LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

Ray · Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 806 Location: Dagenham

Wow! What an event.

THe weather was perfect - the course was fast and so was the Londonskaters Speed Team - so many personal best smashed to smithereens Very Happy

How we did

Gavin stuck with the lead group for much of the time and came in with an amazing time of 1:09 despite a fall

Hans was going great till taken down in a very nasty crash just near the end, but he still came in with a tremendous 1:14

Quentin in his first marathon finished in 1:18 and Roger got a new personal best of 1:19 (and then ran the whole distance again this morning this time in 4:22 - well done Roger!)

Then came the LSST group who pacelined together for most of the Race, Duracell in 1:21 and Beatrice, Rich and Alastair in 1:22.

Dan b kept up an electrifying pace after starting from block H and finished in 1:24

Amar, Natasha and Linda all got about 1:29

Michi came in at 1:30 together with Stephan who skated for LSST at LeMans

Alan P and I came in in 1:31 with Adam b, Rachel and Slezzer in 1:33

Tim smashed his pb to return a time of 1:37, Kate b and Daryl from Bristol got 1:45

Tammy and Tom two fns marshalls finished in 1:33 and 1:42 respectively.

Erika had skate trouble and finished in 2:02 or thereabouts with seriously hurting feet. Rick pulled a Tendon just before the skate but started anyway did about 15 km at a pretty good pace before having to pull out.

A great team performance from everyone including those I've missed out - please fill in the gaps! I'm not sure how Kay, Mike vanE, Merten or Glenn did and the results are not up on the website yet.

My Race

For me the race was smooth - I joined up with the team group of six of us who started in block D and we formed a paceline that Beatrice led out like a bat out of hell - I glanced at my GPS watch and saw that we'd covered the first two miles at an average speed of almost 21 mph - I stuck with the group for 5 or 6 miles but then just couldn't stick the pace and dropped back (Rick had dropped off a little earlier) and watched as Beatrice, Alastair, Duracell and Rich gradually disappeared ahead of me Embarassed

but it was so great skating for the first few miles in a blue, white and black LSST paceline. I picked up another paceline more suited for unfit geriatrics and kept a reasonably comfortable pace - at about 34 km Dan b went past and I made a token effort to catch him to no avail - then about 39 km a paceline with Natasha in it went by - she shouted encouragement which prompted me to tag on the back of her paceline and the move intop another faster moving line and , oh joy, we sailed past Natasha's line at about 40 km (great, I thought, I don't want to be beaten by too many girls) while pondering this pleasing thought my paceline slowed and Natasha's went past again Crying or Very sad

but I couldn't respond. Shortly after we turned for the final time at 41 km and I saw Helen and Farhana by the side - I responded to the shouted encouragement and stirred my lethargic limbs for one last effort and speeded up for the finish, I was pleased that I passed a fair few on that final straight along Unter den Linden and had enough energy to raise my arms in triumph as I crossed the line in a time that beat my previous personal best by 15 minutes.

Once over the line I cruised along picked up my medal and glided to a stop at which point my back began to protest at the treatment I'd given it for the past hour and a half. I dropped to the ground and couldn't get up again, then along came Hans Very Happy

He was bearing the wounds of his falls, bandaged hand and leg and seriously cracked helmet - that was really some crash he'd had, what a man still finishing in 1:14 Shocked

-but forgetting his troubles he helped me get out of my skates and nursed me along to the clothing trucks. Thanks Hans - I needed help at that stage - You're a great competitor and a really good mate!

Ray · Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 806 Location: Dagenham

And speaking of Quentin (were we?) Here he is looking pretty good at the finish:

and again:

darylw · Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Posts: 33 Location: Bristol

Reflecting Ray's enthusiasm, it was a great event and it seems like everyone loved it ! The course and weather were both great.

I got my personal best of 1:45:05, so I was very pleased, particularly with minimal training, as I only got back from travelling 2 1/2 weeks ago !

It was great to meet some of you from London and I hope that I can make it over for either an FNS or more likely due to work Sad

, the Sunday Rollerstroll.

As a final note - is anyone going to the Frankfurt marathon ? I booked in ages ago, so I'll definitely be there.

Daryl

greazer · Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 330 Location: Haarlem

The reason why the lower part of a skinsuit HAS TO BE black! Laughing

edit: did 1:15:22 with a fall

Michi · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 652 Location: Hamburg

OK guys, just returned from Berlin and first thing: check the forum Smile

Ray: this is a really good decription of the race. I still can't believe my time of 1:30:50... I really loved the race and did feel good during it - the crowd was cheering to much, that can really give you a push forward!

Congratulations to all of you who did so well. This race is good for personal best times Wink

Of course it was really good to see you all again, and get to know some of you better. The party yesterday evening was really unbelievable.
I've had sooooo much fun!

Tonight my bed is calling early.

Cheers
Michi

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4070

I think Merten did a 1:23, but am not completely sure. I did 1:17:48, and I'm quite surprised by that. I'm paying the piper today for not skate training though, my lower back is in complete agony and my hip flexors are stiff and unwilling to work. I pretty much need a zimmer frame to walk and have spent most of the day on the couch or in bed. I also start to faint if I stand up fast, I last had that when I was 16 and super fit.

Gav · Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 6:03 pm Subject:

ouch

I ache all over.

Feeling more alive now after a few more hours sleep. It was most unpleasant when I sobered up at about midday today Laughing

That was an awesome weekend - huge congrats to everyone. I am still amazed at how well everyone did! What a great LSST effort!

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4070

I'm so proud to be a small part of this team, it's truely wonderful! You guys are really getting so fast, and I love to see everyone looking at the mirror that is Berlin and learning about themselves and their incredible athletic ability. That's the least of it though, it's the group and social thing that means the most to me.

Ray · Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 806 Location: Dagenham

Amazing time Mike - well done! you just kept your nose ahead of Quentin.

The times are now up and Merten did 1:21.52

Kay did 1:36.42

Glenn came in in 1:38.17

Adam b's corrected time is 1:31.54

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4070

I'd say everyone has blown me away with their performances yesterday. I know the conditions were fast, but those were amazing times, so many personal bests to go around.

I hope those who crashed are not hurting too much or too badly injured. Hans, you a bit better yet?

Oh, sorry Merten, 1:21, that is even more incredible! You are getting fast quick dude!

Amar · Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 7:16 pm Subject:

i am happy that i got a 1:29:02 time under my belt. can't wait to start hacking away at that time... there's more in me somewhere.

it was really great to see the team vibe going on. sorry i couldn't hang around at the end; we had a flight to catch in a great hurry.

hope that all of you in pain recover quickly. Wink

well done all!

Ray · Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 806 Location: Dagenham

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4070

I am so drunk now, been pinting the spook and diesel now in a vain attempt to drown my pain. No doubt I will regret it tomorrow morning.

Hans · Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 10:20 pm Subject:

what a race... still feeling the effects been half asleep most of the day. I got checked out by casulty on my return and its just a case of mild concussion, cuts and bruises on my hands and roadrash everywhere else. I dread to think what my head would have looked like without the helmet.

Roll on 2006...

CraigA · Joined: 18 Aug 2005 Posts: 95

Awesome.... what a weekend... what a race... not to mention the amazing crowd support Smile

I was well happy with the 1:29 and figure that team could improve on this Wink

Congrats to all - and a very big thanks to Beatrice and Adam for sorting the apartment.