Daz Does Tri

Back from my 2 week family holiday to Jamaica, and getting back into life. The title is one of my favorite jokes of all time about a man having 'WENDY' tattooed on his knob and is obviously far too risque for a family friendly blog ;) Mind you, as I said in the past - nobody reads this shit! Amazingly, the day before I went on me hollybobs I won my first running race for 14 years !!! Admittedly it was only a Parkrun but boy it felt good to cross the line first !!! And as a bonus ball with Chris Ritchie is too cool to hand in his bar code I'm ranked #2 in the history of Peterborough Parkrun ;) Alright, Chris has gone faster and there's only been 2 but still, number 2 eh !!

So the dust has settled on Zurich. Think I'm starting to bore people with with it all now! Really happy to have done it, didn't go to plan but a race that lasts 12 hours is never likely to. Feel good about toughing it out but now I'm getting itchy feet to get some good performances in before the end of the year. All things being equal at the very worst I should be going into winter in fairly decent shape. Anyone who trains with me will know that Frostbite season I am generally in horrendous condition by the season's opener in Priory Park, apart from an 11th place in 2010 I'm usually outside top 30, then in top 10 by March. This year I'm hoping to start the winter in decent shape and just get stronger rather than look to get some speed from somewhere which is how it normally goes.

I've done it, lived up to the blog title that I named over 2 years ago and the race I have been preparing for for over a year. How does it feel? In a word, amazing! As far as personal achievements go this is right up there for me. I'ts a long story about a long day at the end of a very long journey. I've learned a lot, made a whole new circle of friends and had some great times along the way. So grab a beer (I have) put your feet up and get ready, I'll be reliving this in full over and again the next time I see you! Arrived in the beautiful city of Zurich on Thursday with superstar supporter Ange. It's a stunning place but christ it is expensive. I'm known as Brewster by some for my hobby of spending money but even I baulked at the prices. Every drink from water to coke is 5 Swiss franks (£3.50) or 7 Swiss franks at the expo. Didn't have one but a regular Big Mac meal would set you back £10. Yes you read that right! Lunch and breakfast weighed i...

Fly out to Zurich tomorrow, the time has finally come to get race ready. When I embarked on this journey last year I think pretty much everyone's reaction was what the fuuuuuuck !!! That's a long way, but as with everything you stick the hard work in and it doesn't seem so bad. Here's the training log since Jan 1st to give an idea of the work I have put in -

So after going a bit mad yesterday on the running, plan today was to meet Mr Day for an easy / steady 30 or so miles on the bike. And face the crash corner for the first time. Duh duh duuuuuuuh Quick drive home and Mr D is banging on the door. Speed out and settle into a decemt pace. One of those rides where you just feel surrounded by wind whichever way you go. Nothing amazing, good blast down from Waresley at about 26-27 mph to the finish and turn back home. Magnum and a Coke from the shop and 27 miles knocked out @ 19.5 mph avge. Happy days. Sensible on pace and distance (sub 20 & 30). Arm feels alright, no issues riding except back a little stiff and apart from taking the crash corner at 2 mph all good in the hood. Spag bol and a can of medicinal Guiness for dinner tonight. Rock and roll. Maybe even a half decent documentary on the telly box. Fuck taper is boring!

So, I'm pretty much half way through taper and ... I'm on for a record month! Certainly doing too much at the minute so plan is just to ease back a little (a lot) on the volume and ramp up intensity. 21 running miles banked today. Obviously a long way from text book taper BUT I really needed a confidence builder. Running,m especially long running, has been way off track so today Kye dragged me out for 13 at lunchtime (really appreciated the call out as I would have jogged 8 on my own) and that gave me a fantastic starting point. Worked out exactly 7/mm which is perfect. 8 mile later tonight @ 8/mm was a bonus and was great to feel easy. Evening run at 136bpm shows HR and base fitness is bang on, best levels ever. I know I've not got top end speed but hey, I'm going to be out there all day next Sunday !!!

So it's finally happened, the dreaded C word. Pretty good week of training banked including a 27.17 club TT on Thursday. Set off for Saturdays Ashman cup (2 laps of Abbo) feeling tired after a late one. Probably first mistake as I'd not been up long before setting out. Warmed up OK, legs heavy but easing up. 20.8 mph warm up to Abbon then coupe of miles spinning before the off. Start went alright and I actually stuck in a good pace. Clipped off the first lap holding back in 28.30 so happy days. Second lap started quicker and I was pushing OK. Rich came past just before the turn.