#will i be gross and sweaty if i try biking in a jersey..

[allbeendonebefore]

going downtown today and i was smart enough to remember to check the oilers schedule (yes game on, not at home) and now im suffering through “do i wear a jersey to blend in” or “do i wear something with pockets”

[melissaswimbikerun]

Gran Canaria

These days I never go on holiday without my bike and my week in Gran Canaria, Canary islands, Spain was no exception.

I’ve had an enjoyable and memorable week in Gran Canaria riding my bike up long climbs in the sunshine and to top it off by doing a triathlon on the final day before getting the plane home. 

As soon as Gran Canaria was decided as the location for this years R'BnB annual holiday I searched the internet for triathlons on the island. Amazingly Challenge Gran Canaria was on whilst we were there and the start was from the same beach that we were staying near! The only downside was that it was on the day we were flying home. Luckily our flight home wasn’t until 8pm (plenty of time!). I entered the short course - as you’ll remember I made a rule for 2017 that I wouldn’t do anything longer than an Olympic distance triathlon. Short course Challenge Gran Canaria is 1.9km swim, 40km bike and 10km run (so only the swim breaks my rule by 400m!).

GRAN CANARIA

Day 1: Saturday 15th April. The day that we’re travelling to Gran Canaria. I woke up at 6am to run 16km. If I didn’t run before spending all day sat on my bum travelling I’d be grumpy as hell. We gathered at Nathaniel’s at 9.30am for breakfast. Nathaniel was packing his stuff whilst everyone else was eating breakfast. The bus picked us all up at 11.30am. We arrived in Gran Canaria at 8pm. After checking in we went to the bar for some drinks to start our holiday the right way.

Day 2. Sunday 16th April. We woke up early and unpacked our bikes. They were all put together and ready to ride by 10am. We did a 65km out and back route to Soria, a village inland on top of a valley. 1,100m of elevation.  I stole the route from a cycle tour company who raved how good the cafe was in Soria (mainly highlighting the papaya juice and the views). The route followed the costal road east for quite a while before we headed inland. The climb to Soria was 9km long 7.7%. The climb wasn’t sheltered and the air temperature was 32 degrees. Sweat poured off us as we twisted our way up hill. At some pointsy airways felt too dry and hot that they might close up and stick together. I tried to sooth my throat with a sip of water - the water bottles were disgustingly hot and the water had taken on the taste of melting plastic! 

Views from the top of Soria climb

A few members were broken my the climb and the heat. We were all thankful to see the cafe stop. The papaya juice tasted like nectar. As delicious as advertised. Spanish omelettes lined our bellies prior to descending back. It was so hot on the decent the braking surface of John and Scottys’ carbon wheels had warped in the heat making them dangerous to ride. 

Delicious Mango and Papaya juice at the top of the climb.

All of our rides finished at the beach bar (no exceptions) Were they dangerously sell pints of beer for 2€. I had 2 beers before going a swim. In hindsight I should have swam before any beers as my stroke was not very straight! The ride back up to the apartment was a bitch! 2km up hill at about 10% gradient all the way. You would struggle of you went too mad with the beers. As some people later discovered... 

Cheers at the beach bar

We all had dinner together in a restaurant near our apartment and awarded the El Burro Jersey (Spanish for Donkey). This is awarded to the rider that did the most stupid thing of the day. This day it was awarded to Jade for cycling on the wrong side of the road. 

 Day 3. Monday 17th April. 

Scotty and John set off early to the bike shop to get some emergency replacement wheels. The rest of us set off at 9.30am. 

The bike shop they finally found was quite far east along the coast road but luckily wasn’t too far from the route. We found them both having breakfast in a beach bar whilst waiting for the shop to install new wheels. I had a nosey around the shop it was full of nice bikes and expensive Lycra. Luckily I’d. Only brought 30€ out with me and was saving that for drinks and some lunch.

 The route was a loop inland (80km total)- firstly along a valley then up some steep hair pins to climb above the valley and head back towards the coast. The views were beautiful. I beat Iggy and Nathaniel up this climb! Only because they took the wrong turn... But I claim that it still counts. 

At the top of the climb you can see the valley that we cycled up below.

 It was hot and dry again and there was little shelter for us. We stopped were we could to get water. 

 Our ride ended (as usual) at the beach. I left the bar earlier than the boys as I felt gross in my sweaty Lycra. When the boys finally ascended the hill 3 hours later they were all a bit drunk to say the least. 

Later in the evening we had tapas in a restaurant near the harbour. We were plied with free champaign which didn't bode well for the morning! 

Day 4. Tuesday 18th April 

I got up early to run 5km before the ride before it became too hot. 

This day we rode up serenity climb which is dubbed as one of the best climbs on the island - and it was easy to see why! This was honestly one of best climbs I’ve ever done. As you look down below you can see you rode winding up from the valley. Miles and miles of tarmac. 

The breath-taking serenity climb!

 I stopped at the top junction of serenity climb. You could continue going uphill until the centre of the island but I knew not to hurt my legs before the triathlon at the end of the week. 

We descended the way we had climbed. Stopping in Mogan for some omelette before returning along the coast road to Porto Rico - following the triathlon route. Than and I returned to the apartment after a single beer to change into beech stuff. Went for a swim in the sea and played around on a pedallo. We had homemade Paella in the evening. 

Day 5 Wednesday 19th April

The long ride got pushed back a few days because of the heat. The weather forecast predicted the temperatures to come down from 30/28 degrees to a more comfortable 25 degrees. However it was still very hot and the ride could not be delayed further. 

We set off early to ride the infamous Valley of the Tears (named so because of the tear shaped lakes rather than the tears that cyclists have shed!). We followed the coast road out and climbed up a long way after turnoff for serenity climb. We dropped down a 10km decent of 10% down to a town for some lunch at 40km. Here there was an option to do and out and back. This was my original plan however I couldn’t turn down the challenge of a famous climb (despite the fact that it was going to hamper my triathlon performance). So when half of our group turned back I continued with Nathaniel, Iggy and Scotty to face the Valley of Tears. 

The wall in the Valley of tears- 500m at 18% after already a good few km of climbing

The valley of tears was cruel but beautiful. The climb followed a valley and steep ascents was followed by cruel descents seeming a waste of your effort and also making the 10% average gradient seem false. 

If i had any moisture left in my body i may have cried. It was so steep I had to take tactical rests every 400m or so (having to chose wisely so that I could start pedalling again!). 

Looking out up the Valley

Trying to chase the boys (and failing). 

Water stop

Finally it was done. We stopped at the highest village of the Island for delicious Paella. We were treated to a lovely long descent home. 

I’m glad that I’ve done the valley of tears and have a story to tell. I don't, however, wish to do it again. 

Day 6. Thursday 20th April

I thought that I ought to taper now for my triathlon. I did a 2km swim in the morning followed by a 4km brick run along the promenade. Nathaniel followed me on his bike. My legs complained on every step of the run. So I rested for the rest of the day - reading my book on the beach.

 Day 7. Friday 21st April.

I woke up early despite being very sleepy. The guys were doing a long ride on their last day of cycling but I needed at least one day of taper and my legs burned - not eager to do a triathlon. 

Instead I rode along the coast road with with them until Port Mogan. The boys swung right to head towards the mountain whereas I ventured down towards the port which was a cute fishing village. I rode the same way home recceeing the bike course. My legs complaining - the triathlon will be fun! 

Later in the day I registered and racked my bike. The race instructions were bad and we turned up at the wrong hotel for the race briefing (2 hotels had the same name). We speed walked to the other hotel (about 1 mile away). When we got there we were directed to the wrong room! When we finally found the briefing they were halfway through explaining the bike course mostly in Spanish with a token few English words as a translation. I learnt nothing. However I know the gist of the race: swim, bike, run! 

We had dinner as a group down near the Port - where I was the only person not drinking. I went to bed early but still got kept up when the drunks came back up the hill. 

Saturday 22nd April: Race day!! 

Never before have I done a triathlon so populated with talented and decorated athletes: Alistair Brownlee, Lucy Gossage, Daniela Ryfe and Natasha Badman. They were going to make me look like I was cycling backwards!  

I woke up at 5.15am in order to stuff a bowlful (or in this case a saucepanful) of muesli inside me. I gathered up all my triathlon kit. Donned my trisuit. At 6am I poked Nathaniel awake (who was less than impressed and likely still drunk) and we headed down the hill. I think I went for a wee about 4 times in the hour we spent waiting around. I stared at the swim course and the picture in my race guide trying to figure it out. Confused I asked someone who helped shed some light on the first discipline.

The swim. 1.9km

At 8am the athletes lined up on the beach Alistair Brownlee on the front row who I saw leap into the sea as the gun went. Us women were set off 8minutes later. The sea was choppy with lots of swell. I was one of the few athletes not wearing a wetsuit. I didn't need it and frankly I prefer it. We did 2 laps with an Australian exit on the beach between each lap where I got a cheer from my loyal supporters. I completed the 1.9km swim in 42 minutes (including the time in T1).

I overtook people in T1 as I didn't have to struggle with a wetsuit... Straight onto my favourite discipline.

The bike 40km.

The bike course was out and back twice along the costal road. It was far from flat with long climbs and speedy descents. It was good that I knew the course and corners as it gave me the confidence to use the speed from the descents. The roads were fully closed - It was bliss! 

My legs weren't 100% but still powered me around overtaking many. I got overtaken by Alistair Brownlee who was shouting "oi, oi" in an unmistakable Yorkshire accent to anyone who was in his way. I got off the bike in 1 hour 31 (including T2).

Alistair Brownlee on the bike

The run: 10km. 

What's the last thing you need when running off the bike? A massive hill straight away! A steep ramp up to the main road greeted my bike fatigued legs. I ran comfortably, careful to keep the pace easy with my tired legs. 

The sun was strong and 25 degrees isn't welcomed on the run. The best thing in the world at the time was the cold wet sponges that they were handing out at the aid station.

 Alistair Brownlee over took me (yes again!) On my 2nd run lap. I shouted to cheer him on and he smiled at me as he comfortably crusied along, instantly leaving me in his dust!

Coming in to complete the run - 5th overall female

I completed the run in 50mins49seconds - apparently negative splitting the 2nd 5km loop! I came 5th Female in the short course out of 35 in total which is not too bad considering my race preparation was chasing the lads up mountains in 30 degree heat! 

Afterwards we watched Alistair finish in 4 hours 3 minutes to complete this lumpy half ironman and his debut. 

All in all a great day out and a good practice race to start my season. The location was beautiful and I will definitely keep challenge Gran Canaria on my list of events to do again. 

After the race I packed my bike and returned home. 

Good bye Gran Canaria! Thank you for an amazing week.