SBR Challenge 2014

There'll be a queue on Monday for the BIG weekend updates from at least 2 of us

Sorry to hear about the off Pmaldini, hope all is well.

Bambaata wrote: »

Im first OA!! (For a short while no doubt!)

Just entered my August totals. Balance has returned to The Force. I'm sure it's the first time I have been first overall. It was a long time coming. I expect Fazz will be along with an update soon to knock me off my perch though.

zico10 wrote: »

Just entered my August totals. Balance has returned to The Force. I'm sure it's the first time I have been first overall. It was a long time coming. I expect Fazz will be along with an update soon to knock me off my perch though.

I've really neglected my online updating as of late that's for sure!

2 weeks in Thailand didn't do much for my July figures but I kept fitness with 8 or so hours a week anyway.

Must check my monthlies soon and update when I can to see where I'm at.
Knowing you though Zico, I'd say you are still up top!

All on track? Last build before Kenmare?

zico10 wrote: »

See, I was right. You did go top!

Hope you enjoyed Thailand and any warm weather training you managed to squeeze in.

I've been off work since the start of July and I've had plenty of time to train. It remains to be seen if I've been spending the time wisely though. I don't know if I've struck the right balance between bike and run training, but I won't make any drastic changes at this stage. I'm not going down to Kenmare, doing the half up in Groomsport on Sunday instead. That will give me a better idea of where I'm at. I've been taking it easy this week in the build up to Sunday. Then I'll ramp it up again on Monday starting a three week build, which will finish with a mock race day on 5/6th September.

Thailand was amazing, and the heat and bit of warm weather training I did was class too. Ran on a 500m track there which was fun, one of only a few in the world apparently.

Came back refreshed and launched into my last big block.
Groomsport is a good idea, works well timing wise for you unlike Kenmare for me but so be it.
I'm still not sure if I can fit my last big brick - aka mock race day in as I'm prioritising some other workouts at the mo which are paying good dividends.
Not overly concerned if I don't, I know a lot swear by it, but I've done a 5 hr bike at just below IM watts and ran off it. I don't see a whole lot of value in doing a 2hr run off a 5hr bike, will leave that for race day.

Tricky to know the balance like you say, you're bike does look a little on the low side but may creep up this month. All about the quality anyway and your run volume is well up there so will carry across no doubt.
What works for one doesn't work for others as I've learned the hard way this year so stick to your plan, I'm sure you know if it's working and on track.

Best of luck on Sunday! Heard they changed the course so no more stopping at lights. Times prob won't compare to previous years but hopefully some competition up there for you to benchmark off.

Kurt Godel wrote: »

Zico- half a million m's in the water for 2014- thats the only figure that impresses me, well done man. There's a bottle of Bordeaux likely if you don't drown first from chlorine poisoning;)

Seriously impressive figures all round!

I saw before your edit you had me credited with half a million kilometres. For a mathematician, that was some pretty appalling sums.
Thanks though.

I'm gone into overdrive with the swimming now. Hoping to get to take it up a notch or two this winter, then hopefully I'll be able to maintain that form into next season.

Exceptional figures zico, really putting the rest of us to shame.

joey100 wrote: »

That's some serious swimming in the last month Zico. Are you getting in every day? What sort of improvements are you seeing in your times?

I'm swimming 5/6 times a week. I miissed my Saturday morning swim last week as I was out Friday night. I would have made up for it on Sunday only I wasn't in Dublin. A pity because Peter told me to do 10x400 and I like to do exactly what he says.:)Three of the sessions are coached, so I'm happy quality work is being done. Since the start of the month I spent 90 minutes in the water anytime I went to the pool myself. So it starts to add up. (Still some way off the 120+ kilometres Dory Dory swam in May.

90 minutes feels like a long time, but I think if I can get used to it, I'm hoping it will make my 3.8km IM swim next September feel like a piece of pi$$. Obviously I hope to become a more efficient swimmer in the meantime, but volume worked well for my running and biking last year and I want to try the same with my swimming.

Re times; 12 months ago I wouldn't have broken 7 minutes for a 400TT, last week I managed 6.34. Last year I was probably swimming hundreds off 2 minutes, now I reckon I could hold 1.50 for an hour. I think it takes a while to see any significant improvements with swimming, but two weeks before the 6.34 400TT, I swam 6.45. I'd like to think I can get it under 6.30 before Christmas. There could be several reasons for the 11 second difference, and the real test will be in races next summer, but I feel I am improving.

I'm getting more confident in the water, which I think will be crucial. Also I think I'm starting to realise what it means to work hard in the water, which is not as simple as it sounds.

catweazle wrote: »

Was the swim short in Mallorca Zico or did you just outperform, a 1.02 without wetsuit - I would have thought your 400pb would have been quicker

I didn't have any GPS to measure it. I was told by other people it was a full 3.8k, but based on my time I find that hard to believe. Some pros came out of the water in 45 minutes, which for a non wetsuit swim was incredibly fast. So make of that what you will.

Dory Dory wrote: »

Two words: skin suit.

I have a skin suit, but I'll save it for proper races. An improved 400m PB isn't all that important to me.

Do skin suits really make much of a difference? Anyone able to quantify the value - e.g. on average 1s over 100m etc. Not that we get any opportunity in tri in Ireland I suppose but for the odd pool race is there any value over a standard trisuit?

Dory you need a 2 in 1 and ditch the changing in T1 http://orca.com/ie-en/w-rs1-killa-race-suit/

Trouble with this is over here wetsuits are mandatory in all open water tris, and there are so few pool tris to make sure of a good skin suit. Are they legal for Swim Ireland OW races does anyone know?

catweazle wrote: »

Was the swim short in Mallorca Zico or did you just outperform, a 1.02 without wetsuit - I would have thought your 400pb would have been quicker

My rationale is that people underestimate the effect of how salty the med sea is and the boost this gives. I swam 31min for the half there and measured it 1.96km iirc. I wouldn't get anywhere near that in fresh water (swam approx 40 mins in shadowman 2 months later, albeit that course was way long...)