Zone3

Take a quick look here  http://race-zone3.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/in-news-zack-holdaway-takes-on-lidl.html

Lidl Bananaman Triathlon 11th July 2015 at Dorney Lake Berkshire

Lidl Bananaman Triathlon at Dorney Lake Berkshire

It was going to be a day of seconds and thirds at Dorney Lake for me taking on the Lidl Bananaman Triathlon for the fourth year in a row.

Having won in the previous three years I came here to defend my podium run of wins. As seems to be the case here it was again hot and Sunny but with a strong wind on the very open course.

A good swim saw me out of the lake in second place in a time of 5.27. My swim to bike transition was done in 1.05 second fastest of the day. A slight mishap on the bike mount, my foot slipped offs my bike shoe which led to a stubbed toe painful but only led to a few seconds being added to the bike leg. But this was enough to drop me to third place. I had a good bike to run transition keeping me in third spot. With a good solid final run and putting in the third fastest run of 11.05, unfortunately this only consolidated my overall third place and finished just 24 seconds behind first and second place in a time of 39.26.

Although not on the top step this year I was very happy with my overall performance and the chq for third place plus a car load of goodies from Lidl made up for the disappointment of losing the run of first place finishes. I will be back next year with the aim of getting back on that top step and adding to my success at this event great event and BBQ put on by Lidl. 

Thanks must go to my sponsors for helping so far this season and the new Zone 3 tri suite seems to be working very well for me give it a try if you are in the market for a new one.

Bristol Harbourside triathlon

New report for the Bristol sprint triathlon held in the city docks and in and around the Clifton suspension bridge

Reports and updates London and Eton again!

Have up dated race reports with British Triathlon qualifying event and report for the London Super series Aquathlon so please go take a look.

Exiting water at Eton well up on the rest!

Check out report on Garmin Super Sprint

Check out my report on The Garmin Eton Super Sprint (in race reports) its not all relaxation that this photo portrays you do have to do a bit of a swim, bike and run before you get the deck chair!

Can you help

Well this is a bit of an appeal to all or anyone that could / can help.

As you may or may not know I manage to qualify for the age group U20 aquathlon final for the GBR team in Edmonton Canada 2014. 

With a 3rd place finish on the GBR team this gives me a pre-qualification place for 2015 Chicago ITU Aquathlon World Championships. 

I am also trying to be a qualifier in the 2015 Chicago ITU Sprint Distance Triathlon World Championships. This takes place at the ITU sprint distance triathlon world championships qualifier event at the end of May.

I would very much like to try and go and represent the U20 team and GBR again, but being just a student trying for my A levels means that I do need a little help in achieving this goal. This current year for domestic racing and training alone will come in at about £2500.00 this paid by my job as a life guard and from the support of my family. I was very fortunate last year that my dad’s bathroom business paid for most of the travel and accommodation to Canada. Unfortunately that is not possible this year so i am looking to try and fined other ways of getting there.

So I am looking to see if anyone or business could sponsor me and  be able to help, perhaps you or the company you work for have air miles saved and are not able to use that could help with flights. The cost of flights looks like being in the region of about £1000.00 for a Heathrow to Chicago return not to sure of how many air miles I think it depends on the type.

I have a hotel reservation made some months back so as to secure the best price at the time, but this still comes in at a hefty £1200.00 for the week of the finals. (This can be cancelled up to a week before for free so if I do not make it, it’s not going to cost we did it just to try and get the best price).

So again if you can help with hotel accommodation may be you work for a big company that has or uses hotels in Chicago that could give me a better deal.

If anyone can help I would love to hear from you, in return for your help you can have your name or business as a sponsor on my Tri suit, (or not if you prefer) we will try and make sure any press reports would include you (again or not if required)

Thanks for taking the time to read this, please also take a minute to take a look at the rest of my Blog site and see if that help sway you a bit into helping.

Thanks for your time

Zack

Its Here

At long last its here the new tri suit for this season has been delivered. Zone3 have helped me out this season with one of there top of range suits. Do take a look at them here http://www.racezone3.com
I have used them before in races a couple of seasons ago so I will report how this new one works for me this year. As you can see its all been printed as well with the sponsors for this year.

As without them many of my events would not be possible.
Also thanks to my friend Tom at iprint stuff who has done a great job printing it. So if you need any kit printing do give him a shout at iprintstuff
First race for this suit will be at Eton on May 16th then again at the British Championships then the London aquathlon britishtriathlonyouth-and-junior-series/pruhealth-aquathlon and also check out here world trilondon so keep a look out for my race reports here.

British Schools’ Modern Biathlon Championships at the Aquatics Centre London 29th March

Short report for the British Schools’ Modern Biathlon Championships at the Aquatics Centre London 29^th March check out reports.

Race reports update

Have just posted my race reports for weekend of the 7th and 14th March, some tough cross x and a bit of swimming.

March Looking forward to a busy one

Looking forward to a busy one

Already with month not even started I have to rearrange plans to keep up with the races this season

Sunday 1^st it’s off to do the Bath Half Marathon

Its then onto the following weekend (7^th)  the UK inter counties cross country championships at Cofton Park Birmingham, even with the leg problem I had at the qualifying event still made the Avon & Somerset team. Will work hard not to let team down as long as foot / leg holds out, the new shoe inserts seem to make a difference.

Then!! the next weekend (13^th & 14^th) I shall be traveling up to Blackburn on the Friday afternoon with the Avon schools team. We all get to stay in the Holiday Inn Blackburn for the night, may have to share a room not sure who with at this point in time. So on Saturday it will be racing at the English Schools Cross Country Championship.

Help!! The Sunday (15^th) will see me at Millfield doing the 1500m free style at the County swimming Championships this is one of two events I am doing this year the rest that I qualified for clashed with the other events.

Sunday 22^nd will see me back at Millfield for the second of my two events the 100m free style, easy weekend then!!

At long last I get to see the foot specialist at the MSK unit, I have been having treatment from my sports phisio but he thought it was time I should see my doctor and get a referral to see Dr Jono Williams, a few months back after he had a look and check to see what was going on he referred me onto the MSK sports unit, so hopefully we can get on top of this foot / leg problem.

Back to events, the weekend of the 29th , It’s up to London to take part in the Final of the schools biathlon championship’s.This is being held at the Olympic Park using the international swimming pool and some of the grounds around the park, so this will be a big first for me.

That’s it for this month thankfully Oh and I still have to train and get the school work done as well in-between all that, will post How I do and get on next month.

February 2015

February

This month has been a quiet one, not that I’m complaining. Just being able to focus on training for once is one of the best things an athlete can wish for because you can really focus on any weaknesses and strengthen the strengths. With the recent changes to training it’s been difficult to get in to the habit of where I need to be, but finally I can see the training paying off; from conditioning at palates to my swim technique at PaC tri.

With these slight improvements the rest of my training has seen the minor gains; running has become easier and more efficient giving confidence for me this upcoming season because any triathlete knows when you get off that bike its only your run that can get you across the finish line and a good run certainly helps.

But most of all my physiological gains have really benefited me psychologically; I can see this in all of training because I am able to keep myself motivated through the hard sessions at Eisträgers Gym  to holding a faster pace on in all three disciplines. With all these marginal gains this season is looking to be a good one.

All I have to do is survive March. 

A recent Interview with Zack

Q. What was your best / biggest achievement and disappointment last year?

Well there was a few of both really, But being able to go to Edmonton Canada and taking part in the ITU word final of the Aquathlon for the U20 GBR team is just a great feeling to have. Finishing 11th place overall and being 3rd GBR over the line takes a bit of beating, not many people get the opportunity to represent their country at sport, and not only that but represent it in such a great location.

I am so lucky to have had three sponsors for last season and this upcoming season, it's really a major piece in any elite’s jigsaw, they're able to make it all possible from helping to pay for my travel & accommodation costs to training and bike fittings plus much more.

Not on such a grand scale was going back to Eton Dorney to take part in the Lidl Banana Man Triathlon and winning for the third time in a row, unknown to mum, once returning home to present her with the winners hamper that we get there. I am aiming to return this year and see if i can make it 4 in a row!

As for the biggest disappointment, well it must be for not quite getting the best results in my AS' but on a minor scale not winning the local Clevedon open water one mile Long swim (wetsuit class) which I have won for the last two years, I am sure there were some ringers brought in for this year, just to catch me off guard, but being in sport you have to learn from your losses to adapt for future wins. So I shall be back this year to try again.

Q. How much training do you do a week and how does that fit in with school work?

Now that is a question! Monday normally get home from school at about 5.00 pm grab some tea and relax, then it’s out to the gym at 7.00pm for 2 hours of circuits, Tuesday tend to stay on at school to do some extra work get home in time for food at 5.00pm homework or some TV and then down to swimming training at 8.00pm for a 3000m swim set, Wednesday is stay at school until 4.30 then a quick 1 mile run into town get ready for a Pilates session at 5.00pm for an hour then home for food by 6.30 its then back out at 7.30 for an easy hour swim session swim session, Thursday is the tough one have to stay on at school until 5.15 so it’s a big rush to get home for food and to be ready for the running coach to give me a lift at 6.00 up to the running track in Bristol for a 2 hour run set of about 15k, home by about 9.30 to 10.00 Friday - DAY OFF only school no training, this allows me to maximise my well-earned sleep.

Saturday road running from 9 until about 11.30 this is usually about 15k. Then it’s off to work for the rest of the day. I am a lifeguard at the local swimming pool. So even when I am not swim training I can still get the full chlorine effect. Sunday stay in bed as long as possible Sunday lunch with mum, dad and brother plus Nan will come around as well, then it’s a swimming set with club at 6.00 until 8.00 in the evening normally about 6000m. So that is pretty much a standard week for me regarding training. Did I forget school, yes I also have to try and fit in study work for my A levels around this as well.

Oh and come the summer or better weather i will ride to and from school each day as well (about 18k per day), it gives mum and dad a bit of a rest in fairing me around.

Q. So how do you fit in homework and study to this schedule then?

As I said I tend to stay on after school has finished at 3.15pm and do most of my work then, the frees are either sat a desk with my head down or either on the saddle with a couple of top Enduro twins.

If not at school I then try and find time at home. but I do find its all too easy to get side tracked into watching TV or sleeping so that’s why I tend to try and get it done at school rather than at home.

Q. What are you studying at school at the moment and what do you hope to go onto do later?

I am currently studying for my A levels in PE, Biology and Psychology  I am hoping to then go on to university at Cardiff or Swansea to do sport science. They both cater for top sport training.

I would like to go on and do something in sport not overly sure at the moment but I'm sure I will find something!

In triathlon I aim to be the best I can be, I may not make a triathlon world champion (or may be one day I will!) but I will still be trying as hard as I can to be at the top of my game and the best I can be whether its in my age group,a  championship race or any other event I am in. So as long as I have tried and given it my all then I can be proud of what I have done & achieved.  

Q. You've always been very sporty – can you attempt to summarise your early adventures in sport?

I first learnt to swim quite early 2 years old I think, as we live by the sea and have a few rivers, lakes and ponds near us so my parents thought it was important for me to be able to swim. I seem to pick it up very quickly and had a very good teacher who got me very proficient in all the strokes, breaststroke used to be my thing but it was her that suggested i join the local swimming club and put me on the waiting list. I then joined Clevedon asc and worked my way through from improver to senior squad with whom i still train today.

I played football with a local club for a few years but when training started to clash with swimming I had to make a big decision, but looking back its actuality one of the easiest I've had to make

I did a couple of seasons at cricket but that never really went anywhere. It was with swimming that I seem to do quite well, although I always seem to be in an age group that had the toughest swimmers going, so had to always work hard to achieve and stand out from them. But having said that I do have quite a large amount of medals from club level to county level in most strokes and at most distances.

I also had success in open water swimming being only 14 when doing my first Clevedon 1 mile long swim from one local beach to the main beach at Clevedon, some 60 odd swimmers usually take on this challenge once a year in June or July I have continued to do it each year since.

I joined a local athletic club for a bit of fun running but again was soon being asked to cover for others in some track events, I was then spotted by the head endurance coach and asked if I would like to join him and a few selected athletes to do some extra track and road work which I did, I now train with the elite endurance runners.

I have also had some success in cross country having represented my school and county at many events.

Q. How did you wind up doing triathlon, and what do you think it was about this particular sport that made it stick?

The swimming club I was with used to hold an annual aquathlon so entered and found i was pretty good at it and could win. I then went onto join a triathlon club in Bristol as they had a junior section and just liked the fact that triathlon is three sports in one. You don't get quite so bored just training for one sport like say swimming, it can be so boring just going up and down the same pool for 2000m in an evening. I was competing at youth elite level within a year, it was hard but I made some good friends at training camps and would always meet up with them at competitions. The triathlon circuit is so different from the swimming galas I used to do; with triathlon you turn up registrar, set up and race OK the events are a lot longer but it’s just not sitting in a hot and stuffy swimming pool all day long.

Q. Who or what inspires you in triathlon?

I've always been a fan of Javier Gomez and all the British Elite Triathletes. But the main guys I look up to are Alistair and Jonny Brownlee. There continued dominance, consistency and attitude towards the sport is amazing. Plus the fact that they are really nice guys when I've spoken to them.

Q. What are your big aims for 2015?

To do as well as last year and try if possible to improve where i can, I would also like to be able to go to ITU Chicago later this year as I have pre-qualification for the world aquathlon final in the U20 age group having finished 3rd GBR at Edmonton Canada.

An evening with Chris Boardman at Bike Science Bristol

Had a great night at the opening of the new HQ and shop for Bike Science Bristol http://www.bike-science.com/ with guest speaker Chris Boardman. A good Q&A with Chris was quite enlightening. I also found time to play on a few of the new toys in the shop. Mum was eyeing up a new bike for herself until she found out the price! missed a bit of track work training but worth it.

Aztec West Fast 5k

Had a run out at the Aztec West 5k last night, bit of a leg tester really but not to bad with a 19.30. Mum (Clare) did a 31.50 both being a bit off form. But looks good for the leg this weekend for the XC.

Inter Counties Cross Countries

Just had email to say I have been selected for the national Inter-Counties Championships at Cofton Park Birmingham on the 7th March, Just hope the legs hold out with all this running around fields!

Starting the year with Zack Holdaway

Ok then, had some time off over Christmas from training but still kept my hand in as to not get too lazy. Only event booked was the Clevedon Boxing day road race, having now done this for the last few years was hoping for a good result, but things don't alway go to plan, Recently I have picked up a leg calf injury, it has been playing up from time to time over the last few months.

So it decided to come back and let me know about halfway around the 4 mile course, when the finish line did come into view and I crossed it i was some 4min off last years time not what I had in mind.

So it was going to have to be a visit to the physio again for more help, this has now moved on to me seeing my Dr and getting a referral to the MSK unit to check out my feet and bones!!. plus and nice visit to Dr Jono Williams to get some help and advice. Wow out came the acupuncture needles a first for me, not as bad a you may think, plus a whole bunch of new leg and bum exercises to do.

I am now doing pilates as well to try and help, its quite good fun though.

Its been back to full training for a week or two now, swim and run.

Have now at long last got my lifeguard job at the local pool so have to shoehorn that into the shedal as well all the school work and training.

Must make mention about cross country as well, have been selected for the Avon school championships, hopefully the the dodgy leg will play ball and get me around and present me with a fare time.

Most of my events for this year are now booked or are at least on the calendar to do or to make sure we enter them when needed.

Zone3 approached me the other day to see if i was interested to become one of their ambassadors for their kit, well of course I took them up on there very generous offer so now need to promote them, as well  as my bike sponsor Bike Science Bristol. They are (have) just opened a new shop in bristol so I will be at the grand opening along with Mr Chris boardman.

Anyway thats me to date, just look ahead a bit next up is my birthday so shall be celebrating that with some track work and a swim and then a big big steak and chips meal with family and friends.

Will update soon with how things are going and coming along.