Daz Does Tri

No blog for a while, not like me! Well, not too much to say really, training has been - well training. After about 3 weeks of non-swimming (and barely any for the month of October) I finally managed to get into the pool 2 (yes two) days running this week. Monday I managed my 10 x 100 (off very short recovery avge 20 secs) in around 1:37 which was great considering the warm up felt like swimming in treacle. And today just an easy 30 mins (10 pull, 10 free, 10 pull) mile or probably longer recovery swim. Happy days, the swim is better than ever. Just got to build the fitness now and stick to the 2/3 sessions per week plan. Bike has started again. I've been getting some easy base miles in on the road and working some tough climbing sessions on the turbo (max resistance, highest gear and grinding for up to 30 mins at 60 or so cadence). Getting in around 100 miles per week which is an OK starting point.

Or simply the most boring blog in the history of the world. Lot of talk lately about PrestonPace, intervals, races etc. I think a lot of people assume I do all my running at 10 minute miles and then go and run 17 min 5ks off talent or something!! Way back when I was running 3:30 marathons, I did a lot of reading about base training and came across a topic called HADD. If you Google it the full document is easily available and properly boring unless your a data geek like me! I bought into the training, used it as best I could and got myself down to 3 hours for a marathon, and then kicked on to a 75 min half. In fact, from my 5 mile time I was capable of around 16.10 for 5k off zero speedwork. Important to state that I come from a track background (I may have mentioned once or twice lol), so I know how quick intervals can make you. It's pretty much all I did as a kid! BUT, I think personally people of a certain age overlook base and why it's important.

Seems like I only blog for races nowadays! Last week, decided that it was wise to completely bin off the bike and swim and purely dedicate time to run. I'm in OKish shape and a bit of leg conditioning would serve me well for a half marathon crack. So, with 53 miles in 5 days I decided to go and get myself a nice sore throat on Thursday night! So rested Friday and Saturday but made the wise decision to pop out with the lads for a beer Friday night. Ouch, Saturday I was a mess and basically self medicated everything from Morrisons pharmacy in the hope it would help. Woke up this morning feeling not too shabby, legs still tight but not worst ever so hopeful of a half decent turn out. Rain didn't help and if I was travelling solo there's a good chance I would have binned it off!

Last tri of the season, and a race I entered a couple of months back just to give me something to keep my eye in coming off Ironman/holiday and going into winter. If I'm honest I never expected to do much here, it was always going to be more about a good solid workout and keeping in good shape. However, still thought I'd be alright. Usual race day deal, Mr Turner picked me up and we arrived without incident. I'd changed waves to start in the slower wave 1 rather than the faster wave 2. I was thinking that being one of the slower swimmers that are 'faster' finishers I'd be better off getting out ahead rather than hanging back. I also thought that starting half an hour in front of Ian meant he wouldn't have to wait ages for me to finish!

Massive geek knob that I am, I love a bit of data after a race. So, taking the top 250 finishers (I was 58th) overall I looked at roughly where I was in the race for each event (including the dreaded transitions)! Also included what time 58th position was, so I can see where a more even race would put me...

After Zurich didn't go as well as I'd hoped I quickly entered a couple of late season races to try and get something from a pretty flat season. The first one up was my clubs race - the Anglian Standard European Qualifier. Obviously big aim for me was qualification, but with no short course experience I had no idea whether that was realistic or pie in the sky. Looking at races I knew 2.10 would be about what's needed (give or take) and a pretty good marker. 27 swim, 3 transitions, 1.03 bike, 37 run I had in my head. Training, even with an Ironman and family holiday has been pretty good on all 3 fronts. I know my bike power is down from lack of conditioning but speed seemed to be OK. So, went into the race knowing it would be tight BUT I had half a sniff of nabbing a spot on the team.

Been a while since I blogged and that set's the tone for how training has gone really! Just been trying to get some miles under my belt (30 per week running), get the swimming where it needs to be and try to maintain some cycle fitness. Run wise, have been slowly increasing the pace and legs feel slightly better. Missed some conditioning when I first returned but backed up my opening 17.36 Park Run with a 17.37. The second one felt much better but being a tit I had forgotten my watch and had to run naked. Not without clothes, that would be mental (although wouldn't be a first), just without data. Which feels naked!