Tri Dog Duathlon

I'd seen that there was a doggie duathlon running but I was a bit worried about how any of mine would cope in transition, one of the organisers reassured me and Chips foster mum was going to be marshalling in transition so I decided to give it a go. It was down in Gloucestershire so me and the woofs headed off in Bumble on Friday to camp up on a farm where the race was taking place. We got there before it was dark so I could pre-ride. The course was very short (1.1 mile bike and 1.1 mile run) due to the ground conditions being hard work for the dogs. The bike it was fine with a hill from the start and a long draggy hill halfway round. But the canicross section was so muddy I ended up carrying my bike. After the preride I got the awning up, took all the woofs for a walk and then we had our tea. As it was getting cold we all curled up in bumble nice and early, me with my book. 

Saturday morning and it was cold (3 degrees in Bumble) and the ground was frozen. After briefing they took our bags over to the transition for us, mine only contained my canicross line as I had put flat pedals on my bike to make transition quicker. Before I knew it it was time to go. Chip knows what is happening at the start now and dragged me up the first hill. She listened well to her directions and before long we were arriving at transition. I felt like I was faffing but we were soon out and running. The final field was no longer a muddy mess but so frozen it was hard not to go over on my ankles. Finishing I was really pleased with how we had both ran, although Chip looked a lot fresher than me. Turns out we had managed to finish second female.

In the afternoon they ran a second race for people who wanted to race a second dog, it was entry on the day so I entered with Cybi. As always he was a little start but the ground was a lot muddier so a lot harder going and he really was tiring on the run. It was great that he got to race though as he does find two days a bit too tiring now he is getting older.

Day two and the conditions were super muddy we also missed our starting time due to me dropping Chip's lead and her deciding to have zoomies. Amazingly she still was able to pull me up the first hill but the second she lost a bit of confidence and stopped pulling, I think it may have been the ground being so heavy going meant I was slow. Out on the canicross section though and she was flying, super strong and due to starting last we had to do some overtaking, which she did like a pro.

At prize-giving I was chuffed we had held onto second, just by a couple of seconds, as we were slower today and came third on the day.

A fab event, the next one will be a triathlon so I need to persuade one of the dogs they don't mind swimming too much.

Canicross Midlands race weekend at Box End

So the canicross season has started, this year the Canicross Midlands races are at some different venues and the first weekend was at Box End Park near Bedford. This is too far to travel each day so we were camping. It was a stunning location right next to the lake and we could watch the wake boarders. It was also only a couple of miles from Bedford so we had takeaway for tea on both Friday and Saturday evenings and didn't need to cook. Both of us had Friday off work so we could travel down in the day.

On Saturday Cybi and I ran the 5k in the morning. It was a little warmer than ideal for running with Cybi so he had a few dips in the Lake. As always he worked really hard and was a star. After a quick rest I ran with both Cybi and George over  the short course (3.2km). George shocked me when he went for it off the start line as although he obviously enjoys coming running with me and Cybi he tends to trot along and not really pull. As soon as they said go he was off and I had to work hard to stay on my feet. I was really proud of him as he even managed some overtaking. Me and the boys then spent the afternoon relaxing while Ali went to the football in Cambridge.

Sunday morning I ran the same combination. In the open we had mini mass starts with four starting at a time, usually we start at 20second intervals. Cybi was a star and got us to the first corner first but I couldn't keep that pace up and we were a little slower than Saturday. In the short course I was ready for George to go at the start and he pulled really well for the whole race. We came in slightly faster than Sunday and George coped with us being overtaken by quite a few from the class behind us.

All that was left was to pack up, which Ali being the star she is did most of while I was at prize giving. The boys were both brilliant all weekend, I was so proud of them.

Spring Showdown

At Easter it was the Canicross Midlands Spring Showdown which was four days of racing at Catton Park. We were going to be camping as it's just a little too far to head down everyday. Unfortunately Ali sprained her ankle quite badly the week before and Cybi and I had to go on our own, I have to admit I was worried about camping with Cybi on my own as he can be a bit of a handful.

As it turned out he was fine, settled best if I wasn't there and once popped in my sleeping bag at night so lights didn't disturb him slept fine, one morning we both slept till 8am!

The racing itself was fun and muddy. I had entered us unto the 10k in Sunday, turns out only ten of us were crazy enough to run the longer route, and we loved it even though it was a little warm for cybi.

It was a great weekend but I really missed Ali as she'd have loved it.

It's cold out there

My usual way of celebrating New Year is to go to bed early and sleep through it.  This year I suggested to Ali a little wild camping trip on the moors.  She wasn't impressed with the tent idea thinking that was a little soft.  But I pointed out I had never been wild camping so she agreed we could bring the tent and maybe use it.  What followed then was frantic packing and a trip to buy food and bubbles.  There was no choice in the food it had to be camp stew, this is ali's favourite for camping etc.  We also picked up a couple of bottles of bubbles, Ali saying one was enough but I insisted on two.

Back home and with a minimum amount of stressing from me we were ready to go.  I had all the food and bubbles, Ali the tent - something not quite right there?  All was going well as we spun along the roads, then we headed off road.  Ali at this point suggested going another way since it was icy.  I disagreed slightly, after some discussion we continued pushing the bikes along the icy path.  At one point Ali even resorted to crawling across the ice.

We eventually got to the Witton Weaver way and I suggested that it would take a long time to get to the spot of our last bivvy.  So instead I thought we should follow a new path, a little voice was asking if it was sensible but she still followed.  At about the same time we both pointed to a little plateau that looked ideal.  So the bikes were dragged up, a flat spot found and the tent erected.  Bedding out and it was time to cook.

The camp Stew was lovely and a combination of me bringing a lid and us being in the tent meant it cooked reasonably quickly.  Bubbles bottle One was finished before we started eating!  Bubble bottle two seemed to disappear quickly as well.

Soon we were snuggled in our sleeping and bivvy bags looking out over Winter Hill, till it started feeling colder.  Tent zipped up we fell asleep waking up to a load of banging, it must be the new year.  I had a look at the fireworks, but we were too high above them really.  Ali went straight back to sleep 10 seconds later.  So I got to listen to the fireworks on my own for about an hour.

I didn't feel like I had got to sleep and I was really missing having a pillow but suddenly a little voice was talking and it was 7am!  Next thing I know she is getting up to take Photos and telling me how pretty it was outside.

Soon I was even brave enough to stick my head out.

Since I was up it was time for me to eat so I started on the bacon (this time with rolls). 

After another while curled up in the warm sleeping bags the sun decided to join us, lighting up the frosty bikes.

Closely followed by some snow showers which prompted us to break camp.  Tent packed, everything else attached to my bag somehow we set out walking towards the road.

Then it was home along the road, carefully avoiding the odd ice patches.

What a lovely way to see in the New Year.

All ALi's pics are here.

SSUK09

Back from a fun weekend away. Somehow although it rained the whole way there, Dalby was dry all weekend. We missed the big ride out after Ali decided not to bring her bike - halfway there she was wishing she had it! Next year we are bringing her a singlespeed to ride!

Saturday evening was dominated by the Rollapaluza which Ali won in fine style, I don't seem to be able to get my legs to move fast enough!

Sunday morning and it was time to leave our bikes in the woods for them to be moved around. I already knew I wasn't up for much, riding the length of the camping field felt hard! So I was out for a fun ride. Ali got to help moving the bikes around so she was happy.

After a jog across a field I found my bike up a tree, Ali had made sure she had moved it! At least she left it so I could reach it!

The course was great, some technical bits. Only one down I walked both laps, the rest I rode. Lots of screaming though!

The second lap I stopped for a while at the beer stop, I found I am not great at riding after beer, but it was a nice course so I enjoyed myself. Ali not so much she was in the woods getting eaten alive waiting to take my photo, only I was sat drinking beer so she had to wait a long time!

A great weekend, Ali has about 500 photos so will hopefully get them online later.