The Road Less Traveled: IM 2012

Ooh had a lovely swim tonight. Coached swim session. Which now starts with a ten minute core session on the deck. I knew this was going to be a fun set when the warm up was a short 4 x 25 one arm. Oh boy was I right. The rest of the set for me was 21 x 100 off 2.20. (tho it turned into 2.25 when I was getting hardly any break). But at least I got the set finished before the end and I did work my arse off. I know I probably need to push it more and earn a decent break but when you tire you tire and what can you do? Hopefully he will do something similar again before the end of the pool sessions so I can see how I do.

100 sd brought it to 2300 so I am a happy barbie* tonight.

*don't ask..

The reason mattel don't do a triathlon barbie is because she would have to come with about five grands worth of kit.

Third turbo session of the week. My legs really feel it on Thursdays. 60 mins z2. All I can say is I'm glad thats done.

Had a good swim this morning. Started off sluggish, my arms ached and everything felt tired. But told myself I just needed to warm up and cranked out a pretty steady 1k. By that time the coach had turned up and was getting everyone to do a timed 1500. I start early and have to leave early so did a timed 750 instead. The tt felt surprisingly good. I know I'm not going to be in line for epic times at the moment but 21 seconds faster than November I will take. Coach reckons its coming good and with a bit more work on sprinting my times will fall considerably, because the stroke itself is pretty ok. Just need power! A swim down brought me in at 1950 which considering I spent a good while chatting, is not so bad.

This morning got another hours running done. 11k. It was a little faster than normal, about 2 mins better than last time. My legs were tired, just the muscles feel it, but generally I feel stronger and am not fatigued in myself.

I also had a mad sprint later this morning after my puppy when he got loose. Fecker ran down the road me going screaming mad after him for about 1k. Idiot dog. So thats my sprinting done for the day, too. The dog is fine btw. Currently, he is eating my shoes.

This week is going well so far, just two hours left to do of my 11. My times for each discipline are a bit screwed up still, and I dont know if Ill get a long bike done, but its not too bad, I'm hitting the general targets.


Some musings....

So, tomorrow will bring me to the end of week 10, and the end of the base phase. Some observations as I finish up the first part of the plan:

I haven't noticed any extra strain from the increase in training.
I feel more energetic than before I started this plan.
The training so far has fit pretty seamlessly into my life.
I love base work.
I love working to a structured training schedule, it makes a hell of a difference.
I have huge concerns about my bike ability, having not ridden outdoors in months, or done a long ride.
I really want to increase my swim distance to over 3k just to satisfy myself I can do it.
Speed in any discipline has been elusive. I have to remind myself this is about endurance, first.
I am losing sight of 'normal life'. This level of training is normal. People who don't do it are the strange ones.
I'm getting mentally tougher, which is a nice side effect.

tl;dr?
10 weeks in, its all going well.

ffs. give it up on Barbie please. Seriously. Do I look like I wear pink?

edit @ dpop. I hold you responsible, you started this....

Swim session. Pretty much the same drill set as last Monday but with 700m paddles and a 500m hard swim at the end. 2500m altogether. Am getting a cold and could feel it so stopped at that point.

You were third on my list, RQ. Poor dpop didnt feature at all.

Me and the rest of the sad/unromantic gits went to the swim tonight. About half didn't show, I presume because they have love lives. Or just lives. I probably shouldn't have bothered. This cold is mild enough but still has left me tired and listless. I struggled with the set and had the coach chastise me for coming to training tired. (I'm to park my other training so the swim is good, apparently.) Managed 4 x 25 lateral kick. 4 x 25 one arm. 4 x 25 fc. 100 easy. 12 x 50 paddles and pull. 6 x 100 off 2.30 (meant to be 10 off 2.15 but I hadn't it in me.) swim down with fins. 1800m in total. Poor show but for once am not frustrated. Its just an off day. Plenty of time to have good hard days.

My hubby isn't even home tonight. but I'll bear your tips in mind. Love beer is so cute. Ya auld romantic.

Aw I feel like I just been hugged

quid pro quo dory!

Sometimes, I hate my 'friends' in the tri club. Today for the swim they had the dive blocks up and everyone was having a go at a dive and sprint. Everyone except me, that is. Apart from the fact that I can't dive, when I mix any kind of height with any kind of water I turn into a whimpering child. I can't explain it and it fks me up. Its the reason I had to go back and do winter tough guy THREE times. To complete the 'death plunge'. My darling clubmates would not leave me alone though until I at least climbed the platform. Which I did, and jumped off. Problem is, now that I know this thing has bested me AGAIN, I've now got to learn to dive off the blocks. Damn you swim coach! In other news, even with all the cajoling and interruptions, I got over 2k done. My mojo is coming back. If only I could say the same about my nerve when it comes to diving!