LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

dan_b · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 2417

Yes, very impressive performance from Hans. And all on 5 hours sleep, too.

I'm going to chalk this one up to experience (by which I mean that I pretty much bollixed it up). I saw the break as it happened and tried to go with it, but was being overtaken on both sides by faster people and was fairly clear I didn't have the pace for it. Once things had settled down again there was Matthew Glynn from Birmingham (the chap wearing Vinnie's skinsuit) ahead of me and Alastair and Ed slightly behind, so formed a three-man paceline with them. Ed dropped off, Alastair and I caught Matthew, and we went round for a few laps together, but it looked like Matthew had little paceline experience (or some other motive for not making it too easy for a rival team ;-) and it was hard work to get any useful draft off him for long. After a bit Alastair started flagging and dropped off, then after I'd been leading Matthew (who was also slowing down) around for what felt like a very long time (felt like three laps, but was probably only one in reality) I decided that if I was going to be leading all the time I might as well skate on my own anyway. So I did. I think that was somewhere around lap 8 or 10. The rest of the "race" was mostly just a matter of going around and around saying hello (and sometimes "nice to see you again") to people.

Lapped by Hans on his last-but-one lap, and by Vinnie a bit later, but managed to stay on the same lap as the powerslide people.

Once I'd finished and stopped I was seized by the sudden worry that I should have done one lap more, so I did. Luckily this was unnecessary, as it wasn't a very fast lap ...

AlastairJ · Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:17 pm Subject:

What a great venue - we'll have to spread the word for next year.... well worth the trip in my opinion....

Well done to Hans - by chance I hung on to the back of Hans and Vinnie for the last part of their final lap (they were lapping me for the second time) - so I was just yards behind them for their exciting finish!

I really enjoyed the race, and was lucky enough to have the benefit of two pace lines. BTW, it's great to have the lap times in a spreadsheet as this allows you to check how long you spent in pacelines....

Dan and I stayed together for the first 11 laps with Matthew Glynn (plus Rick and the other LSSTs for the first 4 laps). On the 12th lap Matthew tried to break away with the wind behind him (having stayed at the back of the paceline in the headwind). I made the mistake of chasing him even though I had been leading the line so was already a bit tired. After catching him up I quickly weakened and soon slowed down (of course!), watching Dan and him skate off into the distance....!

Then 7 lonely laps by myself, bad for speed and motivation, but good for rest and recuperation... Good news again as I managed to jump behind Andy Porter as he lapped me, and we shared the lead in a two man pace line for the next 6 laps...

More participants next year would make this an excellent event!

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

Well that was a good day out. I really enjoyed the race - stayed with Rick for almost all of it but we skated at various times with derek, and Sharon - and most of our team with the exception of Hans, Dan and Alastair who were being anti-social by being too fast.

I messed up my final lap - tried to hold back and be in a good position for a final sprint but somehow found myself at the front for a fair chunk of the lap and then was overtaken by Rick, Ed and Sharon coming into the final bend - but I didn't care too much cos this was my second fastest marathon ever Laughing

My time at the 26.2 mile mark must have been 1:34!

I took pics of the family and kids races and Helen in the half-marathon; Helen took pics of the full marathon. I've put a selection up in the gallery.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5888

ed! · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 8:12 am Subject:

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

That was a really good day - great surface and good weather.

I enjoyed most of the half-marathon. My left leg was hurting a lot on the last few laps which made it difficult. But it was great to come round and be cheered on by the team each lap. Thanks, guys! You really kept me going. And a big thanks to Raymond who kept me supplied with in-flight water, food and support.

I was pleased that I was able to keep going to the end, even with the unexpected extra lap.

Definitely one I want to do next year.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5888

Like the photos in the gallery. Thanks for taking them. I just wish I looked thinner Confused

You got a nice one of the start and plenty of them during the race.