Fat and unfit to super triathlete ?

c07

Ok, am going to start this training log for two reasons:
1. To, obviously, track my progress as my quest continues
2. To guilt myself into doing more training.
Accountability = action 😄

So, background....
I gave up cigarettes mid jan, doing well with that. But, with that came a ridiculous sweet tooth and appetite. Although, I do play sport thru winter (hockey), I've never really been super fit. So, with (a lot) of excess weight to shred and a sudden compulsion to get involved in triathlons this year, thanks to a link someone posted about tryathy on Facebook, here I am..

I did the 'TryAthy'.... Loved it! Didn't break any records, but didn't come last. So, now, I've got the bug 😄
A now signed up to do the 'try' version in athlone in just under 2 weeks, Kilkenny on 27jul.
Then, upping the ante to a sprint at World's End 24Aug and another sprint 'Tri an Mhi' on 7 sep.

So, I joined a local club just after Athy and, last week, for the first time in my life, I did 4k run without stopping/walking. Major, MAJOR achievement for me.
Club is fantastic.. Very lucky to have found such a supportive bunch.
Wed and fri training with club, with my own training outside those days.
Have to invest in a stopwatch to keep track of my times/improvements.
So, I'll keep track of all training here and hope to see myself visibly improving as time goes by (and lose weight in the process... Have to address eating habits too!)

Baboonwhipper

Fair Play to you!
The bug has definitely bitten. You will love the tri an mhi sprint, what a great race with excellent organisation and atmosphere.
I'll see you there, i 'll be the one in lycra .

c07

Thanks baboonwhipper (what a name!)..
I'm sure to spot you a mile away in the Lycra.. 😉

Topps

See u at World's End 24 Aug and good luck with the training.:)

c07

Thanks Topps. ��

c07

So, last night I ran a hilly 4k in 27mins. Yes, I am slow.. But I have to start somewhere. ��

c07

So, last night I ran a hilly 4k in 27mins. Yes, I am slow.. But I have to start somewhere. 😉

Oryx

Don't worry about being slow. Noone here started out fast. Just get out there and the speed will come.

c07

Cheers Oryx. Yeah, have to keep reminding myself that everyone was where I am at one stage. As I said in first post, I already have seen improvements, so that in itself is a huge motivator to keep truckin' on

c07

Tonight was an OW swim.. 1200m (600 up/600 down) in approx 37mins (guessing based on car clock cos I still haven't got watch!).
Longest stretch before tonight would have been between 6/700 I think, so am delighted with the distance.
Came out feeling wobbly so decided against a run. Though, in hindsight, I'm kinda sorry cos I think I could have done a short run really.
Oh well, onwards and upwards.

Oryx

Youll often feel wobbly coming out of cold water. Wear earplugs, and kick hard for the last 100m. It helps. Try running anyway, youll have to deal with it in a race scenario, so best to get familiar.

c07

Oryx wrote: »

Youll often feel wobbly coming out of cold water. Wear earplugs, and kick hard for the last 100m. It helps. Try running anyway, youll have to deal with it in a race scenario, so best to get familiar.

Ah, ok... Good to know!! I even felt my ears were uncomfortable during some if the swim so was going to get earplugs as a result anyway.

elvis jones

Great to hear you've joined a club with a great OW location there ! You'll get great knowledge from the club.

Glad to hear you enjoyed Athy, i was involved in the running of the day !

c07

elvis jones wrote: »

Glad to hear you enjoyed Athy, i was involved in the running of the day !

So you can take some of the blame for me picking up the bug..

c07

oh sweet mudder of divine, I will NEVER forget bodyglide again.
forgot it on the swim 2 days ago.
Yup, was sore and raw coming out of the river then, but, jeebus, did not expect it to be still sooooo sore and raw now.
I forget every now and then, twist my neck and end up letting out a little yelp.. :eek:

Anyway, will have to forget about it tonight.. somehow..
Club have a mini tri organised - 600m swim, 13k cycle, 3.5k run. Looking forward to it! Hope I make it home from work in time to do it!

c07

Mini tri complete. Last again.. But, look, someone has to be... It's all good.
So..
Swim 600m - 12.39
Cycle 13k - 34.07
Run 3.8k - 26

So, my run suffered, as I expected. It's definitely my weakest part. Ran out of steam at about 2.5k and ended up doing a few walking pieces in the last km.
At end of the race, one of the other gals kindly gave me some tips to work on to improve my running so will be trying them out over the next while.
Although it was a mini tri, it was still waaaaay longer than the super sprint in athlone sat week, so I'm well ready for that.
Even with my shoddy run, I'm well happy.
To most of you seasoned triathletes, you'd prob lap me 10 times..

endacl

You might enjoy this OP!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cant-Swim-Ride-Run-Triathlon/dp/1848187432

c07

endacl wrote: »

You might enjoy this OP!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cant-Swim-Ride-Run-Triathlon/dp/1848187432

Hahaha... Class! And I've just downloaded it to kindle!
Not sure I'd ever reach IM levels somehow. :P

endacl

c07 wrote: »

Hahaha... Class! And I've just downloaded it to kindle!
Not sure I'd ever reach IM levels somehow. :P

Neither did he! But he did. Linkidink to his blog....

http://ironholgs.wordpress.com/

Go to bed! Training tomorrow!

red face dave

Hi,

Just wondering have you joined Athy club. How are you finding it???, hoping to join up next year.

Keep up the good work, good luck in Athlone

c07

red face dave wrote: »

Hi,

Just wondering have you joined Athy club. How are you finding it???, hoping to join up next year.

Keep up the good work, good luck in Athlone

Yup, it's Athy I'm with. I find them fab. So supportive and encouraging. You'll love it there. Looking at your log, I'll be eating your dust too..

Are you competing in any races this year?

red face dave

Only brand new to triathlon like yourself, Athy was my first one, doing another (Ballina) next Saturday and then hope to do the one in Nass at the end of September. Nothing lined up for August yet but that could be very busy with hopefully a little one making an appearance after 9 months of hibernation.

Hope to get into ye next year so, it will help with the motivation and most of yer training seems to be in open water which would be great

c07

Aww, huge congrats! That'll keep you busy for a while alright
Very best of luck with ballina next week. You'll fly it!

elvis jones

endacl wrote: »

You might enjoy this OP!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cant-Swim-Ride-Run-Triathlon/dp/1848187432

Ya i read that, its an ok read.

elvis jones

Elvis will be in Athlone next weekend as well, looking forward to the sprint. I;'m even going to do a brick session this week to get ready for it !

c07

Well, a brick session was had tonight.
7.5k cycle, 2.2k run.
Had planned on doing this twice. My body had other ideas.
Run off the first bike, I felt broken. Just couldn't get a good pace going.
Went off for the second bike, and felt like I was doing better on the cycle this time around, but when I got back to where I was to drop the bike and run again, I saw the rest of the troop were actually on their third loop. So, conscious of holding peeps up again (club are very good and have waited for me in the past), I decided not to go. Also, I prob would have fallen in a heap anyway.
I have athlone on sat anyway, so best not to cause myself an injury, eh?!

Reading that back, it sounds as if I copped out. I prob did a bit...
Kick up the @rse required..!!

red face dave

Is it the sprint you are doing in Athlone??? Anymore races after that

Kick up the @rse required: at least you know you can do better

c07

N'ah.. Still super sprint Dave. In hindsight I prob should have gone for the sprint cos the club mini tri last fri was longer than what's ahead of me on sat. I'll put it down as a training session, albeit an expensive one.

My mantra for next week's sessions (cos it's wind down to race this week) : must try harder!!

Forgot to add.. Yup, next race after athlone is Kilkenny at end of month. Another super sprint (longer than athlone though).
Then, up the ante to two sprints.. End aug, then another in sep. hoping to be ready for sprint by then.
A girl can hope

Oryx

You're ready for sprint now. You just don't think you are. Good luck with your races. Next year oly wait and see!

c07

Oryx wrote: »

Next year oly wait and see!

I nearly snorted tea out my nose with that one oryx!

c07

HA.... An easy 17k they said.... My @rse...
The 20k triathy route was easier, I thought.
An out and back route.. Out part nearly killed me, with a head wind to boot.
Thankfully, a nice tailwind on the way back boosted me a bit.
Forgot my watch, so no idea of time, but deffo no PBs to be thinking about.

Taper week.. Although, I kind of feel a bit of a fraud calling this a taper week, when all I'm doing is the super sprint in athlone, which is SUPER short. Especially when I look at everyone else's logs here

I'll do a short, easy run on fri and be all set for sat morning (once i dont get lost enroute!)...

Dory Dory

Good luck on Saturday!! You're well ready for the super sprint (I like that you've a second one lined up), and by the time the sprint tris come around in August and September you'll have all the mechanical kinks worked out and loads of confidence. You're doing great...so make sure you enjoy the atmosphere and buzz on race day....and smile.

c07

Thanks Dory Dory.. Hope you're right about me being ready in aug/sep...

red face dave

Good luck on Saturday and enjoy it. You will be grand

miafitz

Hey c07 !! Wow.. look at you since my last post over in TryAthy ... Well done Mrs !! Best of luck on Sat it'll be a breeze to you after all that training.. Looking forward to hearing all.. I'm still doing a bit of running & bike but not great in the pool lately need to get my arse in gear again ! I need to sign up for something soon.. any suggestions ? crazy busy until Sept but really need a focus again.. (training would be a pleasure just to escape the mad house of men on school holidays.. )

c07

Hey miafitz.. Great to hear from u girl
Yeah, I'm really enjoying it all! I think the key for me was finding the club. It's that extra push/motivator and support.
Would you consider the try-a-tri in Kilkenny? It's on the 27th jul. I'm doing that one too and the course is meant to be nice. Pretty flat, etc.
You'd be well able for it! Well done yourself on keeping up with the cycling and running.. Sure, that's two thirds sorted.

If you don't want to do anything till sep, there's a sprint in naas at end of sep, which wouldn't be too far from you, if I remember rightly. You could aim for that.

Keep up the good work mrs and maybe I'll catch you at one of the events soon.

c07

Ok, I think I went into this one over confident, and it bit me in the @ss.
The swim was a very different ow swim to what I've been used to. Swimming out and around buoys (rather than just a straight line) ended up with me getting squished numerous times in a melee. At one point I had to stop dead in my tracks as someone literally back stroked perpendicular to the route right in front of me. Now I see why it's not the 'preferred' stroke for the officials.
Anyway, off again afterwards and met be the loooooooooongest transition ever. Bloody hell...
Cycle was great, really enjoyed it, especially when I was passing a few along the way. Then back to the loooooooooong transition (did I mention it was verrrrrry long!! )
Run in the heat bloody well killed me, along with the hilly streets of the town. I'd say anyone I passed on bike, passed me easily here. Had to walk a few times to just gather myself. Haven't got my times yet, but all in all an enjoyable day.

elvis jones

c07 wrote: »

Ok, I think I went into this one over confident, and it bit me in the @ss.
The swim was a very different ow swim to what I've been used to. Swimming out and around buoys (rather than just a straight line) ended up with me getting squished numerous times in a melee. At one point I had to stop dead in my tracks as someone literally back stroked perpendicular to the route right in front of me. Now I see why it's not the 'preferred' stroke for the officials.
Anyway, off again afterwards and met be the loooooooooongest transition ever. Bloody hell...
Cycle was great, really enjoyed it, especially when I was passing a few along the way. Then back to the loooooooooong transition (did I mention it was verrrrrry long!! )
Run in the heat bloody well killed me, along with the hilly streets of the town. I'd say anyone I passed on bike, passed me easily here. Had to walk a few times to just gather myself. Haven't got my times yet, but all in all an enjoyable day.

So what's next ???

I didn't think the organisation was great today overall and yes transition was very long.

elvis jones

http://racetimingsystems.net/Results/IndividualResults.aspx?Id=1530

c07

Nice one elvis.. Ta muchly

Next is Kilkenny super sprint on 27th.

How'd you get on today? Agree organisation wasn't great. Having only Athy to compare to, it wasn't a patch.. So kudos to you guys there, ye obviously run a well oiled machine!

elvis jones

c07 wrote: »

Nice one elvis.. Ta muchly

Next is Kilkenny super sprint on 27th.

How'd you get on today? Agree organisation wasn't great. Having only Athy to compare to, it wasn't a patch.. So kudos to you guys there, ye obviously run a well oiled machine!

Slow swim, good bike and average run. T1 and T2 were awful i actually had to think about what i was doing:D

But it was a good warm up for next weekend !

c07

Meant to get out for a run last night, but by the time kids were in bed, I was zapped. So, run planned for tonight.
Really have to up my training. My run needs serious work. I'm sure my technique leaves a lot to be desired so will see what I can do to improve on it. Athlone was embarassing for me, run-wise anyway. So a lot of action needed.

elvis jones

c07 wrote: »

Meant to get out for a run last night, but by the time kids were in bed, I was zapped. So, run planned for tonight.
Really have to up my training. My run needs serious work. I'm sure my technique leaves a lot to be desired so will see what I can do to improve on it. Athlone was embarassing for me, run-wise anyway. So a lot of action needed.

Interval training and hill repeats............

800m at full pace, 200m warm down and repeat. I'd do a nice warm up and warm down as well but that will bring you on. It will train your body to run faster for longer.

The hill repeats will just get you used to hills and you'll lose less time on them in races.

Its the same process to use on a turbo in the winter for the bike so you can push it out for longer and faster. It will also increase you lactic treshhold.

c07

elvis jones wrote: »

Interval training and hill repeats............

800m at full pace, 200m warm down and repeat. I'd do a nice warm up and warm down as well but that will bring you on. It will train your body to run faster for longer.

The hill repeats will just get you used to hills and you'll lose less time on them in races.

Its the same process to use on a turbo in the winter for the bike so you can push it out for longer and faster. It will also increase you lactic treshhold.

elvis.. you are a gem!
Thank you so much! Interval training tonight so..

Jamie Cal

I'm no expert, but the only bit of advice I can give is don't kill yourself when you slip up. People go on these massively strict diets and kill themselves when they eat a chocolate bar one night, just make sure you account for that and go hard at it again. All the best!

Oryx

Technique when running uphill.

Look up. Dont let your body bend and fold. Keep your shoulders back, so your chest is open.
Take baby steps, not long strides.
Bring your foot up under your hip.
Drive your elbows back, and dont let your arms cross your body.

elvis jones

Oryx wrote: »

Technique when running uphill.

Look up. Dont let your body bend and fold. Keep your shoulders back, so your chest is open.
Take baby steps, not long strides.
Bring your foot up under your hip.
Drive your elbows back, and dont let your arms cross your body.

Great advice there !!! I changed to that 18 months ago and hills got a lot easier.

c07

Oryx wrote: »

Technique when running uphill.

Look up. Dont let your body bend and fold. Keep your shoulders back, so your chest is open.
Take baby steps, not long strides.
Bring your foot up under your hip.
Drive your elbows back, and dont let your arms cross your body.

Oh cool... Ok, I have to re-educate myself totally there, but that I can do.

Yiz are great.. Thanks for all the tips.
I am feeling more and more down about the athlone experience that I'm doubting my ability for sprint end aug. I know anyone can have a bad race, but I really was shocked at how bad it felt for me.
However, I won't let it beat me... I will conquer this...
Just wonder how this will all pan out in castleconnell.
Stuck on a train home now, so, on the upside ill be running later in a cooler temp.

red face dave

Where are you doing the sprint in August?

c07

red face dave wrote: »

Where are you doing the sprint in August?

World's End in castleconnell, limerick. Tempted? Will baba have made an appearance by end aug??

red face dave

Could be interested it may be a bit soon after

He/she better be here, or its mother will have gone mad. This heat is not helping the situation:):)