Daz Does Tri

So, this week has been fairly standard up till now. Monday just a 45 min endurance swim for about 2.3km. Tuesday (am) 4 easy (pm) 8 steady @ 6:37 pace feeling heavy Wednesday Spinnervals DVD - always a tough workout Then today was long run - 18 miles at around 7:30 pace (although probably quicker). Long runs are a bit of a mind fuck at the minute so plan was no Garmin, no time, no iPod just head down and run. Started with a lap of the nature park (4 miles) easy enough. Then headed towards Broxbourne on the river. Loads of choices from here but headed to the 12 mile route turnaround which left me at 10 miles. Planned to do same again in reverse but a good wind really tired me out in the 6 miles back to Abbotts and deamons had set in already. Managed to jog up to the next lock heading towards Hertford and back along the relief channel for 18 miles total.

Wow, what a lesson in cycling today was. A 2 up TT with young Tom, really showed me how much work I have to put in on the bike and where. First up - I am pretty damn happy with how I rode. Tom is only 15 but far stronger than me on the bike so riding in a race with someone better than you is only going to make you feel a bit more shit than you actually are! And in fairness if it had been a 10k running race the boot would have been on the other foot (for now) :) Downhill and on the flat I held my own. Even on the second lap when my legs were on fire I could still pick up a turn at the front and keep it at a decent clip. What really highlighted the difference today was purely the hills (whats new) and bike handling. Uphill I loose far too much pace, quite simply I am weak. But, I am improving, that was clear on last weeks club ride and recently I've been pb-ing hills. I need to get out and do them - simple fact. In a 12 mile TT you can't be doing 12-13mph on hills you

Friday was my hard ride day this week, plan from now (how many times has this changed!) is a hard tempoish 40-50 mile ride and a longer ride each week. Anything extra is the bonus ball. So Friday I cracked out the usual 40 mile route at a promising 18.8 mph avge. Some brutal winds in there to be fair but I made most of the following wind pushing my fat ass along at 20 mph for the first 50 mins then struggled like a bitch for about 50 mins into a bastard wind before riding the last 10-12 mile like a boss (well, as much as a boss who rides just about 20mph on his own can). job done, 2 beers earned for the night and the first 'on plan' session for the week. Nice day for it, even managed to get a sweat on. Saturday was an easy run day. Aim 12 miles, result 7 miles on the trails. Properly fucked and glad to bag it. 35ish for the week. Up and down with the running, 9.30 pace one minute, 6.10 the next. Oh well, maybe a couple of longer runs and some tempo this week. May eve

Sunday 10th Feb - my bike racing debut! Buoyed by Mr Turner and Mr Handcock telling me nothing could go wrong, just ride hard and bury yourself, I set out for this TT with hope in my heart. My overriding worry was going the wrong way - in a running race a shout will get you back on track but in a bike race you're a couple of hundred meters down the road before you'd even be missed! Get to the village hall in Little Downham at about 9am with 90 mins to go till my start. Mr T has kindly bought my bike along fresh with the new FFWD wheels he's talked me into buying. And he's set them up for me :) cheers coach !! Quickly discover TT racing makes the start of running races look like a scene from the only way is Essex. It's hardcore riders only. No hangers on, family or support - it's riders, bikes & officials. Do a bit of a warm up, to be fair I have no clue what I am doing. Ride to the local shop to buy a Lucozade as I'd forgotten to bring a drink,

Nailed it is all I can say about this week. The first time I have set a consistent week in motion and hit pretty much all targets. The week panned out like this...

Scores on the doors for January - RUNNING 129 miles @ 7:46/mm SWIMMING 11.73 miles BIKING 281 miles @ 19 mph TOTAL 40 hours 41 minutes