Training Blog

snack_ie

Hey,

Basically I have been bashing about the idea of keeping a training diary online now for a while, and I have only just committed myself to the idea now. I have always kept a diary myself but I am tempted to experiment with posting up my goals, ambitions and training so far so to fully engage myself as recently I have been experiences some setbacks and hick-ups which I shall eventually overcome and achieve all my goals.

Although I am posting up my training, this is the part which I don’t particularly mind however I am not keen on people knowing who I am etc, as triathlon is such a small sport in Ireland. I will post up my past results and you could figure out who I am if you so wished but I doubt anyone will know who I am apart from maybe a small handful of people.

I am currently not based in Dublin though! At the moment I am studying at the University of Melbourne and shall be here till the end of June/start of July. I only just purchased a bike (just a basic training bike – shimano 105 etc) about 6 weeks ago so I have not really cycled apart from then, since July 2007. Despite being on exchange, and the lifestyle, which is generally associated with it aka drink drink drink, I did manage to keep up running and swimming last year till November when I went traveling. Unfortunately I broke a bone in my foot in 4 parts so I only started to swim at the end of February and run at the beginning of March after a two and two and a half month lay off from. Needless to say I am still not where I was last November, however I am getting there.

This blog will be kept initially over the next four weeks as I plan on trying to up my training over this period – basically for the whole month of April excluding 1st/2nd April as these days were a write off as I just got back from Western Australia. Training will of course depend on time commitments and restrictions to my university workload here.

I only properly started training on Monday 18/02/08 till Sunday 16/03/08 – this four week period and then went traveling over the next two weeks, 17/03-01/04, and I am commencing a new block tomorrow, Wednesday 02/04.

For my previous four week block my training was as follows:

Week 1: Swim – 19km Cycle – 295km Run – 0km Gym – x2 Total Time – 20.10hr

Week 2: Swim – 10.8km Cycle – 312km Run – 2km Gym - x2 Total Time – 18.15hr

Week 3: Swim – 15km Cycle – 170km Run – 6km Gym – x2 Total Time – 14.20hr

Week 4: Swim – 11.1km Cycle – 186km Run – 22km Gym - Total Time – 13.25hr

Average Time Training – 16.5hrs/wk

Anyway my plan for the next 4 week period is to make all of my key sessions.
Swim – With the University club at 6.30am, Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Possible session once a week with different masters club in 50m pool, plus swims by myself when free
Bike – 2 big sessions a week. 1: 100-120km, 2: 80-100km faster ride with Uni Club at a harder pace and try to 30min run after each.
Run – for the moment just work on aerobic stuff for first two weeks, 2 x 60mins runs, Sunday 90min run.
Gym – maybe one session a week.

My plan for next summer is - (if I am even at home – which I am still not sure if I am)


I have certain goals which I want to achieve however I am not yet ready to post them up as I want to wait and fully decide what I want to do first – just in case the sh1t hits the fan too, that I a have a safety net. They will soon follow.

I am going to fix this up tomorrow - ie the blanks - and update it regularly if anyone if curious to how I am going.

I also want to here people's advice whether constructive or not, all thoughts are appreciated.

snack_ie

Rightio,

Week One: 30th March

Monday - Nothing, travelling

Tuesday - Nothing, travelling

Wednesday - 2hr40min Weight- 70.7kg after Swim, 69.74kg after Run - there a scale in gym and i just like to use it for fun - ;-)
Swim -90min - with/UniMelb Club, only 2 people turned up, apparantly the rest are racing IMOZ this weekend so not really sure how many people are going to turn up in future.
WU: 600m, 4x100IM with 10r
M: 20x25 on 30s, 100m, 20x25 on 30s, 200m, 20 x 25 on 30s, 300m all continuous off the clock
Then practicing tumble turns, which I suck at!
CD: 400m easy fs/bc/bs
Has to be said I felt like crap this morning. Really hate swimming in the morning as its always an extra stuggle for me in the mornings.
Swim - 20min - Lunch Time - Doing nothing so swam 1000m
Run - 50min - run this morning, nothing special just plodding along

Thursday - 3hr50min
Bike - 3.30hrs, 3.16hr ride time and 87km. Not the greatest days as it was super windy and showers but good to get out.
Run - 20min, Straight after the bike ride.

Friday - 3hr50min Weight - 70.14kg
Swim - UniClub - 3500m, 90min

ike

Hey Snack, just to let you know that there is Fitness Logs forum located here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?forumid=839 at lot of people use it for keeping track of their progress. Perhps a mod can move it for you? Best of luck with your training!

snack_ie

ye i personally like it here as it may be of interest too people here, and they most likely will not look at it otherwise if its moved.
moderators may have a different opinion but that my two cents at least.

trinewbie

ANy updates snack?

Just noticed your weight - have you beefed up a wee bit with gym session since last year?...

snack_ie

Friday - 90min Weight - 70.14kg
Swim - UniClub - 3500m, 90min

Saturday Total - 4hr30m
Bike - 3hr50min, Ride Time: 3.32hr, 104km,
Have to cycle 10km accross Melbourne so kind of distorts the actual ride time and average speed.
Out cycling with UM Cycling Club. Was my best cycle so far or probably of all time on a road bike for me. Sat on the front for most of the 50km and shared the work back with a friend of mine into a nasty headwind. Really pushed it going out and lost most of the people by the turn around. Really happy with this effort and had nothing left in the tank by the end of it.
Run - 40min, 8km
Just easy run in evening, my running is so so sh1t... will improve though

Mega-tired this avro as result of cycling... just veged out as a result...

Sunday - 2hr30m
Swim - 3500m - Went out to the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre... Amazing pool and facility... Had the Commonwealth Games there in 06, and nicer than the Olympics pool in Sydney.
Anyway
WU: 1000m, FS w/last of 200 BS/BS
M: 4x200m kick FS/BC w/30sec rest
Pull and Paddles: 400m, 2x200m, 8x 50m with 100easy without them inbetween
CD: 200m maybe
Run - 45min, 9km tonight. Havnt done it yet but hopefully will sqeeze it in.

snack_ie

Weekly Total - 14.30hrs (5 days only)
Swim - 4.50hr, 11.5km
Bike - 7.20hr, 190km (does not include any commuting time/distances)
Run - 2.35hr, 31km

Its been a pretty good week all together training wise. My swimming still feels crap - not what it was like in November, aka a lot faster and felt a lot stronger in the water but at certain times I have felt that I have begun to get that feeling back again. Doing what I have to do on the cycling front. Going to start doing cycling sessions at UniGym and see what they are like inbetween classes so hoping to hit one tomorrow. Running is improving - it will take time but it'll get there.

On another note IMOZ is on today - or is finished for the pros - I was rooting for Mitch Anderson to win but unfortunately he finished behind Vernay once again. I think he's a bit of a legend being a full time doc while racing pro... impressive stuff plus hes wife should qualify for the olympics. He's also sound and really encouraging, if a little cocky or arrogant - swam with him a couple of times last year.
Anyway I thought of entering this last September and posted up on here about entering and some people said not to and some said to go ahead and do it (hunnymonster in particular). Anyway I really regret not doing it for my own reasons - basically had the whole summer to train for it, havnt really donee anything proper in australia till recently as a result and regret not entering, but on the otherhand I have got to travel instead which I probably would have not done as much if I entered... Anyway live and learn I guess.
Anyway time to get back to stupid assignments...
Also trying to sort out a job for next July-September, pain in the ass from here, so if anyone wants to employ me give me a holler...

More of the same stuff in store for next week I hope...:rolleyes:

snack_ie

Week Two - Monday 07 April 2008

Monday - Total - 2hr50min
Swim - MUSquad Session 90min 3500m
WU: 6x200, fs/pullx2/bc/bs/choice
Main: 400fs/4x100IM/400fs/4x100IM/400fs with 30sec rest
Cd: 300m easy
Brick:
Spinning Class: 45mins, first time doing this - I thought it was good though and thought that it would be useful for cycling training however might reconsider after reading the other article.
Run: Straight after spinning: 30mins, 6km
Bit of a stretch thrown in there too!

Tuesday - Total - 1hr40min
Brick:
Swim:2000m
WU: 200x5, fs/pull,bc,bs,k
M: 8x100m off 1.45 coming in between 1.28-1.38 - starting to feel good again in the water. A real confidence booster.
CD: 200 easy
20min Stretch
Run: Ran home from uni, 40min, 8km

Wednesday - Total - 2hr10min
Swim: MUSquad Session, 95 min 4300m in total today
WU: (150fs/150bc)x5 straight. Nice warm up i thought. flew by.
M: 4x200m off 3.15 (coming in 3.05 to 3.10)
8x100m IM on 2.15
CD: 400m easy
Really good session for me. Thought about not going and staying in bed. Think its a real turning point with the swimming and i am getting back to where i was - hopefully i can improve by moree though!!!
Lunch Time: 15min swim, doing nothing else, 750m
Run: 20min run, 15min run, x2 runs doing varied errands.

Thursday - Total - 3hr15min
Bike - 3.15hr, maybe 3.05 ride time to be exact... 90km... Good ride overall. Rode pretty flat out the whole way back and went for a spin around the Formula One track after - amazing how different it look now compared to 3 weeks ago. Barely notice it at all.

snack_ie

Friday - 2hr20min
Swim - MUS session - 3700m
WU: 400fs, 200bc, 200pull, 4x100drill (left,right,k,swim)
Main: 10x25 on 30s, 10 x 50 (25bf/25bc) on 75, 400fs, 10x25 on 30s, 800fs
CD: 200
Run - Probably the first decent run I have had since last December running down the beach at Surfer's Paradise. Was nice.

Saturday - 2.30hr
Bike - 2.30hr, 73km w/club

Sunday - 2.45hr
Bike - 2.45hr, 71km
Was supposed to be running but no time for that!

Weekly Total: 17.10hrs
Swim: 5hr, 13.5km
Bike: 9.15hr, 234km, inc 1 spinning
Run: 2.35hr, 31km
Happy enough with the week. Was abit tired on Friday night/Saturday morning but pushed through. Got to big assignment completed which was real good. Key though is next week cause want to go to all my major sessions but also want to start studying - something which I find real difficult to combine both together without one or the other suffer.
Swim: M/W/F, Bike: T/T/S/S-Possible Criterium race, could be fun, Run: M 60,Th 60, Su 90

snack_ie

Week Three - Monday 14 April 2008

Monday - 1hr 30min
Swim - MUS Session - 4100m
Really really good session - so much fun and felt real good
WU - 4x150m, fs/bc/k/c
Main - 25fly, 50bc, 100drill left/right/k/fs, 100fs
10x100m off 1.45
25fly, 50bc, 100drill left/right/k/fs, 100fs
8x200m off 3.45
CD- 350m

Tuesday - 3hr45min
Brick Session
Bike - 2hr 45min - Some hill sprints, was abit of a ****ty day and ****ty hill, wasnt the best but just went looking for some hills in and around the city followed by easy spin. 60km in 2.30 ride time or so
Run - 60min easy. Managed to fall and cut open my knee when off trail. Opps.
Felt real good on run... not much speed but not at all tired. speed will come.

Entered some races too.
Dublin Duathlon 4...
Half-Ireman...
Will enter some more soon.
Got a crit race this Sunday and 15km road race next Sunday.

snack_ie

Wednesday - 2hrs
Swim - MUS - 3600m
wu - 2x200fs/bc pull, 4x100m, 8x50m (breathing every 5th breath, or at least trying to)
main - 3(300/250/200), 2(200/150/100)
Felt pretty ****ty.
Run - 30mins
Pretty pathetic alright. Shins (just left one) were giving me trouble like they have been in the past. Just feels really really weak, and uncomfortable to run on.

Thursday - 2hrs30min
Bike - Just out with a few guys. Handy enough. Coffee and the likes. 70km (2.20h, 30kmh)

Friday - 1hr30min
Swim - MUS - 3400.
wu - 300bc/300fs/300bc
main - 400 3x100 fs/bc/IM, 300 2x100 bcpull/br, 200 1x100IM, 300 2x100 bcpull, 400
Run - 60mins, Felt fricking great for once!!!

*** Yeah, thanks for the advice. I shall try and incorporate more feedback from myself on how I feel in future.***

tunney

A quick comment - its often more important to blog how you feel rather than what you did. Just blogging what you do doesn't allow for any feedback. How you feel during sessions and during the week in general speaks volumes.

I blogged that sort of stuff on the first Rookies Diaries on TI site years ago and the feedback and help I got from the the old hands was fantastic.

snack_ie

Following on from Tunney's comments I am going to try and adjust my 'blog' to more how I am feeling etc... how things are going and shaping up, in hope that I may get some more useful feedback. I would be interested thought to here from people though whether they post it up or pm me privately on things or areas they think maybe I could improve on, type of workouts I am doing now, altering them, over-training etc.
Any feedback? Enough people look at it?

Saturday - 2hr30min
Bike - 70km, Took it handy enough going out and hammered it as hard as I could coming back. Felt really really good, caught and dropped so many people who tryed to sit on my back wheel over a 20km stretch of road, felt great and a real confidence booster.

Sunday - 1hr20min
Run - First long run. Not much to report. Just plodding along at a easy enough pace.

Weekly Totals:
Swim - 4hr30, 11.1km
Bike - 7.45hr, 200km
Run - 3hr50, 47km
16hrs05mins this week.
Really happy with this week as I have managed to do everything which I set out to do at the start of the week. Next week though I am going to try and start doing more speed work (so probably some 2km/1km efforts on the track). Also want to do a 750/1500m tt in pool. Its a bank holiday weekend to and I have a 4 day weekend so I want to get at least one long bike ride it (120km at least). Probably try get a lot of work done too on the uni side of things.

snack_ie

Week Four - Monday 20th April
Weekly Totals:
Swim - 6.1km, 2hr25min
Bike - 170km, 6hr
Run - 3hr50min, 42km
Total: 12hr15min

I dont know how to really rate this week. On one hand I didnt get what I wanted done, but on the other hand, considering how little motivation I had at times and how much work I had to do its a pretty good week - but I guess this happens as training tends to go through cycles. Anyway I have 4 days left of training before I take a complete break in training, due to going away for weekend, but also to recuperate and reflect on how things thus far have gone. 12hrs was like the most I ever did last year anyway and now I feel abit dissappointed with it so its still good.

All things considered I am not really happy with where I am right now but to be honest I am in a considerably better position overall probably than I was this time last year... on different fronts...
Swimming - Still dont think I should be as good as I should be and this is mainly due to the fact that I am swimming by myself and cant find the time to do as much as I would like to - at one stage last year I was swimming 20km/week. I have started swimming with club but its off season for most people so no ones around, and everyone that is, is worse than me so there is no one to push me.
I did a tt of 750m during the week and was really dissappointed with the time (12.20), although the only consolation is that i did feel sh1t before hand and really weak in the water so didnt worry about it too much - I can/have gone a lot faster than this before.
Biking - pretty happy with this considering I have been averaging over 200km a week since February when I first started cycling. Considering last year I never ever cycled apart from a bit of mountain biking, and borrowed my friend's bike for the only two triathlons I did. And still did good all things considering.
Running - Not as good as it was this time last year. I have the base I think, or general fitness but not the speed but again I have no one to push on those hard intervals... need to and will do more harder runs from now on.
Booked my flight home too! Not really a good thing though. I fly out of here on 29th June and back in Ireland on 30th June and have to start work the next day at 9am after taking the longest fricking way home - melb-auckland-LA-london-dublin... whohoo

snack_ie

April Totals:
Swim: 50.9km
Bike: 794km
Run: 171km
Total Hours: 65hrs 10mins
Pretty happy with April. Put in some hard work but it was all really really enjoyable - I can honestly say I did not 'not enjoy' any of my training - which is good and obvious, otherwise I wouldn't be in this game, but sometimes its hard to remember why you do this as its so f***ing all consuming - i find you tend to get wrapped up abit in it and sometimes you have to remember why you do it!! Why you go out cycling for 4 hrs whether its freezing cold or 40 degrees (both of which I have done in the last 2 months). Basically because I love it and I dont really care how I do in any race once, firstly I enjoy it and secondly I can honestly say that I have given 100% - without these two I dont want to do this sport... I also know that this is the sport which I want to do for the next 10-15 years and see how good I can get. I have taken time off and farted about this year, travelled to places most others have never been or imagined, been injured for 2 months leaving me sitting on my ass, had the most amazing experiences but after all that I have this longing to be the best I can be and that I owe this to myself to presue... Enough of me being profound. Back to stupid slope stability problems. Who cares?

snack_ie

Week Five - Monday 28th May

Monday - 1hr55min
Swim - and lots of it, 5km, not all at once though

Tuesday - 1hr15min
Swim & Run - Swim 1000m, and then run was 15min warm up, 10min static stretching, 10 x 400m on track off 3min (times were 1.15-1.20) averaging 1.18's. B1tch doing it by yourself. Was nearly ready to throw in the towel after about 2 but presevered.

Wednesday - 2hr20min
Swim - 2700m
Run - 60mins easy, not much to report

Thursday - 1hr10min
Stinker of a day so no cycling today.
Swim - 3200m - wu (150fs/150bk x 3 w/2nd w/pull) 100bs, 5 x 200 paddles n pull off 3.30, 1000m kick, 200 cd

Friday - 1hr20min so far
Swim - 3000m. Felt great today - kind of - was moving really well in water considering swam at 8pm last night and 6.30am this morning. (150bk, 250br, 350fs w/pull, x2), bit of tumble turn practice. starting to get the hang of it (a bit!), 5 x 200m off 3.20 and 2 x 100 sprints
Run - maybe but its crappy weather n real cold do who knows...

snack_ie

Week Five - Monday 28th April

Monday - 1hr55min
Swim - and lots of it, 5km, not all at once though

Tuesday - 1hr15min
Swim & Run - Swim 1000m, and then run was 15min warm up, 10min static stretching, 10 x 400m on track off 3min (times were 1.15-1.20) averaging 1.18's. B1tch doing it by yourself. Was nearly ready to throw in the towel after about 2 but presevered.

Wednesday - 2hr20min
Swim - 2700m
Run - 60mins easy, not much to report

Thursday - 1hr10min
Stinker of a day so no cycling today.
Swim - 3200m - wu (150fs/150bk x 3 w/2nd w/pull) 100bs, 5 x 200 paddles n pull off 3.30, 1000m kick, 200 cd...
Mostly ridiculous sport ever was being played in the pool tonight - under water hockey - wtf - so so weird.

Friday - 1hr20min so far
Swim - 3000m. Felt great today - kind of - was moving really well in water considering swam at 8pm last night and 6.30am this morning. (150bk, 250br, 350fs w/pull, x2), bit of tumble turn practice. starting to get the hang of it (a bit!), 5 x 200m off 3.20 and 2 x 100 sprints
Run - maybe but its crappy weather n real cold do who knows...
Stuck my bike on ebay too... hope i can shift it as I want to pick up a new toy while I am here as much cheaper than joke prices at home in shops...

snack_ie

Saturday & Sunday...
Saturday was a 90km cycles. Was kind of easy heading out with a few good sprints... and then last 20km coming back was racing however got dropped half way back by two guys but dropped the others so no shame there - there both B/A grade riders though, and one of them is a Dutch guy who has been smashing everyone in his races. Really really love cycling more than anything else...
Pity I sold my bike today though! May have new steed by next Sat though, maybe...
Long run...

Weekly Totals
Swim - 15.8km, swimming is good at the moment,
Bike - 90km, cycling is good at the moment,
Run - 47km, running is getting quicker,
Sum of these =
But next few weeks will be tough cause college is killing me at the moment with work and projects...:mad: 13.45hr this week

snack_ie

Week Six - Monday 5th May '08

Bit of a shocker this week in terms of everything - training, focus, nutrition, drinking... I never set out any objectives or what I wanted to achieve and as a result did nothing... not too worry though... Sold my bike though, but havnt decided what to do about getting a new one... Soon though, soon...
Anyway... swimming was around 10km, cycling, just the one spinning session and running 43km... not great all in all but thats the way thinks will be going from now on... have so much work to do and so little time that something is going to have to give...

snack_ie

Week 7 - Monday 11th May 2008
The week that was...

This week was an excellent week. Alot of good work done on all fronts. I also decided to take the plunge ang buy a new bike. A pretty sexy carbon giant trinity kitted out nicely with dura ace & ultegra, with spinergy wheels, secondhand from a guy I know who qualified for Kona on it in IMWA, and its in mint condition! I am pretty happy with it now, considering it only cost 1500. A real steal it was. Now all I have to do is learn how to ride fast... but that'll fall into place... I can ride ok though... I never did any last year and I was still only a couple of minutes behind others in my club, and i road a piece of sh1t too - my plan is too spend the whole of July cycling once I get home (and buy a road bike too, then a mtb)

Monday
Swim - 90mins, 3500m - Really good swim - Main set was 2400m, and was very quick so pretty happy!
Run - 30mins at lunch

Tuesday
Swim - 45min, 2000, lot of kick w/fins
Bike - 45min, spinning

Wednesday
Swim - 85min, 3000 - another happy session
Run - 45mins at lunch

Thursday
No time for anything

Friday
Bike - 2.45hr, out on the new stead... just have to name... was sweet as
Run - 45mins at lunch

Saturday - What a sh1t day... rained all day
Swim - 60mins, 2500m

Sunday
Bike - 115km, about 3.45hrs - Really good cycle, out with a dutch mate of mine who is a beast (only on the bike, not an actual beast:D)... really good cycle though, very windy, was raining in morning so just happy to get out and ride. Just ate the whole house now...
Was supposed to make this into a brick but really was too hungry by the time I got home, and was stuck for time too.

All and all a decent work, considering I have a sh1t load of work to do - I just cant wait till I get home and can spend most of my time outside of work training... looking forward to it...

Swim - 4h40min - 11km
Bike - 7h30min - 205km
Run - 2h - 24km (Not not not nearly enough!)

Plan for next is just to try and keep up the training if I can, with a bit more running and maybe less swimming...

Plan for this summer...
June... no training... exams... boo
July... train like crazy...
Races...
July 19 - Beast of East (Train through, and give it a bash, should be good)
August - Dublin Duathlon
August - Pulse/Mourne/Lough Neagh
August 24 - Dublin (A race)
September 13 - HIM (A race)
Then as many aquathons and IMRA races as I can fit in as they are the only fricking races with value for money... triathlon is not student friendly sport

snack_ie

Midweek - Synopsis...

Just a little taster for some of my groupies out there

Monday
Run - 30mins easy, 6km

Tuesday
Swim - Lunch time, 30mins, 1500m
Spinning Class - 45min, not really feeling it today, about 6/10 for effort
Run - Brick session with swimming, 45mins, 9km w/3 x 1 mile reps. Pretty happly w/times

Wednesday
Swim - 3200m, 85mins - main set - 50 on 60s, 100 on 2m, 150 on 3m, 200 on 4 then 500 tt (not really happy with the time, but i felt like 'somers' (insiders joke) so all things considering it wasnt too bad, then reverse with pull
Run - 45mins, 9km

Thursday
Bike - 3.15hrs, 86km, so so so cold. My feet for still numb when I got home for the run. Nice day, no wind and 15 effort in tt position.
Run - Brick session, 30mins, absolutely no motivation to do this but presevered, really hungry throughout...

snack_ie

Friday
Bike - 2hr45min

Saturday
Very hungover... 25min Swim did not help

Sunday
1hr 40min run... really good... felt strong... all on concrete too cause wanted to test the legs out... hoping to do well in Dublin mararthon and running on concrete for 13+miles is not my thing (or at least it hasnt been in the past, the last time I decided that I would do a marathon with no training = lots of fun)... Plus i have a bit of sibling/friend rivalries to settle the score...

Weekly Totals:
Swim - 5.8km, 2h20m
Bike - 185km, 6h45m
Run - 50km, 4h10m
Total 13h15min

Week WhatEver - Monday 26th May 2008

Not much happening this week... With exams around the corner and a sh1t load of work to do not much time for any training... Trying not to eat **** food as I tend to find myself doing when you are in library till 12/1am... nothing but the fricking vending machine (already munched down to Boost bars tonight!) Not good

Monday
Swim - 2000m, 45min: Main: 5x200m pull and paddles off 3.15, 2,50-3.00min mark... and some other stuff

Tuesday
Spinning Class 45min

ozchick

Hi there Ni..um I mean Snack!! Shame you sold your bike, I was going to say have a ride on Beach Road for me...never mind, go have a run on the Yarra Trails for me instead. I'm looking forward to a visit back there in September and hopefully have a ride or two. Hope the wintery weather isn't too bad.
Guess who??

Keep up the good work, by the way. Those 50m pools are wonderful, aren't they - especially MSAC. Swimming in a 20m here, I'm getting giddy!

snack_ie

HaHa...
I only sold my bike... for a new one!
Funny that you mention Beach road as I am heading out to Mount Ilisa now! And yes I shall miss the capital city trail/and all those trails around the yarra -so good for long runs...
A friend of mine works in tempelogue swimming pool as lifeguard and they promised me that I shall never have to pay as long as they are there. And they work every morning... haha
Right I better get out the door. my bike wont ride itself unfortunately

snack_ie

Contination of the previous week

Wednesday
Run - 60mins: 30mins fast/3x3min flat out w/7min easy
Swim - 10mins easy cd

Thursday
Swim - 60mins; 500wu, 5x200 off 3.30, 500k, 500paddles
Run - 45mins

Friday
Bike - 3hr45min, 100km, felt great

Saturday
Bike - 2hr45min, 70km, slight hangover but still pushed it at times.

Sunday
Run - The usual long run, 1hr30min easy, 18km or so

Totals
Swim - 5km
Bike - 190km
Run - 41km
12hr25min

Decent week, just trying to squeeze sessions in here and there.

WEEK - Monday 2nd June 2008 - SwotVac - How Bent

It was scary how fast some of those Tri-Athy times were! :eek:! Rarring to get back into it once I get home. Not that ill be quite at that end of the field, with that company.

Monday
Swim - 60mins, 2500m in the local 50m pool, amazing day, felt great!

snack_ie

Continuation of the week before...

Tuesday
Swim - Lunch time swim, about 35mins nothing spectacular....1500m

Evening -
Spinning class - 45min - Really pushed it... 9/10 for effort (I dont give 10s hehe!)... Yeah was good... man do you sweat on those things
Run - 35mins w/8min easy and 2min flat out x3

Wednesday
Bike - 2.45hrs, 70km with some harder efforts thrown in... racing is fun

Thursday
Run - 75min - Was feeling pretty ****ty going out the door and continued to do so for most of the run... 3 x 3min flat out/7min easy starting at 30mins into run... Very stiff and tired after this. Me thinks that I should prehaps take stretching seriously.

Friday
Bike - 2.45hr, Easy ride, 70km

Saturday
Run - 75min, easy aerobic run with a friends... nothing special... but still very tired toward the end and after...

Sunday
Swim - 60min - 2600m - Bit of everything thrown in there, kick, pull, paddles, fly, back, sprints, justing swimming with a friends nothing serious

Apart from that nothing else but the head in the books unfortunately:rolleyes:

Weekly Totals:
Swim: 2.35hrs 6.5km
Bike: 6.15hrs 160km
Run: 3.05hrs 38km
Total: 11.55hrs

New Week - And a Race for a Change To Start off...

Ok so its the Queens birthday or something today and its a Bank Holiday here, although everyday starts to merge together when you are just studying and its hard to distinguish one day from another...

Anyway the plan was to do a duathlon here today - 5km/20km/5km -

Funnily enough I was thinking that on my ride out this race was starting to look a lot like second ever triathlon back in '06 when I did Camlough... let me explain a little (in brief)

Ok so, couldnt get a lift up there so hopped on the bus up to Newry (firstly the bus driver was not one bit impressed with me throwing my bike on the bus and I wasnt sure I was even going to make it there in the first place)... for some reason there was a ridiculous amount of people heading up there and they had to have to buses... and buses being buses they took fricking ages getting another one out...

Anyway I took the bus up to Newry and didnt get into there till like 1pm or so (race starts at two). I had no idea where the hell Camlough was, the only thing I saw was a sign for it from the bus going into Newry at some round about... So once I got into Newry I pegged it off on my bike with all my crap in a rucksack, and went off in the direction which I thought Camlough was and got there at about 1.30pm (its a pretty fricking hilly cycle to Camlough to which didnt help matters to for anyone who too has also cycled there before the race. no one i am guessing... )

Anyway had eaten no food so scoffed a roll which I had bought in the shop there... perfect nutrition... that sorted

Race goes ok anyways (just doing it for the craic as you can guess from my organisation) ... but... of course though I had ever swam in open water, (and yes it was my first time swimming in a wetsuit to just to compound matters)... was a slight shock to the system...
Think I did it in like 1.14hrs or so...
Then off I go, cycle back to Newry, hop on the bus and cycle home

Anyway my race today was kind of similar (at least when I got lost in Port Melbourne and had absolutely no idea where I was and rock up 15mins before the race starts)

Ok so I found out about this race from triathlon forum here and I thought that I would enter it, as I thought it would give me a reasonable idea of where my fitness was at...
It was the first race of the the series and dissappointingly only had about 100competitors. I thought that there might be more. (its Australia for Christ Sake... they have a summer sprint series in Melbourne which is limited to 2500people and it sells out in like a day or something (even had its own elite drafting race its that serious))

No worries, pay your $40 to race (just as steep as it is at home unfortunately) and off I go...
Get my crap sorted...
I was also thinking about Camlough (as it was on Saturday) - its also been 367 day since my last triathlon or duathlon... how very very bad... and never practice transitions since then (well i never did to be honest). I never 'ghostied' my new bike last night when I was trying to master the trick of leaving my shoes clipped in and doing it like a seasoned pro... that'll have to wait till I get home I guess

Anyway - After getting lost cycling accross the city (its a 20km cycle out to the race)... and having to floor it for the last 15mins just to get there on time... I was ready to go... that was my warm up...
(I should also mention that at one stage in my trip out there - I had to hop off my bike - hop over a fence and run accross 2 sets of railway lines in my bike shoes and holding a tt bike over my shoulder... how ridiculous was that)

So ok I had no plan... so my plan was to gun it from the start... which I did..
I was in fourth place after 2.5km off the run (guys infront were the real deal too)... then I got a stitch and I swear to god I thought about stopping for a while it was that painful... not funny... I can just think what my mate Somers is thinking... anyway I wasnt trying to be stupid charging out on the run (running is my thing, I am good at it, I am not just a thin f**k for nothing)... so not sure what happened there but got realed in by a few others on the way back ... so my first run was shocking... dont know what was up but i was panting like mad and making some horrible noises... my engine did not sound too good.
I had this problem too in Camlough last year when I got off the bike... was thinking the exact same thing...
I dont really know what it was (and I dont really care), but sometimes I find my Belpark (that's right I sported the neon green belly top), top to tight around the chest, which is what I was thinking (or it could have been the bar I scoffed 15min before the race... anyway who cares... no excuses... not the run i was looking for...
Out of T1 and onto the bike in: 19.01mins

Bike was good nothing much to report... apart from the looks of it Australian triathlon is obviously in good wealth, sorry health...
20km in 31.54min coming out of transtion...

Second run was much the same as the first one... felt great coming out of T1. That is the legs felt great... but the engine did not... got my ass handed to me on a plate by couple of guys who passed me... My second run was 19.20 for 5km... No one really around me so just cruised home...

Time was : 1hr 10min or so... think the winning time was about 1.03 or something around that mark...

All in all was just a bit of fun and nothing to serious...

Lessons learned...
* Organisation helps... firstly knowing where the race is... and how to get there does wonders...
* Stretching after the race helps too... on the ride home nearly fell off the bike the first time I had to stop at lights my calves were so tight... I also decided to do my physio exercise again (after breaking my foot in December) and I have offically no movement in my big toe and the one beside it... opps better do it again
* Once I get home and do some hard running sessions with Rathfarnham AC I will hopefully be flying (considering as you can see from above - I am too lazy to really push and flog myself like I know I should be)...
* Ride more when I get home - want to be strong on the bike... man there were some fast dudes...

Anyway rambled on for far to long considering its 3pm and my exams start on Friday and I have done no study...

Think I finished 9th or 10th unoffically (will clarify when I get the results)...

It was fun...

ozchick

Thought I would say welcome back to Ireland - though I think you are probably still in the air right now! Figured I welcomed you to Melbourne, so better welcome you back here! You won't notice much difference in the weather though!! cept the sun is making an effort today. Hope the bike travelled ok!

Cheers FL

snack_ie

yes yes. got home monday night and started work on tuesday morning. very very productive. read couple of newspapers and that was that. went for a run last night and things are still the same. bushy park is still packed as ever.
the bike is ok. made it up last night. cant wait to get out on here but probably not till sunday cause my bro is heading off for yr... who knows how long travelling on fri so catching up.
will report soon enough
needless to say i havnt done a thing the last 3 weeks... seriously not a tap.

ozchick

give your body time to adjust after that flight, it's a killer (though you are young!) So you get home and your brother leaves? :rolleyes:;)

snack_ie

Can some one move this into the training logs please. I was thinking of maybe starting it again.

snack_ie

HUNNYMONSTER, can you or some other admin move this into the training logs... it might be coming back to life again.
Thanks.