Great swim session

Coach Peter says I need to concentrate on my turns - reckons I'd save 2seconds per length just by turning better.
The other thing I need to work on is the pull - I stop at my tummy instead of pushing down to my thighs - coach peter reckons I'm losing at least 25% of the power each time. So plenty to work on!

The session today was 400 x2, 300 x2 with 30secs rest, 200 x2 and then the boys also did 100 x2. Cool down 50 breast stroke, 50 back stroke.

I did:-

350m 9.01.39
400m 10.32.84
300m 7.39.62
Rest 52.23
300m 7.38.67
Turning training with coach peter 4.28.61
200m 5.56.57
Rest 30.73
200m 5.06.19
End of session - 1750m in 50.46.85

So feeling okay about the 1.9k sea swim for the half ironman - just nervous about the whole having to do it with no breaks. No sneaky rest in the sea after each length - no holding onto the side for a breather or popping feet down at the shallow end... I was shattered at HOWSC last week - 600m non stop swim. That's what I need to focus on - my endurance!!!

Cycled for 43.44mins today, 6.57miles
Average = 9mph

Tobie - aka www.bikeguy.co.uk says I need to get my average up to 12.5mph by challenge Weymouth. Bike guy reckons I'll easily be able to do this by mid Sept :)

20 weeks to go!!

Today was supposed to be me starting my cycle training with a 40mile bike ride. It was though pissing with rain so did 30mins on the stationary bike instead. I actually couldn't manage anymore - utterly exhausted, pretty much collapsed in a puddle of sweat :)

Bike stats:
30.42 mins
15.44km
348 calories

I then thought I'd go swimming sometime in the afternoon  but lunch took much longer than anticipated to digest - I emptied the last couple of boxes of kitchen and bathroom stuff instead.

Today I have mostly been doing...

Working, then yoga then cleaning/sorting/tidying the flat.
Cycled 8.5miles - just under 50mins.

I also found out exactly how far I cycle to work - 0.06miles and it takes me 30 point something seconds.

So probably just as well yoga was about 8.45 miles away so I got some training done :)

Parkrun tomorrow
Planning long cycle ride on Sunday.

Unexpected rest day

I didn't do the 5 laps of hoglands park this morning as was intending to do the first RR10 race this eve at Victoria Country Park.

However, it was raining and Tim texted to say he'd finished painting the larder so I could put everything back and properly unpack rest of my kitchen.

Spent a fabulous 4 hours or so sorting kitchen. It was slightly overwhelming at first but just kept plodding on and hey presto - practically done :)

I rewarded myself with filling up my new "showing off all my medals" display and then watched some tv. Runcamp tomorrow morning and then hopefully putting back my bathroom tomorrow eve.

145 days to go till the half ironman

My Tuesday morning started again with the 5k of 5 laps of hoglands park = 30.22.02
1k - 5.59.67
2k - 6.01.18
3k - 6.06.76
4k - 6.06.23
5k - 6.08.02

Stretches - 5.12.62

Over breakfast I entered the ballot for next years London marathon. And yes, I did have a text conversation with fellow challenge Weymouth tri club buddy Suzanne about why on earth would you ever want to run a marathon if it isn't the final leg of an ironman. But all the first hand stories from London inspired me so much - plus it's London so fabulous opportunity for sightseeing and enroute socializing.
I'd also consider Minneapolis, Sydney - major cities / possible holiday destinations!

This evening used one of my cheap swimming passes - went to the Quays. I managed 650m in 18.26.09

Just too tired and decided I wanted supper more than I wanted to do any more lengths :)

First of the RR10s tomorrow eve at Victoria Country Park so prob won't do the hoglands park 5k morning run.

Hello lie in :)

Operation fit and healthy for Challenge Weymouth

Monday 21st April - 21 weeks today I will have done my first half ironman. Time to get properly training.

8.30am - x5 laps if hoglands park which is 5k.
Time = 30.24
1k 5.54
2k 6.08
3k 6.11
4k 6.19
5k 5.13

Then gardening, washing, some clearing and tidying.

Start of the open water swimming season so off to HOWSC and the usual suspects - Katherine, Suzanne, Pam with Tamsyn and Stuart already at the lake.

It was cold but not stupid cold like last year's first ever open water swim session.

600m, defaulted to breast stroke quite abit, tired, struggled with keeping the technique going - I find open water swimming really quite scary. Managed it in 23.37

Beautiful Cornish countryside

I'm currently on a train travelling down to Cornwall to spend time with friends. It's early evening, the sun is a rich golden light, sky is miraculous and the countryside screams England - lush green rolling hills dotted with houses hedges sheep and cows. It's a sight that makes me smile from the inside out.

But I have now noticed a subtle change since becoming a triathlete. Now I'm thinking oooh that'd be a lovely run, or I wouldn't mind doing some open water swimming there or wow - gorgeous route for a cycle ride.

This weekend one year ago is when I competed in my first triathlon and became a triathlete.

Isn't it amazing the difference a year makes :)