London 2012 Olympics - Episode 1

Saturday was event number 1  -  the mens road cycling. 

The day started early in Putney where we hoped to catch the boys on their way out for the 250km ride. We had 1 safa and 5 team GBs to support so we cycled to Putney from the house hoping to catch a view of Wiggo, Cavendish, Froome Dog & Daryl Impey.

At about 10:12 the pelaton came past us as we waved our flags and screamed instructions at the boys. Very technical stuff like..GO BOYS GO BOYS..... pace was pretty moderate at that stage as they had literally just started riding. 

From there we got back on the bikes and cycled to Richmond Park where we setup camp on the main drag coming back into town. 3 hours of chilling, picnicking & talking shit about sport sport and more sport we finally got ready for their return. There were thousands of people around us but we were against the fence so we had front row positions. The helicopter was overhead, the crowd went mental and the lead pack came around the corner. I cannot even begin to explain the noise, energy and excitment as they came flying past us (inches away) at 70km an hour. We all went nuts screaming as loud as you possibly can, so much so I almost lost my voice. There was a large breakaway group (which eventually produced the winner, Vinokurov, a superb cyclist from Kazakhstan) and then came the pelaton being lead by Wiggo who was desperately trying to hunt the breakaway down all by himself to set Cav up for the win. Wiggo was in such pain but had a big smile on his face, home advantage and all.

Unfortunately it was not to be Team GBs day but it was still amazing. Those guys are machines! We are DEFINITELY going to the TDF next year. 

The whole experience was unbelievably exciting and exhilarating. Tomorrow we go to Volleyball, I can't wait.

here are the pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22538412@N03/sets/72157630818027508/

Braai time

It's 30 degrees out there in London town so there is only one thing to do.

HAVE A BRAAI BRU!

Olympic Torch Relay

T-minus 3.5 days till the greatest sporting spectacle on earth and I cannot wait.

Yesterday evening we got to see the official torch relay pass through our area, which was a great way to get you in the mood, if anyone needed any additional motivation.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22538412@N03/sets/72157630726247304/

And finally some Upton Triathlon pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22538412@N03/sets/72157630726809546/

Upton-Upon-Sea weekend

Rain, Rain, Rain, Rain plus camping = shit dirty mud.

Saturday was the annual Chasers triathlon event & was supposed to be 50 Chasers competing in the Upton triathlon. Unfortunately the weather was so super crap that 20 Chasers didn't bother to come up from London and the swim was cancelled due to the river bursting it's banks. No kidding, there was debris the size of farm animals floating down the river, actually there may have been some farm animals in there. 

We went up on Friday night and had to put the tent up in the driving rain, we both loved this and there was no swearing about which pole went where and who did or didn't know what they were doing. After getting the tent up we went in to town to find all the restaurants & pubs had stopped serving food at 21:50. Small towns ey, great start. 

So fish and chips or pizza? Not much of a choice the night before a race and after zero deliberation (I was starving and having a personality failure) the pizza option was taken, this proved to be a school boy error. Two kilograms of dough doesn't count as positive carbs for a race, trust me. I may as well have been 4 months pregnant on Saturday.

Saturday was race and party day. The race was turned into a duathlon - 1.5km trail run, 40 km cycle, 10km trail run and actually wasn't bad in the end as the weather did improve for the race. I rode a 1:11 bike split which was a PB so can't complain but the run was really really tough on the wet farm roads, grass and trails. My poor poor long suffering second BossLady Bayly once again did a sterling job and was great support & camera man. Next year she will compete as well.  Defo!

Saturday night was the party in the Marquee which was really good fun and great to have a few beers, unwind and dance to some cheezy tunes with all the mad dronk tri geeks. 

Sunday was pack up and drive back to the big smoke with a hangover.  I think we are both still a bit knackered after the weekend and next time we will definitely cheat and stay in a B&B which was done by plenty of Chasers. Camping in the rain isn't for us. 

Natale is still a bit injured but Raff the sports doc guru is working on repairing her for the French Revolutions holiday. I can't wait as we have three day trips planned around Champagne on the bikes. It's going to be an adventure. 

I'm racing a 10km on Sunday or going for a lake swim with Natale if she is allowed. TBD. 

I will add some pics as there are a few really embarrassing ones. Maybe I'll put those up ;-)

Sun.....Sun....Sun.....please.

My sporting hero: http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/news/cult-cycling-hero-jens-voigt-talks-to-ned-boulting/

Sh*t Triathletes Say

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KTEgLKhjIw&feature=player_embedded

Oh dear! I say a lot of that stuff now. I'm a tri nerd.

Just a quickie

Great race on Saturday with 50 club members running and totally dominating the race (we won the men's and woman's race). We both had a really good race, I ran a 19.13 (5km) and Natale ran a 25.54 (5km) so a PB for both of us.

Sunday was a TDF day as the weather was way to crap to bother venturing out.

Where is Summer 2012?

Another rainy day, another record rainfall month...bleugh. 


Clapham Chasers Mob run tomorrow. For those who don't know what a mob run is, this is when a club tries to take over a race by having as many people as possible run. i.e. create a mob. Three clubs are competing tomorrow and the club with the greatest amount of competitors in the race wins, simples. We have chosen the Brockwell Park 5km race. We are both going for a PB so watch this space. 


Sunday will either be chill or cycle and swim. 


Super 15 & Tour de France to fill the gaps :-)


Have a good weekend. Quack Quack..

Weekend Warriors

Nothing major to report after the weekend besides a bit of a marathon session yesterday. We both rode to Shepperton lake and back for a swim which was really cool but quite tiring in the wind. 50km round trip and then a decent 2km swim in the very warm lake. It was a really good day as we rounded it off with a fabulous dinner with Jason & Nina in Balham, yummy ribs n chips. 

I suppose the biggest news of the weekend is we have taken over the kit management for the Clapham Chasers. This is already turning out to be a full time job but it great for two really bossy people. 

Natale is also progressing well on the road biking (see above) and will no doubt be a mountain goat in no time at all. 

hmmmm.......ribs...