04:03
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Training video from Portugal
Posted in Fun, Training, Training Camp by Toby RadcliffeHere’s a short video from a training camp we did back in January in the Algave, Portugal. Good times!
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Toby Radcliffe
03:26
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Toby Talks Tri 2: Why Every triathlete wants to be a honeybadger
Posted in Fun by Toby RadcliffeToby talks triathlon 2:
Why every triathlete wants to be a honey badger
A few years ago at an ice breaking session, the delegates of the conference I was attending were asked what kind of animal they felt like and why.
I was dreading having to answer this as, thanks to early am training pre conference I was tired and already nodding off. The first thing that came to mind was a sea cucumber. I wanted to be left alone at the sea floor to just lie there, a glorified intestinal tract, just sleeping and eating. Not a suitable answer.
Why couldn’t I remember all the animals i’d been told to visualise over years of coaching, reading tri mags and books? I could have been the dolphin – gliding through the water with ease, the cheetah – making it round that track so quickly and smoothly, or the circus best atop that clown bike for show after show.
But now I realise that the only animal that every triathlete secretly wants to be is the honeybadger! Fearless, with a rudeboy haircut, and fully awesome, these animals are so hard they make Chuck Norris look like a sissy.
So, be the honey badger – attack your cobra straight on – whether it’s your ironman race, training or a long standing injury – face it and keep getting up after it repeatedly bites you!
02:21
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Toby Talks Tri (part 1)
Posted in Fun, Training, Training Camp by Toby RadcliffeThis post could also have been named “Toby Talks Twaddle”. This post is for fun only!
After today’s training, I am in the hole. I thought I’d explain how this differs from a few other terms such as in the box and in the hurt locker, as well as being in the bear pit.
“IN THE HURT LOCKER” – Usually the athlete must go to somewhere which has hurt lockers before getting in one. Hurt lockers should only be used for short periods of time, and under no circumstances should anything be left in the hurt locker overnight, as this is against most establishments’ rules. Generally too, most athletes forget to bring padlocks to the hurt locker or get into it on faith that nothing will be taken during the session.
Hurt lockers are for short hard sessions such as a hard swim squad or another super intense workout. Over-users of hurt lockers can sometimes leave things in them, such as empty sports drink bottles and bar wrappers; trash such as this is usually from olympic distance triathletes. Occasionally fast food trash and remains (such as chicken bones) will be left, usually by junior swim squad members. Getting into such a hurt locker is known as feral hurt lockering and is highly unhygenic.
“IN THE BOX” – The box is a one day deal. You can buy the box at Ikea or similar and get into it pretty much any time you want given enough commitment to hammering yourself into it. Usually an implement such as a cricket bat is needed to get one’s self properly in the box. Best done by beating rapidly and repeatedly.
- AC getting in the hurt locker at Timex Camp
“IN THE HOLE” – Unlike a hurt locker it he box, a HOLE is something that can’t be dug in just a day. It takes days or weeks of toiling – usually outside under the unforgiving sun of warm weather training camp (cue wild west whistling and tumble weeds). Days of hard work are required before your body finally decides that it’s staying in the hole and no getting out any time soon. Due to the severity of the hole, generally the only upside is that it’s difficult to bonk in the hole, as you’re already too far gone. Also unlike bonking, getting in the hole can happen at any stage of a session, not just far into it, as you’ve been digging for days.
“IN THE BEAR TRAP” or “BEAR PIT” – similar to being in the hole, except that it is dug by one athlete for another – usually a training partner or rival. For example, you take your favourite rival out for a ride and push just a little too hard for him in order to dig him into the bear pit. Also unlike being in the hole, bonking in the bear pit is allowed. This is when you’ve dug the bear trap but accidentally go too far yourself and before the bear (other athlete) gets into the trap, you bonk early and fall into pit. Hence bonking in the bear trap.
- Hannah in a variation on the Bear Pit – the Sweat Pit, which Scientists put you in during testing
And yes, this was Part 1… that means that there’s more to come!
09:26
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IMOO (Ironman Wisconsin) race report
Posted in Racing by Toby RadcliffeWhat a great race! Generous on mileage, with very little to help make the course fast, this race is as honest as it gets.
I came into the race off a poor period of prep and not feeling 100%. In many ways, that might have saved my skin – it was a day when racing to your limits meant that many of the pro field dropped out or blew spectacularly.
I knew it was going to be a long day from the get-go. I swam like a bear in custard, but things picked up for a while on the bike when my legs seemed to be with me, but about halfway round he first loop I was flagging. The run was little better – traditionally where I pull out all the stops, my legs just hadn’t made it through customs and I slogged through the heat feeling the fatigue with everyone else.
I thought about pulling the pin for a lot of the day. Having a sub par race can be disheartening, but you never know what’s up the road. I figured it was good training at the least. I convinced myself in the swim that I might come good on the bike, then just wanted to get the ride done. The crowds carried me through T2 without letting me think about stopping and then I made myself get to mike 3 where there route detours through the University stadium which i wanted to see! After that I figured I might as well go to the turn around, then back… Until I actually got to the finish line. I’d manage to get into 9th place but it was more through attrition than any speed on my part. Tough day! I finished feeling very pleased that I’d stuck at it regardless – being able to race at all is such a gift. And getting a top 10 finish is a great bonus.
The week was all in all FANTASTIC! So pleased to see Timex team mate Mac Brown score 3rd, and Cindi an JB were awesome for looking after me (and hosting the best post IM after party ever!)
Thanks as ever to Timex, Orbea, On, Neovite, Sugoi, Native, Shimano Pro, Orca, SBR, and the other usual suspects!
VERY happy to be finishing! Thanks to Ali Engin for the photo
09:01
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Ironman UK race report 2011
Posted in Racing by Toby RadcliffeWith another race only a week away, its high time to get my last race report up online!
Top line – for those of you who only read the highlights ;) Ironman UK – 8th Pro, with a PB marathon split of 2:48:53. That’s definitely moving in the right direction! Despite going 20 minutes quicker overall than last year, I still didn’t manage to crack the top five! Looks like the competition’s getting tougher…
Bolton once again was a great venue for the UK race – thanks to my homestay family (again!). Loving Ironman UK-style!
Here’s an article from Triathlete Magazine online for the race report details:
http://www.220triathlon.com/news/radcliffe-reflects
And because pictures say a thousand words…
The top of Sheep House Lane... a lung busting climb
- Running to a PB marathon split
