Daz Does Tri

As the blog title and the post title suggest - I have entered an Ironman - Zurich on 28th July 2013. Andy, Bob and myself are all in but there's doubt on Mark who may have to work that weekend. So having never done a triathlon of any kind I am going straight in at the deep end :) Training wise it's giving me a real perk up about things - new challenges and all that.  I guess it doesn't change things massively as London 2013 is still my big aim on the horizon.  Most of my training will remain run based and trying to be as strong as possible on two feet. I'll do some swimming once a week up until taper time, just working on technique and distance in the pool but I had planned to do some x-training anyhow. I really want to be strong on the swim and nail that 2.4 in about an hour or so to get on the bike as quick as possible. My bike is weak which I know but I have lots of people to ride with and especially Ian T who is really strong.  My aims for that right now...

Did my first swim for a LONG time on Wednesday.  Headed to Parkside pool in Cambridge where the boys have their lessons and knocked out an easy mile.  No warm ups / down / pool buoys etc... just in -> swim -> out ! Took a while to get into it and get my head around it but after half way found it went pretty quick.  Was loads of traffic though and was forever overtaking girls doing breast stroke.  I thought in the medium lane I would be far too slow but there was only one guy overtaking me and he was doing 3/4 lengths and having a rest. Haven't swam since November 29th which is far too long and need to keep my eye in the pool.  Worked out maybe 35 mins of swimming which is OK considering it was more like a fartlek with all the overtaking, slowing down and farting about.  Much prefer it at Manor of Groves where I can just go up and down for 81 lengths with the pool to myself! Out for Anges birthday yesterday on my 'rest' day which involved lots an...

Decided to join the boys at the track tonight, only to do a 5 mile plod but always good to catch up with the lads.  New young kid Fraiser and Alex have joined the group since I've been on a tartan sabbatical and look like good talents.  Will be good to train with them soon (hopefully).  DC was there and first time I've seen Ed in yonks so nice to catch up.  He's in same boat as me - comeback kid and hopefully we'll be back on the 3 x 3k route soon enough. The boys knocked out easy 600's in about 1.50's which is flying right now and I set off for a plod around St Ives.  Started with a 7.01 mile (wow) and calf was a bit grumbly.  Stopped to stretch just before 2 miles (7.24) and then came back in 7.40's for around 37.30 for about 5 miles. Not bad, HR too high (getting to 162 bpm on the inclines) but to be expected off only cycling and good to be able to work at Marathon HR easy enough. Good stretch afterwards, ice and rolling when I got home and a warm ...

As I sat on the sofa this afternoon with my left calf wrapped up in frozen sweetcorn and a towel, I eyed up the foam roller that would agonisingly flatten out my torn calf muscle in 10 mins thinking 'why do I do this to myself' ??? I am an ex-runner, I could have been a contender blah blah.  But now I am a fat 35 minute 10k club runner dreaming of one last shot.  I wouldn't mind if like Stuart Stokes I was going to the Olympics and running 29 min 10ks - I used to beat him ;-) I train lunchtimes at work, book family holidays around racing and training plans.  I miss kids parties and days out are shortened just to get a run in.  All for what ?? Today's run was a hilly 8 miles around Bourn.  The route was flooded and overgrown but I plodded out a half decent pace for this stage of fitness up until 5 miles when the calf started to pull tight.  I nursed myself home where I flaked out on the sofa (after taking a post exercise concoction of protein pills) an...

After doing the same hilly route since last Saturday, finally nailed a ride on Thursday after a total rest day on Wednesday.  Did the  Cambourne -> Elsworth -> Hilton -> Fenstanton -> Connington -> Knapworth -> Bourn -> Caxton -> Home loop in 69.39 for 18.3 mph.  Really pleased with that one and starting to see progress.  No puncture either ! Friday was run day.  Met up with Stevie B and plodded around Somersham trails nice and easy starting at about 9/mm and finishing up with 7.30/mm which felt pretty comfy.  Was all off road and really over grown and slippery for most of the route.  6.7 miles in 55 mins bang on and calf feeling tight but not too bad. Good deep tissue massage from Stevie, really painful on hammys and IT band and quads from the biking.  Also glutes really tight giving me a sore back.  Felt great afterwards but bit sore Saturday morning when I woke up. Saturday decided to get a bike in f...

Yesterday decided to do the same ride route I did with Ian  on Saturday. It a nice route from Cambourne -> Elsworth -> Hilton -> Fenstanton -> Connington -> Knapworth -> Bourn -> Caxton -> Home. Felt much better and didn't struggle as much on the hills.  Got a puncture somewhere around Fenstanton and spent about 10 mins changing the back. Ended up with 21.3 miles in 72 mins @ 17.5 mph on the Garmin. Felt good and enjoyed it and happy that I managed to fix my first puncture on the go! Ate well again yesterday, lots of fruit & a healthy dinner.  Drinking more water nowadays too which can only be good and laying off chocolate, fizz & crisps.  Also not too much tea / coffee - about half of the usual. Today I had a day off work.  No-one around so pointless going in and wanted to get an early ride in back on the same route.  Set off thinking it would be a struggle to ride on tired legs but went really well. Was averagin...

First up the eating has been pretty good this weekend.  Saturday was cheat night but wasn't too bad.  Have got the supplements working and am starting to feel really good on them. Saturday - Breakfast - porridge Lunch - Poached eggs on toast with ham Dinner - Chicken steak sandwich with cheese, lettuce, tomato & cucumber Snacks - 2 cans of guniness, 1 small sweets, 1 marmite crisps Sunday - Breakfast - 2 egg plain omelette Lunch - tomato soup with extra veg thrown in Dinner - home made lasagne Snacks - sweets & popcorn at cinema Now that for me is probably the healthiest weekends food ever!  Weight is not dropping off me just yet but I am not putting the hours in. Saturday training was 75 minute hilly ride with Ian T.  22 miles @ 17.5mph.  It was raining and very wet.  Ian did an easy pre-race ride on his commuter bike and I still slowed him down.  I was completely shot by 18 miles.  Quads gave out ...