2011 Race Schedule

Well, my 2011 race season looks like it is mapped out. 

Following two Ironman races abroad over the past two years, I have decided to do a UK based race for 2011.  The cost of the Lake Placid trip was ‘significant’ so Lynn and I thought we would scale it back a bit next year.  I had to decide between two July races - Ironman UK and Outlaw ... or so I thought.  All of a sudden, two new Ironman events popped up to make my decision that much harder!  Ironman Wales and Challenge Henley are both new events and both take place in September.

Like a greedy kid in a sweet shop I have opted for two races ... Ironman UK in July and then Ironman Wales in September.  The races are just six weeks apart!

Although Outlaw looks like a fast course, Ironman UK is in Bolton – less than an hour from home.  This event has had some mixed reviews - but it would be a shame not to do an Ironman that was so close.  We will probably only book a hotel for the night before the race. 

Following this race I plan to have two weeks recovery, maintaining swimming technique only, then three weeks proper training, one week taper ... BOOM!

Ironman Wales looks really nice, with a sea swim and then glorious views on the bike and the run.  Lynn and I have decided to make a holiday out of it, booking a cottage in Tenby from the Friday before the race to the following Friday. 

Added to these two races, Mersey Tri have two cycling trips in 2011 that I don’t want to miss.  The first is the club trip to Ireland at the end of May.  This will be a good training week, with a good mix of cycling, running and open water swimming. 

The second event is the Land End to John O’Groats (LEJOG) cycling trip.  This will be more intense than the Ireland trip, with daily miles averaging between 120 – 140 miles a day.  This trip takes place in the first week of July.

Training for the Ironman races will need to factor in these two trips, both of which are big cycling blocks.  The LEJOG trip will be ‘slow’ miles, often climbing – and not the specific TT threshold efforts that a ‘normal’ training plan would contain.  However, bike fitness and strength should improve considerably after this trip.

The plan for the year will look something like this:

• Conwy Half Marathon – 21^st November
• Helsby Four Villages Half Marathon – 23^rd January
• Liverpool Half Marathon – 27 March
• Mersey Tri Duathlon - April
• Ireland trip – 22-29 May
• Bala Middle Distance – June
• Liverpool Olympic Distance – June
• Lands End to John O’Groats – 1^st – 8^th July
• Ironman UK – 31^st July
• Ironman Wales – 11^th September
• Liverpool Marathon – 9^th October

Now I just need to create a training plan that factors in the schedule above!