With the Optician Triathlon Team still threatening to get out on the road for another Surrey cycle meet those nice people at Transitions have put forward the design of the kit they are hoping to supply .
It's not quite the same as the Garmin Transitions kit the team recently used to train down in calpe Spain ( look out for the report in Optician Feb 26th) but you can clearly see its from the same family.
BBGR has already very kindly offered to supply trisuits but an extra layer is certainly the order of the day for the current chilly winter weather.
If nothing else the team looks like it will be well dressed this year. When it has all arrived we will be holding a fashion show. The results of which will be shared here and in Optician.
There are many things that happen in optics that are fresh and exciting but Transitions' sponsorship of thr Garmin Transitions pro cycling team must rank among the highlights.
Now Transitions press trips require trips to Calpe, Spain to watch the team train and interview the riders and management team on the subject of cyclig eyewear. Calpe was pretty much closed for the season and even the hotel pool was shut.
I had resolved to go swimming in the sea but even Spain isn't that warm at thgis time of the year.
Lisa is originally from Manchester and as a teenager was sport mad.
I swam for Salford Squad as a teenager and had a best time of 69seconds for 100m freestyle, (that was then!) However I quickly took up running in conjunction with swimming and did many 10k races as well as 800m and cross country.
By age16 I started doing biathlons (part of the modern pentathlon Association) and by 17 was 2nd in the UK championships. Triathlons were just starting to become popular and i won the first 2 ever Salford Triathlons approx 1987, (long time ago!) I then went to Aston University to study Optometry and lost my way with regards to Triathlons and played Footie for the Uni instead. After Uni my husband ( a fellow Optometrist) and i settled in Cardiff, Rob is a Welshman! My 20's were spent travelling and just generally keeping fit and its only since i've had my children who are now 8 and 11that I have started to get back into sport. The first road race I did after having the children was a bit of a shock as I was at the front thinking I could run like I could 20 years ago but needless to say a crashed and burnt. That was several years ago and although my expectations are lower, the fire in your belly never leaves you and now i have reached 40 I'm ready for the challenge of ALP D'HEUZ! Can't wait to meet you all and being part of this team is certainly motivating.
......you get an Ironman cake.
Mrs Optician Editor has always been a pretty handy cake maker and my recent birthday was no exception.
It's very nice but am I in danger of becoming typecast?
The latest challenge for the optician triathlon team has also see the possibility of some new kit. White is very unflattering apparently.
Below are the visuals from the manufacturer.
A new face has been added to the Optician triathlon team line up.
Here's Nigel's story in his own words.
I grew up in Cornwall, where the combination of countryside and coast got me into cycling and swimming from an early age. Encouraged by watching the Tour de France on TV, I used to spend a lot of time cycling around the Cornish country lanes, and cycled from John o'Groats to Lands End to raise money for the RNLI aged 11! Other than that, I didn't do too much in the way of organised sports other than tennis despite spending a couple of summers as a lifeguard.
At Uni I was better known as a skiier, being treasurer of the Ski Club, but it was also around this time I began running to combat the usual university excesses.
In January 2003, I moved to the Gold Coast, Australia (scene of the recent world championships where Alistair Brownlee became world triathlon champion). I lived 5mins walk away, and used to swim at Miami Pool, where some of the world's best swimmers eg Grant Hackett trained, and as I had started entering 10K running races, and doing a fair bit of cycling on a borrowed bike, I decided to have a crack at my first (sprint - 400m/15K/4K) triathlon in 2004. The main thing I learned from that was that swimming in an open air 50m pool is very different to swimming even modest distances in open water! I was last in my age group after the swim, but made up a few places on the bike and run and was hooked. However, I knew I couldn't enter any more triathlons until my swimming was vastly improved, so since then I've been working hard on swimming technique, and basically learning to swim all over again (completely differently)..
I moved back to the UK in 2005, got married, and kept entering longer running events: 10Ks, Half marathons, and a marathon in 2007... Finally felt the swimming was good enough to do the Windsor Olympic with its 1500m swim against the flow of the Thames in 2008, which went well, if still a bit slow.
Also in 2008, I spent a week doing charity work in Uganda (not with VAO, but that type of thing) which was very rewarding and thought provoking.
The triathlon career has been on hold a little bit this year since having a daughter in July 2008 restricts training time, but I've done the Great South Run in October, doing the "Golden Hog" in December, and I'm planning to do the London marathon in April, and the idea of a triathlon at Alpe D'Huez is too exciting to resist, so bring it on!
There's no holding these optician-types. No sooner have I pledged a bit of an 'off-season' than they are all champing at the bit to get out for some training rides.
The outline of an optician triathlon team for 2010 is beginning to take shape with five people so far signed up and enetered for the event. Now that is commitment.
With the even beiung at Alpe D'Huez in France there is lots to thinks aboiut with travel etc but accommodation has already been booked.
If you fancy joining the team or getting invovled in sponoring the athletes for kit etc drop me a line.
The Optician Ironman Team's challenge for 2010 is shaping up nicely. While I am inthe throes of trying to blag some free places from the event sponsor EDF some of the team have gone ahead and actually paid to enter.
The Alpe is a classic Tour de France climb and is a major feat on its own. Add to this a long, cold, swim and a run and 2010 could rival the UK Ironman this year as a tough challenge. We haven't decided if this will become a full-on Optician challenge or just a collection of like-minded nutters who should know better doing something uber-challenging.Needless to say Vision Aid Overseas will benefit. If would like to get involved as a sponsor or a participant please let me know. I can't promise too much support and I can't promise that it won't end up costing you a bomb but participation is always welcome.
I'm always keen to hear about anything that spreads the eyecare message but the launch of this new kids book must rank among the most unusual.
Children who tease
Children love to tease another child who is different. As this can be
extremely damaging, it is important that children learn to embrace
diversity. Indeed the charity Scope has launched a pioneering campaign
to encourage publishers, illustrators and writers to include children
with disabilities alongside others.
The publication of Roy The Eagle is therefore very timely and should
be an essential part of any child's Christmas presents this year.
Roy is an eagle who wears glasses and, as a result, is teased by all
the other eagles. But it is Roy's glasses that enable him to save all
the other eagles when disaster strikes in the forest where they live.
Engagingly told in verse with colourful and forceful illustrations,
Roy The Eagle was an instant hit when trialed with Key Stage 1
children (ages 5-6), although it can be read to younger children out
loud or read by older children on their own. A teacher at one primary
school described the book as brilliant and one of the children said
"It is a story isn't it, because eagles don't wear glasses do they?"
Another school has used the book to encourage a young girl who is
refusing to wear her glasses. The teacher is very impressed and is
looking for a cuddly toy eagle they can put glasses on!
Children can follow Roy's adventures as he overcomes all kinds of
obstacles to discover that the very things that make him different
from his friends are what brings them closer together.
Roy The Eagle will be published on 31st October 2009 by
Loose Chippings Books
www.loosechippings.org
I ended the season in my traditional way with the Crawley late Summer triathlon. In addition to the three optoms or DO I had arranged to meet there another three, who were there competing approached me on the day, amazing. Who would have thought so many optical folk would be into triathlon.
This all bodes well for next year's traithlon challenge ( Alpe D'huez traithlon) which is currently being formulated.
With the toes still black and the memories still fresh from the UK Ironman 2009 the Optician Ironman Team is already having to think about 2010.
Fiona has her eye on the Alpe D'huez triathlon while the team has already found a willing sports eyewear sponsor for its 2010 challenge.
So much for the off season!!
Not content with hearing that the Optician Ironman duo suffered for ( well over 13 hours in my case and slightly less in Fiona's) I have also had requests for pictures . You can see the full day in this gallery.
IRONMAN UK – Bolton – Aug 2nd 2009 by Fiona Bosher
Swim 3.8km, Cycle 180km and a Run 42.2km
To be honest I had completely lost interest in doing this ironman, I had enjoyed the build up/journey to this event so much it meant that this race didn’t appear to flick my switch anymore…….however we’d (Chris Bennett the optician magazine editor and i) already raised nearly £6000 for vision aid overseas and I couldn’t really leave Chris or my training buddy Karl (Chandler) and also another FTC Lanza fellow ‘Tea bitch’ (Mick Savage), in the lurch!
Karl had arrived in Bolton about 4 days before the event and he sent me a message saying “bring ya welly boots”……obviously I thought he was just being effeminate J ……..but I tipped up to the registration/transition area to find cars were being pulled out of the mud by the local farmer and his tractor, other cars were left abandoned in anger. Ironically this area was also the camping platform for many of the athletes and their families (including Chris my brother and his chick whom had erected their tent knee deep in mud and in the pouring rain)
Saturday (day before race day) – bike check in, Reservoir acclimatisation, bike and run route recce.
Swim… a chance to ‘practice’ the swim in the reservoir to get a feel of the water and collect your bearings…..i’d already heard it was 12deg and I knew that was pretty cold so why would I want to prove it plus getting the wetsuit wet and cold for the 6am start the next day wasn’t in my mind a good idea (unlike hardcore Chris)! One thing that did become apparent was that the route from the reservoir to the bike transition area had a gradient of >14% (?)!. I saw my brother trying to walk this and he was blowing ……..perhaps it was the fact he only had 1hr sleep due to the torrential rain and the wind whistling around his tent the night before (J).
After racking the bikes there were loads of portable fences tied with tape and of course there were some more permanent electric fences that kept the cows at bay……. Karl, decided to try and escape the farmers field his own way, trying to avoid the boggy marsh and mud, fence tape was lifted and on we marched until there appeared to be a slightly different colour tape and before I could say ‘that’s an electric wire’….Karl made a damn fine attempt to prove he was in fact ‘not a girl’, he was zapped like a fly in a chip shop and he didn’t even complain of a burnt fingerJ.
The cycle route was next on the agenda to recce, I had to wheel spin the car and drive 30mph out of the ‘car park’ (also muddy farmers field) other wise I would become another whom would need rescuing by the already over worked tractor. …….In my faithful A2 the car struggled to ascend the 1st 4-6mile climb of the bike course until there was some exciting descents!......by exciting I mean there was a sharp bend left where if you over steered you’d hit a huge lake. Then followed steeper descents, with massive drain covers and pot holes just before a junction, then, just around the corner were headwinds ……….I guess the point I’m trying to make is that the course is technical..……..just like the Surrey and Hampshire hills (my enthusiasm for this Ironman event was beginning to return J!).
The 26.2 mile run route was left unseen and a trip to the pub to find that my brother was already paving his way through his sleep medicine was a much better idea.
Race Day
Race day started at the hotel from 3.15am, with Alpen and a Banana. My friend Debbs, Karl and I arrived at the reservoir to a distinct buzz of nervous athletes whom were checking tire pressures, loading up bikes with nutrition and donning their wetsuits. I was chuckling to myself as my brother was camped particularly close to the DJ setup, the DJs mission was to creating an ‘electric’ (scuse the pun) atmosphere at 4am! Meanwhile Karl was mincing around ‘body gliding up’ and zipping up as many male wetsuits he possibly could whilst I was ready and hung around err watching really (wetsuit heaven!).
It was starting to get cold and I couldn’t wait to get into the 12 deg C water!……….we were herded like cattle through a gate and then descended down the steep narrow lane to the reservoir where some swimmers must’ve been treading water for at least 15minutes until all 1500 competitors finally got into the water. There was some confusion as the over zealous DJ was telling us to move back behind the start line, just as the claxon sounded. We were off……..the usual battle began, getting kicked in the face and stomach whilst trying not to drown….. kinda took the mind off the water temperature. I thought the crowds of swimmers would filter due to the various swimming abilities but it seemed to take at least 1000m before this was the case. The Bun fights seemed to cease on the 2nd lap, then realised I was drifting of course slightly and hence headed back to the pack. Karl the super swimmer (esp with his new spot welded webbed fingers, courtesy of the farmers pen) would leave the water after about 1hr 5mins and I’d still have at least a further 20mins, at this point my hands, feet and face were getting numb and I decided to kick harder to revive the circulation……on exiting the reservoir I staggered left and left and oops and up and left, it seemed the cold in my ears had affected the balance but luckily there were some fine (err I mean kind ) young men labelled catchers whom physically pointed me in the direction of the steep climb to transition. T1 had be refurbished with straw and a red carpet to cover the ankle deep mud although you could still feel the squelch as you ran over it. T1 took some time taking off the wetsuit, and slipping into a cycling jersey whilst trying to thaw out a little before embarking on the bike.
Bike – 3 laps of 38 ish miles
Bearing in mind it was still only 730 am, there was a distinct nip in the air, although we had been warned the sun was on the way – I was worried not to have worn enough clothes but the first climb was underway and the heart began pumping hard. The descent began to the sound of an ambulance and I was hoping it wasn’t Karl that had descended into the unscheduled lake stop, luckily not and the injured party was in safe hands. After that the first lap was pretty uneventful apart from the fact I was enjoying the cycle so much I had a huge smile on my face. The 2nd time around I tried to spin at the long ascent so as not to burn out for the 3rd lap, the 2nd lap proceeded with moments of brilliance to bordering of cramp. I had to back off a little and increase the fluid and fuel intake and then proceeded with a 2nd wind, surprisingly i began over taking people and thats when I decided to stick to my game plan of 26-27kph average if possible…….. I needed to keep something in the bank for the goddamn marathon! The big ascent of the 3rd lap caused trouble and I thought i was about to ‘bonk’ – “this can’t happen yet (… haven’t even been going too fast??), I haven’t even got to the run”......Chris (optician editor) caught me at the peak of the climb, he said ‘just spin it out’ …..as I descended I span the legs trying to disperse any lactate build up in the muscles and I saw Chris go off in the distance. I remembered the commitment we’d made to raising money for vision aid overseas (That’s a plug – http://www.justgiving.com/opticianironman09/). I had some peanut butter malt loaf and got on with the cycle. By this time I didn’t really know what I was thinking about until I saw a guy fly past, I looked at my speedo and realised I’d been slacking long enough! Down on the tri bars I went, like it was ‘the tour’ J ……. on the horizon I saw Chris’ familiar shirt, it was just like mine, my mission was to attack ha ha! We chatted for a while, took on some Gatorade and then I was off. With only about 20km to go but with a couple of cheeky ascents, during one climb something jammed in the chain and it came off making a horrible noise, I really thought that was it, I jumped off the bike to investigate but at the same time someone smashed into the back of the bike, luckily I had 2 Gatorade bottles behind my saddle and the tri-bars of the bike behind, popped the bottles out of the cages and took most of the blow. We had a bit of a tumble, I got a ‘face on’ for a moment then proceeded to kiss his ass good bye ;-)………..I was now at transition reverting to an excited smile and ready to tackle the final part of the course- the mere marathon.
Run – out – back – out (finishing at the town hall)
I’d already made a big mistake at the London marathon by going too fast too soon and so my plan was to enjoy the run, if I could do 10minute miles I’d be super chuffed. Out of transition I felt great, I smiled and waved at family and friends, chatted with a scouser and a guy dressed as 118 (not sure if it was a wig or his own hair though!). The beginning of the run leg seemed to pass quickly but there were no mile markers (apparently they were all stolen in a sabotage attempt?), i’d had technology failure and therefore no idea of time or distance covered. I Passed Karl coming the other way along the canal before I’d even got to the 1st turnaround point (in a park near to Bolton somewhere J), he was looking strong and comfortable. The streets were lined with amazingly friendly crowds, the sun was particularly hot it seemed but motivation and confidence was growing as this gigantic mission was within grasp. The 1st turnaround point seemed to take forever and I didn’t know if this was 10 or 12 miles and there were mixed messages so I didn’t know what to believe. The terrain was undulating in the park so I took plenty of water and a caffeine gel, popped to the ladies and in the words of Forest Gump ‘I just kept on running’. I saw Chris with his VAO (thats Vision Aid overseas http://www.justgiving.com/opticianironman09/)top on and he appeared to be ‘chilling out’ at the water station. In the heat heading back towards the transition id no idea of distance travelled (poss over 1/2 of the run?). Physically I seemed to be feeling ok apart from clothing rub/throbbing of my 2nd toe that I remember hitting whilst exiting the reservoir and then was I hallucinating……. there was an Egyptian God but ……..hold on he had a FTC shirt….. it was Mick with magnificent head wear, we exchanged mutual respect. Mentally I didn’t know what I was thinking and began to cry, I heard a lady in the crowd say ‘are you ok? why don’t you stop?’ in my head I thought ‘Stop.. r u mad?’, I was ok physically and the girlie emotion passed and I saw Janine – what an amazing shout/surprise and boost. The strategy of walking at the feed stations and any steep parts of the course seemed to be working. I caught up with 118 whom had left me early on and I passed many people who were in real trouble. The 2nd time I passed Karl (he was on the home straight) it looked painful and I wasn’t looking forward to my final lap. I saw Chris again as I was on my home straight, he also looked to be struggling now. Suddenly I heard the beep of a garman and I asked a guy how far we’d been, he replied ‘20.2 miles’………ok……… so that’s err just 10k left, I decided that I was ‘slacking’ again and I upped the pace (at least I thought so?), the hunger to finish was strong but there were moments where my calfs took it in turns to boarder cramp so I still walked at the hills but drank as I ran past the water stops, I could hear the noise of the crowds at the finish line now and all sorts of emotion and excitement passed, I saw this amazing big screen with a clock in front which said 12hrs 42min – I couldn’t believe it I’d guessed I’d be over 13hrs. I saw my family and friends whom were obviously shocked to see me and also expecting me to be collapsing on my knees. I was elated and grinned ear to ear but I always had one eye on the clock so I sprinted to the finish in order to get under 12hrs 45mins……….my time 12hrs 44min and 49secs……...my friend shouted “your 2nd in your class…….and your an IRONMAN”
Karl had been back for ages, massaged and changed. He finished in an amazing time of 11hrs 21mins and was 130th overall and 27th in his particularly hard age group.
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/video/88113/
http://www.justgiving.com/opticianironman09/
KONA ? ……. just one place and the 1st in my age took it……..i was kinda glad at 1st but later a the presentation, I had a demon thought and wanted to knock her off the podium……..sportingly I shook her hand and wished her all the best – Grrrr halo bloody Ha J
There was mud, sweat and gears in Bolton over the weekend as Fiona Molloy and Chris Bennett took part in the UK Ironman in Boilton for Vision Aid Overseas.
Fiona Finished in a fantastic 12hrs 45 with Bennett trailing miserably along in a pitiful 13hr and 39 mins.
The day started in the chilly, but calm, waters of Rivington reservoir. After going into the water and waiting for a few minutes the horn went off and the event began. The first struggle of the day was making it around the end marker buoys in one piece. As the triathlon washing machine swung into action at the first turn Bennett was kicked in the unmentionables but managed to shrug it off without taking a swing at the guy responsible. On the long stretch back to the second buoy the skies started to clear and, turning points aside, it was a pleasant , if chilly be the end swim.
The first shock for Fiona came at the steep and muddy slipway where she stubbed her toe getting out of the water. Undertermined she powered on to the bikle and whistled through transition and out onto the bike. Bennett took his time in transitions stopping for a peanut butter sandwich before pushing his bike up the muddy lane to avoid the slippery cycle scrum which had formed as numb riders tried and failed to get on their bikes.
The bike took three circuits of a 40 miles route with one moderate hill right near the start. There were a few casualties on the first leg warning the others of the dangers on this technical course. Both Fiona and Chris had good bike times. Fiona did hit a bad stop in the middle of the race but found a second wind to overtake Chris.
Both were cheered along with shouts of 'Go Transitions' and Go Optician the names on the tops the two were wearing. An eagle eyed spectator also shouted go Speedo at Chris and the shouts were certainly welcome to drive the athletes along.
The marathon at the end of the event it traditionally where the problems start but Fiona romped home with a four hour time for the 26 miles. Chris took things a little easier making frequent food and toilet stops to come home in a little under five hours for the runs but feeling in good shape.
Chris and Fiona would like to thank everyone who has supported them on their Ironman journey. If you would like to make a donation on the back of their efforts go to:http://www.justgiving.com/opticianironman09/
The last couple of weeks of training haven't got quite to plan but both Chris and Fiona are fighting fit and ready for the Ironman.
Fiona was struck down by flu( not sure if it was the piggy variety or not) last week putting off an open water swim at the weekend and making her taper ( reduction in training) a little harsher than expected. Her training has been awesome by anyone's standards and has seen her compete in a huge number of sportives and middle distance triathlons.
I, meanwhile have been trying to keep up with a few big rides, some lengthy swims and even some running. As my taper approached I did a little too many miles and started to feel a twinge in my rihgt achilles. This provided the ideal opportunity to stop running but with a 17 miler and then a hilly 13 miles with a flat 13 miles just a few days later ( hence the sore achilles) I feel like I have done as much as can be exptected without lossing my job, wife, kids and allotment.
Both Fiona and I are stoked ( as we triathletes say ) by the support from everyone especially Transitons, See 20/20, Hilco, Speedo, Ultralase, Essilor and Johnson and Johnson.
As ever you too can donate at www.justgiving.com/opticianironman09/
With just three clear days between now and the Ironman what will be will be. Let's hope it's not too painful
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