Formed in June 09, Here Come the Belgians is a non-elite anti-team celebrating all things cross, cobbled and Belgian.
Seeking a different experience to the traditional cycling club, its aim is to harness the energy of a vibrant internet cycling community with grass roots racing and riding based around Cyclocross and Spring Classics. There is no race programme in the style of a racing team, more a collection of individual experiences through rides and racing, in whatever location a member may be, that all can share in and contribute toward.

Wednesday, 28 September 2011

A Happy Belgian

3PeaksCX_CX_209 by britishcycling.org.uk photos
3PeaksCX_CX_209, a photo by britishcycling.org.uk photos on Flickr.The Photo is credited to © Ed Rollason Photography


On Sunday I completed my 10th 3 peaks and my first as a HCTB. I did my second worst time ever, but it was my best yet. Why?

On the 26th June I broke my leg after a spell of Tom-Foolery involving the Dent beer and folk festival and Andrew Talbot's stag do. I was laid up all summer and the forced idelenss meant weight gain and no training. The plaster came off in August and apart from some limped training walks to the supermarket on the family holiday in Spain, I did my first proper bike ride on 1 September. I was shocked at how I had lost it, I actually had to get off the bike when ascending 'normal' road hills, because no fitness, a racing pulse and no power. I felt like I was starting from scratch, lugging my even-larger-than-normal body around. Nonetheless I kept training and managed 16 sessions before the big day (accompanied on two memorable ones by friend Richard 'kick my ass coach' Bardgett), fitted around work trips to China and Ireland.

So on the day I was simply delighted to have started and the pressure was off, having no expectations other than to finish. During the race I used my head like never before, keeping the lid on it, never over cooking on the climbs or the descent. I had to be careful not to blow out because my training was limited and so my racing pulse threshold was lower. Additionally, on the descents I could not risk bashing my still weak and sore leg. And funnily enough the whole strategy worked, I did better than I thought, only 25 minutes slower than last year, a fully contained, resilient ride, using 4 gels and 2 bottles (I think the hot pot, sweet potato and beetroot helped on Saturday, recommended). Also, I thoroughly enjoyed the social experience catching up with folk, not least the joy of my first timer cousins Mark (from New Zealand) and Adrian Holmes, also completing the event for the first time.

Of course the big downer during the race was witnessing my brother Dave, coming down Penyghent clutching his broken collar bone. Hang in there Dave, there is light at the end of the tunnel post fracture. I'm coming back. Phil Haygarth

Garmin stats here

Posted by The Haygarth Family at 11:31

6 comments:

  1. Dave Haygarth28 September 2011 at 11:55

    Two finishers. No downers. Great one Phil.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Simon Nurse28 September 2011 at 12:00

    Nice one. Well done Phil. I'm sure it goes without saying that you'll be back next year?

    ReplyDelete
  3. The Haygarth Family28 September 2011 at 12:22

    I'll be back!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Richard28 September 2011 at 12:56

    Nice meeting you Phil.

    ReplyDelete
  5. crossjunkie29 September 2011 at 01:04

    Apart from a propensity for breaking bones, these Haygarth brothers seem to be pretty tough characters. Hopefully hanging around with them will make me tougher too, not broken.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Steve29 September 2011 at 01:06

    Great read, great ride. Truly from the Flandrian top drawer!

    ReplyDelete

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