London Marathon 2017
This year I decided to start off with a Marathon, as a result of a Good For Age Entry from Barcelona Marathon (2:49) back in 2015. The training for VLM 2017 was most certainly needed for my season ahead. Focusing on running taller, stronger and certainly faster – building the training around the 5 S’s (Strength/Speed/Stamina/Skill/Suppleness). With 8wks out from VLM I hit the Pafos 1/2 Marathon and ran home in 1:20hr, not too happy with that as a time and certainly no reflection to what times and efforts I was hitting in training. Then I was hit by a Hip issue in training, this is what happens to us seasonal athletes when we focus on one element/sport “repetitive strains and friction syndromes” – as a result I ended up 3weeks out from VLM running in water/sea and reducing intensity on any run training sessions. However I was ready and most definitely keen to get to the start line of VLM, not necessarily get back to “Blitey” cold and cloudy.
Landed in UK and soon settled into Hotel with ex training partner Steve Gibbs, we were base next to the Xcel Centre VLM EXPO. So I managed to cover my sponsor’s duties and head over and meet and great at the On Running and also Compressport Expo stands. I always like to give my time back to my sponsors as well as promote amazing products and share personal experience with products.
Saturday morning easy run out with Steve with a few “Pick ups” and then breakfast and also had to drop my bag off to the city to collect after race. Put feet up and relax night before VLM2017.
Let’s get onto it …………
Really pleased with how things rolled out and how my pacing held well. London is a course that is supported so well, with an amazing atmosphere, you can’t even here the bands and music playing along the route due to the crowds. It’s amazing , did i say it is awesome, the crowd drives you forward and there is no way of running a slow marathon at VLM. However I was holding and being in conservative.
Once over the bridge and passing 1/2 marathon, I feeling good and cruising with 2 others, a Club Championship female runner that was being paced by a fellow club male runner. This was working well until 32km was when i first felt a tightness in my right hamstring. I actually thought it was cramp at first but then it didn’t clear nor got any tighter, but it start to twinge and throb more.
So i made the decision to ease off, due to my season ahead, to be honest if it was not for it being The London Marathon I would have stepped off the course and gone home. Ha Ha , like that’s going to happen. After a few stops to try and stretch it out, I realised I needed to wind back the pace and finish the last 8-10km at a more relaxed 5min/km and do as little damage as possible. 3:01:53hrs
Later to find out it was a Hamstring tear (Stage 1)
Start to #SB2017
” A New Season ahead ”
This is how you’d expect a Blog of a Pro athlete to start, however to be honest it is more like a continuation of what hard work training and racing I have put into the past 18 months. Periodisation and planning of training is a whole lot longer than just 12 months, for the potential Olympians out there the 4yr cycle has already started and planned. There is a lot that we learn from each sessions and each day, let alone each race and it takes time to develop to be a better athlete physically and mentally.
A lot of people out there question why I am racing as a Professional athlete, when my finishing times have not reflected their so called definition of “Professional Athlete” . But my career and history of involvement in the sport for the past 27yrs has most certainly been result after result of accolades. To which I am yet to achieve my potential in the sport of Triathlon, certainly in the long distance world.
Definition …………
Professional athletes play sports for a living. They have achieved top standing in their chosen field through years of training. Professional athletes are people with natural talent, stamina, and competitive drive.
Most professional athletes have risen from the ranks of fine amateur athletes. Amateur athletes play for the joy of competing and winning and in some sports occasionally for awards such as Olympic medals. Unlike amateurs, however, professional athletes earn money for playing sports. They play for profit-making teams—professional football, baseball, basketball, and hockey teams to name several. In individual sports including golf, tennis, boxing and Triathlon, athletes play in tournaments in which prize money is awarded to the winner. Also earning their living with salary based/financial sponsors
For 2017 I am very proud to announce a New Sponsor, my main key sponsor that is providing me with that opportunity to train full time and put absolutely everything into this season. To be able to provide me with that full on support structure for the full season budget. Not only being able to purchase training and racing equipment but mainly to provide financial sponsorship for travel, accommodation, race entries, licences, facility membership, nutrition, physio, massage, coaching and also the ability not to have to go out and work straight after training or before.
Season End 2016
It’s been a while since I have done a Blog entry and also quite a few races have happened to cap off the 2016 Season. However if you have been following me on Facebook then you certainly will be up to date. However in brief post Outlaw Full and 4wk visit back to UK……….
Races……. 
Ironman Majorca – I was in amazingshape and so committed to this event, arrived week early and rolled out on the course in the build up to the event. Unfortunately I went down with a virus and couldn’t shake it, ended up DNF (Did Not Finish) Not the result that anyone wants to see.
Limassol Sprint Tri – I really do love racing Sprint Tri’s and this result showed how top shape I was in. Leading from the start and pushing the bike to pull away and open up a good enough gap to cruise round the 5km run. Such a confidence boost after Majorca.
K1 Man , Half Distance Tri – In the few weeks to this race i was still trying to clear the last bit of the virus from Majorca, but my spirits were high and I really wanted to go well on this race. I had a solid swim 3rd out of the water and swam most of it solo, but if anything my swimming has come on really strong since living near the sea and weekly sea endurance sessions have benefitted me. The bike course was 90km of rolling hills and a few hard climbs, so not ideal for me but I knew I had to ride strong to stay clear of competition. Went into the run with a 5min lead, but knew this was not enough due to my body feeling quite drained and the virus still lingering. However managed to hold a steady pace and was finally caught and passed at 15km mark of the 21km. I held on to 2nd place and really pleased to have closed the season off with another podium.
Outlaw Iron Distance 2016 “A – Race”
At the beginning of the year I sat down with Coach and Sponsor and targeted Outlaw Triathlon as my big A race of the year. Being more settled in Cyprus since March and starting to adjust to the heat and humidity for training, I felt that my preparations had been spot on.
I had picked up a niggle in the hip region and this restricted my run mileage but soon got it back up to a few 2hr runs. After 4wks of Physio support and Biomechanics with GS PhysioMed George and the Team have supported me to be ready for Race Day.
Packed suitcases, bike and family and jumped on short 4hr flight to UK. Arrived in Nottingham on Thursday morning and settled in hotel and managed to get out on the bike for 90min.
4DaysToGo Outlaw Triathlon
Posted by Simon Brierley on Thursday, 21 July 2016
RACE DAY
Feeling very good and relaxed, sorted my kit out and went through last minute checks of kit bags and bike. I was up for this !!
SWIM
Got myself positioned in the water at the front knowing I needed a clean start and to find a group/feet as soon as possible. With relay teams in the Mass Start 1 wave as well, there was a very fast start by 4 swimmers off the front in the first 300m. Settled in my rhythm quickly and felt I was 
working but not too hard, found some feet and settled into a small group in 300m. Then I found myself trying to swim round this group and swimming in clear water ahead. Once I turned the 1900m half way point I noticed only 1 other white cap (individual) was just 5m back from me. So i decided to ease off a bit and wait for them to join me and realised there was actually 3 of us. We set a good pace on the return, to exit the water 56:50min. Very pleased with this swim as previous years I have been 59/60min, 2-3min quicker makes a huge difference when your exiting the water with potentially a different ability of athletes to work with on the bike (legally 12m).
A slight hick up in T1 as I forgot my race number belt in the bag, so returned to collect it losing 2-3min, and actually allowing race favourite Karl Alexander to move ahead of me and also Dominic Rohan-Gates. Later to find they pushed the pace early on, so pretty glad “I stuck to my own race plan”
BIKE
I have a bit of a reputation of “Smashing the Bike” – I was on a New 
Race Bike Ridely Dean Fast and I was feeling amazing. Nutrition plan was in place and focussing on Power/Feel/HR and also
any riders that past me to use them as pacing but conservatively and not going crazy. The day was perfect conditions for a quality bike split and once the first person that overtook me (Relay Team) this gave me something to focus on (12m back) or actually taking a turn to set the pace up front. At the 30mile mark I started to realise I had some company, not a bicycle but 2 motorbikes (TV Crew and race official), followed by the words from the official your riding up the field currently top 10 overall including relays and 5th on the road. I was 16th over all out of the Swim. This gave me confidence and certainly new that I was still controlling the pace and effort, rolled through the 56miles (Half Way) in 2:14hr. 244 Avg Power was spot on, 135bpm avg feeling really good.
At 70miles I caught Dominic up and had dropped the Relay Team that I started with, He mentioned to me there was 5 upfront – Karl, Kit, 2 x Relay Teams and Aled – 10miles later we passed Karl on the side of the road DNF due to back issues and then a further 5miles caught and dropped Aled and RAF Relay Team (Nick Huntley). Still feeling good and nutrition was still being taken on board. 100 mile mark bought me through he last feed station and turned round and didn’t see Dominic (He’d punctured).
Coming into T2 I now knew I was 2nd overall but a big margin behind Kit Walker, 12min actually. This was the first sign of cramping in the quads as I removed my feet from shoes (on camera, haha). Got into T2 and struggled a little with tying running shoes but was soon out on the run.
RUN
“Running” I was and cruising out onto 1st lap of the rowing lake with
good form and thinking this is too good to be true. Looked at watch and it said 6:15, “that’s not right” I should be seeing 4:30, then realised it was in min/mile so changed the watch over by 3km to min/km and it said 4:07/km – oops too fast. Deciding to bring it back and control it as I completed 5km 21:00, 10km 45:00, 15km 1:09:00, 21km 1:38:00 – Bang on pace up to 25km 2:00hr, energy levels were ok and nutrition still going in on feed stations. Quads started to cramp again, trying to keep moving but then I started to lose places 2nd then 3rd a little later. The quads were not responding and by now locked out, tried to get some salt into me but I now know this was better than never and kept moving. I’ll save you the emotion and angry commentary for the next 5km. The last 10km of the Run course is 2 laps of the rowing lake and with the encouragement from spectators you certainly find some motivation to get the job done. Running home the last 10km in 50min (some sort of running)
Swim – 56:56 Bike – 4:52hr Run – 4:21hr** Total – 10:17hr
Gutted absolutely gutted, but not disappointed. In fact I am very pleased with my performance, this has inspired me in seeing actually what I am really capable of out there at Iron Distance. I really know I can put together a great performance Sub 9hrs is not unrealistic.
Ironman Mallorca 8wks 24th September. Can’t wait, this is going to be a tougher course and heat – Salt tablet Nutrition and pacing on the bike.
New Sponsors !!!!
Since arriving in Cyprus to live here, I have been able to establish not only some amazing facilities and locations to training at, but also I have been able to establish some very good networks with Triathlon Coaching, Retail, Distribution and also Tri Tourism.
I would like to announce some New Sponsors !!
Ride Easy Bikes etc. A local Pafos based Bike Retailer and also several Triathlon products. Not only this but Agis (Manager) has been a key outlet and negotiations of my Brand New Race Bike – Ridley Dean – through Cyprus Distribution. Along with my main Sponsor MACS Plasterboard Systems, I have been able to secure the Ridley Bike.
COMPRESSPORT. Cyprus. Amazing opportunity to be a Brand Ambassador for Compressport – Cyprus. I will be promoting products and distribution with AWOL Adventure Without Limits – Cyprus Distributor & Ride Easy Bikes Retailer.
SQUEEZY Sports Nutrition.
I was approached by Cyprus distributor to have the opportunity to sign with SQUEEZY. Full Nutrition Sponsorship for the rest of 2016 Season. Great range of products and also access to Team Nutritionists to advise on dosages and choice of range of products ideal for me in Triathlon training and racing.
All set now for my build up to Outlaw Full Triathlon 24th July 2016 (3.8km Swim / 180km Bike / 42km Run) Really excited about how my training has been going and have some un finished business with the course in Nottingham UK. Although been training in 35+ Deg C here in Cyprus, with 5am start for my 5hr bikes and then running in the heat of the day for 1hr. Hoping the sky will be clear and 25Deg C , all in my favour.
Ocean Lava Garmin Malta Half Iron Distance
15th May 2016
It had been quite a few years since I had raced in Malta, when I was a Junior and picked up my first ever International Win at the age of 17yrs old at the Malta National Sprint Champs.
Thanks to Garmin Malta for the invitation to come and race. It was an interesting trip along with the family, flying out of Cyprus on Emirates direct flight to Malta. We arrived on the Wednesday afternoon and finally got to our Hotel, not the best place in the world as we dodged the All Inclusive “Benidorm style” “poolside hoggers”. I don’t think there was a night that the fire alarm didn’t go off. However I made it to the start line on the Sunday, feeling quite good.
Swim – 2 loop 1900m sea swim, managed to find a small group 5 and swam really well compared to previous 1.9’s. The leader out the water had already got 4min on me so I knew if I wanted to get anything back it was going to have to happen on the bike. With the fastest T1 I was out on to the bike on my own and catching Relay Teams (who tried to draft me, but i soon aired my views to them).
Bike – 7 loops with a 2km climb each loop, but also coming down at 70km/h, the wind was really blowing and the coast road was open to this. Really pleased with 2:29hr bike split only 30sec behind the leader who i had not been able to make any way into the 4min he had from the swim.
Run – i most certainly was not feeling great and along with the fatigue my stomach was not doing me any favours. Welcome to the life of Triathlons, Swim/Bike/Run is easy but if you get the nutrition wrong certainly on these longer courses. One of my worst 21km runs in races finishing off a disappointing run split of 1:37hr (4:35/km)
I had built enough of buffer on the bike over the rest of the field to come home for a 2nd Place Podium, which i was really pleased with however not with the greatest of performance in splits.
Back to Home Cyprus for some RnR and build towards the Outlaw Full Distance 24th July
Pafos Sprint Triathlon
Post Ironman South Africa I was itching to have run out in my first Cyprus Race (where we live), so Coach said why not and so in a very pleasant small organised Triathlon I toed the line for the Sprint Distance Triathlon. Swim was certainly very long in distance 900m (should be 750m), but once I battled my way with local young swimmers, I exited the water in top 5 with a few relay teams ahead. Rode strong and fast through the field on the bike and rode my way into the lead over the 20km fast flat windy bike course, with only just 2 relay teams ahead. I knew the run would take a toll on me since IMSA, however managed to cruise round in a low 18min split doing tourists on the on the run course.
Taking the Win by over 2min, which I was very pleased with.
