Ive done it!

I made it! . Seeing the finish line and be able to gather enough adrenaline to sprint all hell towards it! Wow - it was hard but I really proud of the time. Finished in 1hour and 44 mins. Was actually the most rewarding thing I've ever done!


Official times: Swim 22.01 - Transition 05.01 - Bike 44.21 - Transition 03.32 - Run 29.39.


A reasonable performance coming in at 218 out of 600 female competitors! I will wear this smile for at least a few weeks!

RESULT = Totally exhausted!

Click HERE are some pics!

Taper, taper, set...GO!

The past 10 days have been good, solid training.
Sunday 5k run
Monday 5k run bricked with 900mtrs swim
Tuesday 70mins cardio in gym, treadmill, xtrain and bike
Wednesday Spin class
Thursday early am 6k hill running
Friday bike loops in regents park
Saturday - a well deserved R&R day out
Sunday - am 90min fast bike ride and 6k trail run on the heath

This week is all about the 'taper' rest and recuperation! So Monday was a steady swim, Tuesday a gym cardio session and Wednesday run and spin class. Today is pure rest - and Friday should be a super short run - just to remind myself of what's in store...

Food wise I am trying to follow the rules by keeping hydrated, lots of fruit and veg, complex carbs and wholewheat pasta planned for pre-race dinner tomorrow....

I feel good though - this training feels like an accomplishment - I have made lots of sponsorship for the BHF, just the act of receiving kind words of support from so many people has really made the training- and it is hard to ignore the physical benefits of this training too: 6kg lighter, 11 inches loss from my body measurements (all over - not just my gut!) - results all round!

Perhaps the reality hasn't dawned - the race pressure might hit me. But i keep reminding myself - it's the largest novice race in the calender so reassuring - oh, and it being the largest mass participation triathlon in the WORLD!

........

2 weeks

14 days and 1 hour to go!

Yikes and my race number came with the wave start time in the post this morning....THE REALITY IS UPON ME!

But on the whole I am feeling much better - although the cold/cough hasn't completely subsided, I do feel 90% back to myself so after a training week, which SHOULD have been the most intensive so far - but really consisted of a Monday gym/ bike combo and run/ spin class on Wednesday, the week was fairly relaxing - I got a bit angry and disappointed with myself for not being well enough to train. But I'm hoping I have turned it around and now trying to stay positive for the next 2 weeks no matter what life throws at me! And in the dubious wisdom of a crazy American tri-obsessive Jay Martin "whatever negativity and inferiority you feel in training, that negativity will come with you on race day...banish it now and enter competition feeling fierce and ready to WIN" (yup - good strategy?)
This morning, I swam 850meters, ran to the gym, biked 20k and ran 5k on the treadmill. If I can do this in training so no reason I wont be able to do it on the day...how fast is not my concern- finishing is! The money I raised so far has really spurred me on to do this and I thank you all for your support!

So I have my start time, 3.30pm Female Sprint Second Wave. My number is 1618. I have the next 2 week to do an intense week - concentrating on timings, techniques and transitions. The 3 T's of Triathlon!

Bring' it on :)

Resuming the level

Ive been so tired and busy since last week that by Friday the late nights and new job had taken their toll on me and woke up on Saturday with a stinking sore throat, sinus and headache! Nightmare! and meant that the three days I had skipped training were then added to the enforced illness break...
But I am feeling better now, so hit the gym early and had a steady workout. Then went for a training ride after work, 4 loops of regents park outer circle. The real test is how I feel Tuesday morning...

4 week countdown!

here we go - time to get all 'serious' about training...ha! I laugh in the face of such dedication. No really, I haven't given up I just have a LOT on at the minute! New job :) So the past week had 2 unplanned rest days - and a fair bit of social time but feel like I redeemed myself with a long bike ride on Sunday. Quick recap of what was the first of 3 solid weeks of good quality training:
Monday Gym AM and bike ride PM 45mins hill repeats Swains Lane (awful and too hot!)
Tuesday Gym 15mins xtrain, 35min treadmill run, 10min bike and all important stretches
Wednesday Body pump class, weights and 45min spin class
Thursday really enjoyable 9.31k run round Regents Park, lovely sunny evening :)
Rest on Friday and Saturday...few shandies and fry up didn't help!
Sunday at 6.30am - the reward of beautiful sunshine and empty streets in central London, made the cycle adventure worth the early start - biked for 2hrs incorporating 5x Outer Circle loops at 11mins per 5k (on that basis I'm hoping for a near 40min bike performance on the day)
That wasn't enough - the endorphins flew through my bloodstream so ran up the stairs with my bike and back down with runners on for a brick 5k run! a good 28mins too.....
Luckily the afternoon reward was BBQ and fun times with friends so all worth it.

And tonight - the most perfect evening swim in the Lido, sunny and with a few days of nice weather the water could almost be described as 'warm' so treated myself to a non-wetsuit swim (22 lengths of 60mtrs). I have never seen it so busy at that time, all of NW5 had a similar idea for a cool dip...a fabulous reminder of why I really do love London...sometimes.

Fundraising Cake Sale - Pieathlon for Triathlon!

Yippee the fun part of training - baking and eating cakes all in aid of fundraising! So we had a fab turn out at the office fundraising cake sale, special thanks to Libby, Cathy and Paul who contributed with their culinary skills :)

I managed to sell cakes on Thursday and Friday making £105.60p! Amazing really considering it's a 'health' charity! :)

From adventures of a very amateur athlete

From adventures of a very amateur athlete

From adventures of a very amateur athlete

Training wise (bar eating the cakes) it has been a fairly good week - cycled the Outer Circle at Regents Park last Tuesday 4 loops of 5k, there and back, so a good 25k ride. Gym sessions for strength training on Tuesday with a 5k on treadmill, rubbish failed run in the rain on Wednesday (manged 5k - badly), an energetic Spin Class on Thursday, Swimming on Saturday morning followed by a tiring hill/trail run with Graeme.
Started a new week with an early gym session 25mins Xtrainer and 5k run - stretches and weights - despite the rediculous weather - heat this time hitting 32c , I also managed a quick bike round Hampstead - up Swains Lane (I admit stopping half way up! Must get better at gears!) and through Spaniards Lane. Easy enough but VERY HOT and sweaty when I arrived home....
Onwards and upwards, 4 weeks to go - have some podcasts to get through discussing mental attitudes and positivity during the race which I'm hoping will stand me in good stead.

swimming in the rain

After waking up at 6am on Saturday, I was feeling ready for a bike ride but the inner tube I had replaced had gone down overnight and didn't dare risk another embarrassing walk back with the bike. So in order to redeem my wasted attempts I went for a punishing 10k run through the heath. It was almost perfect that early - none of the usual 'on-trend-runners' with their inappropriate fashion wear and dj headphones! Took in some hills and varied the pace. As I was feeling energetic I followed it with 1.2k swim in the lido - good but still feeling outta shape and slow in the pool. I was feeling on top form at 9am sat with a coffee when it was all done! However, the rest of weekend was spent enjoying food and booze, so kinda back to where I was before come Monday morning! ah the perils of modern living!

Rain is becoming more than just a tiresome inconvenience, so instead of a bike ride had to brave the lido this evening. Strangely everyone else had the same idea :)
It's Wimbledon week so rain looks set to continue...grrrr hurry up summer come back soon. I need to get back out on the bike and make the most of the light evenings.