This morning was a continuous 3k swim. It was all about getting the pace right and keeping my mind focused on the task. I decided to break it down into 3 x 20 lengths as keeping count can be difficult. This boosts my confidence for 2 weeks time but I need to get in the open water now to get used to the conditions and the different technique. This also includes getting out of the wetsuit in quick time as wasting an extra minute is 3 months work in the pool to reduce your time.
The weather is going to cool down over the weekend but I'm going out for a big bike ride on Saturday which will be my last before the event. I will continue with normal training for a week (without big sessions) before starting my tapering the week before the event.
Fingers and toes crossed for Neil on Sunday. He's come a long way now it's just a question of sticking to his "game plan".
Friday, 3 June 2011
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Neil's progress
12 months ago Neil was battling his second bout of cancer and wasn't winning at that stage. However he came through and has been training for his FIRST triathlon on Sunday. Tonight I met Neil to go cycling as he was struggling with the gears on the bike. We sorted that out and went for a short cycle over an undulating course where he did well. We discussed his plan for Sunday and I will meet him before his triathlon starts just to make sure he is comfortable. One of the key messages will be about the mental side. You shouldn't think about the full event, you need to break it down i.e. when swimming only think of the swim - don't start worrying about the bike or the run. Follow that through with the other two disciplines. He has raised a fantastic amount of money for "Friends of the Beatson" and when he reaches a dark moment in the race, and he will, this is what he must focus on. You have to know why your putting yourself through this pain. If there's no pain then he's going to slowly or has chosen too short a course!
Tomorrow morning I am swimming 3k in the pool and it's a tough task but if I pace myself correctly it will be achieved. It will be my last long swim before UK 70.3 IM and obviously it is longer than the 1.9k I will be swimming on the day. However it will be open water and I need some more practice in open water as it is quite different. I know I can do it I just need to get more comfortable in the open water before the event.
Tomorrow morning I am swimming 3k in the pool and it's a tough task but if I pace myself correctly it will be achieved. It will be my last long swim before UK 70.3 IM and obviously it is longer than the 1.9k I will be swimming on the day. However it will be open water and I need some more practice in open water as it is quite different. I know I can do it I just need to get more comfortable in the open water before the event.
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
Meeting Royalty!
Last night I attended a reception hosted by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Rothesay (Prince Charles wife!) at The Palace of Holyroodhouse as she is the President of Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres - the charity I have been raising money for over the last 3 years. What a fantastic reception, incredible building and HRH was very nice taking an interest in all the guests. I met a few very interesting people from politics and TV and have even persuaded one of them to take part in the Stirling Triathlon next year. You know me I can't resist the opportunity to convert someone into stretching their comfort zone - everyone benefits.
So if XYZ, you know who you are, are reading the blog then please follow through with your handshake. You said you would like to complete a triathlon and become a triathlete so remember the motto "a goal without a plan is just a wish". I'm here to help, support and motivate - even with your schedule it can be done and that's a promise.
Day off today so back training tomorrow with Neil as he makes his final preparation for his first (note I said first Neil) triathlon on Sunday. If you're in the Stirling area then please come along and offer a very brave man your support.
So if XYZ, you know who you are, are reading the blog then please follow through with your handshake. You said you would like to complete a triathlon and become a triathlete so remember the motto "a goal without a plan is just a wish". I'm here to help, support and motivate - even with your schedule it can be done and that's a promise.
Day off today so back training tomorrow with Neil as he makes his final preparation for his first (note I said first Neil) triathlon on Sunday. If you're in the Stirling area then please come along and offer a very brave man your support.
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Lonely swim
I don't normally swim on a Tuesday but as I can't tomorrow and we have a LONG CONTINUOUS swim coming up on Friday, 3k, I thought I'd better get the practice in. So I went to the pool and did a 300m warm up, 4 x 500m main set and a 200m warm down. There was only one other swimmer in the lane but as he was doing something different we didn't exactly get to chat. Swimming can be very anti-social that way and sometimes when doing a long session, the good swimmers have left by the time I finish!
But in 19 days time I will be swimming 1,900 m in open water followed by a 56 mile bike and a 13 mile run so I have to make sure I am used to swimming for a reasonable amount of time without a break. Day off training tomorrow and will get a bike session in on Thursday night and also catch up with Neil's final preparation.
Sunday is his big day and I am so impressed by the way he has done the majority of it on his own. He's raised £1,530 so far for his chosen charity Friends of the Beatson and his determination to complete his first triathlon is first class. No doubt there may be the odd beer afterwards but he'll have worked for it. I wonder what he'll attempt next?
But in 19 days time I will be swimming 1,900 m in open water followed by a 56 mile bike and a 13 mile run so I have to make sure I am used to swimming for a reasonable amount of time without a break. Day off training tomorrow and will get a bike session in on Thursday night and also catch up with Neil's final preparation.
Sunday is his big day and I am so impressed by the way he has done the majority of it on his own. He's raised £1,530 so far for his chosen charity Friends of the Beatson and his determination to complete his first triathlon is first class. No doubt there may be the odd beer afterwards but he'll have worked for it. I wonder what he'll attempt next?
Monday, 30 May 2011
What a difference a day makes!
7am in the pool for a good session - only 2,000m but testing enough to make me go home and have a couple of poached eggs on brown toast with coffee and then off for a 1 hour snooze. You have to get some recovery in when you can!
After lunch I went out with my daughter who was having her first ride on her new birthday bike. Now that was a pace I enjoyed. After 45 mins I went off on my own for a 20 mile time trial i.e. going as fast as you can. Difficult in the wind but not as bad as it was yesterday. I need more of these sessions to improve my speed but it was an added bonus getting in two good sessions today. I've got my mojo back!
After lunch I went out with my daughter who was having her first ride on her new birthday bike. Now that was a pace I enjoyed. After 45 mins I went off on my own for a 20 mile time trial i.e. going as fast as you can. Difficult in the wind but not as bad as it was yesterday. I need more of these sessions to improve my speed but it was an added bonus getting in two good sessions today. I've got my mojo back!
Sunday, 29 May 2011
Lacking motivation
The weather recently hasn't encouraged me out to swim (open water), bike (turned back early as almost got blown of yesterday) or run. So today I struggled to get out and watched the Grand Prix instead. But I had to do something so I went out for a 10k run just to "tick over". Within 20 metres I realised that cycling would have been a non starter and running was unbelievably difficult.
I met up with my friendly (not) Jack Russell but managed to jump the other side of a pick up truck to avoid being bitten - it almost got flattened as it was intent in having a slice of my ankle. One day it will meet its match.
I didn't feel motivated at all as I battled with a headwind that slowed me down to a snails pace. When it was behind me it was almost pushing me over. I'm behind with my schedule for 19 June but even when not feeling like it I still need to get out there and do something. People who seem to be motivated sometimes have periods where they have to work very hard to stay on target. I need to get a move on.
Neil's big challenge is next weekend and he has had very little input from me, which is a good thing. That means he has driven himself and his little infection scare has set back his training. However he has now had the all clear and will be sorting out his final preparations this week. If you can face up to and beat cancer, a triathlon is easy by comparison. It's just a question of belief which is the same for us all.
I met up with my friendly (not) Jack Russell but managed to jump the other side of a pick up truck to avoid being bitten - it almost got flattened as it was intent in having a slice of my ankle. One day it will meet its match.
I didn't feel motivated at all as I battled with a headwind that slowed me down to a snails pace. When it was behind me it was almost pushing me over. I'm behind with my schedule for 19 June but even when not feeling like it I still need to get out there and do something. People who seem to be motivated sometimes have periods where they have to work very hard to stay on target. I need to get a move on.
Neil's big challenge is next weekend and he has had very little input from me, which is a good thing. That means he has driven himself and his little infection scare has set back his training. However he has now had the all clear and will be sorting out his final preparations this week. If you can face up to and beat cancer, a triathlon is easy by comparison. It's just a question of belief which is the same for us all.
Saturday, 28 May 2011
Plan B
This morning TEAM SAM took part in "It's a knock-out" to raise money for St Andrews Hospice. We got exceptionally wet and covered in foam for anyone who remembers the game from the 70's. Unfortunately it was also cold and windy but we survived and came third!
So my training was put off to the afternoon. My plan was a 2.5 hour ride but I should have known what to expect when I wore my winter gear. Within 10 minutes of leaving a shower came through soaking me right through. The head wind was tough but when it turned to a cross wind it became dangerous - I was almost blown off the bike a number of times. But I decided to press on but then the storm clouds started to look really black and I headed home - plan B required. Plan B was bike handling skills and to forget the distance and speed which was a non starter due to the wind. The storm caught me on the way home and when the hailstones started I ended up with a facial - painful one at that! I arrived home to sun splitting the sky. Sometimes you have to alter course during life so having a plan B is essential. It needs to be meaningful and for me although I was disappointed to have turned back for safety reasons, I made the most of the time on the bike.
So my training was put off to the afternoon. My plan was a 2.5 hour ride but I should have known what to expect when I wore my winter gear. Within 10 minutes of leaving a shower came through soaking me right through. The head wind was tough but when it turned to a cross wind it became dangerous - I was almost blown off the bike a number of times. But I decided to press on but then the storm clouds started to look really black and I headed home - plan B required. Plan B was bike handling skills and to forget the distance and speed which was a non starter due to the wind. The storm caught me on the way home and when the hailstones started I ended up with a facial - painful one at that! I arrived home to sun splitting the sky. Sometimes you have to alter course during life so having a plan B is essential. It needs to be meaningful and for me although I was disappointed to have turned back for safety reasons, I made the most of the time on the bike.
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