Daz Does Tri

After dipping my toe in the triathlon waters last year - so to speak - I am keen to make a splash this year. I got a taste for racing (which I loved) and set my stall out to enter some bigger races this year. Part of that was getting selected to age group. I raced the Anglian Standard European Qualifier last September with a hopeful view to getting on the team for Kitzbuhel. I was unlucky that the overall winner of the race was in my age group (no intent to qualify), and pushed my roll down prospects way down the list (needed 10 withdraws). Expecting bad news I entered the ETU middle in October and with only 21 athletes registered I was hopeful to make the cut.

What a difference a year makes. A Year ago I ran the Cambridge Half on a freezing cold morning and smashed my calves to pieces #ouch Yesterday I ran the Cambridge Half in glorious sunshine and topped off a 30k long run with legs feeling fresh and strong #happydays Back still isn't 100%, took an awful long time to settle yesterday but when it did at 10-11 miles I settled into a nice rhythem and felt good. Splits for yesterday race were - 6.51, 6.44, 6.46, 6.24, 6.32, 6.25, 6.31, 6.31, 6.25, 6.23, 6.19, 6.06, 6.08 - nicely progressive.

Long time no blog (why does every blog post ever written by anyone always start with this!!!) I guess the story version of this blog is eat, sleep, train, family holiday, work, tired, can't recover, long run, swim loads, don't swim at all, moan, eat, drink, sleep more, moan more, some training, not enough training aaaaaand repeat! Yup, I'm sure anyone that knows me will know the roller coaster that is my sporting career is back on the bottom! However, before DC has to get me on suicide watch I'm keeping positive as there are still good things happening and we are not finished just yet!!

Last year was my first season in Tri and it went pretty well. Swim went from armbands to a 26.25 1500m open tri, my run stayed in pretty good shape and I went from a truly shocking cyclist to a fairly competent club rider. I decided I wanted to have a proper go next season and first step was to upgrade my bike. Realistic choices were between Cervelo P5, Trek Speed Concept, Felt IA & Canyon Speedmax. I was going large!! After spending hours of looking over data, yaw angles & wind performance I ordered the Canyon as it's the best looking one :)

Wow, looks like every blog title recently is starting 'been a while since I blogged...' Looking back I have to be really proud of 2013. First triathlon, first Ironman, first run race win (since 1999) and first TT win, no major injuries, the list is pretty good. Lets not get carried away, I'm not exactly writing headlines like Mr T and Rich H BUT as someone who usually finishes every year with a tinge of disapointment, 2013 has to be my most consistent year. Lets start with some stats - Running - 1,487 miles in 184 hours Swimming - 101 miles in 63 hours Biking - 4,553 miles in 246 hours

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.