Welcome to ITCH - the Ipswich triathlon club hand-out - for Spring 2011...

Thursday 31st March 2011
Cut off for next issue: Tue 26th April

The list shown below is as it stands on 31st March.

However, as you'll know from the e-mails, I need to prune out a sprint or two. I am monitoring comments on the "Ipswich triathlon club" facebook group - suggestions include replacing one of the sprints (probably Waveney Valley) with either the Speedy Beaver on May 29th or the Cowman on July 3rd, both of which are in the national lists. I would urge any sprint specialists to look at entering the Fritton Lake event on June 11th as this is the regional championship event - see http://www.triathlonenglandeast.org/ .

Any single "long" event [100]
You can submit any single "long" event result but the event must be based on the WTC distances of 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike & 26.2 mile marathon run. Also, you must provide a full set of results in a format that we can use to calculate your points.

Examples:

Charlie Stannett - itch@ipswich-tri.org

• extending the booking of Woolverstone to two hours each week on a trial basis
• to leave arrangements for Tri-Yoga sessions as they are now, on an ad hoc basis, rather than set up a formal programme
• Neil Catling will run regular "bleep test" sessions to help people monitor fitness improvement
• Neil, Derrick Smith and Dave Copland have been okayed to book the "AGM" room at Greshams on an occasional basis for indoor sessions
• whilst the senior championship remains based on a single event - Cambridge - the junior championship will be changed to encourage greater involvement in taining as well as competing (see fuller information below)
• we will try to reinstate "sizzlers" (small, informal sessions which mimic triathlons)
• we have approached a locally based very senior run coach who has agreed in principle to provide us with some assistance, details still to be resolved
• Antony Birt is being funded to undergo training as a Level 1 coach, to join Charlie Stannett (L1) in supporting Isabel Smith (L2).

The committee normally meets at Greshams on the SECOND Thursday of each month.

Men's captain Neil Catling

How did you get into triathlon?
I started running in January 2008 and John Moody thought it would be a good idea for me to do the Ipswich Duathlon. I wasn’t so sure, but I entered anyway. I enjoyed it so much it led to a triathlon in 2009. I haven’t looked back since.

What is your main motivation and/or inspiration?
My main motivation is just the fact that I really enjoy training, on the other hand I also want to keep getting better.

What does your family think about you & triathlon?
I think they like it as they often come and watch. However probably don’t like that I spend a lot of time training and a fortune on bikes. My mum did her first triathlon this year after coming to one of my events so it’s slowly rubbing off, just the wife to go.

What has been your happiest sporting moment?
Well that’s got to be finishing UK Ironman 70.3. Even if I didn’t get the time I wanted it's one of my happiest.

And what about your worst?
That’s a toss up between Norwich Olympic 2009 (missed half the run route) and Exmoor beast 2009 where my rear mech hanger snapped off. I do not like getting DNF’s.

How much training do you do fit in (on each discipline)?
When I'm in the full swing of training I would normally do around 9 hours on the bike, 2-3 hours running and 1-2 hours swimming a week.

What is your favourite training session?
Well I love being on the bike and the longer the better, I would normally have a run afterwards.

Apart from triathlon, what are your other obsessions?
Family and snooker.

How do you indulge yourself on a rest day?
I either work or spend it with my wife and daughter.

What are your plans for the near future?
I will be doing a few Olympic tri’s, a 70.3 and an Ironman. I’m also going to do more running events.

Tell me about your bike!
Hmm where do I start.... My TT bike is a Planet X frame with full Sram red with a pair of Zipp 808’s. My road bike is a full carbon Claud Butler with Shimano Ultegra 6700 with a pair of mavic wheels. I also have a MTB and a turbo bike.

Both Neil & Kate are frequently on facebook.
You can e-mail Neil via neil@ipswich-tri.org or follow him on http://twitter.com/neilcatling
You can e-mail Kate via kate@ipswich-tri.org or follow her at www.twitter.com/ironfishy
 

Junior championships 2011

The aim of the junior championships is to foster active participation in triathlon and in the disciplines which make up triathlon, both in training and in competition.

With this in mind, the championships for 2011 will be decided on a points basis, with points being awarded for participation and performance across the season. The champion for each age group will be the person in that age group with the highest total number of points at the end of the season.

Registration
Because of the need to keep scores, it is imperative that you register in advance with Isabel. Send Isabel an e-mail via juniors@ipswich-tri.org as soon as possible. People registering after April 15th will only receive 90% of available points; no further registrations after May 1st.

Age groups
Competitors are assigned to age groups based on their age as at 31^st December 2011.
The nine age groups - for each gender - will be
 

Club training
Points are awarded for attending club training sessions:

“Mud Sweat & Gears”
”Mud, Sweat & Gears” (MSG) is a series of events which each comprise coaching followed by racing. For the purposes of the club championship points, these are treated as competitions, but only a maximum of two MSG events can be counted.

Competitions

A whole range of competitions are eligible (subject to individual event’s regulations), and are listed below, but it should be stressed that you are not expected – nor is it possible – to participate in every competition!
 

Dates of events
 

Isabel an be contacted by e-mail to juniors@ipswich-tri.org or on 01394-460288/07970-937899

Louis Breyer represented Suffolk in the regional finals of the Aviva/UK Athletics Sportshall Competition in February at UEA. Suffolk U13 boys didn't do badly, coming third overall, with Louis contributing with a 4th place in the 6 lap race, 3rd in the obstacles (mini hurdles) relay, and a 6= in the high jump. A fantastic day out.

He then won the U13 in the Essex Cross Country League at Hadleigh the following day, so a busy weekend overall.

Russel Breyer

Dunmow Duathlon - 5th March 2011 - Russel Breyer

Ipswich Triathlon Club were represented by a superb showing from Dave Copland, who finished in second place in a 200-strong field, and Russel Breyer in a much-improved-on-last-year 43rd place.

Solomon & Russel Breyer, and Dave Copland

If you like your runs muddy, and your ride bumpy, then this early season event is the place to come. The setting is fabulous - two 5km runs take you across the heaths and through the wooded glades of the ancient Hatfield Forest. Whilst the runs are muddy, they are also flat, so a fair pace is possible. In between the runs is a 24k cycle ride, the start and end of which is within the National Trust forest boundaries, so vast pot holes, speed bumps, cattle grids, and dog walkers are the order of the day. Once out on the open road, however, the ride becomes an enjoyable short tour of the north Essex countryside. The route is flattish, with a handful of sweeping bends to fire the imagination, although the Essex road surfaces leave a bit to be desired.

The standard of organisation at this event is excellent, with a clear PA system and state-of-the-art chip timing with all race times, including transition periods, more or less instantaneously available to view on a computer screen at the end of the race. Some neat touches, too, with finishers medals, bottled water, bananas, free cycle drinks bottles and a free massage all thrown in. A cafe and proper loos are on hand, so you can make a day out of it if you choose - in fact, if you park in the main car park, you will be boxed in for a fair while so you will be making a day out of it regardless.

The end of Winter training for me is always marked by the infamous Spring Ballbuster, held on the first Saturday of March. This duathlon is held on Box Hill, Surrey and consists of 5 laps of an 8 mile circuit – the first being run, the next 3 on the bike and a final, agonising, 8 mile run. Each lap concludes with the 1 and a half mile haul up the ZigZag to the summit of Box Hill.

It is a real race of truth – any skimping on winter training and this race will find you out.

The final climb is now part of the London Olympic 2012 road cycle route – 9 laps, no less, and where the rest of the Olympic teams will try and break Mark Cavendish before he gets a chance to sprint for Gold.

Things were not too promising – a good December and January training had been spoiled a bit by illness in February which cost most of the long bikes and runs planned, and although I’d targeted 3hrs 20 at the start of the year I was not confident.

I stayed at a mate’s house nearby so even though a 8am start it was relatively civilised; the day was cloudy, still but very cold. As ever there was a good buzz before the start and was especially pleased to see a couple of ITC members there, for the first time in the 4 Ballbusters I’ve done.

Racked, set up and went with overshoes and a jacket to put on in Transition – slight cost in time, but probably wise given the long, cold descents. Soon we were off and barrelled across the field to get to narrow exit like charging banshees. I settled into a decent rhythm and got warmed up. The number of pot holes in the road were worrying for the bike to come, but the lap passed without too much incident in 56:34, bang on schedule and feeling good.

T1 was a little long in 2:13 due to layering up, but I was soon off. However as soon as I started pedalling I realised the bike legs were not really there and it was going to be a long day. The laps are undulating for the first 3-4 miles, then a couple of miles of fast technical descents before that final climb, and before long it was climb No.2 of the day and drink/gel at the top. The second and third laps were similar – I was working very hard but not finding the pace required to get a 3:20 overall time. Bike finished in 1:26:15, another longish transition of 1:48 and then out for the run where you really find out where you are.

Target for a Ballbuster is to match your first run with the second – if you can do this, you can pat yourself on the back for being fit and judging the race well. I fell off my lap 1 pace, and however hard I worked could not pull it back; and then having worked so hard there was very little left for the final ascent of the ZigZag and I lost some 90 seconds on that climb alone. Final run time was 59:08 and overall time of 3:25:59.

With a good February I think I could have given 3:20 a real go, but overall happy with the result and pleased to have got such a tough race in the legs. My last 3 ballbusters have been 3hrs 24, 3hrs 25 and then this one – so I can claim consistency! It’s a great, if expensive, event and good to test yourself – and I’ve already pencilled the winter Ballbuster.

Chris Tye

Further info - see http://www.humanrace.co.uk/spring-ballbuster-2011

Dave Kay

Entered as an interesting bit of endurance training, this triple off-road marathon event surpassed all expectations for numbers of steps climbed, steepness of hills, excellence of evening fodder & beer, and sheer good fun.

Looking down from Gold Cap, about 75 miles done

Like its siblings the Atlantic & Pembroke Coast Challenges, it's billed as "78.6 miles, three days, two feet" but in my case it was nearer 80 miles following some unexpected scenic diversions somewhere around mile 25 on day three.

Definitely one to do if you're feeling stupid.

Fuller results, info & official photos from http://www.votwo.co.uk/challenge-events.htm - great unofficial photos at https://picasaweb.google.com/wartong61/VotwoJurassicCoast3MarathonsIn3DaysUnofficialPhotos#

You must wear club kit to score points in the ITCH league (although discretion is used where, for example, you've tried to get kit but it hadn't arrived in time, or where you have a charity place which mandates you wear the charity's kit) and members of UK:A clubs are supposed to wear club kit anyway (e.g. for the cross-country series).

E-mail kit man John on kit@ipswich-tri.org or ring him at home on Ipswich (01473) 711592, and  John will normally make arrangements to hand over kit at a mutually convenient Thursday evening.
If you e-mail or write to John, please include your own full name, address & other contact details.

(Juniors should talk to Isabel, who has been running a junior-focussed scheme.)

They are a good weight if a little snug around the neck and pretty good value at £21 each. If you're interested contact Steve direct. He will accept kit vouchers toward the price.

Steve can be contacted on 07795 564322 or stevedb@btsgroupuk.com

For Sale (older adverts - will be removed unless advertisers ask for them to be kept in)

Ladies Snugg Stealth wetsuit. Approx size 10 / Height 5ft 7"/ Weight 62kg. £80. Tel Mary 01728 660034.

Profile Design CGT bars - carbon clip-on shorty aerobars "ITU approved for Olympic distance triathlons which require draft-legal Aerobars" (see http://www.profile-design.com/profile-design/products/aerobars/carbon-aerobars/cgt.html for picture & spec). Hardly ever used (it's a long story).
Current price new seems to be around £150 from TriUK so offers (still) invited around £70. Contact Charlie Stannett charlie@stannett.com or 01206-298888.

Wanted

Race reports - thanks to everybody who has written items. Please continue to send them in, to itch@ipswich-tri.org - thanks.