Back in it. Two runs on new treadmill in past two days. Starting slow and short.
About 3.5k yesterday; 4k today.
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
TRIATHLON
10 days ago I swam/biked/ran my first triathlon.
It was hard. It was brilliant. And it won't be the only one I do. I am hooked.
Recovering from a full marathon was more difficult. But while it is difficult to compare training for the two events, it is similar in this respect: that it requires a priority above all else in your day-to-day life. The difference in my training experiences was that the marathon commanded respect (it was my first major event and I was appropriately on edge) while the triathlon, though taken seriously, was fit into my life and not the other way round. I did very well. I finished in 1:33:00. But I would consider, in hindsight, my training schedule to have been on the light side; a minimum standard.
Swim training was zen-like. The swim at the event was a war. The last 250 meters and I was in full battle mode, swimming hard and working at positioning myself for the finish. The finish was much more exhausting than I had ever imagined. I couldn't run to my bike; I stumbled.
The bike was good. I purposely held back on the flats, saving myself for the run. I did very well on the hill. On the second lap I passed a lot of people on the top bit of the hill motivated by how well I was feeling and the support I was given by Derek and Dad. Good move Dezza. Your support was amazing and its effect immeasurable.
The run hurt. Coming out of T2 my HR was sky-high and I had to walk a fair bit for the first 1.5k. However, I finished very strong. I ran the last 500 metres and felt good.
It was hard. It was brilliant. And it won't be the only one I do. I am hooked.
Recovering from a full marathon was more difficult. But while it is difficult to compare training for the two events, it is similar in this respect: that it requires a priority above all else in your day-to-day life. The difference in my training experiences was that the marathon commanded respect (it was my first major event and I was appropriately on edge) while the triathlon, though taken seriously, was fit into my life and not the other way round. I did very well. I finished in 1:33:00. But I would consider, in hindsight, my training schedule to have been on the light side; a minimum standard.
Swim training was zen-like. The swim at the event was a war. The last 250 meters and I was in full battle mode, swimming hard and working at positioning myself for the finish. The finish was much more exhausting than I had ever imagined. I couldn't run to my bike; I stumbled.
The bike was good. I purposely held back on the flats, saving myself for the run. I did very well on the hill. On the second lap I passed a lot of people on the top bit of the hill motivated by how well I was feeling and the support I was given by Derek and Dad. Good move Dezza. Your support was amazing and its effect immeasurable.
The run hurt. Coming out of T2 my HR was sky-high and I had to walk a fair bit for the first 1.5k. However, I finished very strong. I ran the last 500 metres and felt good.
Friday, 7 August 2009
tick tock
4k, 24:03min evening run fueled by a noon sushi feed.
Perfect 6:00min/k pace pre-race. After the 2k HR spike (warm-up), it felt like I was hardly breathing. Felt like I could have done 14k.
Taped knee was throbbing every 20 seconds or so but nothing I can't manage.
Remember to keep hips forward and raised.
My body is ready. Appropriate nervousness is manifest.
- bike adjustment tomorrow morning
- transition briefing in afternoon
- short bike ride on course
- assemble kit
- chill out
Perfect 6:00min/k pace pre-race. After the 2k HR spike (warm-up), it felt like I was hardly breathing. Felt like I could have done 14k.
Taped knee was throbbing every 20 seconds or so but nothing I can't manage.
Remember to keep hips forward and raised.
My body is ready. Appropriate nervousness is manifest.
- bike adjustment tomorrow morning
- transition briefing in afternoon
- short bike ride on course
- assemble kit
- chill out
Thursday, 6 August 2009
open water Zen swim
6pm. Overcast. Lake Chaparral smooth and cool.
Got HR up a tad with breathing and a few calisthenics. Started slow, breathing every other stroke.
Within 200-300 meters I was in sync, bilateral breathing, sighting rhythmically. What a difference from my first open water swim. It was fantastic. I turned the corner and swam approx 400m straight, fast, bilateral breathing the whole way. Sighting every 4th breath.
Getting out of the water is somewhat disorientating. Need to keep this slow. No speed records here.
Also, must start slow! Don't rush the bilateral pattern (but don't delay it either or the breathing patterns raises HR too high).
Bring it on, baby. I'm ready.
Got HR up a tad with breathing and a few calisthenics. Started slow, breathing every other stroke.
Within 200-300 meters I was in sync, bilateral breathing, sighting rhythmically. What a difference from my first open water swim. It was fantastic. I turned the corner and swam approx 400m straight, fast, bilateral breathing the whole way. Sighting every 4th breath.
Getting out of the water is somewhat disorientating. Need to keep this slow. No speed records here.
Also, must start slow! Don't rush the bilateral pattern (but don't delay it either or the breathing patterns raises HR too high).
Bring it on, baby. I'm ready.
T2
Came home yesterday and slammed a lamb roast and yam into the oven, set up my T2 on a towel in the back entrance and took off on the bike into a drizzle that was threatening rain. The threat was real and I was wet and frozen by the first km. Running in the rain is great. Biking? . . . not so much.
Slipped feet out of bike shoes and rode into my T2 on top of shoes. Like this move.
DON'T FORGET TO TAKE HELMET OFF.
Found myself running out of T2 -- need to slow down. Got into rhythm quite well.
Slipped feet out of bike shoes and rode into my T2 on top of shoes. Like this move.
DON'T FORGET TO TAKE HELMET OFF.
Found myself running out of T2 -- need to slow down. Got into rhythm quite well.
liking the rain
A couple days after the daunting run in the daunting heat, I went out into the overcast, wet, cool evening and snapped off 5k. What a difference!
Was hardly breathing at the 2.5k mark. Also, did it without tape and knee felt moderately strong.
Was hardly breathing at the 2.5k mark. Also, did it without tape and knee felt moderately strong.
Sunday, 2 August 2009
like a virgin
It left something to be desired, but still wasn't as bad as what it could have been nor as that of which I have read and heard.
Today's first open water swim was not as much daunting as it was vexing. To be sure, the dark, black hole (dark, murky green actually) is a stark contrast to the clean, clear water of a pool with well defined lane-lines pleasantly guiding one's way. But that stressor aside, it was the need and the act of sighting that kept throwing me off. Even as I tried to settle down into a rhythm, the added burden of having to look up and find the line kept me discomposed, agitated and in an escalated state.
In the last 300 meters or so, I was starting to become more relaxed. (note to self: Slow Down!)
The large lake clubhouse provided an easy marker, I was finally warmed up and I was in the middle of the lake away from the distractions of the shore. Even swimming through some mid-lake seaweed wasn't much of an issue.
A definite plus is the suit. If fits. Glad I had good advice and stuck to it. And I am much faster in the suit which will helpfully make up for all the breaks that I apparently need.
Today's first open water swim was not as much daunting as it was vexing. To be sure, the dark, black hole (dark, murky green actually) is a stark contrast to the clean, clear water of a pool with well defined lane-lines pleasantly guiding one's way. But that stressor aside, it was the need and the act of sighting that kept throwing me off. Even as I tried to settle down into a rhythm, the added burden of having to look up and find the line kept me discomposed, agitated and in an escalated state.
In the last 300 meters or so, I was starting to become more relaxed. (note to self: Slow Down!)
The large lake clubhouse provided an easy marker, I was finally warmed up and I was in the middle of the lake away from the distractions of the shore. Even swimming through some mid-lake seaweed wasn't much of an issue.
A definite plus is the suit. If fits. Glad I had good advice and stuck to it. And I am much faster in the suit which will helpfully make up for all the breaks that I apparently need.
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