A Fun Race

Well, I won’t pay the bucks for a branded Ironman event – it’s robbery! But one of the longest running Iron Distance races in existence takes place in Almere, Holland, late August. As it looks like 2012 will be wiped out for me due to an Operational Det during the entire racing season, and whilst I can get mega bike mileage completed cycling to work in my current job, I will attempt an Ironman distance race. It’s just for fun though. I will still have a ‘normal’ season and focus on the National Middle Distance Champs and the Inter-Services Standard Distance.

When I say ‘fun’ I mean race like your life depends on it 8-)

Rant Time

Grrrrrrrrr! Getting mightily fed up with motorists lately. I have been doing quite a bit of commuting to work on my bike. The abuse cyclists receive has really been apparant. Today was a particularly bad day and I was REALLY close to letting loose with both barrels at a motorist - And let's face it, I am a placid guy! Today's episode was made worse because the plonker was in a traffic queue on the other side of the road to me! I was not even impacting on him in any way, yet he saw fit to open his mouth and give me the benefit of his undoubtedly superior knowledge on the use of the road and cycle paths (there was no cycle path). He nearly got a mini pump and 3 steel tyre leavers stufed up his nostrils.

Training has been ok, apart from a severe lack of running due to my foot injury. I am getting it looked at tomorrow but I am resigned to the factthat I will not be running well until later in the season - hopefully! I have started to ramp up the turbo efforts but I have no idea how I am going on the bike. i need some TTs to see how I am going!

Where are Things?

I am not Blogtastic at the moment am I? Things are just too hectic and I rarely have the time to sit on the computer and indulge in Blogging – when I do, the pesky computer invariably fails to connect to the net.

My racing season is more or less planned but there is a problem. I have a foot injury that is stopping me running. I won’t bore you with the details but it is not good timing. I need to be ramping up the run effort because I really have not done that much running since September. The Dambuster Duathlon is on 19 March. I had accepted that I would run slowly for this early season race but now it is looking more like making to the finish line is the objective!

I have now entered the Cowman, which is the British national Middle Distance Champs. I am excited about this race but need to get some run legs back! There is time, as long as the injury does not linger – and yes, I am resting it!

Other races planned are the Speedy Beaver and The Dambuster. These races, added to the Cowman, mean I will race National Champs at all Distances for the first time. The objective is a medal of some sorts! But now that I am in the 3rd year of my age group, it will be tough!

I also have a fun race planned at the end of August. More on this event another time but it will mean that I will not be racing The Vit this year. I hope to be there to support the RAF team though and also to mop up left over Jaffa Cakes!

As far as training goes, bike mileage has increased markedly since the foot injury. I am doing just one effort session on the turbo. I am doing plenty of ‘sweet spot’ rides during my commuting and this should set me up nicely for the Cowman in July. Swimming is still going well and I am, by far, faster than I have ever been. As I have said many times, I will believe it when I perform faster in the open water!

I completed a set of 6 x 200m on 3:30 the other day, all timed below 3 mins. Yesterday was main set of 20 x 100m on 2 min, all times between 1:26 – 1:29. ok, these are not super fast times. But, for me, it is an improvement and should see faster 1500m and 1900m open water swim times when racing.

One last point. I have Lanzarote Blues!!!! I get them every year when 20 RAF Triathletes travel to the island to train themselves stupid for a week! I could so train myself stupid there too!

jc's going long: Swimming Long

Hope JC doesn't mind my placing his Blog on my Blog! I am just really excited to see the kind of stuff JC is doing. Man, what you are able to do with the time and drive from within. I have always thought that JC was talented but never really got the best out of himself (I am talking Triathlon here!). All this should change! Can't wait to see how the youngster performs! No pressure there JC - just genuine interest. Appreciate what your are able to do and use that as motivation for hard times.

Sure wish I could do it!

jc's going long: Swimming Long: "Not only have I been slightly amending my cycling sessions this week, I have also changed one of my swims into a longer session. Previously,..."

Training - Good and Bad!

Race season is not far away! Remember the drill for transitions! It can be very easy to lose your cool and do stupid things! I must have done every crazy thing going, apart from run out of T2 with my helmet on! It somehow seems worse when the lid is an aero helmet!

Training has been going ok I suppose. Lots of swimming still but I have a problem because of it! I had been doing loads of kicking sets and my feet have developed some pain along the top. This is now stopping me from running - Doh!!! Not happy about that.

I have started to do some turbo efforts on the bike too. The legs and lungs are a bit rusty! With some duathlons planned in the early season, things are not looking too good - late with bike efforts and feet that don't run!

I am Running. . . . .

. . . . slowly 8-)

Longest run since. . . er. . . I can remamber today at 11.5 miles (1:26). Felt ok too but I am slow. But wait till July, though!! Best I brush the cobwebs off my bike now!! How do I pedal? Can't remember!

Swim Emphasis

Yep, I am still focussing on my swimming. Yesterday the main set was 6 x 200 on 4 mins. Most sets lately have quite large recoveries to allow the speed to stay high - well, high as I can push.

Although I wanted to get all 6 around 2:50 I didn't make it. No shocks there then! However, it was probably the best 200 set I have done:

2:52 2:54 2:56 2:57 2:56 2:55.

It was put into perspective by Graham, a guy I have started swimming with, as he mashed up the water clocking 2:30 constantly. He also did 50 kick between each 200 so he could leave on 4 mins with me! Doesn't that just make you sick?!

So when I see all you runners and bikers at the early season duathlons, just remember that I am now a full time swimmer!!