Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try

July 10th - 16th

Bike:
90 miles for the week, usual commutes both long and less long. A mix of awful wintery weather and lovely summery weather for the week.

Swim x 3 (and a bit!)

Monday PM: Swimming lesson. Unlike front crawl I never learned to do the back stroke as a kid because I couldn't get my ears in the water, my physio was recommending I should to help my ongoing shoulder issue. I thought this would take a few lessons to master as I'd zero experience with it and any time I've tried it I just sank! But the lovely Karl is so clear in his instructions I got the key points immediately.
Thursday Lunchtime: 425M / 17 lengths. Was WFH in the morning and heading to the office after lunch so took the opportunity to stop at the pool on the way in and do some practice. This was just a mix of front crawl, breast stroke and some back stroke practice which went very well.
Sunday AM: 475M / 19 lengths pre lesson practice, got to the pool half an hour before the lesson and did a mix of breast stoke, front crawl and back stroke lengths. Followed by 30 min lesson, did some revision on back stroke and then focused on push turns. Turning in the pool is probably the last thing holding me back from getting some good sessions in - next up tumble turns :eek: that scares the hec outta me but we'll see what happens at the next lesson which I'm hoping will be my last - I"m hoping to join the local Tri club shortly and wanted to have a min standard (probably need to have) before doing that, hopefully I"m there now. Possibly time to move on from here if I do that too.
Saturday AM: Might as well mention this although not technically 'swimming'. Went for a dip off the Bull Wall after the inaugural Fairview parkrun with some of the Hartstwon crew including fletch. Was very refreshing on the legs for sure but we had to walk about half a KM to get up to thigh dept as tide was out, so didn't stay very long. So another weekend gone with no open water swim practice. Am getting very nervous about the thoughts of doing the swim part of the Lough Key Tri, I haven't signed up yet.... Not sure I should be attempting it with no sea swimming so really need to get my skates on and get over the fear. I can swim in the sea on holidays with no problem but here feels different for some reason..

Runs x 2, a whopping 6.7 miles for the week
Saturday AM: 3.1 miles @ 9:43 avg hr 145.
Headed to Fairview for the inaugural parkrun. Along with every RD, ED, core team member and regular parkrunner in driving distance by the looks of it It was a beautiful day and lovely to catch up with so many from here, Nop, Anna, Denis, FBOT, FerrisB, Wubble Wubble, MrsMc, Laura, aquinn, killerz (who'd just run a night marathon :rolleyes:) and no doubt am missing a ton of others - forgot BG! Who was marshaling and giving great support! Started off near aquinn, MrsMc & Laura, the other two went off after a while and I was glad Laura wanted to keep it nice and easy, chatted on the way round. It's a challenging enough course at race pace no doubt, I enjoyed it, particularly the down hill grass bits, I really hope they don't tarmac over them!!!! Yes it might be a bit mucky in winter but sure that's what trail runners are for :pac:. Headed off then for the dip in the sea and then ended up in The Food Room for a well earned brunch! I'll be back to do Fairview again but have some more tourism to do in the next few weeks, no more volunteering until I get to 50 parkruns!
Sunday AM: 3.5 miles @ 11:39 avg hr 120.
Slow plod around DCU/Albert Park before my swimming lesson, lovely sunny day and not as humid as yesterday thankfully. Was a bit tired after a beer last night although really enjoyed it - went to see Beguiled in the Light House Cinema, weirdest film I've seen in a long time, not sure what to make of it TBH, fab cinema though! Anyway, plodded around the park taking it very easy.

Got bloods done earlier in the week, it's 6 weeks since she increased my meds and I was just getting more tired each week. Luckily I found somewhere that gives same day results so no waiting around for 3 weeks yay! Sure enough got the call the next morning from the specialist to reduce back to 15mg - I'd already done this on the Sunday - might ditch the specialist and just self medicate from now on , It will take a week or two to properly feel the effects but am noticing small improvements in energy already although still taking a few naps here and there. Woody and I spent the afternoon doozing in the sunshine #lovesundays.

Really happy to see things on the up for you AM

Just enter the tri. You'll be able for it

Good to see ya Saturday AM

Dear AGYR

We can confirm successful payment of your membership fee.

•TI membership - Race Licence
•Club membership - Activmultisport TC - Adult M'ship June - Dec

Your status has been set to Active.

Triathlon Ireland

The dark side just got a lot brighter (for me)

career move wrote: »

You just have to move forums now and your transformation will be complete

I'm just packing up the last of my things, will be over shortly - stick the kettle on for me :pac:

Testosterscone wrote: »

Ya's aren't getting another one that easy. We put up a fight for the remaining good ones as you guys got enough in the divorce

Aw shucks isn't it about time there was a reconciliation! It'd certainly make things much easier!! Maybe I'll start a campaign.

The Black Oil wrote: »

Ya wha?

I know, it's a bit mad ted, you have to have a licence to take part in any Triathlon (and many duathlons too). I've no idea why, something to do with covering you for insurance, you have to join TI before you can join a club too but I guess that's the same as being a member of Athletics Ireland when you're in a running club.

Annie get your Run wrote: »

Aw shucks isn't it about time there was a reconciliation! It'd certainly make things much easier!! Maybe I'll start a campaign.



I know, it's a bit mad ted, you have to have a licence to take part in any Triathlon (and many duathlons too). I've no idea why, something to do with covering you for insurance, you have to join TI before you can join a club too but I guess that's the same as being a member of Athletics Ireland when you're in a running club.

The best of luck with the plans , will you have to wear a big red N in your first race?

Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try...

Thursday 20th July Open Water Swim - a whopping 304 yards

Went out to Skerries to try my first OW swim with the club. I was more than a little nervous, the last time I was in the water in Skerries was last year sometime with the scuba club and all I remember from that was feeling seasick! Also, believe it or not I'm painfully shy and hate meeting new people in large groups. Luckily I already knew one of the girls. Anyway, rocked up at 8.30 (who am I kidding I was there at 7:45) got into the wetsuit and made my way down to the water with everyone else. It was fairly rough looking with big black clouds over Balbriggan, thankfully they stayed there. Got into the water with not much fuss and followed the others out, one guy was leading the group, everyone else followed. Out was fine, back was no so fine, battling against the current the wetsuit felt like it was choking me. Made it back in. More instructions from the coach and off we went again, out and back, same struggle. Couldn't get the breathing thing down at all, felt really uncomfortable putting my head in the (very choppy) water so I swam head up. Did one more out and back and then decided enough was enough. By the time I got back to the car I was quitting, then I had a little chat with myself.

So, I need a lot, lot lot more practice in the pool before I attempt that again, and, I need a better wetsuit. One of the girls said mine is for surfing #morto. But, having chatted to the coach while the others were doing a million more out & backs he said that some of the guys weren't brilliant swimmers when he took over last October so there's hope, right? I need to stop having unrealistic expectations of myself, and I need to look into a proper wetsuit!!

I'm in awe of you for just trying! Most wouldn't, including me. Fair play to you.

Annie get your Run wrote: »

Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try...

Thursday 20th July Open Water Swim - a whopping 304 yards

Also, believe it or not I'm painfully shy and hate meeting new people in large groups.

Isn't this why we get into running in the first place? Nice and safe and solitary. The whole experience sounds quite daunting. Fair play to you for getting out there and giving it a bash. No doubt you'll make great progress in time. It sounds like you've approached it sensibly, with getting lessons and now joining a club. Best of luck!

Have to say I really admire your ability to turn your hand to anything and your willingness to try.

A lot of people would have long given up on an active live. You are fantastic in your approach to trying to find something that your health will allow you to do.

I'm terrified just reading about the open water swimming and I'm in the safety of the indoors. Fair play to you girl!!

Younganne wrote: »

Have to say I really admire your ability to turn your hand to anything and your willingness to try.

A lot of people would have long given up on an active live. You are fantastic in your approach to trying to find something that your health will allow you to do.

I'm terrified just reading about the open water swimming and I'm in the safety of the indoors. Fair play to you girl!!

Ah thanks Anne, that means alot, especially coming from someone who ran a 50K and is hopefully going to be pacing DCM!! The admiration is mutual

diego_b wrote: »

Good stuff for giving it a go there AGYR/AGRS...tbh we'd be very comparable on the swimming front there. I had a stiff neck after my last attempt at swimming last week as the water was so choppy I couldn't put my head down for long....but it was better than the first time I went out and I'll be out again next week and it will be better then too.
At the moment I am going swimming on my own as a bit embarrassed to go swimming with friends and that until I can hold my own for a bit longer, it's literally like being a child again as I have long since many years forgotten how to swim proper.

What's AGRS? Or do I want to know . I can understand that too D but equally you can learn really quickly from others, don't leave it too long before joining a group - how are you getting on with your wetsuit?

Well done AM on your jumping off point with the sea swimming, and I'm not saying it will be same for you, but was talking to someone recently that does sea swim events and can cover couple Miles easily in pool but said she needs to get out to the sea more, as she struggles with 500m in sea, so maybe getting out to sea swim maybe if more benifit, but you are the tri fairy after all so fell free to ignore :P