Well, in all the excitement, I'd completely forgotten that this blog ever existed! Dedication to the training at the expense of everything else, and all that.
It's actually not going too badly. Winter cycling was tough, especially the trip to Ulleskelf (near York) where we saw every different type of weather, including horizontal freezing sleet which even rendered full waterproofing useless. Then punctures. Punctures in tubes which when fixed, deflated instantly. Only carvery turkey sandwiches can fix something like that.
That one disaster aside though, it's pretty good. My swimming is solid; not fast, but solid. I just can't wait to get back into open water again! This year I want to get in as much practice as possible and the warmer water just can't happen fast enough! Also, we're doing the two-mile Great North Swim this year (I did the one-mile last year) because I want as much open-water race practice as possible. If I'm honest, I'm really not looking forward to the 'washing machine'.
Running-wise, we completed Liversedge half-marathon (Richard completed it much faster than I did!) in February with no great dramas. For a fiendishly hilly course, it was actually really good fun!
Which brings us to hills. It appears that I've got over my mental hill thing in which I convinced myself that I couldn't climb (on foot or on the bike) at all. Turns out running up the giant Liversedge course hill in the snow and the dark one January evening meant it didn't seem too bad during the race. And I can now wibble up Hollins Hill (my previous nemesis) like I never thought possible.
But it's 10 more long bike rides until the event. On Sunday it'll be exactly three months to go. Eeeeeek...
Tuesday, 17 April 2012
Friday, 11 November 2011
The story so far
The first couple of weeks of training have passed without too much drama. Very unlike us. I've just about started to shake off the rather thick layer of rust formed during the 4-week layoff, and I'm starting to feel like I can actually move a bit without my legs falling off, which is a definite improvement.
Doing all my training at a rather pedestrian speed feels somewhat odd, especially after last year's emphasis on intensity. However, I really don't think I'd make it through the volume of training required without slowing it down - it's hard enough as it is!
The other major change from last year is the long bike ride - already I've ridden longer this year than at any point in 2010/11. We've been fortunate so far this year with the weather - cold at times but generally dry. It's prevented me from trying out my full range of waterproof clothing, but I'm overall happy to keep it that way. Also, these rides are stunningly slow. I'm probably spoiled by my hunk of carbon loveliness (currently in storage over the winter), but it's still a little disconcerting to run out of gas at 24kph.
Finally, I really, really love my Finis Tempo Trainer. It's liberating to do intervals and steady swims without fretting about pacing. I can concentrate on improving my appalling stroke instead!
Doing all my training at a rather pedestrian speed feels somewhat odd, especially after last year's emphasis on intensity. However, I really don't think I'd make it through the volume of training required without slowing it down - it's hard enough as it is!
The other major change from last year is the long bike ride - already I've ridden longer this year than at any point in 2010/11. We've been fortunate so far this year with the weather - cold at times but generally dry. It's prevented me from trying out my full range of waterproof clothing, but I'm overall happy to keep it that way. Also, these rides are stunningly slow. I'm probably spoiled by my hunk of carbon loveliness (currently in storage over the winter), but it's still a little disconcerting to run out of gas at 24kph.
Finally, I really, really love my Finis Tempo Trainer. It's liberating to do intervals and steady swims without fretting about pacing. I can concentrate on improving my appalling stroke instead!
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Week Zero II
I have to be honest, I've been sneaking to the pool every Thursday in the off-season for a few reasons:
1. Someone might steal "our" lane and think it's their own and then we'll have to spend the first few weeks of the season persuading them to the contrary when we don't really have the time to do this. No, really, it stresses me out a bit when there's a new person in the lane when I'm training and I'd rather concentrate on the drills than what someone behind me is doing. I've got over this for races though, thank flip.
2. Getting out of the routine is a real problem: I'd rather keep with the Thursday auto-pilot than let something get in the way and then spend the first few weeks of the new season forcing myself out on a Monday and Thursday night. As it stands, I'm happy to keep on and I haven't been pushing too hard: just enough to remind myself each week how much I love swimming. The tempo-trainer last week was fun though: it might just teach me not to go off too hard in the first 25 metres.
3. I'm scared that after all that work last year I might forget how to swim!
Anyway, I went for a bike ride on Friday night: 45 minutes down the Greenway which was great, except that I wore half of my winter gear and overheated 10 minutes in. Nothing more really to report: I know I wasn't going flat out but it did feel good (except for the warmth).
Ran this morning. I was making a concerted effort to go steady and so did a 32-minute 5k. It felt lovely: great to be running again and nice to be going steady for a change. Did 30-second pickups at race pace in 5 minute intervals for two reasons: my watch is set to 5 minutes and I'm really bad at estimating 20 seconds and much better at guessing 30 seconds!
45 minute bike in teh morning tomorrow: I know that I need to practice early morning starts but Monday morning really is my nemesis: especially factoring in bike, shower, wash hair, dry hair, straighten hair. Roll on it (my hair) growing so I can stop caring and just tie it back: another goal for 2011/12.
1. Someone might steal "our" lane and think it's their own and then we'll have to spend the first few weeks of the season persuading them to the contrary when we don't really have the time to do this. No, really, it stresses me out a bit when there's a new person in the lane when I'm training and I'd rather concentrate on the drills than what someone behind me is doing. I've got over this for races though, thank flip.
2. Getting out of the routine is a real problem: I'd rather keep with the Thursday auto-pilot than let something get in the way and then spend the first few weeks of the new season forcing myself out on a Monday and Thursday night. As it stands, I'm happy to keep on and I haven't been pushing too hard: just enough to remind myself each week how much I love swimming. The tempo-trainer last week was fun though: it might just teach me not to go off too hard in the first 25 metres.
3. I'm scared that after all that work last year I might forget how to swim!
Anyway, I went for a bike ride on Friday night: 45 minutes down the Greenway which was great, except that I wore half of my winter gear and overheated 10 minutes in. Nothing more really to report: I know I wasn't going flat out but it did feel good (except for the warmth).
Ran this morning. I was making a concerted effort to go steady and so did a 32-minute 5k. It felt lovely: great to be running again and nice to be going steady for a change. Did 30-second pickups at race pace in 5 minute intervals for two reasons: my watch is set to 5 minutes and I'm really bad at estimating 20 seconds and much better at guessing 30 seconds!
45 minute bike in teh morning tomorrow: I know that I need to practice early morning starts but Monday morning really is my nemesis: especially factoring in bike, shower, wash hair, dry hair, straighten hair. Roll on it (my hair) growing so I can stop caring and just tie it back: another goal for 2011/12.
Week Zero
Although in theory the gap between seasons is supposed to be free of training, the neccessity to get through sizeable training workloads right away for Ironman persuaded me to get in a couple of sessions this week. My Week Zero training has been low-intensity and pressure-free, and, as a result, will probably end up being the most fun I have this year.
What I learned about my current fitness levels is roughly this:
Next week is the real beginning of the season. The key sessions will really be the swim and run tests midweek, although I'm mainly thinking about the LBT swim on Friday and the inaugural long bike ride on Sunday. I'd better get my mudguard fixed, otherwise I'll get dropped :-(
What I learned about my current fitness levels is roughly this:
- Swim - feels about the same as the end of last season, although that isn't exactly a ringing endorsement, as my swimming levels declined steadily from mid-season.
- Bike - back on old bike, feels very slow all of a sudden. Probably exacerbated by my rear mudguard breaking mid-ride (I didn't realise until I got home!), meaning the rear wheel barely moved. Also I'm not very good at cycling.
- Run - feels exactly the same as ever, except I'm about 30secs/km slower. This may be connected to the enormous amount of unhealthy food I've consumed in the last four weeks.
Next week is the real beginning of the season. The key sessions will really be the swim and run tests midweek, although I'm mainly thinking about the LBT swim on Friday and the inaugural long bike ride on Sunday. I'd better get my mudguard fixed, otherwise I'll get dropped :-(
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
It's Official
Dear Richard,
Congratulations! We are delighted to be able to inform you that you have secured a place in the 2012 IRONMAN UK Triathlon place with Scope. Not only is your participation in this event guaranteed to be truly memorable, but also your fundraising endeavours will have an impact long after the Ironman.
We are in the process of finalising your welcome packs which will be emailed out to you shortly. In the meantime if you have any questions or need any more information please do not hesitate to get in contact.
Thank you so much for your support, it is very much appreciated.
Kind regards
Francesca Savage
Events Coordinator
SCOPE
Oh dear.
Congratulations! We are delighted to be able to inform you that you have secured a place in the 2012 IRONMAN UK Triathlon place with Scope. Not only is your participation in this event guaranteed to be truly memorable, but also your fundraising endeavours will have an impact long after the Ironman.
We are in the process of finalising your welcome packs which will be emailed out to you shortly. In the meantime if you have any questions or need any more information please do not hesitate to get in contact.
Thank you so much for your support, it is very much appreciated.
Kind regards
Francesca Savage
Events Coordinator
SCOPE
Oh dear.
Friday, 26 August 2011
So, what are we planning?
Nothing that makes any sense; don't worry.
After the 'success' of Ilkley Tri 2009 where we survived without death, despair or failling into a skip, we've had the chance to build on this experience. Since that day, I've completed:
So of course, with all this race experience it makes perfect sense that I sign up to Ironman UK 2012. Doesn't it?
After the 'success' of Ilkley Tri 2009 where we survived without death, despair or failling into a skip, we've had the chance to build on this experience. Since that day, I've completed:
- Skipton Sprint Triathlon (swim only, part of Team Tri and Mash)
- Driffield Sprint Triathlon
- Great North Swim
- Beverley Sprint Triathlon (7th girl!!)
- Allerthorpe Classic Triathlon (my first standard distance)
So of course, with all this race experience it makes perfect sense that I sign up to Ironman UK 2012. Doesn't it?
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