if in doubt,

BennyMul

Well I am finally getting back into the swing of training and missed updating this thing, and since it was an absolute age since I last updated my first log; I feel its time for a fresh start.

Original log if interested

the last year and a half I did virtually nothing, the weight went up and fitness down.

So started back early this year just trying to get some fitness and get the body used to physical exercise again.

the main goals for this year.
Shadow-man 1/2 - sub 5
DCM - 3:05

Two simple goals.

Dory Dory

Whoop whoop!! BM!!! Welcome back! Good luck on the two simple goals.

mossym

good man BM, will keep an eye on this one

catweazle

3.05....are we eyeing up a boston marathon?

Good to have you back training

Pmaldini

I guess your on for a cycle sunday morning so:)

BennyMul

Dory Dory wrote: »

Whoop whoop!! BM!!! Welcome back! Good luck on the two simple goals.

Thanks DD for the welcome

Pmaldini wrote: »

I guess your on for a cycle sunday morning so:)

I will be out, at some stage will text ya tomorrow.

catweazle wrote: »

3.05....are we eyeing up a boston marathon?
Good to have you back training

Thanks CW, the 3:05 is not for Boston, but to be faster than the younger brother.


So I suppose some training is needed.

Monday
Lunch time - 30min cct training with alot of core work,
Missed the Worlds end swim (a great start I know); but I did manage a late run and was it lovely out,
Simple 4K warm up, and then 3*3min hill reps, thanks to the local farmer who built a road up the hill
http://www.strava.com/activities/140602576

Tuesday
Easy lunch time run, didnt look at pace and just ran, felt I was pushing too much at times so backed off.
http://www.strava.com/activities/140602568

Wednesday
Lunch time - 30min cct training
Evening: Turbo time, 2*20min 5min rec.
The 20min was 2min @ 260w+ (approx 105%FTP) and 1min at 200w (80%)
this was nice feeling ok but suffered near the end of both of them.
http://www.strava.com/activities/141410746

BennyMul

Thursday
Took the rollers at the back and first outdoor turbo of the year
Rode >85% FTP(~210w) for 45min,
the spin was nice sitting looking out at the Silvermines in dream land, until I felt something weird, whats wrong with the wheels, then I noticed I was going across the garden, lost concentration and came off the rollers,
At 45min off the bike and off for a 15min brick run, 3k @4:23 pace.

Friday
lunch time run only had 30 min, so did 4*1k with 1min recovery trying to go sub 4min for each k, did that all reps in ~3:55

Evening swim
still just drowning.

Saturday
Plan get the grass cut then run; this was the plan until I actually went out and realized the garden was now a meadow. so 9 hours later the grass was cut (note to self do not leave it a month in between cuts again), I was sunburned and the better half suggested bringing the dogs and kids for a walk over in Clare glens so run canned.

Sunday
Out to meet Pmaldini for an easy spin; feck me it was wet and cold out,
Why is it in this country a nice day melds your brain to believe the following day will be as warm,
The spin was grand feeling ok for most of it, great to have company.
hands were numb getting home should not happen in May.

Total 96k ~3:30
http://www.strava.com/activities/142978674

Afternoon
My 11 year old decided to run a 10k, so off we went into Mungret, he was cacking himself lining up but once we started it was great.
We decided to try and hang around the 60min group, but he slowly went past them maintaining a nice easy pace, around 3k I got him to take a short walk break, back to running around 4k in he got water at it upset his stomach. so the walk breaks got longer but we still motored on, Around the cresent we were passed by the 60min group and he wasnt happy, looking to break the hour.
He struggled up by the Regional but once we got there we picked up the running again got over the line in 61:30; he was fecked but happy.
already thinking of another one to break the hour,
the next time I may actually get him to do some training for it.

Trig1

Good luck with the new log Bennyn swim tonight? Come over and say hello if your going. I will be the one in the blue seventy wetsuit with the beard and the white swim hat

BennyMul

Trig1 wrote: »

Good luck with the new log Bennyn swim tonight? Come over and say hello if your going. I will be the one in the blue seventy wetsuit with the beard and the white swim hat

thanks Trig, unfortunately I cant make tonight. will be looking for Wednesday if interested.

Trig1

BennyMul wrote: »

thanks Trig, unfortunately I cant make tonight. will be looking for Wednesday if interested.

Might be. Depending on time.

Pmaldini

BennyMul wrote: »

Sunday
Out to meet Pmaldini for an easy spin; feck me it was wet and cold out,
Why is it in this country a nice day melds your brain to believe the following day will be as warm,
The spin was grand feeling ok for most of it, great to have company.
hands were numb getting home should not happen in May.

Total 96k ~3:30
http://www.strava.com/activities/142978674

Afternoon
My 11 year old decided to run a 10k, so off we went into Mungret, he was cacking himself lining up but once we started it was great.
We decided to try and hang around the 60min group, but he slowly went past them maintaining a nice easy pace, around 3k I got him to take a short walk break, back to running around 4k in he got water at it upset his stomach. so the walk breaks got longer but we still motored on, Around the cresent we were passed by the 60min group and he wasnt happy, looking to break the hour.
He struggled up by the Regional but once we got there we picked up the running again got over the line in 61:30; he was fecked but happy.
already thinking of another one to break the hour,
the next time I may actually get him to do some training for it.

I'm still wet, I think the rain penetrated my bone marrow:D

well done to the wee man, good run for a 1st stab at 10k

BennyMul

so where was I

Mon 19th
Body feeling tired, so did some core work and called it quits for the day

Tuesday 20th
Lunch time, easy run
Dist 8.5
time: 38.29

Evening: Lactate threshold session

2*10 min at FTP, 5min recovery, hit the numbers nicely felt I had one more in me

Wed 21st:
Tempo run
Not the bestest in the worldest,
Started well, even if it was more 10k pace then tempo, but after 2/3 K got a biatch of a stitch and nothing I tried alleviated the pain, so pulled up to stretch it and got back to business
total 9.5k 40min

Thurs 22nd:
Missed lunch time run dam work getting in the way.
evening did Downward spiral, trying to maintain 80% of FTP for the recovery sections
felt good during this

Friday 23rd:
Cct training at lunch time

Evening my weekly visit to the pool,


Sat 24th:
MLR, finished with 3 hill reps
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/508129302
total 16.6k
1:20:ish

Sun 25th
Handy Bike with Pmaldini, had to cut it short to bring the young lad to Gaa training.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/508129342

Mon 26th
Cct training to work on core
Evening 4.5k recovery very easy run with the kid.

Tues 27th:
Evening: Lactate threshold session

3*10 min at FTP, 5min recovery feeling ok actually feeling happy with it

Wed 28th:
Tempo run, same as last week fecking stitch at least this week it was a tad bit further into the session
11k in 52min

Thurs 29th:
Lunch time easy run
8k 39min

Evening
5*4min @ 110+FTP 4min rec,
another happy session,

Fri 30th:
Cct training
Evening Swim.

Sat 31st
planned to get up early, never set the alarm working on the assumption if I wake up I run if not Im tired.
didnt wake up
Headed up to Carlow for the weekend,
Got in an evening run a nice handy 11k /52min
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/512973354

Sunday 1st june
A nice handy spin on my own.
Not overly happy with the numbers at the end of the spin.
Avg power 173 nor 196
I was hoping to have these higher,
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/512973369

Mon 2nd
Another nice spin;
Tried to push the power through this, every time I looked at the pm it was where I wanted to be but alas not when I uploaded it :mad:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/512973380
Avg Pwr 173 Nor 193

Need to really sort this out for the 1/2IM aiming to average 220 for the bike leg

Tues 3rd
Broke a filling over the weekend and my mouth was in a bits so not in the humor to train

Wed 4th
Planned dentist visit cancelled he was not available.

So tempo run at lunch time,
Feeling ok better than the last 2 weeks

Met Pmaldini for my first outing in the open water, took some pain killers to numb the jaw and hope the cold water does not drive it mad.
I should have stayed on dry land my swimming is brutal, I actually reckon I swam further as I was all over the place.

Nice swim in the end approx 2k.

Dory Dory

Hope you get that tooth sorted soon!!!!

mossym

BennyMul wrote: »

So tempo run at lunch time,
Feeling ok better than the last 2 weeks

.

stop pacing that other lad around as well, the one you were with yesterday:). that fella would draft the front door on the way out, he'd have you do the training for him if he could

bit of a HotW rivalry going on there, need to make sure i beat him home.

BennyMul

a bit of training since the last log, too far back to remember.

One race, Got a mtb bike on the bike to work scheme a few days before the European Marathon bike thingie in BallyHaura so entered,

wow did I really underestimate this event,
Asked how long it would take, 75K estimate 3.5hours,
So lined up at the start line with enough food for 3 hours, 2 bottles and not having ridden the bike before,
Started at the back to get a feel for the bike before it hit the single trails, this was fine on the wide tracks I was moving up he field, turned left into single trail and changed to the granny gear and bang chain off, so pulled into a ditch to sort it and not hold up folk behind me, took what felt like an age waiting for a gap to jump back in.
Got in and got going again, getting brave I was riding hard trying to get back to where I was.
Turned a sharp hairpin over cooked it and bang, shouldered a tree, I didn't win that one.
Got back going again the next while was just fun in a weird way, while pushing the bike up one of the climbs, mistake 2,3,4 (not sure) runners are not ideal for this, my feet were slipping all over the place no grip.
Finally got going and legs feeling ok, making up places on the wide roads, drop a few on single trail, getting brave again when crash no 2 happened, over the bars on a very rocky stretch and land on my knees and hands, ouch that hurt.
3 hours in and It dawns on me I don't really have enough food so start to only eat half of whats left to drag it out,
Around this time I also hear of the time limit so pushed on to make sure I could actually finish this thing.
Got to the final loop and was struggling unable to hold the bars (should wear gloves) any single trail I was practically stopped as I struggled to use the breaks and hold on,
Finally inside the last K and there was a nice mucky drop with a few spectators so machoness kicked in and I would let it rip and then the front wheel gave way and down for crash 3.
got around in 5:50 happy but p1ssed off.

0 mountain biking is not a good prep
a new bike never be ridden is not good prep
and many many more boo boos.

Got up the sunday morning for a run and was not able to walk with swelling in the knees.

The following week spent in Tilburg with work.
so 4 nice runs, some really nice beer and lovely food.
and got to witness the Dutch go mental for the football.
One full street closed at 5pm for this big screens loads of drink and no trouble at all.

while in the hotel, I asked if there was a pool to swim,
Yes, there is one down stairs but its a naked pool,
Me, still tired from the 3am alarm (what the fook is a naked pool)
not sure how long it took for the penny to drop but it did,
So feck it I need a swim so planned to swim in the naked pool
but the opening hours were fecked up and only from 2pm to 7pm
and I was not back from the office, so no swimming.

Got home Friday night,
No training Saturday spent it with the kids

Sunday out on the bike for planned 8*15min half i/m pace 5min recovery.
plan was 90% FTP. the first 5 were spot on, the last 3 upped the effort to slightly under oly pace.
happy with this feeling ok and comfortable during it.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/528166736


Monday finished building up the TT bike for HOTW,
Tuesday did 3*10min sweet spot 8 min recovery
first time in the TT position and held the power nicely during this, it was not comfortable and not a natural feeling,

Wednesday: lunch time tempo run
Legs felt like crap for the first k, but slowly got into it and felt better as it went on hitting some nice pace.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/528196442

Evening: very late when I got time to ride so threw the TT on the rollers to get comfortable and fell more times that I have in the last year, could not get into position the bike felt too frisky at the front,

So I have HOTW this weekend and not looking forward to it,
parts of my fitness feel ok, the swim will be a joke and if the water is ruff it will be very difficult,

mossym

BennyMul wrote: »

So I have HOTW this weekend and not looking forward to it,
parts of my fitness feel ok, the swim will be a joke and if the water is ruff it will be very difficult,

don't worry about that, I've arranged for calm seas.

BennyMul

mossym wrote: »

don't worry about that, I've arranged for calm seas.

sweet thanks,:D

BennyMul

Thursday 26th:
planning an evening spoin Had to bring the young fella to a Gaa match, and didnt start on time, so was 8:40 when I got on the road, plan was to simply ride the TT bike and see how it feels on the road.

I have a feeling my position is wrong, my front end is too low, I may need to raise the bars by 1/2 cm, and saddle a tad too high.

But the spin was fine, as the spin went on I felt more comfortable with speed and corners and general handling (should have built it up weeks ago:mad:),
as the roads were very wet and you could see oil patches I didn't push it in the corners, which I would have liked to do to see how it and I responded.
Will know tomorrow I suppose.

Distance 30.8k
Time 63min
Avg Pwr 194
Nor pwr 215

BennyMul

Kilkee Hell of the west:

First time actually getting to the race (3rd time entering)
and my first Olympic distance race

Arrived in Kilkee nice and early parked up, registered and was nervously looking for something to do, take my mind off the race, and got chatting to fella beside me, after a few moments noticed the Analogue Top so asked was it Trig, and yep small world.
So getting everything ready and sh1t no garmin left it at home, how would I pace will it count if its not on Strava, Garmin connect

but Finally got the bike setup and took it for a spin and it felt wrong or my legs were dead, looked down and the back wheel slipped and was rubbing the frame.:(

sorted this and made sure the quick release was tight, headed down racked the bike and met Pmaldini, Mossym and had a good chat. before long we were in the water waiting.
Thanks Mossym for the calm see much appropriated

The plan here was simply not to drown, if I could go under 35min I would be a happy bunny.
So started at the back so I would not get in the way of swimmers, still the first few hundred meters were mad, finally got going and was holding my own with the group around me and slowly moving up. I kept pushing it trying to hold my own and was contiguously waiting to die.
Turned the last corner and looked ahead and could see the beech so nearly there started to push it more looked again and could see the front running up the beech. Finally I was there running up the beech,

actual time 28:37 (happy with that)

T1 a joke the swim hard me disorientated struggled to get the wetsuit off, fingers were fumbling to get the number on.
finally on the bike
T1: 2:21

The bike, this was where I hoped to do something,
So the good | bad thing about doing a slow swim is there is bodies in front to pick off but so much road traffic I was slowing down to get past them, got to the top of the first hill, and finally had some open road so settled in and started to ride, kept trying to take a drink but the amount of salt water I drank made it a tad dodgy, wasn't until about 15k in before I could actually drink and keep it down,
At the second turn, the first rider to pass me, went past like a man possessed
grand I sat up stopped peddling so I would not be drafting and the gap did not open, wtf so stayed free wheeling and still no gap.
So fook this I moved out and started to ride again and went past him,
I just kept my head down and focused on riding and he passes again, so I sit up again.
In to the second shard right hand corner and he took it too fast and over shot it, looked to make sure he was ok (he was) I kept going.

A few minutes later another one passes my; fully kitted out disc wheel everything (same club and the guy ^^), I again sit up and let him up the road. after a minute of gentle pushing on the peddles I had to go past him,

Got past him and now the pace groups were all over the place,
heard a call for on the right, I look behind and there were the two who past me and a third from the same club riding in pace,
I sat back again not getting involved and they pick up a fourth from the same club, (really this is a joke)

Finally they open a gap and I can start to ride again, and then see kilkee drove it down the hill and in to T2,
Took my feet out of the shoes and getting ready to dismount and I peddled and my shoes got stuck between the ground and the peddle, and the bike jumped I nearly came down, that would have been embarrassing.

the steward told me to forget the shoe and he would pick it up, so in to T2

Bike 1:17:43
Not happy with this time, (lost time with the 3 tools and drafting, my position is too low at the front no power on the drags, all excuses I know but still)

T2 00:51

Run
Started the run and stomach felt odd, a kind of empty feeling and fook me the legs were dead. not sore just dead nothing.
Headed up the first climb and shoe lace opens, yeah a break tied it and got back going, most of the run was a haze all I remember on the way out was how long to the turn and never seemed to come, turned one corner and could see in the distance what I assumed was the turn and that was it, but alas was only the water station, really at this point I complicated walking,
Past both Trig1 then Mossym said hi (I think) and finally got to the turn around,
At this point I nearly cried how can you climb for 5k and at the turn around going back and still be climbing
I tried to pick up the pace on the way back and nothing,
Finally got to the last downhill could see the town crossed the finish line and was completely fooked
finish time 2:35:09.

Met Pmaldini went to the water to soak the legs and chat, no sign of Trig or Mossym

happy enough for my 4th tri but still not happy, there was a lot of time left out there, next year :P

Pmaldini

the lad that was talking to you and me after the race said to me later on that he was hoping you didn't recognise him as he says you were roaring at him for drafting, i said to him why the fook didn't you pull back and he said "ahh sure everyone was drafting" couldn't believe my ears, i told him he was a cheat and he just laughed it off and said again, "everyone was doing it" i fooken wasn't, look at my fooken bike split

BennyMul

I was talking to a lad in here today, who openly admitted to drafting so he could get a better bike split.
and he was upset when he let the wheel go.

mossym

BennyMul wrote: »

I was talking to a lad in here today, who openly admitted to drafting so he could get a better bike split.
and he was upset when he let the wheel go.

we've a mutual acquaintance (could be him) who'd admit to the same. sees no shame in it. alls fair in his race

Trig1

Well Done Benny, great result off minimum training!! was nice to meet you!

mossym

Trig1 wrote: »

Well Done Benny, great result off minimum training!! was nice to meet you!

aye, it was a great result. What does the rest of the season hold now?

Dory Dory

Hi BM!! You did a great job out there! Frustrating for sure regarding all you noted about the bike - drafting, low position at the front, etc. - but as you point out, there is much room to shave some time. Well done you !!

Solobally8

Well done Saturday Benny, pity I didn't bump into you at some stage.

Had to laugh when I read the bit in your report about the run going up hill, then turning and still going up hill. I remember doing that run 2 years ago and feeling the exact same

BennyMul

Dory Dory wrote: »

Hi BM!! You did a great job out there! Frustrating for sure regarding all you noted about the bike - drafting, low position at the front, etc. - but as you point out, there is much room to shave some time. Well done you !!

hey DD thanks but all excuses ; next time

Solobally8 wrote: »

Well done Saturday Benny, pity I didn't bump into you at some stage.
Had to laugh when I read the bit in your report about the run going up hill, then turning and still going up hill. I remember doing that run 2 years ago and feeling the exact same

yeah would have been nice to meet up.
and a fecker of a hill all right

mossym wrote: »

aye, it was a great result. What does the rest of the season hold now?

Had planned to do the shadowman half, but have to go to Penang that weekend for work, so mailed the lost sheep and looking for a cancellation and see if I can do that one.

So took two days off after HoTW.

Tuesday 1st
Simple 8k easy run to loosen the legs out

Wed
40min Tempo run, legs still tired but stuck it out.
evening brought the young lad for a 10K spin,

Thurs:
Commute to work nice and easy
26k
Lunch time easy 8krun
Evening Spin home
plan was meant to be a BG session so rode home 53x12 feeling good on the bike
avg cad 62
Pow 229, NP 244;
the NP slightly greater than what I was using as FTP so happy but a retest is on the cards now
but anyway straight off the bike down to GAA training for an hour and then in to Basketball for another hour was 2.5 hours later that I got some proper food into me not good recovery.

Friday
cycled in to work again and felt everything from yesterday in the legs

Met the family and brought the young lad for an easy swim
total 1.2 k easy.

Saturday
day off, didnt want it but the kids wanted to go to a 4th July party in the Peoples park so one day wont hurt.

Sunday
plan was 5*20min Z3 5min recovery
so got the first 3 done no problems and feeling greedy so the last 2 upped it to 30min,
All felt good, happy with this

Power/NP
1: 225/229
2: 230/238
3: 230/238
4: 221/227
5: 229/239

Monday
30min core work and nothing else

Tuesday
Easy lunch time run 8k

Evening
Plan was 3x3 incrementing power (85,90,95 %FTP) 1min recovery
this felt good and added a 4th which was approx 10w > FTP

Wed.
Easy swim 2k,

Lunch time
Tempo run, felt a tad sluggish and kept going to the "next corner | finish the K" but go there
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/541321455

Thursday
Missed my lunch time run

Evening
Had the cobbled stage of the tour recorded, so brought the young lad to the GAA match,
late getting out of there (why cant they just leave when its over, all this hanging around and talking - do they not know we have to suffer)
but anyway
plan 4*10bg 5min rec
stuck a lump of wood under the front wheel to elevate it more,
and just grinded my way through it no problems
was very late at the end but felt like I had one more 10min in the legs

Friday
30min Core work
easy 6k run
and a very easy 40min in the evening spinning the legs watching the tour.

Saturday:
Cycle to Carlow, with ruck sack
plan was 4*30min Z3
as I had a longer spin today and it was not going to be a problem getting the efforts in I had a slightly longer WU, felt the Thursday night session in the legs still
Got settled into the first one and was fine, lost some average power navigating through Tipp town, cars, traffic lights etc.
the next 3 was non eventful just sitting there mentally trying to keep the rpms >85 (naturally it falls to 75-80)
Finally all done and dusted as I hit Kilkenny so said feck it and tried a fifth
This one was not as pretty,
Power way down started to feel the effort,

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/541321469

Power/NP
1: 211/223
2: 227/233
3: 224/226
4: 214/224
5: 202/207

This spin did leave me slightly tired, not sure of it was lack of miles, a hard week work or bad fueling.

Went to bed around 11 with the plan to getup early and get a 90min run in, this did not happen slept for 12ish hours; the body was tired and felt light headed any time I stood up too quickly for the rest of the day so took another recovery day.

Pmaldini

Ahhhh here! you slept for 12 fooken hours!!:eek: I am sending my kids over to yours for the next few weeks to sort that problem for you:D

by the way, nice cycling going on there Mr Mull..

Trig1

Did you get into the Lost Sheep?

BennyMul

Trig1 wrote: »

Did you get into the Lost Sheep?

Not yet on the waiting list hope some poor unfortunate cant do it.


Monday 14th:
30min cct training working on core

followed by a handy 6k run no watch\time just ran and felt slow and heavy

Tuesday 15th:
Easy Lunch time run 9k / 45min feeling sluggish

Evening
3*10min Z4 (10); took out the TT for this need to really get my position on it, but anyway felt ok power now quite exactly where I wanted it but close.
249/248/252.

Wednesday 16th:
Missed the lunch time run work getting in the way of life.

Evening on the TT agian for a BG session
2*15min (5)
this was tuff the heat on the turbo made it very uncomfortable.
average cad for both 43/42.
me to look at the news.
and I have Malaysia airlines aswell (one lost and one shot down could be an interesting trip)

Got to do nothing that evening, GAA match and by the time I got home was not in the humor to do anything so left it.

Friday
Lunch time run
40ish min Tempo session
aiming for 4:20pace which was close but as the run went on the heat got to me and I suffered alot.
Total 13.6k
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/544031371

Saturday
Plan was 3*40min Z3, and this was what I did, but the last one I added on 10min
feeling ok not as good as a few weeks ago, a little over cooked.
avg/np
223/229
224/234
220/226
need to look at food during the spin, didn't have breakie leaving and only a single banana while out, not sure if it affected the training for the last one but I was wrecked that night,

Sunday
a simple fun 20k mountain biking with the family in BallyH. no pressure at all (for me anyway )

BennyMul

Tuesday 22nd
Plan was a simple 2*20min at est new FTP (I will have to get off my arse and do a proper one to validate the numbers)
based on holding 233np for 1:20 I recokon FTP to be close to 260,

So the 20min at 90-95% or 234-247
the effort came in 234 and 231, not sure if it was just the heat on the turbo but not a nice effort or the est FTP is too high.

Wednesday 23rd:
simple easy commute to work ~30k
on the way home big BG work,
total 1:20
RPM 60
power 220\np232

Thursday 24th
easy 2k swim and an easy 10k run

Friday 25th:
plan 4*12min (2) Tempo
this was hard the heat almost melted me and I got slower as the session went on, did I suffer

Rep 1 4:17
2 4:44
3 4:31
4 4:50

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/549090275


Saturday 26th:
missed the chance to train. not happy

Sunday 27th:
Plan short bike; short run
didnt work out

Pick a route with two long easy drags, the effort was easier than 1/2 im pace
and found myself getting bored in places.
total 88k
3 hours
Power 180/206np

The values a tad bit off as I had came across a few roads which were partially washed away with the rain and I had to walk through the barriers
(and only watched the episode of Farter Ted where they had to bring in the roads because of the storm)

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/551859912

Monday 28th
Not sure what my 1/2M pace is I set off to see if I could find it.
so ran not looking at the watch and run at an uncomfortable pace I felt I could hold,
I picked a road the had a few drags,
avg for 19k 4:30 pace
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/551859873

Tuesday 29th
easy peasy lemon squezy spin
46k just spinning the legs

Wednesday 30th
Plan was to join Pmaldini for long spin and get a nice run off it.
so I was getting a delivery early in the morning, this turned out to be afternoon, then around 5:30, aghh Im running late 6:30 and I will be there, finally 8pm he finally turned up (insert many expletives here)

so plan scuppered and could not give a fcuk about training.
finally got on the tubro and watch the recording of the junior tour (great racing and some real prospects for the pro ranks)
Simple 50min spinning
then out the door for a 8k run
Ran at a what felt comfortable pace,
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/553633409

BennyMul

August:
With work and holidays training was brutal.
3 swims, a few runs, 4 bike (2 road +brick and 2 turbo) one of which was 1k where the pain in my knee was brutal and I stopped after 500m to walk home.

So that left the preparation for my last goal of the year fecked, the Lost Sheep:
training was so bad and I was not overly happy with just doing it without really giving it a chance to hit the target I set out at the start of the year for a half IM (sub 5).

So after much soul searching (and reading about Trigs problems) I said feck it, and the Friday before the race went about booking accommodation, and got a nice hostel in the middle of town only a short ride from the start.(phew for cancellations)

So now that Im racing i rushed and packed bags, slapped some water on the bike to give the impression its clean, grabbed some gels and hit the road (nice and late making sure I left it as late as possible )

Got to the registration meet up with Trig and Mossym was looking for other boardies to introduce myself but alas when you dont know what they look like kinda hard. sorry CW

that night sleep was broken, a room with 8 triathletes farting, snoring and other weird noises. so when the alarm went off I would not have said no to a few extra hours.

got everything ready and off to the start, when the event hit me I started to feel nervous, wtf am I doing here, I haven't trained enough. looking out at the bay and the markers in the distance, this was my third ow swim of the year, I dont think I went over 2.5k in the pool why the fcuk am I going to try a 1.9k ow swim.

So into the water for a "warmup" and sh1t should have worn 2 hats, anyway lined up right at the back and off we went, sat back and tried to get into a rhythm just following feet, and I was swimming ok actually moving past people. got to the first buoy and yeah no problems, looked up and spotted number 2, again looking at feet in front of me, I was having trouble sighting correctly. half way here the watched buzzed for 1k and I look up and I am way way outside the marker, so head back and direction and head back on track.
trun and look again for the white house in the distance and notice there is no one in front of me, look up and I am again about 50 foot to the left of the group so change direction again.
Not sure what happened but I decided to feed the fishes my breakfast and began to vomit, thankfully I had lovely saltwater to clean out the taste.
Finally got to the end and had a proper look and once again I was way left and had to swim over roccks to get to the exit.
out of the swim 00:37:34
Garmin recording 2.27k


T1 was just slow feeling crap, looked like a tool putting on a jersey could not balance finally out the gate in 5:05

The rothar.
got in to position and tried to settle myself holding the power zone I set myself. took a drink and the rest of the breakfast decided to make an appearance. yeah
the first hour flew past, passing people and trying to drink but each swig came back up, and I was worried now, how will I finish if I cant eat or drink.
after an hourish I hit the top of the top of the Healy pass.
Change to to the 53 and crunch look down the chain is off and wrapped around the rear mech. so of the bike and begin to unravel and back on the bike and look to my left and a wee smile appeared as I looked down at the hairpins, and off I went descending, it was heaven just the bike in and out of corners.
got to the bottom and still smiling and there is a weird rubbing noise from the bike wtf, did I pull the wheel slightly when the chain dropped a few minutes of listening I stopped to look (just in case) and phew it was just the front mech cable rubbing the tyre, back on again and off.
So get settled again and try to eat some food and hip hip hooray it stays down. so back in business, I am still passing faster swimmers but legs are starting to feel it, based the water station and I began to suffer and was only holding riders in front no gaps been closed,

The climb up the Cara pass was a blur I remember been passed by a few and passing a few and nothing,got to the top and relaxed for a tad, took a gel and off I set on the decent, and finally got in and under 3 hours (which I thought was a problem an hour back)


http://connect.garmin.com/activity/580928777
Power avg 203, np 224
average power was down 20w on where I wanted on the day but I will take it.


I hope this is near the end of the bike

T2 was another dismal affair 4:07

Off on the run and it started ok, stopped to answer the call of nature and there was Mossym, quick chat on who will buy coffee and were safe Trig is way up the road. I settled in to a pace and tried to keep it, slowing down on drags and looking to make up the difference on the decents,
So the plan was to take 2 gels at 7 and 14k, so at 7k took my first gels and ...... it was rotten, I was carrying them in my hand and they were warm, managed to keep it down but not good.
After 8/9k I dont remember much except for walking a few hills trying to run and getting cramps in each leg muscle, back into a waddle and it eased it a tad,
The last 4k were hard I considered walking or giving up so just one more k and then decide, finally crossing the line 5:22:17 for 117 place.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/580928780


It was a lovely feeling to finish, after some conversations I headed home and had to stop and wake up, I began to fall asleep. who knew that race would make you tired.

So now the plan is nothing no training for 2 weeks, then see what happens

Pmaldini

great race BM, there must be something to this no training lark, a lot of boardsies seem to be taking that approach this year!!! if you could get a decent training block in you'd be at the pointy end of things

catweazle

I hope it's not the 39 that's the problem with that gear change

I Remember seeing you at one stage on the run and thinking that guy looks ****ed - we must have way over the average of gingers on this forum

Sub 5 should be well within your compass with a bit of training

Trig1

Well done Benny- great report and great race- especially considering the lack of training and the puking during swim and bike!! sub 5 next year!!! (for both of us:o:o:o:o)

BennyMul

so after the Lost sheep I planned a nice 2 weeks off, and force myself not to train, it was hard but I did such a good job 2 weeks turned into 4.

I jumped on the scales and I have put up almost a stone so time to get my arse back in gear.

plan was simple everything easy for Oct and then structure from then on.

the runs are slow, at least I can say they are meant to be slow but I dont think I could actually lift the pace.

swims are ok, just staying afloat - need to get more than once a week I suppose

First spin on the bike was a great mountain biking session with the boardies; this was a great laugh; a few tumbles had by most.
really enjoyed it and brought the family the week after; did practically the same route, the young lad loved the technical decent, both him and the wife fell, a few cuts and bruises but the same as the week before smiles on the faces at the bottom, now after the long climb back up from here the young lad started to suffer and in true stubborn fashion was almost in tears by the time we are descending for home, poor fecker.

so planning next year at the moment, and I have the urge to go long again and maybe even permission (dont want to jinx it).
I may look for help this time around to plan the season correctly and give it a proper go.

anyway now to get myself motivated start training and loose a few pounds.

BennyMul

November:
the month training was to start back and it didn't really happen

Swimming:
only getting one a week and trying to work on drills

Running:
getting in 3/4 runs a week, aiming for one hard one the rest easy,
Hard run is short efforts 200m hill reps and 90sec recovery *12

Bike
No road at all, for some reason (I blame laziness I didn't get out at all)
getting in 2 turbos a week
1st session is short hard; I am aiming for high rpm here, something I don't normally do.
1-2 min @300w same recovery
2nd is BG work
4-5min @270sih ~45rpm

Did meet BTH and 2 other from 3d tri on Sunday for 2.5 hours mountain biking, ~35k lovely spin. pushed hard so I would not be a spare tool and was very tired at the end and upper body in bits Monday morning .

I need to get my ar$e in gear so back to logging training.

mossym

BennyMul wrote: »

Did meet BTH and 2 other from 3d tri on Sunday for 2.5 hours mountain biking, ~35k lovely spin. pushed hard so I would not be a spare tool and was very tired at the end and upper body in bits Monday morning .
.

had to carry bth around again?

BennyMul

mossym wrote: »

had to carry bth around again?

I would not say "carry him" more so pick him up every time he fell :rolleyes:

Monday
cct training, suffering some lower back pain the last few weeks and tweaked it yesterday at some point so this was going to be fun, and it wasn't
30min in total finishing.

Tuesday
Missed the lunch time run, and had a load of kiddy stuff in the evening so after 9 getting on the bike, had 45min
5min wu
5*5min BG ~45-50rpb & 250w
1min rec

total 40min
29min work
avg cad 48
power avg 222 np 235

Wednesday
cct training again at lunch
consisting of short hard efforts skipping/burpies/mountain climbers/ push ups etc alternating
An easy 3k run after this to stretch the legs

PM:
The wee man in basketball for 90min so took the opportunity to head for a run, 70min ~14k
Garmin not working so this is a guess on distance

zico10

BennyMul wrote: »

Did meet BTH and 2 other from 3d tri on Sunday for 2.5 hours mountain biking, ~35k lovely spin. pushed hard so I would not be a spare tool and was very tired at the end and upper body in bits Monday morning .

I was down at that as well actually, but we were never introduced. I took a different route to you though, so as not to show anybody up.:) It was my first time and like you, upper body took a pounding.

BennyMul

zico10 wrote: »

I was down at that as well actually, but we were never introduced. I took a different route to you though, so as not to show anybody up.:) It was my first time and like you, upper body took a pounding.

I did hear you were there and was looking forward to meeting you, but after seeing the amount of miles you have not looking forward to actually cycling with you :rolleyes:

Thursday :
work is manic so missed mid day run,
PM: 2*20min (224/225 ~93% ftp)
rode these at >95rpm which is +20 on my traditional cadence, but power way down on where I want it to be at this stage.

Friday
a easy 8k run legs felt like lead

Saturday
a party the night before and one | two too many drinks meant I missed my morning window and I didn't get another one:(

Sunday
Got to bed early and still slept till after 10, my planned 3hours out the door again.
did get 90min on the turbo later just spun the legs.

Monday
Hard cct training session, followed by a handy 5k slog.

BennyMul

Tuesday:
easy 9k lunch time run, pace ~4:50

Evening,
6*5min (2min) BG work,
power ~250w
cad 45-49

Wednesday
30min cct session
a good tuff session body tired at the end of it.

Evening
Met MCOS for an easy jog around the city.
~11k

Thursday
5K easy run at lunch time

Evening
2*20min sweet spot
power is simply crap at the moment, I am trying to do these at 95+rpm where in the past I would have been done in the 70s

Friday and Saturday
due to complete laziness not done

sunday
Young lad up doing a cool projectile vomiting trick all night had me spaced in the morning.
so was close to missing another session, so on to the turbo and a nice easy 90min spinning

Monday
30min CCT training
followed by a very easy 5k run.

BennyMul

so Christmas cam and went and very little training done, the only thing of note was more conditioning around my waste

So last week I began
Sun 28th:
Easy 20k run; just ran no watch nothing.

Monday
nothing :mad: great start

Tuesday
4*10min BG (5) all done slightly above FTP,

Wednesday
Planned a nice run, the young man came with me on the bike; and just out side the village an Alsatian came after us, so I stopped to get it to go home, and the .... stood barking and not moving. after a few more expletives I turned to tell Josh to keep going and ouch wtf look down and he has bitten the back of my leg, Josh gets a fright as I do lets out a few loud F's
He comes back to me and the dog go for him, I stick out the leg to stop and he grabs my other leg, Jesus that hurt. after a few missed kicks he fcuks off,
down with the leggings to see the damage and blood flowing down both legs,
So on we went and finished the run mainly to down play the whole thing as the wee man did get a fright.

Thursday and Friday off
legs to sore

Saturday
did the first hour of sufferfest blender,

Sunday
55k easy just spinning the legs,

Monday 5th
9k easy jog, met Mossym for a tad and chatted he went one we another.

Tuesday
Lunch time 30min cct training.
was quite hard and felt tired at the end,

Evening
3*15min BG (5) again slightly above FTP,
feeling ok during this.

Wed
missed lunch time core session due to work, so got an 8k recovery run,

Thurs
30min cct training

Evening
6*3min Vo2 @ 115% FTP (4)
hurt like a .... but happy I got it done.

Friday
an easy 12k lunch time run.
evening a nice handy 2k swim

Saturday
was planning a road spin, but slept crap and ended up sleeping till after 10,
so on the rollers for 90min, just spun the legs all Z2
and from reading other threads sleeping in was not a bad call.

Sunday
up early and on the road for a nice easy 65k, again just spinning the legs

A pure sign you don't have bike fitness, you look at the watch expecting to have 2 hours done and you are only 80min,

Monday
a nice easy 9.5K run in 50min

catweazle

Did you follow up with the dogs owner - that kind of mishap would drive me crazy. Whatever about the small Pomeranian that tried to take a bite out of me yesterday an Alsation is a different matter altogether.

Did you have to get a tetanus shot?

mossym

Easy run lunchtime wednesday if you are on for it, and it's not snowing so bad i work from home?

BennyMul

catweazle wrote: »

Did you follow up with the dogs owner - that kind of mishap would drive me crazy. Whatever about the small Pomeranian that tried to take a bite out of me yesterday an Alsation is a different matter altogether.

Did you have to get a tetanus shot?

I did follow up with the owner, and he was genuinely upset (also happy it was me and I didn't make a big deal out of it) he has since put the dog down, as it was a guard dog and he could not trust him again,
I do feel bad as there is no way i wanted the dog destroyed,

@mossym will ping you in the morning on the run, cheers

BennyMul

Tuesday

nice hard core session for 30min at lunch time

Evening BG time
9*5min(1)
felt ok for this the power for each 5 was ~on FTP just spun for the 1min rec.

Wednesday
Snowed in (could not get the car up the drive) so planned lunch time run canned,
Said I would change it till later that evening, as I had to head into limerick.
Leaving for limerick and there was horizontal rain and forecast of a bag storm, the young lad in basketball so canned it in case there was a power outage and he was left stranded with me off somewhere.

Thursday
40min core work at lunch time

Evening
plan 10 2min @VO2 (2)
got the warm up done and the first rep, not too bad power slightly lower than I would like,
Starting the second, and a tap on the shoulder.
The boiler is making a weird noise, so off the bike to look
after 40 min of looking the circulating pump was gone, and what appeared to be no water in the pressurised system so no heating :mad:
at this stage it was after 10 and I was frozen so shower and bed

Friday
Plumber said he will be at the house around 12, grand head to work get home early meet him and get a run or finish last nights session
4 O'clock and he arrived didn't leave till 7 with still no heating no run / bike
But thankfully the young lad had swimming so off the pool with him
an easy bad 2k and home to an ice

Saturday
Plumber I will be there at 9:30 simple job 2 hours max to change the pump.
so hanging around 1ish and he turns up,
Not a simple job but we have some heating, I stress some
He heads off after a few hours as we think its ok, just taking its time to warm up,
well its not right, so feck this on to the bike,
did Thursday night session
Not to bad it hurt alot after 7 reps but got there,
Once done back with my head in a boiler, and there is liquid dripping out of it
was this diesel or just water ?
thankfully just water, so onto the plumber again

Sunday I'll be there early, so grand hanging around.
Then a call I wont be there till later this evening,
Thats grand on to the rollers for 2.5 hours spinning; 40min and he turns up.

show him the water and "ohh fcuk" you need to replace the boiler
so again standing around in cycling gear I was frozen, the house is very cold (heating could not break during the summer could it)
So yeah a new boiler and stuff needed, so needless to say I didnt get back on the bike last night, I was mighty pi$$ed off

Monday
It twas cold getting up this morning.

an easy lunch time run 9.5k ~5:15 pace.
was out with one of the lads here and had to hold it back as it was feeling to slow so good sign I suppose.

RacoonQueen

Well my house is nice and warm now

Hope you get it sorted soon...I felt your pain...was handy for turbo though.

Pmaldini

i presume you have the mattress next to that lovely stove of yours tonight:D

BennyMul

Pmaldini wrote: »

i presume you have the mattress next to that lovely stove of yours tonight:D

I did think about it, believe me but no. stacking it fill with anything I can find and leaving the doors open to see if I can some heat out.

and it will be Wednesday before we get the new one so another 2 nights of brrrrrrrrrrrr.
Its not like its to be cold tonight :rolleyes:

BennyMul

Whooo hooo new boiler today.
ohh to have heat upstairs in the house.

tuesday
hard cct training working on upper body and core.

evening
plan 6*10min BG (1)
a nice 5min warmup and the power meter not working :mad:

into the first rep and felling grand, 3 min in and snap the chain breaks
$%" $%£
off and fix it,
back on and finish the rep, the rest went past no problems
having said that the last one was tuff legs were not sore just tired and fecked.

spun for 5min to relax them.