Daz Does Tri

Today was the second big test of my Ironman training - an over-distance ride. Plan was always to ride to and from the event to make a nice 120-130 mile ride and it was always going to be about getting saddle time rather than average pace. Alarm set for 6am, was out the door by 6.25 to meet Mark and Dan at the business park. I set out in just shorts, jersey and sleeves. I had assumed it would be a cold start and that it'd quickly warm up. Wow, talk about wrong. It was freezing and as we headed the 12 miles to the start it became clear we were all becoming a bit hypothermic. I could not stop shivering when I got to the start line, luckily Kye who we met there had some spare gloves which were a life saver.

After Paris last Sunday and my doomed run, I spent Tuesday-Saturday in the Lake District with the family Preston. It was a lovely little break, some amazing scenery and good food and plenty of sleep had me refreshed. I read the book 'Iron War' about the 1989 duel in Kona between Dave Scott and Mark Allen. What a book. Talk about rev up the old engine. On Thursday I had enough of the shackles and hit the Hotel 14m swimming pool for a steady 30 min swim. The pool was oval shape with a tiny bit roped off (less than a meter), god knows why?? I used it as my personal lane. I flew up and down, old biddies and kids alike were washed out of the way. A 5 year old ventured into my lane at one stage only to be saved by his dad from a charging Daz Man (I had dropped to 6 strokes a length on that one to clear him).

Never been a fan of Paris, the metro stinks, the food is shite and the people hate the English. But this time I was here on business, marathon business!! Arrived in Paris late on Friday. Thursday had my last proper run at home in a brutal cold wind, averaging 7.08/mm for 6 miles or so. Felt good and knew I was in pretty good shape going into this. Eurostared into Paris with Marky and checked into Hilton no probs. Ate well and hit the sack at 10pm local time feeling tired. Had a really bad night sleep and woke up at 10.30am France time. Quick jog and notice my ankle is in pain - pretty bad pain to be fair but I feel amazing running. Quick stretch, breakfast, Expo, walk, food & bed. That's the build up.

Wow, finally seems like things are taking shape. Having been really shit at the start of the year I think I'm well on the way to being just a bit shit now. Happy days! After my last blog about a decent run on Friday we nailed a good group run on the Friday. 4.25 miles easy with Dan and Stevie B (7.17/mm avge starting with 8's) then met the rest of the boys at the Ivo (or dog shit alley as I now call it). 10 miles starting with a leisurely 7.15 and reeled off sub 6.30's to hit 6.31/mm avge for the next 10 miles. Little warm down in the car park and a coffee in the cafe. Run felt shockingly easy. Like a real runner for the first time in how many years. Boys were like wacky racers in the last mile :) BUT great little session and nice to see Stevie B do a proper training run, almost bought a tear to the eye like he's popped his cherry or something. Degenerate racer Turner couldn't help but 'podium' with a 5.52 last mile #WTF !! Good group out and che