Austria Ironman 2007

11:49 - the proof

2007-11-11T07:59:00.000-08:00

1 week to go

2007-06-30T13:55:00.000-07:00

All the trainings done, I wouldn't have believed how difficult it was to rest. Your mind says don't do anymore, your bodies saying, come on get out there you layabout. One week to go so just the rest week really before travelling out to Austria.
I've done my last proper session today 1.1/2 hour bike followed by an hour run with intervals. Speed has definitly droped on the bike over the last few weeks as I've increased my running time, but I must say its nice to feel fresh and well rested, really looking forward to next weekend now although a little nervous.
My mind is obviously coming together because I've had a telling off for being remote and irritable (more than usual).
Spent this afternoon cleaning my bike and trying to work out how to get it into the box i've borrowed, talk about a jigsaw, still havn't managed it. Also ended up with piles of sports food on the kitchen table - what to take, what not to bother with - I'd rather be out training its easier.

The final point - gave up alcohol over 2 weeks ago, thats the longest I've gone without a glass of wine for over a decade - it better be worth it!!!!!!!!!

Best of luck to all the club who are doing the East Leake Tri - enjoy - wish I was racing now, but I know its the right decision not to. I'll be giving you all a shout from the side

Endurance phase complete

2007-06-10T12:09:00.000-07:00

Thats it, I've done my final 100+ mile ride today. went pretty well overall, although I'm certainly going to have to beware of going to hard on the bike in Austria to save enough for the run. Finished today pretty stuffed and didn't go for my planned jog afterwards - just sat in the chair with a bottle of beer and fell asleep. Also didn't drink anywhere near enough fluids, its difficult when you in head down arse up mode to keep drinking - must concentrate on it.

Running still building and have completed a 1hr 45 run this weekend as well so starting to feel more confident about my prospects on the run. - as long as I don't go daft on the bike that is.

Last weekend was spent in Yorkshire riding the climbs and running on their undulating roads. Gave myself a few frights on some of the decents, drainage ditch's, milk lorrys etc. Its lovely and flat here in comparison, even in Derbyshire.

The open water swimming sessions at Bosworth have been brilliant and I'm now confident that baring any injuries I can do the swim comfortably inside the 2:20 cut off time. The water's even warmed up now and my zig zagging has reduced to half the width of the lake now - I'm convinced the banks have some kind of gravity pull effect. Talk about mind overload, trying to concentrate on technique, direction, not swimming in circles, breathing, it all hurts my head. A quick word of thanks to Ian and Dave for their advice on this discipline its been invaluable, gave me more to think about ! but very usefull.

So thats it, 1 more week of hard training and then into a 3 week taper. mind you from an average 15-18 hrs a week thats still leaving plenty to do each week. Need to spend some time sorting my head out, its not yet in the right state to take this on and get the best out of my body - oh dear that sounds painfull !!!

End of May

2007-05-24T11:16:00.000-07:00

What a month - Bike overload week, return to regular running and then this week my first ever open water swim. What a shock to the system, zig zagged all over the lake, the water was freezing and I swim in circles what a totaly disorientating experience, must go again soon. I can honestly say it was the first swimming session I have ever truely enjoyed. The Leicester Tri the day after was very encouraging, as I went a lot better than I could have expected even though I was tired from the previous week. Thoughly enjoyed it, ace courses and it was nice to be back racing again. My swimming is still P**** but has improved - must try harder. 6 weeks to go now so will be doing some quality type work and less endurance over the next 3 weeks before starting to taper in mid June. Have I done enough - cycling yes, running no, swimming - who knows.

Bike Overload

2007-05-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

Just coming to the end of Bike Overload week, in excess of 400 miles in 7 days including a 160mile ride into a head wind all the way - talk about hard. At one point I was doing 8mph with a HB of over 150. This week has also included 2 long days in the Welsh hills running and walking, a 50 mile mountain bike ride and a 150 mile return ride in the pouring rain (what fun - 8hrs of none stop spray) result - I'm now completly shattered. I've promised myself a couple of easier days now to try and recover a bit before this weekends sprint Tri at Leicester - although I don't expect too much in the way of a decent time . With 8 weeks to go its all getting nervous - when can I start tapering beacause I'm shattered.

Back to Full training - 27th April

2007-04-27T11:25:00.000-07:00

What a difference a week makes, Shins have settled down and have now returned to running. Trying to be really careful though so nothing serious yet. Continuation of the Bike training with an 80 mile test session, up and down the A6 in Derbyshire. With an average speed of over 22mph including slowing down through the towns, well chuffed. Equally impressed with my max stint in the middle although it did stuff me for the rest of the ride. Followed this on Sunday with a gentle spin session and a run. Middle of the week saw me in the dentist chair for quite a bit of work and a course of antibiotics to follow so have had a quiet few days , although I did manage to sneak a 3 hour gentle bike session in on thurs Eve. Plan for the week ahead is another 70/80 mile bike on Saturday followed by a bike and run Sunday. I have accepted that my personnel goal of 12 hours is now probably not really achievable due to the lack of running and am concentrating on getting to the start line fresh and not injuried. Also struggling to get max hours into the training over the next few weeks due to other commitments so intend to do some quality work instead. I am really starting to dread getting up at 5:30am for the swim sessions, usually due to being knackered from the previous day. Bike overload week is in two weeks time, not sure I'm really looking forawrd to that, hope the weathers nice.

17th April - Total disaster

2007-04-17T12:09:00.000-07:00

Total disaster - have now not run for nearly three weeks due to sore shins, with only 12 weeks to go and minimal running in the last 6 months, getting very frustrated and worried about it. (the trouble is its all self inflicted by doing to much running without the back ground - should have known better, but got carried away) Had a very painful trip to the sports massuer so I'll have to see how things settle down this week.
On the plus side my Cyling is going very well with a solid Easter including rides of 115 (can I run a marathon after this?), 50 and 65 miles over the holiday weekend. The 65 mile ride was done immediately after a 2500m swim and so was particularly pleasing at the end of a hard weekend. Since Easter I have continued to pile in the cycling and swimming (now up to 3k and I can't believe the difference a wetsuit makes) and am still averaging 15 - 17 hours a week, but the running!!!!!!!

The year so far

2007-04-03T08:28:00.001-07:00

April
14 weeks to go so the next 12 are critical. Still building base and distance endurance. Targets for the month 100 mile bike ride, 4k swim and to consolidate progress made with the running

March
Back running again now albeit slowly and steadily. Training ramping up to about 17 hours a week in total. Which includes 3 swims, 3 runs and 4/5 bike sessions. Maximum bike ride to date has been 80 miles and towards the end of the month managed a very gentle 15m run without any problems.
Going into April full of confidence although tired

Jan – Feb
Having suffered with plantar fasciitis through the winter, run training has taken a severe hit. Therefore I concentrated on the cycling and building my swim endurance. The swimming is definitely my weak area and so I’m concentrating on being good enough to complete the swim and not get timed out. Biking was in 5 sessions a week with the max distance being about 3 hours. (Not bad for this time of year)

The PLAN! - I will not follow a specific training programme as from experience I have found these are hard to maintain, the training I will do will be based loosely around a 4 week cycle of 3 hard weeks which incrementally increases followed by a rest week. This is then followed by another 4 week cycle starting at the midpoint of the previous one. This will be fitted in and around work and family commitments. Personal Target is to finish in under 12 hours