 1:10:17


Yvonne number 771 suprised herself with a time of 1:20:20 coming in 55th.













Lynn, number 824 did a 1:24:22 and came in at 67th but by far had the most fun - what kind of friends buy you a place in a triathlon for your 40th birthday?


Loren, number 781 achieved her goal of finishing the event in 1:36:01 and came in 70th with half a sheep on her saddle.






Our other friend, Janet did a 1:23:20 and came in 60th.



And then there was the 'Supports Club' - here we have Irene - behind the scenes cycle training partner for Jude.


Then we have Lynn's team - Anne and Susan lining up the champagne for aterwards.
Anne is tempted - you can see it in her eyes, it just that she is shy and like she sun glasses. Could be another birthday present sorted!



And then there was Roger and Keith - resting up after all those weeks of support and encouragement for Loren and Yvonne - they were two very proud supporters.

That just leaves space to mention the two non-starters - bad-back Liz and relocating-shoulder me. We got the T-shirts anyway!

Once again the women were inspirational (Irene was quite impressed by the elite male talent that were around in the moring races). The event was very well organised and being part of the Supporters Club a pleasurable way to spend a sunny Sunday in June.



Competition Time:How many calories does it take for 6 women to complete a 200 metre swim, 20 kilometre bike ride followed by a 2.5 kilometre run?

Liz and Jude got first and second in the Manchester and Ladies District Cycle Association 10m handicap Time Trial on the 20th May, yeah and they were the fastest team, making it a double win.
http://www.mdlca.f9.co.uk/html/results_2006.html

Jude's actual time was 28:03 making her 5th overall and Liz's actual time was 30:42 making her 8th overall. Fantastic achievement - a personal best with both women knocking off a couple of minutes from their last TT.

(I managed to take 3 pictures and ride for 40 minutes - the first ride out since my injury)

Team BikeRight! are out in force next weekend on Sunday the 4th June at the Cheshire Triathlon. The team is made up of Janet Slade, Loren Grant, Liz Clarke, Lynn Keenaghan, Jo Somerset and Jude Stansfield. Starting in that order, Janet is off first at 12.47 pm. Each woman will complete 200m swim followed by 20k cycle and then 2.5 kms run as part of the Novice Triathlon. Go Girls Go.