LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

Xia · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 874 Location: Geneva (Suisse)

Hey we are back online,
I talked to some of you on the day but I'd like to have all your stories about this gruelling event.
Organisation wise, you have done a fantastic job!

Xia · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 874 Location: Geneva (Suisse)

I'll go then,

The race was the usual Lim race, hard, hard and hard.
I started a bit faster than expected to try to have someone to draft, unfortunatly, I coulnd't stay with one of the pack and was on my own after lap one. I kept going at a face pace for 3 (4?) laps (4'10-30 lap) , but I couldn't recover as usual in between hills. Listening to Farhana advices I seriously slowed down to recover but even with a 6' minute lap I felt like shit and my heart, lung and stomach where giving me grief. on the fifth lap, I climbed the big hill and then dropped five minutes to recover letting loads of people lapping me. I restarted again feeling a bit better, but still not par, I tried to keep my lap time in between 5'00 and 5'30 depending on the drafting opportunities. 10-12 laps within the race I was starting to unlap myself with some skaters and pushed just a little bit harder till the end.
I finished in 2h13. While i was disapointed by my time and where I Finished, yet I was happy not to have to retire.

Water wise, I was taking a sip at every top of hills and pouring the reminder of the bottle all over me. I had a bottle of sport drink with me, but stopped drinking it, when I realised that it was that drink that was upsetting my stomach.

other races:
I was impressed by Jaarko he just went on and on and on. AS for Gavin and Hans, well done! But next time hope one of you will get the win.

Thanks to all of you that help me going, I might not have acknowledged all your nods, but I wasgreatly helping.
Alex

dan_b · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 2428

The organisation was great, and many thanks to everyone that made it possible. As a participant I can't fault the registration, refreshments, or the on-track arrangements - commentary, timing, water, etc. Big big thanks to everyone giving out water.

I think that having it at the same time as SkateLondon was a good thing, too; especially events like the 24 minute relay (which, admittedly, I missed) that actually got the serp road crowd over from the carpark and onto the track. If that's happening again next year I don't know if we might plan things like combined award presentations: get both groups together and swell the crowds.

My race was less than great, but I learnt some important lessons. For the record - (1) tipping water on your head can be painful if it washes suntan lotion into your eyes; (2) find some way of counting laps that still works when all higher mental faculties (like, the ability to remember a number between 1 and 26) have shut down; and (3) get some wheels that won't core after 17 miles (82a hyper superlites not recommended). Of course, I feel like a wimp now for chucking it in so early; such is the benefit of hindsight. Next time ...

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4108

For anyone who DNF'd, don't feel you wimped out since many people did so, quite a few very good and fast skaters too.

Christophe · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 1652

JonRBUK · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 47 Location: Essex, England

Hey All!

Well i had a great time for my first Marathon! considering I do a lot of sprint Training... 5th place aint to shabby! (I think it was 5th, I haven't actually seen the results) I would have been right up there with Vin, Gav and Hans if my boots weren't killing me! (you should have seen my feet this morning Confused

ahh well I get my new vapors soon!

Gav, Hans I'll get ya next year Smile

....you to Vin....lol well done guys top stuff!

Mike nice meeting you btw sorry I couldnt chat for long....had a marathon beat!

Well Done LondonSkaters.........good Meeting once again, can't wait for next year!!!

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

What a day - temperatures in the 90's and some brilliant racing.

My race began well with some best laps ever for me - first three laps I was flying, next three laps were ok - then my legs first turned to lead, then to jelly (I thought that my frame had come loose) I stopped at the top on the hill on my tenth lap where Hans and Farhana were (Farhana was also suffering) I had decided to give up and thought I might die - but Farhana saw what I needed and poured a bottle of water in my face without warning Shocked

- I woke out of my torpor and got going again and completed the remaining three and a half laps. Thanks Farhana - always a lady for the dramatic gesture - and just right for me at that time Laughing

Thanks to all for your words of encouragement.

Some tremendous examples of great skating. Mario in winning, and the chasing pack of Hans, Gav, Vinny - with Gav just pipped by Vinny in the final sprint and Hans coming in for the Bronze in the British Championship.

Special mention also to Kath - doggedly carrying on to complete (and get the ladies bronze medal)after a nasty fall early on.

Helen · Joined: 31 Jan 2005 Posts: 90 Location: Dagenham

A really good day, but much too hot - and I didn't skate! Very well done to all of you who skated. To do even one lap on that course in that heat deserves a commendation.

Well done Gavin and Hans - your achievement was heroic.

It was good to see the children skating - bravely coping with the steep hill, despite misgivings. The three little lads on quads did very well. They'd never done anything like that before but really threw themselves into it and seemed to enjoy it.

roger · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 531

Thanks to everyone who organised and ran the LIM this year. It was a fantastic event.

My marathon was hard. I was still recovering from a fall in training a couple of weeks ago, and then the heat was something else.

I started the race fast, too fast as usual. The pack got away, and I was left on my own and feeling rough. Luckily Ray came past me quite early on and as he was in my race (Veteran mens) I knew I couldn't afford to lose him, so Ray paced me through the next six or more laps. I also had Alice Dobell for company in these opening laps - I would pass her on the long back climb and then she would come back and pass me on the finish climb - we yo-yoed back and forth for 6 or more laps, just behind Ray. As we got into the second half of the race I was feeling better - I didn't think I was going to puke any more - and then Kay caught us up which really perked me up. I thought she might power past me and Ray, but either I got stronger or she faded a bit, as I finished just in front of her. I think Ray faded quite badly at about the time Kay joined us, because I didn't see much more of him, until the end.

At the end I was pleased to have finished, and to have got on the podium, despite a disappointingly slow time.

If I could change anything I would like to see the veteran's British Championships held over the full marathon course. It seems a rotten choice to have to do the full marathon or the championships. Maybe our FISS representative could lobby for a change here, especially as Britain is out of line with the European and World veteran championships (men and women) which are held over the full distance.

What would I do differently next year? Train more, and do more hill training, and more heat acclimatisation (that should make sure it rains!).

And finally a big cheer for everyone who started on Sunday. It was tough in the heat and everyone who took part deserves a cheer.

lemming · Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 693 Location: Reading, UK

Well, I was only there on the Sunday, but it was GREAT.

Fantastic skaters around, both on the track and in the car park. got to meet a few of you who I didn't already know.

Fell on my thrid or fourth lap of the half, broke my skates (powerstrap only, gonna see if Salomon will do anything for me 'cos I don't think I hit them hard enough to warrant that) and finished in just over an hour (unless I miscounted and only did 12 laps).

The heat was punishing and I scuffed and got blood on my brand new skinsuit. Mad

Thanks to everyone involved..

Naomi · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 374 Location: London

big respect to all those who did the full marathon - I felt myself begin to weaken slightly after 10 laps of the half marathon - the first hill (the long gentle one) was really taking its toll on my quads. anyone know where I can see the lap times at all? It would be interesting to see how my pace varied.

I think it would have got a little lonely to do a whole marathon, because having split with mike after 10 laps, I was rather lacking the company of anyone.

Cant wait to do my first actual proper marathon - I think Ill enjoy it as much as I did the half-marathon if theres more company.

Jon - im surprised that was your first marathon - I thought you were some longtime hardcore racer? or do people choose to specialise?

edit: my heel skin hasnt grown back yet, but have compeed for lemans...

JonRBUK · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 47 Location: Essex, England

Hey!

Yup, that was my first... and I never train anything over 10,000m (50 Laps of Birmingham Wheels) so I am extremely pleased with my result! considering the immence heat as well, well done to all that finished...and even those who didn't!... Doubt I could have done it without the help of my ipod though! which was a major help when I was on my own... and in reply to your question, yeah Some people do choose to specialise, some like everything!.... for me though its the sprints! but I am finding longer races more fun!

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4108

Hey Nomes, it was just so awesome skating with you. You have to be the perfect team mate, everything just worked perfectly and without us having to discuss it either.

Had it been the full marathon I wouldn't have headed off since I wouldn't have survived long without you. With just 3 or 4 laps to go I had to put the extra hurt on Phillip to tire him out some more. I was sure he'd have a good sprint seeing as he's a hockey player.

Naomi · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 374 Location: London

Ah, so Jon, you decided to go with the ipod then. Ive had discussions at Le Mans over whether music helps or hinders. I think I prefer without for Le Mans, because I need to concentrate on hurting myself as much as possible for 10 mins Smile

Mike - we did have some funny conversations though.

Mike: take a rest, let someone else go at the front.
Naomi: ok, but what if I fall off the back - oh god oh shit what do I do! mike! im at the back! dont let me go on the back! I dont know what to do! shit! I wish Id paid more attention when people yacked on about pacelines! what if I cant keep up!
Mike: Naomi, they're letting us do all the work - they're playing with us
Naomi: *general panic as positions change for about 1/2 a lap*

Mike and Naomi at the pub later:

Naomi: hey mike, thanks so much, it was really great skating with you
Mike: no it was so great skating with YOU
Naomi: skating with you was great because you were basically the one who helped me into this speed skating thing, and so skating with you was a real privaledge because I look up to your skating.
Mike: no no no, skating with YOU was such and HONOUR!
Naomi: really? thats so great because skating with YOU was such an honour.
Mike: really, you're the best teammate
Naomi: no YOURE the best teammate
Mike: we did everything the same at the same time
Naomi: yeah, damn we must have looked good...

*mutual self congratulationvensued for about 20 minutes*

Naomi · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 374 Location: London