Daz Does Tri

Done! In the bag, my second ton. And what a ton it was. Kind happened by surprise. I had toyed with tonning it by adding a few to the club run but with Dan wanting a few more, Kye pretty much up for anything (he'd have ridden to Lands End if I asked him) and Marky super strong on the miles it fell into place with a big of Group 1 action. Met nice and early and rode a longer route to St Neots. Kye, as ever, decided to smash a few early hills and we had a good bit of banter on the way.

..or the Bedford Half Ironman as it probably can't legally be named! My debut, popped my triathlon cherry, joined the 3's up club, got down and dirty, wetter than an otters pocket etc. etc. I've only gone and bloody done a triathlon. Finally Daz does Tri, 2 years after creating a blog. So, endulge me a a little... Woke up slightly before the milkman at 4.30. Quick shower and a huge breakfast (and 2 huge dumps) before Mr Turner (yes, THE Mr Turner) picked me up and loaded an entire sports shop into his car. Fuck you need some stuff for this triathlon lark. Didn't have a box which apparently makes me a proper knob in triathlon as all triathletes have boxes for transition.

Since I started TTing in April things are moving along nicely on the bike. Last month or so I've knocked out close to 700 miles on the bike - much more than I've done before with some decent long rides. Starting to feel like I can push on a bit and I'm not quite as shit as I was. Still shit just not as shit :) Swimming has been rubbish, not nearly enough volume. Open water has been fine - 2 sea swims and a box end lake one where I felt pretty comfy in the wetty but in fairness I've let it slip a bit.

St Neots cycling club run their club TT series every week throughout the summer and I've managed to get round the first 2 without getting lost. For a data geek like me it's great to compare rides and see how you are progressing. Hopefully through the summer I get a little quicker each week and can see if my training is working. TT racing is completely different to running. You turn up at a random start spot (no club house/leisure center/pub) this shit is in the middle of nowhere. Goes back to it's olden day roots where it was comparable with cock fighting or that pony & trap racing pikeys do. You pay your £2 you get a number (should start slowest to fastest) and you start a minute behind the person in front. Also, you get someone to hold your bike up while you start which is cool BUT unlike running they want their number back at the end of the night (so no screwing it up and throwing it away in disgust after a shite race!)

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.