Exactly 7 months to go!!

I reckon I should be just about done this time in 7 months 🤗 

The Outlaw full IM is on the 30/7/23

I feel as if I'm slowly reaching the top of the start of a rollercoaster which is about to topple over the top and hurtle down and around!!

Which is fabulous and so exciting 

I can't wait to see how far I can push my mind and body to go sub 16 hours - which is my dream / my goal. I'd like to be done by 10pm xx

Training starts in earnest in February but I start going to the gym in January 

My goal is still to lose 10kg and to knock off at least 10% of my times for all three disciplines. Once I do that I reckon I'll just keep going.

Tomorrow is parkrun. 

I need to go nice and gently as it will my first 5k since before America. 

Christmas Eve 22

Just over 7 months to go 🤗 

Feeling slightly overwhelmed but also know I just have to start and then religiously follow my training plan and I'll be fine

#LizzieGoesLong 

Getting ready to go long

Currently my focus need to be the bike 

No hard running so minimise risk of injury

Get an extra hour of sleep a night 

 

LizzieGoesLong update

Today I did an hour on the stationary bike 🤗

Slowly but surely getting psychologically prepared to put in the hours of training needed to go sub 16 hours at the Outlaw next July 

I will though need to stop eating chocolate, biscuits and cakes. 

That will be harder than doing a full IM in less than 16 hours 😂🤔

Day one of the flamingo challenge ✅

Standing on one leg with your eyes closed

Operation strengthen right ankle has begun xx

Ankle is okay

Went to Atherly Physio this evening - got utterly soaked there and back

Liz poked, prodded, pushed, pulled and rotated my ankle. She's happy. My ankle has a full range of movement and has healed well

I have single leg balancing with eyes closed

Heal raises

Running on the spot 

Then couch to 5k 

Then gently ramp up training to Outlaw in July 2023

#LizzieGoesLong is looking good 🤗🥳

3 hours in the saddle

55km bike ride - out for 3 hours, great fun

My average km/h needs to get to at least 25km/h but the key at the moment is time in the saddle. 

Very happy with 3 hours today

Was quite tired though.

Just need to keep consistent and make sure I get out on the bike every week

37 weeks time I’ll be doing a full IM

Well, a few false starts but I'm back from the USA now and did my first tri club swim session in about 4 weeks plus cycling with Jenny tomorrow - so reckon my training for  #LizzieGoesLong is back on xxx 🤗

12,500+ steps without thinking

May not have done any actual training today but still manage to smash out over 12,500 steps

I need to make some small changes / set down some habits that'll take me through to July.

I need to pop up to Highfield tomorrow with a couple of birthday cards for work colleagues to sign - will therefore cycle to wide lane so I can get to UoS easily tomorrow evening.

This could be the small habit that'll help me as I go long…

🤔

Starting October with a run

Hove weekend and Babs sitting Saturday 1/10

4.7km Jalk - jog/walk with Babs 47mins

UPDATE

Ooops, i've been meaning to update the blog for oooh weeks!!

So... here goes:

August - some swimming, time keeping the mile of miles, whooping at Southampton Pride and then the Club Champs Sunday 28/8/22

1100m swim plus 1.3km run = 43.05

T1 = 6.02

33k bike = 1:29.46

T2 = 5.08

10K run = 1:25.09

Grandtoal = 3:49.12

Awesome fun.

No bbq due to smokey bbq setting off super sensitive fire alarm

Checled out Guildford Lido 1/9

Weekend away in Dorset with Nessie at Phils

Drinks in London 7/9 the evening before the Queen died 8/9/22

New Forest 10k 11/9/22

20k cycle to Brockenhurst 1:23

10k with Abel & Cathy 1:11

20k cycle home 1:23

No Ashtead 10k so did the Ashtead 7k rund the common on my own 59mins :)

Queens funeral 19/9 so able to stay up in Ashtead on the Monday

Welcome week at work which takes us to the end of September 

Well? 

How's #LizzieGoesLong? i hear you ask

I'm managing the swimming really well - swimming 2 usually 3 tines a week with tri club and i can feel myself getting quicker as i get better with my swim technique.

I am running - trying to go to the track each Thursday and then do another 1-2 runs a week. Not brilliant but certainly a start

It's the cycing that i'm not doing

I get the train to work in Winchester and havn't actually been around in Southampton over the weekend enough to go for a bike ride of more than an hour. This needs to get better. Need to cycle 3-4 times a week and bike for ar least 1-3 hours. This is a work in progress

Weight? Still 76kg

So plenty to work on with 10months to go till the Outlaw full ironman

I will try and post something every day to ensue i keep my focus

The plan is - keep doing something every day

Run/Cycle/walk and maybe swim while in the States, up my focus in November and then after my birthday 25th Jan start a proper training plan to take me to the end of July 2023

Basically though i need to get 10% quicker swimming, cycling and running

I want to be able to do 1km of swimming in 20mins

I'd like my casual cycling to be 22km p/hr

I'd like my talking while runnung to be 6.30mins per km

100 squats a day

Is restarting the 100 squats a day challenge

5 minutes = 100 squats

I can def manage that

Let's see if I can sustain this 5 min daily habit 

IM prep - bare minimums

This article has been so useful 

https://www.220triathlon.com/training/long-distance/can-you-train-for-an-ironman-in-a-year/

Hill sprints x10 on the common

Love stc's run sessions

Basically can't miss any from now until I start the 4/4 shift pattern on the 23/12/22

No going back now!!!

#LizzieGoesLong on the 30th July 2023 at the Outlaw full ironman distance triathlon 

A morning swim, an evening run

Tri club swim this morning

Very little else during the day

Then decided to go for a run 

Talking to coach Jenny after Tri club this morning - the key for The Outlaw next year will be my running. I need to be a lot faster / stronger. 

I've decided my easy run pace has got to be at least one minute per kilometre quicker than it currently is

My evening run tonight = 7'48 average time to run 1km

This needs to get quicker.

Plus - I realised the multi story carpark practically opposite me is brilliant for running in! 

Couldn't find my head torch and the roads / paths in the city centre are abit uneven so wouldn't be great running on them if I couldn't see where I was going that well.

Suddenly thought - ooh carpark. 

The carpark was fab - nicely lit with lovely even surfaces.

Will def be doing that again 

#LizzieGoesLong 

#LizzieGoesLong

3.7km in 30mins

Day1 of building my base in preparation for training for next July's Outlaw Ironman distance triathlon 🤗

#LizzieGoesLong 

Jenny smashed Swansea 70.3 🤗

All I could think yesterday while ringing my cowbell and whooping / cheering for Jenny was that a full Ironman is a really long way!!

Jenny was brilliant 

Such a fabulous day xx

   

100 squats done ✅

On the balcony, beautiful sunny morning, 100 squats done 

#LizzieGoingLong xxx

Managed 30 squats

Decided a good solid start of 30 squats this morning 🤗

Let's see how many I manage tomorrow morning xx

Preparing to go long

It's the build up to actually committing!

Although in my mind I'm thinking through to the Ashtead 10k my focus will be on running - as in get back to a consistent 2-3 runs a week. 

Will do 2-3 swims a week with Tri club which will take care of the swim build phase of my training.

I have a feeling I'll be cycling to Winchester a lot more as I try and get in a good 5hours of regular cycling a week plus a longer ride at the weekend. For instance I've done nearly one and a half hours of cycling today - cycling to highfield campus and the track

But the key must be strength training and getting some habits formed.

I'm thinking 100 squats a day each morning before getting dressed will be the first one I attempt (will keep you posted)

I'm 75kg so that'll also give us a starting weight. I'd like to get down to 69kg and then 65kg. I need there to be less of me to lug about 😂

The 2022 Outlaw is this weekend 

Registration will then open for 2023. 

Once I've registered and then booked my place and paid for it - they'll be no going back!!!!

Goals:

1. Under 30mins for 5k

2. Under 60mins for 10k

3. Get to 25km/h on the bike as my regular cycle speed

4. 400m in the pool in 8mins

Once we get to these numbers I'll be well on my way to being Outlaw fit xxx

Update - I’m going long

Well I didn't do the Swashbuckler on the 0th July as I'm not half marathon run ready at all so marshalled and had a fabulous day

It was so hot

Was very glad I wasn't racing!!

But I have decided that I'm going to to The Outlaw next year. 

Lizzie Lou is going long 🤗

I've got 12months to get full Ironman distance ready.

Am feeling excited, apprehensive, and a tad nervous. But mostly excited.

And just like that - The Swashbuckler

Eeep

Best get training for the half IM 10/7/22

Cycling - fine

Swimming - okay

Running - best do some

3km last night

11km tonight via x3 little runs 

Am feeling very positive 

Musings on my first century bike ride

Would I do it again?

With friends yes but I did kinda end up losing the will to live…

Also at 65miles I realised I was flagging so hoorah for electrolytes at the 73mile aid station.

I was continuously ringing my bell at marshals, spectators, fellow riders

It was a lovely day

It didn't rain much at all

I had plenty of food

I overtook a lot of people and felt really strong

I loved the finish so much

Essex was very pretty

I've raised £770 so far so feeling pretty chuffed about that.

And I'm really glad I did it xx

Did it!!!

Ride London is tomorrow!

One sleep to go 

This time tomorrow I'll be drinking wine in my sister's garden hopefully basking in the glory of my first 100mile Nike ride while wearing my medal like a necklace.

My bike is RideLondonReady

All stickers attached / number belt sorted.

Water bottles full

Helmet, cap, buff, gloves all with the bike

Haven't quite decided what to wear yet, will make a final decision tomorrow morning when I check the weather forcast. 

Big sis Debs dropping us at Wimbledon for 6:40am so plenty of time to get to the ride village and get ready for the start which will be around 8:30am

Tonight I have had an amazing mound of bbq meat thanks to brother in law Mark but there were some chips so some carb loading has happened 😂

Basically, that's it.

Nothing else to do except try to be in bed by 10pm and tomorrow morning make my peanut butter and marmite sandwiches, grab a couple of pork pies, some energy bars, a couple of bananas and slice up an apple. 

So excited

So nervous.

#124278 is signing off

Time for a cup of tea and some chocolate orange xx

2 days to go

I'm excited and nervous

Like I was for the London marathon or a half Ironman 

Weather looks good but still taking tights, shorts, base layer, sleeves so I can decide Sunday exactly what I'm wearing.

Can't find my tyre leavers - may have to nip to decathlon tomorrow morning!

Think it's time to just chill for an hour or so and then go to bed 

Getting Ride London Ready - 3 days to go

Well…

I now have my Woodlands School cycling top - collected on Tuesday when up in London eating and drinking with big sis Debs, cousin Ruth, Ingie and Jules.

I've also attached my bell

It's a mass participation event. I've got to be able to let other cyclists know I'm behind them and also frantically ping it at anyone and everyone marshalling, spectating, fellow cyclists etc.. 😂

And today I sorted out my nutrition.

Went to Lidl's and got the essentials.

3 days to go

Eeeeeek 

6 days to go / cleaned bike

Hoorah for nipping round to Katherine's after work to clean my bike

I literally cannot believe how silver the chain is looking

My getting Ride London list is coming along nicely

I'll get my cycling top tomorrow from Debs  when I meet up with the girls for drinks in London 

Am looking at whether to come up to Surrey Friday evening or Saturday morning 

Need to get some of my nutrition supplies - pork pies, bananas, rolls, soren bars…

Yep, def feels like it's all coming together nicely 

1st Ride London road closure sign

From the top of the #38 bus on Friday evening I saw the first Ride London road closure sign along Piccadilly!!

So excited

My tummy literally did a belly flop 

A long weekend of tapering / dancing

Does dancing all night Thursday at Ben and Caroline's wedding reception and then all night Saturday at the Electric Landladies gig in Walthamstow count as tapering?

If it does then I'm doing it in spectacular style 

Shattered!!

Crikey

Cycling 44km two days running = excellent Ride London training but I am quite tired!!!

Gorgeous lunchtime picnic

Fabulous cycle home via the Cathedral 

Got some Strava kudos

Had supper at A's

Great day all round 

44kms of commuter cycling

OMG!!

Talk about lucky

I'm now based at the Winchester School of Art for at least 3months

It's a 44km round trip

#GettingRideLondonReady

#GettingSwashbucklerReady

First OWS of the year

Fabulous fun

Ellingham for an early evening swim with Charlotte and Sue

Quite wonderful.

Ride London number #124278

I'm inching ever closer to the start line on Victoria Embankment on the 29/5

Got my wave time 🎉

Two weeks today 

So excited!!!

https://ridelondon.enthuse.com/pf/liz-carter/post/1481759

Hampshire bike ride

Well that was fabulous 

Hampshire countryside was looking so beautiful this afternoon 

68km in 3:43

It was really good to get out this afternoon. The countryside looked so green and sunny and amazing it did help me get over the fact that I'm not still in Mallorca 

Sue did a great route which included a quick detour to check out Alison and Trevors new house

Am def feeling #RideLondonReady xx

Day3 of Mallorca cycling

Last full day of the holiday 

Loved the ride back to the villa - 26.3kmh average. Reckon Ride London will be a bit like that. Was def swept along by Richard and Suzanne and the lovely Mallorca road surfaces.

Is ready for the mountains in Essex

Fabulous ride today

50km

Approx 3.25 hours of riding

Lizzie Lou went up and down a mountain 🤗

Sat in the lowest gear and just ground my way up. Was tough but I did it and am now feeling totally epic. 

I'm now 100% ready for all those mountains in Essex for Ride London 😂