Ed's Triathlon

Swim again at lunch time. 2 x 200m with a sauna / jacuzzi in between. Seems to be becoming the new 'norm'!

Both sets of 200m were actually under 5 mins for the first time so quite pleased.

Only 3 days to go now and I'm still bricking it!

New watch arrived so I'll be playing with that all day at work. Well, they can't expect me to do any actual work now they've told me I'm redundant, right?

Also had the start time through for my first 'practice' triathlon on Sunday. Now it all appears very real so I'm starting to shit myself even more!
8:30am start so will have to be up before 6am to get ready and travel down there. Yikes!

Did my first run with any kind of hill tonight too. Only 3.5km but it was a good chance to try the watch out. I actually beat my virtual training partner. Will have to choose a faster one next time.

Had bad news at work about them not renewing my contract when it runs out in 4 weeks time so couldn't really be arsed. Managed to blag a 'band' at the sports centre so I had free steam and jacuzzi in between my 2 sets of 6 lengths (2 x 200m). Timed the second set and it was 4:51! Didn't seem that quick but a new record nonetheless.

Another 3 mile run tonight with my mate. He had to walk a couple of times so the time wasn't too quick but I ran all the way round again. Feeling alot easier now so maybe ready to up it a bit more and run a bit further. After the race that is!

Brick Breakthrough!

Did my first brick session today where I didn't have to walk on some of the run! Maybe it's because I've upped the running a bit and I was used to it a bit more? Anyway, did a 5 mile ride and 2.8km run non-stop which I was pleased with. That's about the same distance as the first 'practice' race next weekend so now I know I can do it.

Another run again tonight. The way I ached I thought that I'd have to walk some of the new 4.8km route but managed to make it all the way around. Felt pretty slow but still knocked a fair amount of time off the first attempt - 26:55.

Ordered a new watch too (will sell my old one) which you can programme your required pace into and it'll tell you if you're better or worse, how far behind / ahead of schedule you are etc and there's even a virtual training partner so you can race against them and see them on your screen! Int gadgets brilliant?

Swim at lunch. Was going to do another 800m session but ashamedly to say I couldn't be arsed!!
Did 200m, went for a steam and jacuzzi and then did another 200m.

Did my first ride around the usual route with the new tyres on. Was looking quite promising time-wise until the wind got up near the end and slowed me down a bit. Still managed to knock a minute off my previous best though.

Dist - 13.70
Max - 22.56
Ave - 16.54
Time - 49:34

As I'm planning on upping my triathlon distance next year to a 'Sprint' which is a 400m swim I thought I'd try and swim 400m non-stop. Managed it pretty easily although the pool was quite busy so had to weave in and out of a couple of people. Did it in 10:45 so that's my benchmark for when I start having front crawl lessons later in the year.
Also did another 400m (2 x 200m) so 800m in total which is the furthest I've ever swam!!

So in the last 4 days I've cycled the furthest since I was about 17 (when I did a 100 mile round trip to Wrexham and back and went swimming while I was there), run the furthest I've ever run and swam the furthest I've ever swam!

New bike arrived today. Haven't opened the box yet but will check it over later. Pedals don't arrive until later in the week! Promised not to ride it until AFTER my first triathlon. Would prefer to come last on an 18 year old mountain bike than a new road bike! lol

Another run in the evening. This time an even longer run around one big block. Just under 5km. Took it VERY slowly, didn't stop and did it in 28:43.

Saturday is usually a rest day but my new 'slick' bike tyres arrived and I had nothing better to do so decided to swap them over and cycle to my parents house 24 miles away. What I did learn that it's not my legs that will give up first, it's my back!! Had to stop twice due to bad back ache for a minute or so each time. Overall time was just under 1 hour 40 mins. Enjoyed it though and would do it again.

Another run tonight. Did the two big laps in 18:52 so another 30 secs off the record.

Badminton again later that evening for 2 hours on and off.

Swim again at lunch. 3 x 200m with 1 min rest in between. Split times of 5:02, 5:08 and 5:08.

Am cutting my training down from today. No swim at lunch.

Bike ride in the evening. Bit of a breeze going on so the 3rd and 4th splits hurt quite alot. In fact my legs hurt pretty much all the way around!

Dist - 13.75 miles
Max - 27.54 mph
Ave - 15.54 mph
Time - 53:04

Swim again at lunch time. Only 14 lengths this time. Actually planned ahead and wore my watch for the swim so I could get an approx time for my 200m splits. I'm aiming for 5 mins for the race and the two that I did were 5:03 and 5:08 so not too bad.

Run again in the early evening. Two big blocks in 19:35. Didn't think I was going to make it round cos I was so tired but somehow managed it.

Squash later in the evening. 35 minutes in sauna like temperatures!! Managed to win despite having no energy.

Another 600m swim at lunch time. (3 x 6 lengths). Struggled to stay awake all afternoon! I think that now that my swims are getting longer I should maybe stick to the recommended training plan of swim one day, bike the next day and run the next instead of swim / bike one day and swim / run the next...

Another bike ride in the evening. Tried alot harder right from the start and it hurt all the way around!
I did pump my tyres up a bit more so maybe that made the difference as I knocked 3 mins off my record.

Dist - 13.76 miles
Max Speed - 24.36 mph
Ave speed - 16.31 mph (new record)
Time - 50:33 mins (new record)

Split times (2.75 miles each)
1st - 9:44 mins (new record)
2nd - 10:02 mins (new record)
3rd - 11:09 mins
4th - 9:50 mins (new record!)
5th - 9:48 mins (new record)

When I got home from the ride I was knackered but my mate wanted to go for a run so I quickly changed into my running shorts and trainers and did a slow run around the small block with my jelly legs! Took it very slowly!

This was the first time that I'd done a swim, bike AND run all on the same day. Now I just need to do all of them straight after one another and for even longer!

Run again in the evening. Two big laps again. Quicker pace this time and a time of 19:25 so just over a minute quicker!

Rest day. Well, when I say rest I mean stress day!! Being an usher at a wedding where the bride writes you an A4 sheet list of things to do is not relaxing! lol

Swimming at lunch time. 600m! 3 x 6 lengths. Now I'm back at work and want a nap.

Tried to run further tonight by doing twice around the bigger block. Took it really steady and got all the way around without stopping in 20:32. Haven't run for that long non-stop since I was about 14!
Total distance was approx 3.7km which is 1.2km further than what my first race will be.

Another bike ride this evening. Was very windy weather and the split times show it! Faster for the first two and then a killer 3rd one into the wind and uphill!! I did mumble a few expletives.

Dist - 13.80 miles
Max Speed - 30.70 mph (new record!)
Ave speed - 15.32 mph
Time - 53:54 mins

Split times (2.75 miles each)
1st - 10:03 mins (new record)
2nd - 10:45 mins (new record)
3rd - 12:25 mins (new SLOW record!)
4th - 10:46 mins (new SLOW record!)
5th - 9:54 mins (new record)

Did a brick session tonight. Longer than the last one (which made me ill!). Bike ride of 31:45, transition of about 30 secs then a run of 10:30. Ashamed to say that I had to walk for 30 secs after 5 mins of running then ran the last 5 mins. I was just too knackered! :eek

Total time - 42:45

35 mins of squash later on in the evening too.

Swim again at lunch. 14 lengths. 1x6, 2x2 and 1x4. Didn't feel tired at all really by the time I'd finished.

Run again in the evening. Did it in 14:40 mins so 27 secs quicker than last time. Which was nice. Absolutely hammered it down though and my white t-shirt was completely see-through by the time I'd finished!

Bike ride in the morning. Lucky I went then as it rained all afternoon and all evening! Bit slower than last time although it didn't feel as bad.

Dist - 13.78 miles
Max Speed - 21.85 mph
Ave speed - 15.58 mph
Time - 53:03 mins

Broke it down into 1/5 ths as well (2.75 miles each)
1st - 10:40 mins
2nd - 10:58 mins
3rd - 10:53 mins
4th - 9:57 mins
5th - 10:35 mins

Swim at lunch time. 15 minute run when I got home (new record of 15:07) and then 2 hours of badminton in the evening!