Hey Simon - 101 Miles!

It was a little challenge I had set myself and today Paul and I rode 101 miles (that's 161.5km) to Rye and back in 6hrs 42 (out there for considerably longer than that what with eating, gossiping and sourcing painkillers for my agonising shoulder!) It was a lovely sunny day and I was surprised how good I felt (apart from the shoulder) even towards the end of the ride.

Chris took the kids rowing on the Hythe canal and then cycling along Hythe seafront so sounds like they had a good day out too.

We are cycling with the kids and friends tomorrow to the Tour de France route just as it nears Canterbury to watch the action as it speeds past!

London to Canterbury Cyclosportive

Chris rode the UK version of the Etap de Tour on Sunday, 120 miles starting at Greenwich, through much of the Kent countryside and ending in Canterbury. 5000 lucky riders got to do this cyclosportive and Chris' slot was his 40th birthday present from sister-in-law Sasha.

He said he throughly enjoyed it despite mixed weather conditions, riding with local tri buddy Bryan the whole way. It took 7 hours 35 minutes to complete the course including punctures and pit-stops. Actual riding time was 6 hours 58 minutes. The Tour de France pros ride the route next Sunday, so hopefully we'll head out with the kids and find a good viewing spot somewhere nearby.

South Downs Marathon

This weekend saw the Wayman boys head to Hampshire whilst the Wayman girls had a day out in London and met up with Julie and Sasha in the West End to see The Sound Of Music (yes, it was Connie!).

Chris competed in the Solomons South Downs Marathon on Saturday morning while Kofi was happily looked after by Ron and Jean in Petersfield. Chris had felt a bit underprepared for this race as it is all off-road and hilly from Arundel across the south downs to Petersfield. The weather on Saturday was appalling too, so mud also became a factor! Chris did extremely well under these conditions (it seems maybe he thrives on them?) and completed the race in a very respectable 3hrs57mins, placing 55th out of 297 finishers. Umm, that's faster than I have ever managed to run a flat, road marathon.....he also said he THOROUGHLY ENJOYED it!

Two Months of Build Progress

We are almost two months into the build now. The walls are now at second floor level and the floor joists are in......

Hills, Cobbles and Cowbells

We are safely back from our trip to Switzerland. Another 12 hour day for the kids in the car yesterday, poor things!

Had a good week in Rapperswil on the southern shore of Lake Zurich. We arrived to fresh snow on the mountains behind the lake (and a jolly cold lake to swim in). It's a beautiful place, a medieval town with cobbled streets with amazing views in every direction.

Had a couple of very chilly practice swims which resulted in me purchasing an extra glamourous wetsuit skullcap, as I said to Chris, 'It's not a fashion show!' Thursday morning saw me out practicing the bike course, the first climb called Witches Hill had been preying on my mind since driving it the day earlier but I made it with alot of puffing and teeth gritting. Then I did the next climb that goes on for about 10km but isn't quite as steep. Chris decided to send me up a few more random passes, telling me he thought they were part of the course, as I got the top of about number four and almost started weeping, Chris informed me we weren't on the bike course at all and were lost!

Two days of torrential rain saw a clear morning for the race on Sunday, but the lake was still freezing and the organisers consulted their rule book and shortened the swim to 1400m. That was quite long enough for me, as there were about 300+ in my start group and I never really got any clear water all the way round. Couldn't even feel my feet because they were so cold, truly relieved to get hauled out of the water and shoved up the slipway. You can never predict race day, I had imagined the swim would be the most 'enjoyable' part of the race for me, as it turned out, it was definitely the least enjoyable!

The bike went surprisingly well (for me, a 'non-cyclist'), no punctures, no walking, no falling off and no bonking.......just lots more of that puffing and sweating on the hills, being chased by people dressed as witches shouting 'hopp, hopp', which I assume means Swiss for get a move on! I even had one or two moments when there was a chance I was enjoying myself. I stuck to my plan of making sure I ate and drank enough and even tipped some jissy gels down my neck, yuk! My legs were quite tired by the second lap towards the top of the climb but all in all it was as good as I could have dared hope.

Out onto the run, wasted over two minutes waiting to have a wee but still better than trying to do a half marathon with a full bladder. The run went along the gravel path next to the lake and into the cobbled streets of Rappersil, giving the lunching tourists something to look at! The course included three times up a big set of steps aptly called Stairway to Heaven. Saw Chris and the kids numerous times during the three laps which was lovely, and I felt fine(ish!). Never really had any inclination to start walking (also part of my plan, to run and only run!). Two hours passed pretty quick and before I knew it, I was heading up the finish straight with Indie holding my hand, to a noisy finish line inside the indoor ice arena. Job done....til next time!

Swim 31.15
T1 4.36
Bike 3.32.35
T2 2.57
Run 2.02.45
Time overall - 6hrs 14mins 9secs

Off to Rapperswil, Switzerland

We set off early tomorrow morning to catch the ferry to Calais and then drive down to Lake Zurich where I will be competing in Half Ironman Switzerland next Sunday (3rd June). Been too busy recently to feel nervous, but I am sure once I catch sight of the lake and the hills that will change!

Had a look at my mileage since 1st January and I have swum 70km, biked 550 miles and run 275 miles, along with a few painful sessions pedalling on the turbo. Hope that's enough to get me round next Sunday. Too late if not! The race has quite a short cut-off time so it's a PB or nothing.......

Chris' 40th Birthday

We had a great party in our rather chilly garden on Saturday to mark Chris' 40th birthday. Our families, friends from afar and local buddies all gathered to help Chris celebrate. The kids bounced away on the bouncy castle and everyone seemed to have a good time! Chris discovered his surprise present from me and the kids.....an entry to Ironman Western Australia in December and flights booked for the four of us. We will meet with Simon, Shilpa and the boys in Malaysia and they'll continue with us to Perth. Simon will then race with Chris in the Ironman. Chris seemed pretty chuffed in his usual understated way! Jean had made an wonderful cake with an Ironman Australia theme which everyone was amazed at, then ate!