Daz Does Tri

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!

Nice to be back and slowly getting into the swing of the whole family-work-training merry-go-round that is life! Couple of big races coming up soon so idea for the first week back was to take it easy and assess what shape I'm in. Bike wise - did a hard 25 on Tuesday and club TT on Thursday. Managed to uncork a 27.50 on the TT which was a fair bit faster than I expected when I was sitting on a beach in Jamaica stuffing in ice cream and drinking Red Stripe! In pretty good shape by the looks of it but that TT felt a LONG way and don't think I could have gone nearly as well over a 25. Bike wise plan is to keep up the tempo rides and get some nice easy long base rides in to get me in good condition for end of Sep.

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...