I've paid for it so I'm going to eat it....all from the same plate: Memories from the summer holidays

Looking at title you are probably thinking 'what has this got to do with Triathlon' - that's a fair question, to which a fair answer is, probably not a lot.  Well, I did make a tenuous link, see if you can spot it later on.

So, although this isn't a dedicated triathlon post, I wanted to write it as it is something I feel passionate about and most of all - it makes me laugh.

As the shorter nights creep up on us and the last parts of summer start to disappear and I start running in the dark, or cycling in the rain, I often think back to summer holidays and how pleasant it felt to run in just shorts, no top, the sun warming you as you made progress.  This year I was lucky enough to be in Mexico and that was warm running like I've not experienced before...but that isn't what the article is about....so what is it about then you ask?  As I said, it's something I'm passionate about and is often seen on the yearly holiday travels.

Two words really - Buffet etiquette.  You might have guessed that from the title perhaps.

My holiday in Mexico was a particularly good example and it made me reach for my notebook and pen to note down some observations  (Yep, I take a notepad everywhere).

I don't know about you, but I like order - especially when it comes to food.  When I get up in the morning, I have breakfast. At lunchtime, I have lunch...and so on.  There are variants, granted.  People who don't do triathlon and so aren't up a 5am to swim in a lake, or go on a long bike ride, might stay in bed for longer and get up somewhere after breakfast, but before lunch and eat something called a 'brunch', it is apparently, not a breakfast, nor a lunch, hence a 'brunch' (clever).  They may not have come across the concept of the first breakfast and then the second breakfast either...

Anyway, it got me thinking. When we race a triathlon, typically, things are done one at a time, you don't take everything on at the same time.  I'm not sure about you, but it is the same when I eat.  If I have a three course meal (a bit like a triathlon really, swim to start, bike for main, run for desert) I don't have it all on the same plate, at the same time.  From what I have observed, nor do many people for that matter.

Except that is, when we go on holiday.....and we've gone all inclusive....and meals are served in a buffet format.  There is something about this combination that makes people go a bit nuts, trying to pile everything on one plate.  Why is that?

I got to thinking about this as I dipped some apple pie into my soup at breakfast.....I think there are perhaps a number of reasons, none more so than the  "I've paid for it so I'm eating it" approach.  But I think there might be other subtler etiquette issues at play.

One is my 'recce' theory.  Now, if we were being 'good' triathletes, we would recce all our race locations in advance of race day, get to know the course, where the entry and exits are for transition etc.  Even ride the bike course, swim the swim course.  I'm not sure I've ever done this, I have a quick scout around on race day and that's it....maybe that explains my patchy race results.    Anyway, my theory is, no one does a buffet recce and that is where in my view the problem begins.  You grab a plate and just start wandering....mmmm, that looks nice I'll have that, oh and that....and that....and that.  Before you know it and I saw this exact plate at Breakfast in Mexico......you have a full English, three slices of pineapple and 2 donuts - on the same plate !!  Clearly this is wrong and is not the way to construct a plate of food.

If, like me, you do a buffet recce, then you have a clear idea of what is available at any given time and can make a sensible plan as to what you are going to eat.  So start with a plate (there is no rule that says you cannot make the plate station your first stop) and then take a stroll to each station, size up what is there, do you like the look of it?, do you fancy eating it?....you do this until you have recce'd the whole buffet.  Only at this point, do you then hone in on what you have decided to eat.  This approach always ensured that at no point, did I end up with a full English, fruit and donuts on the same plate....

If, for some bizarre reason (too much sun the day before) I entertained the idea of a full English, pineapple and donuts, then it would have to be three separate trips to the buffet, three different plates.  There is simply no rational reason for all that lot to be on the same plate at the same time.

I found myself every day eyeing up peoples plates as I meandered back to my seat, laughing to myself at some of the combinations I saw.

It got me thinking about my second theory and that is, outside of the all inclusive buffet environment, do people eat like this on a regular basis ?  Can you imagine, you go to a restaurant and order a starter and main and it gets delivered to you all on the same plate....you'd be confused, annoyed...I'm sure of it.  In fact, I think you'd most likely call over the waiter and ask what is going on ?!!  Yet at the buffet, perhaps even only a few weeks earlier, you'd have been quite happy to eat your starter, main and desert off the same plate.

If I cooked for my kids and served them beans on toast, fruit and donuts all on the same plate, I'd fully expect them to look at me with disdain and wonder what I was up to....but yet some of us would have no qualms eating this way at the buffet.  Strange isn't it.  It kept me amused for my whole holiday.

What is it about the all inclusive buffet format that seems to override all we have learnt about how to construct a plate of food and leaves us with a 'freestyle' approach to eating, what has happened to buffet etiquette - did it ever exist?  Maybe its just a figment of my craving for order.

Next time you are on holiday and there is a buffet option, take a look around, see what freestyle food combo's you can spot.  Maybe you already saw some great combo's this year on your travels.  Maybe you yourself are a buffet freestyler....

Race Review - Bedford Autodrome Duathlon 14th October 2018

The good thing (depending on which way you look at it) about being in a triathlon related WhatsApp group is that you often get 'persuaded' to enter events that you might not have considered before and usually events that you probably wouldn't have just entered on your own.

And so it was, that I was 'persuaded' to try a duathlon by a good mate from the aforementioned WhatsApp group.  I've only just really got into Triathlon so hadn't really considered duathlon before.  But the idea sounded like a good one, given that it focused on the two disciplines that I consider myself to be better at (Bike and run) and missed out the one I am not so good at (Swim).

In exchange for £40 and the obligatory booking fee, I was booked into the Bedford Autodrome Duathlon standard distance race.  Standard distance in the case of a duathlon consists of a 10k run, followed by a 40k bike and finishing with a 5k run.

The distances didn't really phase me, the only area of 'concern' I had was the run to bike transition, having never trained specifically for that.  From the time I entered I had a few weeks to at least try that out and see how it felt - which I managed the grand total of one time.  I did a steady 5k and jumped straight on the turbo after for 10 miles on the bike.  Ok, it didn't really get near race distances, but it gave me a sense of what to expect.  To be honest, I didn't find it that bad really - not sure what I expected, but I was happy that I would make the transition from run to bike without issues.

The only other challenge it looked like we could face come race day was the weather which was forecast to be chilly and wet.  But as always with a forecast, you take it with a pinch of salt - I would regret that come race day !

Friday evening before the race on Sunday, I spent a couple of hours getting the bike ready, cleaning it, de-greasing and re-lubing the chain and I even treated the frame to a coat of wax....well, if it was going to rain on Sunday, then a coat of wax wouldn't harm.  Bike cleaned and checked it just needed a short spin on Saturday to make sure all was ok mechanically before race day.

Saturday before race day dawned a glorious day.  Sun, blue sky and unseasonably warm for the time of year.  I took the bike out for a short spin and all was well.  Kit was selected, checked, checked and checked again before being packed.  Roll on Sunday !

Sunday was an early start and again my mate had volunteered to do the driving and so arrived to collect me at 6am.  Bikes and kit loaded....and guess what, it's still mild and there's no rain.   5 minutes later as we enter the M25, it starts raining and it will barely stop all day.

There were, I will admit, a fair few conversations about turning around, heading back, what was the point in racing in these conditions, but we never did turn back.  We agreed to get to the venue and see what it was like when we arrived.  On arriving and parking, it wasn't great, it was overcast, raining, windy and cold...but people were out and about getting set up, registering etc.  That's what we'd do, lets go and get registered and see how we feel.....of course, next, we were on the start line ready for the off.  It was still raining, it was still cold.

And then we were off, I was taking part in my first duathlon.  I'd made a plan to take the first 10k a bit easier than if it was just a 10k race on its own.  I thought 7.30 per mile pace would give me a reasonable finish time.  As with most mass start races, you are taken away with the pace of the bunch so my first mile at somewhere under 7 minutes was more than I planned for, so I tried to regulate it more.  I think this is where I maybe go wrong. My ability to maintain a running pace is possibly worse than my swimming....but still I try to do it and fail miserably.  The moment I try to do that, I seem to swing between going faster, then slowing, then speeding up again.  I think a better option would be just to go as quick as a I feel I can on the day, rather than trying to target a pace.

The rain was tipping down still, the wind was blowing and the standing water was, in places, like one of those water jumps in a steeple chase.  It didn't take long for my feet and race kit to be totally soaked through.   I finished the first run (10k) in a pretty average 46:33 and entered transition to get to the bike.

I managed to spend 2 mins in transition, even though, in theory, I only had to change my running shoes for bike shoes and put on my crash helmet.  Instead, I worried about trying to keep my running shoes from getting more wet than they already were by turning then upside down and wrapping them in a jacket....but in hindsight I wonder if that was actually worth it? Also, given the rain, I elected to leave my riding glasses in transition, and of course that prompted another dither as I wondered where they would be safest.  After being hit up the rear-end by a bike from a guy coming into transition, I eventually grabbed my bike and I was off.   That initial chill and headwind as I picked up speed was awful....I was glad I'd chosen to wear a merino base layer under my tri suit.

The weather was just miserable as I made my way into the bike course...there didn't seem to a clear marker as to where the bike course started and where I should count my 8 laps from.  I was soon up to speed and was surprised how, even in such awful conditions, I was able to hold above 20 mph on the course.  The corners were a bit trickier to navigate but I soon figured out the best lines to take while keeping decent speed.  One thing I enjoy about closed circuits is the surface is generally good, much better than roads and you aren't worrying about traffic, junctions, roundabouts etc.  You can just focus on riding as quick as you can.  In the conditions, you had to be wary of others around you as you certainly didn't want to put your self in the position of having to brake or change direction quickly or force others to do the same.  Safety was the first priority, but I was making good progress.

And then the inevitable happens...is that 4 laps or 3...I can't recall?  I always tell myself, how difficult can it be to count 8 laps...but I'd forgotten where I was on the lap count.  Rain was driving into me, wind was picking up and my feet were feeling awful.  I continued to make good progress and in a way, was enjoying the ride.  As I came to what I thought was the end, I was trying my best to work out if I'd done 8 laps or 7...my time at the point was 1hr:09 mins.  If I'd done the full 40k, then I was about 3 minutes quicker than I'd ridden that distance before....could that be right, in these conditions?  I'd held on to near 20 mph or above most of the way, with no stopping, junctions etc.  maybe that could be right...in the end, I decided not, and went off for one more lap...just to make sure !  I completed the bike in 1hr:15 mins which gave me an average of 20.4 mph - really pleased.

Jumping off the bike at the dismount line is always for me the first time I get to assess how my legs feel for the impending run.  My legs didn't feel that bad, but it was my feet that felt weird....maybe it was just the bike shoes/cleats? Anyway, bike racked I went for the shoes...I couldn't get one undone...my hands were so cold I couldn't undo one of my bike shoes !!  I hadn't even realised my hands were cold on the ride.  But I'd been sat on the TT bars most of the time and the course was that flat I'd not changed gear....so probably hadn't used my hands in over an hour.  I managed to get the shoe loose enough to yank it off, just the helmet....I couldn't get the clasp undone.....what a disaster this was.  I had to ask the BTF official in transition if he could help, thankfully he did.  Thank god I had elastic laces in my run shoes as I'd never have been capable of doing laces up !!  I was ready to go on the last 5k run, just 2 laps to go and I'd be done.

It was at this point, I recalled that odd feeling in my feet...they felt like blocks of granite, very uncomfortable to run...this wasn't going to be a record breaking 5k !! I struggled round that first lap, confused as to what was up with my feet.  Cold, water-logged?  The second lap was a lot better, if just more comfortable rather than quicker.  I eventually crossed/fell across the finish line.  I'd made it, completed my first duathlon.  That last run was dire, it took me 26:16 to run 5k which isn't great, but in the conditions, I was happy to have started the race, let alone finish.

Despite the weather, I enjoyed the format.  The duathlon is a simpler race to prepare for, less to worry about in transition.  I coped with the run to bike transition better than I thought I would - I imagined I might suffer as I wasn't used to running before the bike.  I think on reflection, I should have pushed the first 10k harder but again, as this was my first attempt, I was worried about over doing it on the first run.   As duathlons tend to be later in the year, perhaps thinking about gloves might be the way forward....getting into transition and realising you can't get your shoes or helmet off is a bit embarrassing !

This race was an ETU qualifier for team GB slots.  I had considered paying the extra tenner to nominate the race and try to qualify.  I'm glad I didn't !!! One thing that never fails to amaze me about Triathlon and now duathlon, is the quality of the athletes that enter.  

The winner of my age group did the first 10k in 36 minutes !  10 minutes quicker than me.  I thought if I was ever going to realise the dream of a GB kit, duathlon might be the place to try.  Given how poor my swim is - its unlikely to happen in a Tri.  But again, that dream remains a way off for now....the quality out there is just way ahead of where I am racing currently.  Maybe if I'm still racing in my 90's, I'll stand a better chance !  An interesting fact from this race - I was last in my age group !!

For now, would I do a duathlon again?  Yes, I would.  I really enjoyed it, especially this one, being on a race track and therefore totally traffic free.  My kit choices overall were about spot on really.  Gloves would be a consideration maybe...even to just chuck in the bag.  Counting laps on the bike, I really have to be better at that - there must be a feature on the Garmin to help with that.  

Lets hope that next time the weather might be more favourable and maybe I can upgrade from last in my age group !

Racing Aborad Part 2 - Flights, accommodation and bike transfers

So, in part 1 I talked of my excitement about taking part in my first overseas race.  It's booked and paid for and there's no backing out now !

The next steps would be to sort out the logistics.  This was the bit I was least looking forward to, given the myriad of different options and permutations available.  Given that I am going with a mate also, this would mean co-ordination and agreement on many aspects of the trip which was bound to take some extra time and effort.

As usual, first port of call was the trusty research.  What were the options for getting bikes to Mallorca, how much would different options cost, what did others do, where was the best place to stay, how long should we stay for, when should we arrive, or leave......

My biggest concern and least understood element was the bike.  I knew that there were bike boxes to hire and I'd already researched those and decide the bike box Allan was my choice, not only did it seem the most appropriate and recommended, but what a name.  It was worth hiring one for that alone.  And then of course, hiring a box would mean dismantling my bike and reassembling it at the other end.  Whilst I look after my own bikes as best I can, I wasn't sure how much dismantling was required and therefore how much reassembly.   On top of that, the charges levied by the different airlines and the requirements and conditions under which they transport your sports gear, didn't always seem to be entirely crystal clear.  If I used a box, did this limit my options for getting to the airport, as I couldn't imagine using a train/tube with a holdall/case and bike box in tow.  

Or there was the option of a bike transfer.  So a firm that collects your bike and delivers it to the race start location and then collects it after the race and takes it back home.  My Mate had done some checking on this already and had come up with a price of £180..wow, that seemed a lot compared to the bike box option.  I was hoping to get return flights with one case and my bike for that sort of money....maybe I was being too optimistic.

There followed a period of looking at flights, trying to get an idea of price and see if there were sensible time/price combinations.  There wasn't a massive variety and a lot of flights seemed to leave from one airport and return to another.  Also Easy Jet had not yet released flights covering the dates we were interested in...should we wait - they might be cheaper?

Then, we couldn't work out when to arrive and leave....so a Saturday race would be a Friday registration and rack, but you'd want to be  there the day before to get your bike set up and sorted and a test ride in.  But, you don't really want to use up too many days holiday....although you don't want to rush the trip either.   We seemed to be in a bit of a circle here, not being able to decide on anything and as a result not booking much.

These things are typically not straightforward, especially as an age group athlete, where you are trying to book something into a family calendar and need to discuss and agree dates with the better half, like I said before, you don't necessarily want to take up 4 or 5 days annual leave for what is to all intents a one day race.

So, we decided on a face to face meet, rather than endless what's apps, emails and texts.  Bacon sarni's were and mugs of tea were made one Sunday morning and we eventually agreed on all we needed to.  

1. We would use the bike transfer service
2. We agreed the hotel we would book and the exact type of room
3. We agreed what day to leave and when to return
4. There would be no snoring in the room

All we wanted to do now was wait a few days for the Easy Jet flights to come out.  And, it was worth the wait.  Once we had agreed to use the bike transfer service, we knew it would be easier, if we wanted to, leave from one airport and arrive back at another as we didn't have to think about lugging bikes around with us (if we landed back home at say Gatwick and had to get trains).  We managed to get return flights, leaving from a different airport to the return one, but including 23g luggage, for £109 all in.  Very happy.

Once flights were confirmed, I booked the hotel room. All that remains now of the logistics side is to book the bike transfers, for which the price is already agreed.

So, what is the tally for this leg of bookings.  Here goes.

• Return flight to Palma (Easy Jet) including 23kg luggage = £109.40 (annoyingly my mate booked his 10 minutes earlier and paid about a pound less !)
• Hotel accommodation (5 nights) = £272 (includes breakfast)
• Bike transfer = £180 (not booked at time of writing)

This makes the running grand total so far, including race entry (approx £283) and bike transfer (when it's paid) a not insignificant......£844 !!  By far the most expensive race I've ever entered.

Remaining spend I hope now will be limited to spending money when I'm in Palma (food, the obligatory Iron Man t-shirt).  I'd initially thought the whole adventure would cost me around the £1000 mark...so far, I'm in budget !