Run camp

Wonderful to be back at run camp this evening. Loved how improved my fitness levels are just from 5months ago - I'm just so much fitter now.

Also love how I'm introduced to new runners as a triathlete - makes me giggle every time!!

Very pleased.
Plus this Saturday I'll finally get back in the pool for a tri club coached swimming session. It will kill me. Can't wait :)

RR10 in Sway - 8k cross country

New Forest running clubs turn to host the RR10 and yet again it was a beautiful spring evening.

I didn't wear my top as the last two races I've wrapped it round my waist within 10mins of starting. The organisers had also said this was proper cross country so be very careful with footing and low branches.

I was just hoping to be round within an hour - there were a few hills!

51:23.67 mins later I jogged / limped across the finish line and collected my girls finisher pink raffle ticket - 129th woman home. Excellent.

Slightly concerned about my left knee as sore on the outside of it and was giving me pain from about 23mins. I'm hoping to join run camp again - need to work on my running technique and strengthen my core.

Great evening though.
I absolutely love being a member of the Lordshill Road Runners!

A restful week

Since the duathlon on Sunday I haven't really done much training - figured I could do with a rest.
So Monday instead of tri club swimming I ate pizza and bday cake
Tuesday I did cycle about 6miles
Wednesday I went for a 3.8k run round Southampton common in 27:23.17
Thursday had a holly dog walk on the common - about 45mins.
Today Friday will be mostly tea drinking work seeing an old friend and mabes watching star trek.
Tomorrow open water swim session then London for a 50th bday party where I will be doing alot of dancing!

First run since Sunday

It's been a tiring few days with work stuff so absolutely delighted I managed to get out in the late afternoon sunshine. Out for about 27mins, 2.4miles round Southampton common with holly dog.

Wonderful.

Southsea duathlon Sunday 12th May 2013

Blimey! Brilliant fun. Really lucky with the weather - sunny, warm, bit windy - lovely.
Stayed at mate's in southsea Saturday night as trains from soton Sunday morning wouldn't get me to the start by close of registration at 7.50am - the lifeboat station just by the Hayling island ferry.

Tri buddy Suzanne also did the event so it was fab to chat with her and mate Rachel before the start. Plus Rachel was able to look after her bag and take pics of her as well.
The event started promptly at 8am. 5k run along ferry road then a couple of kms along the sea front - so very very beautiful!
Tried to make sure I paced myself as had the cycle plus run again so didn't want to run out of steam before the end of the race.

My 5k time was 30:33.50
I think that could be a pb.

T1 - hilarious - was 11:05.59 as it included eating jelly beans on the ferry over to Hayling island!
The cycle was out of this world beautiful. Amazing views of the water, rolling hills, boats, marsh land. I really wanted to stop and take pics but didn't.

Very glad I'd printed off the directions as there were maybe 4 marshalls for the entire 23kms stationed at particularly pesky and complicated spots. All other directions were following tiny fluorescent pink and yellow little arrows. Quite a few of us shot off in the wrong direction a couple of times - Suzanne even ended up on the A27 instead of the cycle lane - she climbed over the barrier pretty blinking sharpish once she realised!!

Cycling back to transition I couldn't quite  believe how quick I was going!
23k in 64:03.32

Much quicker than I thought I'd do. The getting off the bike and staggering into transition was hysterical - could barely feel my legs.
The second 5k felt so slow - especially first km or so. Felt like I was running in treacle. So tired. So slow - or at least that's what I thought..
.
As I staggered across the finish line and stopped my watch - I could not believe the time...
My second 5k was done in 33:29.31
Stunned.

Thourally enjoyed the event, excellently organised although I was very glad I had a printed copy of the cycle route with me.

Warm down walk to the 10th hole cafe for a well deserved mug of tea, bacon butty and cake. Yum.

Resting before racing

Yesterday I cycled to and from our work away day at Victoria country park - approx 7.5km cycle each way done in about 24/25mins. Today though I am chilling in Brighton then this evening I'll be in southsea eating pasta.

The trains on Sunday won't get me to the venue in time to register etc so staying with a very old friend tonight. She's up for supporting me Sunday! Excellent. I have though role hee to grab the Sunday papers and bring a flask.

I reckon I'll do the first 5k in around 35mins. T1 includes the ferry crossing to hauling island so will prob be at least 15mins! Then 23k cycle in mabes 75mins. T2 aiming for under 60secs them the second 5k in under 40mins.

Start time is 8am so I should be staggering across the finish line all smiles anytime after 10.30ish. I'm rather hoping we'll then go for a cup of tea and a bacon roll.

Knee feeling okay!

During the first RR10 at Victoria country park my right knee really hurt. I'm delighted that I had no such trouble at the second RR10 at stoney cross. Wednesdays run was 7k in approx 47:30. It was tough - cross country, muddy with hills but absolutely no shingled beach! My knees were very happy.

I really wanted to walk by the end but couldn't because of wearing the club shirt. Utterly shattered by the end!!!

Open water swim - 2nd time

Okay, it was better but I still can't go the entire way round without stopping. Not as cold - in fact I took my neoprene hat off by the second bouy - stuffed it down the front of my wetsuit!

Kinda enjoyed it - mabes 7 weeks till the open water tri.

To do:- I need to get better with my breathing as I'm still panicking when out on the water.

A civil partnership and three wonderful runs - what a fab long weekend!

Just heading home from Cornwall. Ran twice in carbis bay and then today with joey around crowan, praze n beable (not sure of spelling). Feeling great - especially as we then spent a fab couple of hours playing on the dunes at gwithian ( again - spelling). I'm now figuring out my training for the upcoming week seeing Aa it's the southsea duathlon on Sunday.

My plan -
Monday - nip into work for a few hours then open water swin early eve.
Tuesday - cycle to chandlers ford and back via some lovely scenic long route
Wednesday - the 2nd RR10 of the season - this time in stoney cross so I'm guessing it'll be a beautiful run
Thursday - fat club and another long scenic cycle ride
Friday - work away day in Victoria country park - mabes long way cycle there in the morning...
Saturday - elsie's bday in hove
Sunday - the duathlon - 5k run then 23k cycle then a 5k run.

Such a shame I have to go to work otherwise I'd be able to train alot more!

The snap is at gwithian - absolutely fantastic place - sand dunes, amazing views, huge sandy beach. Wonderful.

My Carbis Bay runs

Two wonderful runs in Carbis Bay - approx 2miles in 30mins and 4miles in 60mins. Would have been quicker but had to stop to take photos and admire the views. Also running on sand is quite tough and it's all rather steep around here - loads of killer hill work!

I may have converted a few of Cath and Sally's civil partnership guests to do triathlons!

Reflections while on a train

Heading to Cornwall for dear friends civil partnership. I have my running gear in my case - hoping to get out at least two times if not three. I still can't quite believe how far I've travelled this past year.

Didn't actually join fat club - slimmers world till this time last year, didn't join tri club till june last year, finally did the Brighton half marathon in feb then my first multisport even in march - Winchester duathlon with my first triathlon last month. Amazing. I'm still pinching myself!

My health is of course much better and my size 14 trousers need a belt.

I wonder how long I'll be able to sustain this new lifestyle...

Now a member of LLR

17/4 joined lordshill road runners running club. 1st session we ran 400m marked out laps on the common at 5k pace with 100m slow recovery after each lap.

In 27:29.39mins I did 9x400m average time around 2:24 with 8x100m recovery approx 45secs each. So about 4.4km in just under twenty seven and a half mins.
Blimey.
Tired but well chuffed with myself!

The following week 24/4 I donned my LRR running top and took part in the first RR10 event which was in Victoria country park - 6.9km in 47:05.60

Outside of left knee was hurting by 23mins.

I am a tad worried about the duathlon next Sunday - although I reckon the running on the beach may have been the cause of my sore knee. I won't be running on shingle again - just sayin.