Steven Lords Website

Finally, I can report some genuine jelly fish news! Fortunately it was only Steven and Simon who had elected to get up early and do an optional swim prior to the long ride this morning. They only swam about a km until they’d had enough stings, and joined the rest of the camp for an early and hasty breakfast. We had three groups departing at 8:20, 8:40 and 8:50am – covering the full Ironman Lanzarote bike course on the last day of a camp in which we had already averaged over 25hours of training per person in 5 days, we were not underestimating how tough this could be for some of us, and wanted to encourage as early starts, working together as a group and most efficient stops during the ride possible.

Today I was riding with the “middle” group – Ted, Marc A, Mel, Simon and Frank, were the unlucky campers who, Steven joked ,were “not likely to get a coffee stop”.  Through the week these guys had been pretty evenly matched in terms of bike strength, and certainly a good pace for me over 6hrs. Today, however, I had reached the end of my reserves and mostly lead the ride form the rear, shamelessly making use of their wheels for most of the ride! Simon, lets call him the “sand-bagger’s apprentice”, was on great form, and having apparently taken things easy all week, was not up for riding at our friendly pace…and we last saw him churning away around the El Golfo loop. No-one saw him all day  -he’d cracked on solo and ridden the route in 6hr50 incl. stops . I felt that the group could have used the benefit of his strength today, as the winds were not only blowing in the non-typical direction, but were blowing hard. However – like everyone, he’s paid to come here and get the most out of himself and we’re here to  support that, so good on him. Lucky for us  (me!) Frank was happy to wait for us and stick with the group, and  “The Train” proved invaluable ride company in the second half of the ride, along the LZ1 and all the way home into a head-wind. He was riding at his own pace, but anyone who could hang on his wheel was welcome to it, seemed to be his attitude. I certainly felt it was worth busting myself to stay there – and lets just say that I was neither in my happy place, or seeing much of the scenery! Mel was riding strong, as she has all week, despite a hacking cough, and Marc and Ted remained as jolly as always. My thanks to Marc who came to the rescue when Mel had a major mechanical in the town of Haria, and my congratulations to both Mel and Frank who managed somehow to get in a sneaky coffee on two occasions!

jo

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Challenging conditions today with winds strong and from an unusual direction meaning for the majority of the day we had cross winds. The early riding was very sensible and sociable nicely ticking it along till we got to over 3 hours which was Tim’s criteria for a stop. We got all the way to Teguise where we stopped at Johnnies Bakes. Everyone loved it and resolved to pop in on the way back too!

The fun had started (i.e. pushing the pace ) on the climb to Teguise and it continued after the top up to Haria. We’d passed the other groups prior to our stop but watched them head by so it was fun to catch them and exchange a few words on the climb. Rain and cloud at the top so we didn’t hang around. In Haria we found Jo’s group with a broken chain which they’d managed to get fixed, so we continued. Emma’s slow group rolled in very shortly afterwards.

Once we hit the LZ1 we had a headwind and I felt it best to just “get it done”. The guys took it in turns to join me on the front and we gradually cranked up the pace before heading up to Teguise for the 5km climb into the wind. Rob made a false move halfway thinking we were nearly there, accelerating past us. I was impressed he was making his move so far from the end of the climb, before I realised he’d made a mistake. At the top everyone looked spent resulting in a lot of chat over our second coffee and cake being about how the work was done and we’d ride easy back. We stayed a little longer as Johnnie had just baked some hot cross buns and treated us to some.

Once back Out on the road Tim set the pace and started cranking it – before we know it most are on the rivet all along to the turn to the donkey track. Then it was plain sailing down with the tail wind before spotting Jo’s group ahead on the bypass road resulting in a chase to try and catch them before the end. It was in vain.

Brilliant ride. Roger, Tim, Rob and Kevin all worked incredibly hard at the end of a very solid week, and it was really fun to be a part of it.

Steven

We almost had some real jelly fish action today…but ,having managed to persuade everyone to get in the sea anyway, it turned out to be false alarm. This was just as well since we were all hoping to swim a full hour today, earning our swim ‘wildcards’ for tomorrow so that we’d be able to start our long rides promptly.

Given the big day  of riding that lies ahead to mark the end of the camp, we had schedule short routes – a 60km standard and a 90km long option – but with the inclusion of Femes (for the second time in the week for some). Most opted for the 60km route, riding at a very moderate pace and were pleased to get back to   the hotel by 1pm prior to the main event of the day; a 10km handicapped run race.

Having passed the “halfway” mark the spirit on camp is high: our experience is that most people suffer a dip on day 3 or 4  – the freshness and enthusiasm of the first couple of days has worn off, the fatigue of the first few days of hard training really starts to take its toll, and we see some people really struggle through the mid-point .This is where the value of being on camp really become apparent: everyone knows the feeling and encourages each other through it. We all do more that we think we can, or think we want to, because others are. Fortunately everyone’s low-point comes at a slightly different time – otherwise we’d probably have a mutiny!! Then we get to day 5: the end of the week is in sight – and people realise what they have already achieved- and what they will have achieved by the end of it. They realise that, in this circumstance, sitting on a wheel, getting beaten up a climb or a running a slower than usual race is OK and nothing to be ashamed of – because no-one is!!

That’s why we include a “guess your time” element to the 10k run race; asking people for a predicted time and then confiscating or taping over their watch or Garmin.  It would be interesting to get an estimate off everyone at the start of the camp and one just before the race on day 5 – and see how they differ! When asked for their predictions on the start -line (which we did) most people do tend to err massively on the pessimistic side – but once the gun goes and they’re running off handicap for places, exceed their expectations. Everyone knew that this was the final event in the points completion, and effectively 1 person passed was worth 1 point – and so on average ran 2 or more minutes faster than predicted. Steven and I both raced, and ran slower than our predictions! There’s an example of the power of motivation: we’ve both done less total training than the campers but neither of us were racing for the camp rankings. It’s unlikely that anyone ran a 10k PB here today, but we had some decent run times all the same – with Tim and Roger both breaking Jon’s 39:51 course record from last year with 39:49 and 38:52 respectively. Roger’s time was enough to pass Sarah for the handicap win… which earns him a pair of Vibram 5-fingers of his choice from Primal Lifestyle.

The “Guess-Your -Time” prize went to Ted who guessed his time as only 18 seconds slower than he actually ran, and won himself a run assessment and technique coaching session from TenPoint Triathlon.

By crossing the line first Sarah held onto her 3 point lead in the points competition, whilst Roger’s second place finish moved him into second place, nudging Rob down into 3rd spot. As far as racing goes, it’s now all over – the final camp winner will be the highest point scorer who completes the camp – which for these three, just means getting tomorrow’s 180km Ironman Course route ride done.

Jo

Another day and No Jelly Fish !! So, we brought the swim handicap forward to this morning rather than leave it to chance that we’d be able to hold this, the first of our “points” races, tomorrow.

This was a proper race – it was really very rough and I felt it would really favour the strong swimmers. How wrong was I – Paul and Sarah swam strongly from their handicapped front positions to hold everyone off and take first and second. For his win, Paul received two pairs of Blue Seventy goggles. I managed to come in third and must apologise to Mel for again not giving enough time and for laughing as I passed her on the beach turnaround.  I’ll note it here so I get it right next year – I need to give her four minutes.

Well done to everyone for completing the course in pretty scary conditions. Special mention to Emma our super ride leader who not only acted as waved battered turn buoy, but then accompanied Ted for the second half of the race to ensure that he completed the daily minimum swim requirement having withdrawn himself from the race on grounds of being “a bit scared” (his words!)

Next on the day’s agenda was the Tabeyesco Time Trial. The second points race of the camp, we had everyone starting off at one minute intervals. The conditions were definitely not favourable for this event either, and to give an idea last year I went 31:23 @ 340 watts today I went 31:04 @ 357 watts and about 3KG lighter. Great to see so many people working so hard this far in to the camp as people were clearly tired during the ride to the start-point. It’s good for everyone to appreciate that even when tired they can race hard. That really is what a training camp like this can do for you more than anything you’ll do on your own; chuck in a bit of a competition and even after 3 hard days we saw some full-on efforts and great performances.

We’ve worked out the handicap result for the Tabeyesco TT, and our winner is Rob – he gets a Freespeed Retul bike fitting. He’s been riding so strong on his new bike and I’m sure Richard’s expert eye on his fit will only make him stronger.

After a refreshment break in the Mirador Haria Cafe, about half the camp headed for our scheduled  “long ride” whilst the rest took the standard 97km option most of those, having realised that teh actual distance was 99km at the hotel finished with a lap of the block to make it up to 100km for my Eddington Numbers!! I was chuffed not only that they did it but also that they clearly understand what it’s about. This contributed to the number getting to 96km.

Those that had run wild cards used them. Everyone else ran the minimum, Jo and I both chose to run an hour after our rides to make up for a lost run earlier in the week. Frank headed out for a second swim (and didn’t sight any jelly fish).

With one race to go the camp points are tight. Having crossed the line 2nd on handicapped swim race and ranking 5th on handicap in the Tabyasco TT Sarah is leading on 21 points  (13 for a 1st, reducing to 1 point for last on handicap)  but then it really masses up behind with three tied for second on 18 and several with between 15 and 17. Tomorrows 10km run race will be exciting with every place worth a point and Sarah will be one of the first to start.

Our points standings are:

(note that camp completion is required for winning the points prize)

Steven

Day 3 begins with the gang assembled in wetsuits at 7:15am. It’s still dark and there are reports of restless night’s sleep and pre-ace anticipation as we make our way to transition….several comments are made about how akin this feels to Ironman morning! We’ll just be racing 1500m + 5(ish)km for our aquathon but with two solid training days in our legs, we’re all feeling at least apprehensive. Not least because in the pre-dawn gloom no one is able to see the big orange rubber ring turn buoy that Steven has tied about 350m from the shore. Luckily, once it’s started to get light it brightened up very rapidly and we’ everyone was reassured and good to go: two out-and-back laps for the swim. Various degrees of straight line were taken to reach the buoy, and Mel’s swim pace was almost as  impressive as her utter inability to navigate a direct line between two fixed points. It’d be odd not to make some mention of jellyfish at some point in this blog: some were seen and felt as were several unusual looking rays. Transition included a run up the beach, then a brutal set of steps to our change area, before we ran out on our 2-lap run course along the seafront, which most people noted was not very flat!

It was great fun for me to have swum the second lap with Kevin and Simon and leave transition with them both close behind me. Kevin soon showed me his heels, whilst Simon was contented to look at mine. I was determined to catch Mel, and did manage to make up a little ground, but her 3min15second lead was too substantial in the end. The race was taken by Tim closely followed by Roger – two very impressive performances from two very competitive characters! It was great to see that everyone was giving it a good effort – and from the banter afterwards it seemed enjoyed the race. Marc A swam a 24 min 1500 and then withdrew on grounds of an achilles problem – he will complete the camp having earned a discretionary Wildcard by swimming back out to untie our marker buoy for us!

Here are the results of our aquathon race which will be used to handicap the rest of the events on the camp – from here on we’re racing for points, and points means prizes!!!

All the racing talk and provisional results made for some jolly breakfast banter before kitting up for our days riding. Today’s route was a ride of the Ocean Lava half-ironman distance course, with a few tag-ons to make up a 110km ride for a “Wildcard”. This gruelling race includes an ascent of Femes’ steep side before going over Fire Mountain. Those who had earned a Wildcard yesterday were able to avoid this, the hardest climb on the island. As per yesterday, we organised two departures – one group rolling 15minutes ahead of a slightly faster group. There were a few pairs of tired legs as we pedalled up the unavoidable climbs out of Puerto d Carmen, and it took a bit of rallying to keep our large group moving! An earlier departure does allow this easier pace, and Emma and I managed the gaps between us. With the stronger riders making roundabout loops or rolling back along the raod rather than roadside regroup stops, and after half an hour or so had a nice continuos flow with everyone riding a pace that was comfortable for them (under the circumstances!) whilst maintaining the feeling of being on a group ride. Steven’s faster group probably has a lesser spread of pace and employs different tactics for keeping the group together  –  although every time I saw him today , he was on his own at the top of a climb!! At the break point between the standard and long ride option (which was to approach Fermes via Playa Blanca) we said goodbye to Emma, Simon and Ted and also Paul W who was playing his “wildcard” and saving his legs. We gained Kevin from the fast group, which proved useful on the return across the lava fields!

It’s been a tough three days and having ridden with her for 3 days now, I’ve been very impressed with Sarah, who took up ironman only recently having been inspired to do so whilst providing massage for our camp here last year. These are big rides and at a challenging pace for her – especially on top of everything else on the camp. But she’s kept on pedalling (with a little less than gentle encouragement at times) with must less rest than most of us, tucking in and hanging on a wheel for the last hour or so to get the job done and home when necessary – all without so much as a pause in her cheerful patter. We’ve thrown some hard work at her and still not found her “grunt point”!

An early return to base enabled me to get some mechanical works done on my bike and have a massage whilst others sunbathed – or went out to bank a second run. I have to confess that I’d planned to do just that whilst my bike was worked on, but “legs said no!” so I’m most impressed by the oldies who did ;o)

Another Jelly Fish free day ! Checking for them each day is almost certainly going to mean I get most swim KM this camp as I get between 300 and 500m done before everyone else arrives on the beach. The more I swim and don’t see them the more confident I am about none being out there. It being dark doesn’t really help though.

This morning we did starts and exits in the swim. Like last year it was great fun. Sprinting in to the sea and swimming a max effort 100m round a buoy certainly wakes you up and I expect it’s the most intense work anyone will do all camp.

Today’s ride was a pretty challenging route and so we had a group willing to make a quick breakfast to get an early roll out. The ride was heading north up to Orzola, into a headwind, before taking on the challenging ascent of Mirador Del Rio, and then reversing the Ironman Route as far as Teguise. To earn a Wildcard we said that campers would descend back down to the LZ-1 from Haria and re-ascend via Tabeyesco. This Wildcard will allow them to cut the climb of  Femes out of tomorrow’s ride.

I was with the second start-group and I was really chuffed with how we worked together. We had started out friendly with a compact group and everyone chatting away until Roger punctured at which point we split with part of the group continuing steady to Orzola whilst three of us waited with Roger before we chain ganged for 20 KM to Orzola, some hard work but great fun.

Jo also reported her group had been riding together really well. We bumped in to them at Orzola and then again at the top of Mirador Del Rio which was super satisfying as our planned timing was working out bang on. We even arrived at the Haria decision point together where a large number of campers chose to descend and ascend Tabeyesco in pretty tough conditions – strong head winds and ending in the mist.

The final section home we motored with Tim putting us to the sword chasing an average power. Certainly was the final nail in the coffin for me until I saw the group that had done the standard ride ahead and decide to work a little to try and get us to finish the ride together. We caught them within 500m of the finish and it absolutely made my day for it all to come together like that.

Those that had earned a run wild card yesterday were pretty pleased to be able to play it and avoid running off the bike whilst the others showed the true camp spirit and headed out for their 30 minute run minimum.

Steven

Corrections and apologies:

I made a mistake with my math resulting in an incorrect time trial result for Helen who actually rode 33:14 rather then 35:14 as previously stated. Sorry Helen!!

Jo

After a day of mostly smooth airport pick-ups, hotel check-ins and bike assembly and shake-down rides, our camp of 13 athletes, and 5 staff assembled for the formal welcome and camp introduction on Saturday evening. Having run through details of the week that will follow, including the camp points competition, handcaped races and the concept of “camp completion” …we sent them to bed with two warnings. One, that they would be loosing an hour’s sleep due to the clocks changing form winter to summertime and Two, that we may not be able to swim in the sea due to the sudden appearance of large swarms of jellyfish. There have been jellies in the bay across Peurto del Carmen since Janurary, due to some underwater volcanic activity, and although they’ been keeping themselves very scarce all week, on saturday morning they had returned with large-scale reinforcements. What a bummer! We had been unwilling to enter the water and we could hardly expect the group to do so.

Fortunately, we sent Steven in ahead to scope out the situation, and he reported “All Clear”. They disappeared just as suddenly as they came, presumably just on a day trip to the resort ,and are of in the ocean or bothering beach goers someplace else. So, we were able to get our fist session of the day done and those who wished to had the opportunity to bank a little extra swimming in case of infestations later on it the week. Due to the suddenness of their appearance, we must assume that it could happen any day through the week, and will have to assess the situation each morning . Of course we’re keeping our fingers tightly crossed that if it will happen,it wot be on the days that we have scheduled our swim-based races.

The second session of the day was a ride oriented around the 10 mile El Golfo Loop time trial. This is an exact repeat of last years’ day 1 bike race, which will be used to handicap the cycle “points” race so we were able to make some comparisons of times for the 9 campers/staff who have returned. Despite very windy conditions today which analysis of these time comparisons we reckoned to account for 40-50 seconds we did have some great performances and a few PB’s – notably Ali, Ted and Emma (all of 1 second!!). The fastest ride of the day was Kevin, who had finished in 3rd place in 2011, though he was unable to better that time due to the conditions.  The big battle between Tim and Roger, our top 40-45 age groupers was easily resolved by Tim, who ha raced Ironman Lanarzote  three times before AND ridden a preview lap of the route this morning, taking a wrong turn on the loop and detouring into a carpark. He must have really been pushing it!!

Here are the results

Over a relaxed coffee we split into groups for the remaining ride, a 35km route over Firemountain. With strong head winds this was quite hard on the legs, but the pace of the riding was comparatively fast  in all the groups as everyone is fresh and keen, so the descent down the Donkey Track with a tail-wind was a well earned pleasure at the end of the ride. It was a relatively short day on the bike and so Steven and I were impressed with the spirit of those who used the spare time to ride a little further or do long runs.

For myself it was a blessing to run the half-hour minimum and  have a little spare time in the afternoon, enabling me to join a few of the other sensible campers for Ali’s poolside stretching session and get ahead of some camp admin so that I might catch up that lost 60 minutes of sleeping.

I’m going to need it!

Jo