Daz Does Tri

So it feels a bit strange to post straight after a year catch up with another year catch up, but it's been a funny old year to say the least. I started the year with the sole aim of going ~9.30 at Ironman Austria. Training went really well in the build up, I hit pretty much every session, the numbers were good and confidence was high. I'm confident that I'd have hit my target, but that's easy to say when you didn't even toe the start line. That Ironman itch isn't going to go away that's for sure!

So, 2016 was the year I was supposed to get closure on my last Ironman performance. I trained well, didn't have many issues in the build up and got some really good training banked. The bike was in great shape after a 1.57 50 mile TT and a completion of the Tour of Wessex, I was swimming well under the hour pace for open water in training and I'd run a 3.02 marathon off little run training. I was really looking forward to having a go at Austria.

So this week I have started back training more 'normally'. Whatever that is in my life! Wednesday night I decided to try the Team Cambridge 10 mile TT on the Harwick - Cambourne - Madingley - Hardwick course. I started out too hard but was holding decent power and speed at the first turn. I knew It would be fast back but lack of fitness caught up with me and I was pretty much cooked by Madingley. I held it together for a 21.41 official but it could have been much quicker if I'd have had the upper end strength for the fast parts.

Finish marathon, legs are in pieces. Back hurts, everything aches. What were looking for is to get to the stage where you're feeling tired but not hobbling around like a piss head walking home from a club. Things are going to get worse before they get better. First job is to collect your kit from the kit lorry which requires a bloody long walk. You might start thinking things are not so bad now, but the big surprises comes from when you sit down to get changed and try to get up again! First stage of recovery - get those racers & socks off. Assess the damage to the feet - blisters, chaffing, blood, black toe nails. It's never pretty. Put on some compression tights. The science of these for running (calf guards etc.) is bollocks. Tights though (tighter the better) will keep your legs warm and that encourages blood flow to your battered muscles. It also stops them flapping about when your walking. God knows why but that does help!

Oakley 20 miles, 92nd place, 2:28.55. Ouch !!! It's been 6 years since I last ran Oakley when I was in decent shape and put out a 2.04 odd for 4th place. Picked up an injury that day and put me out of action for 4 weeks and ruined my London (still ran, 2nd run in a month and managed a 3.07!) First time I ran Oakley was 2.21 odd and I never recovered from that run by London. Oakley 3 - Daz 0 I think it's safe to say.

Less than 13 weeks till Ironman now, things are starting to get serious on the training front. Not many easy sessions in the diary especially with my run for the way it is!! And things are starting to ramp up over the next few weeks. So March is nearly done, had one shitty week when I was ill and needed a couple of days off (4 sessions #ouch).

After a decent Cambridge Half (1.22:48) for my current fitness I have started a new (coached) regime. After 3 /4 months of solid training without any issues the last 2 weeks has been 'interesting' to say the least! First week, I hit every session set barring one run session. That was due to work overrunning but I had absolutely criminal DOMS from the race on Sunday. Happy days, 13 hours banked with a 3.45 turbo on Saturday morning. By the weekend though I felt a sore throat coming on.

This is the third installment of this race for me, last two were a mixed bag. 2013 I had a decent ride before going the wrong bloody way at the Pymore turn. First ever TT I rode in and was a baptism of fire. 2015 was a horror story on the re-arranged course, less said the better about that day #toosoon !! The best part of this race is there is nowhere to hide. It's a sporting course and it exposes your weaknesses. Last year was a shocker but it set me up for an honest appraisal and change of training to focus on what I needed to work on. So today, eased up for the race from Wednesday and went in feeling pretty decent. Decided against turbo warm up as it was far too cold, 3/4 miles on the road was plenty and I aimed to roll up to the start just before kick off.

OK OK so it drives me mad when people post all sorts of data and numbers about how great their training is going #choppers but I am going to post my stats here. In all honesty I don't believe anyone is actually reading this drivel apart from me so I'm pretty safe from getting busted! January scores on the doors are as follows - Swim 13.5 hours Bike 28 hours Run 12 hours

We're well into January and the thought that I am going long again at Ironman Austria this year is in my mind constantly. It's been nearly 3 years since my last Iron and I've learned a lot in that time. I'm hoping that some of this is going to help on the day !! I'm fairly set on a 10 week plan for the race with 2/3 weeks tapering down. I recently read an article that split out the average Kona qualifiers training for their qualifying races. 7 miles swimming, 235 miles biking & 48 miles running.