I have decided that my cycling must improve. I reckon my swimming will be OK - did 1500m yesterday morning and was quite pleased even though I had a row with a Dutch octagenarian halfway down the pool on lap 48.......simply would not get out of the way.
So last night I cycled 65km - it took me just over 2:10. But this is Holland so very flat. The thought of doing that three times is a bit frightening. Still only like running 15km and thinking that a Marathon is tough I suppose.
Anyway, running tonight but I might also try and get out on the bike while the weather is good.
So a bit of swimming a bit of runing and lots of cycling needed I think before next July.
Looked at buying a MTB for the winter today - that was after I realised the price of a 2XU wetsuit was way above my very small budget. Oh well, I will have to get a paper-round to fund this IM.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
....and again
It must have been the thought of a bacon bap that got me up again at 05:15 to swim at Datchet this morning.
This time I took my watch and swam 1500m in 28mins. It is so different from pool swimming. Now looking to buy a wetsuit and was offered a good deal for a 2XU Elite. Will probably buy it next time I am there.
So even though I am in the UK this weekend, I have swam 3km in OW and ran 10km - not bad considering it is about 26 degrees.
This time I took my watch and swam 1500m in 28mins. It is so different from pool swimming. Now looking to buy a wetsuit and was offered a good deal for a 2XU Elite. Will probably buy it next time I am there.
So even though I am in the UK this weekend, I have swam 3km in OW and ran 10km - not bad considering it is about 26 degrees.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Open water swimming - OMG!
If getting up at 05:15 wasn't bad enough then jumping in the lake a Datchet this morning at 06:30 was. However, after the first 750m I must admit to getting into a nice stroke and finding it quite fun. I swam 1500m, saw enough green weed to satisfy me for life and plan to do it again tomorrow.
What really shocked me (apart from seeing myself in a wetsuit) was the fact that there were around 300 other people doing the same thing. Still 45 mins later and a bacon butty in hand it didn't seem too bad.
What really shocked me (apart from seeing myself in a wetsuit) was the fact that there were around 300 other people doing the same thing. Still 45 mins later and a bacon butty in hand it didn't seem too bad.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Quietly getting on with it
Lots of action but no blogging.
Swam 2.500m on Monday and went for a 50km cycle last night. The running fits in later today and that is about what I am doing. At least one discipline once a day and sometimes I am fitting in a swim in the early morning and a cycle/run in the evening. I was looking at the finishing time last night and I reckon if I start at 07.00 I may just finish around 22.15 (giving me 45 mins before the cut off). Quite a thought. Hotel is booked now just need to recruit a sherpa and get the travel organised. And do a bit more training.
Looks like there will be 70+ Pirates making the trip.
Am off to UK for a few days for work tomorrow but will stay over for the weekend and work on Monday. So am going OW swimming on Sunday morning in Datchet, trying out a few wet suits and then the weekend after I am going to the Ardennes to cycle up and down a few hills.
Not sure now if I can fit in the Amsterdam Marathon in October as I really need to get the mileage in on the bike. I will have to make a decision closer to the time and see how I feel.
I must be mad.
Swam 2.500m on Monday and went for a 50km cycle last night. The running fits in later today and that is about what I am doing. At least one discipline once a day and sometimes I am fitting in a swim in the early morning and a cycle/run in the evening. I was looking at the finishing time last night and I reckon if I start at 07.00 I may just finish around 22.15 (giving me 45 mins before the cut off). Quite a thought. Hotel is booked now just need to recruit a sherpa and get the travel organised. And do a bit more training.
Looks like there will be 70+ Pirates making the trip.
Am off to UK for a few days for work tomorrow but will stay over for the weekend and work on Monday. So am going OW swimming on Sunday morning in Datchet, trying out a few wet suits and then the weekend after I am going to the Ardennes to cycle up and down a few hills.
Not sure now if I can fit in the Amsterdam Marathon in October as I really need to get the mileage in on the bike. I will have to make a decision closer to the time and see how I feel.
I must be mad.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
My biggest fan
Check out the specs!
The most beautiful 10 year old on the planet.
I love you to bits CB xxxxx
ps Where's Monk?
Monday, July 14, 2008
Henley splits
Well not sure whether to give up now or pat myself on the back. Strange really as this tri thing depends so much on the course (unlike a run) that it is hard to know how well or how badly you have done. So here are the splits:
Swim: 7:52 PB 49th place out of 165
T1: 1:20
Bike: 55:11 81st place out of 165
T2: 1:32
Run: 26.50 109th place out of 165 (yuk!)
Total time: 1:30:33 placed 85 out of 164 (a few seconds seem to have been lost - no matter, makes no difference)
Now compared to Stratford that is a whole lot slower due to the fact that the bike and running courses were up and down hill and I know I only managed an average speed of 29.2km compared to 32+km in Stratford on the bike. But the the swim was much faster. Where was I in my age group?
Stratford 31st out of 87
Henley 11th out of 20
Could it be that I have already peaked? I think that what seems to have happened is that the course was harder but also there were lot less tri virgins running - most of the other guys seemed to have done this before (lots of IM tatts, Cannondale bikes and shaved legs) and compared to Stratford that was a big difference.
Anyway, far too much analysis. On to Switzerland.
Swim: 7:52 PB 49th place out of 165
T1: 1:20
Bike: 55:11 81st place out of 165
T2: 1:32
Run: 26.50 109th place out of 165 (yuk!)
Total time: 1:30:33 placed 85 out of 164 (a few seconds seem to have been lost - no matter, makes no difference)
Now compared to Stratford that is a whole lot slower due to the fact that the bike and running courses were up and down hill and I know I only managed an average speed of 29.2km compared to 32+km in Stratford on the bike. But the the swim was much faster. Where was I in my age group?
Stratford 31st out of 87
Henley 11th out of 20
Could it be that I have already peaked? I think that what seems to have happened is that the course was harder but also there were lot less tri virgins running - most of the other guys seemed to have done this before (lots of IM tatts, Cannondale bikes and shaved legs) and compared to Stratford that was a big difference.
Anyway, far too much analysis. On to Switzerland.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
IMCH booked and thanks to the most beautiful 10 year old girl in the world
Oh well. My little sprint tri in Henley today didn't put me off - I am booked up for IMCH on July 12 2009 and that's about all I can say. Not sure whether to laugh, cry or seek some kind of phsyciatric help.
I had a wonderful weekend. Great Saturday with NE that made me think again about what I am missing out on still being here in Holland and a lovely meal on Friday night with someone special.
And Henley today. Great swim (my watch had it as 7:50), great bike which was so hilly I saw a few competitors walking it (and we had two loops so had to do it twice) but a slower run as that was up and down hil as well. Not sure what the official time was but I made it around 1:30:20
Also a few of the most important people in my life at the moment came and turned up to support. You know who you are and you were an inspiration so thanks from the bottom of my heart. And even though I gave simply the worse directions possible you were all smiling.......thanks xx
A final thank you to my wonderful daughter CB who wherever I am in the world and whatever she or I are doing, calls me at least twice a day to see how I am . And her wish of "good luck Dad for the triathlon" mean't more from her than had it come from millions of others put together. You are a star and a special little girl darling and I love you. x Please get better and hope to see you tomorrow.
So, who fancies a few days in Zurich next July then? The leiderhosen are on me.
I had a wonderful weekend. Great Saturday with NE that made me think again about what I am missing out on still being here in Holland and a lovely meal on Friday night with someone special.
And Henley today. Great swim (my watch had it as 7:50), great bike which was so hilly I saw a few competitors walking it (and we had two loops so had to do it twice) but a slower run as that was up and down hil as well. Not sure what the official time was but I made it around 1:30:20
Also a few of the most important people in my life at the moment came and turned up to support. You know who you are and you were an inspiration so thanks from the bottom of my heart. And even though I gave simply the worse directions possible you were all smiling.......thanks xx
A final thank you to my wonderful daughter CB who wherever I am in the world and whatever she or I are doing, calls me at least twice a day to see how I am . And her wish of "good luck Dad for the triathlon" mean't more from her than had it come from millions of others put together. You are a star and a special little girl darling and I love you. x Please get better and hope to see you tomorrow.
So, who fancies a few days in Zurich next July then? The leiderhosen are on me.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Nearly ready for next tri
Planning one or maybe two more tri's this summer. Next Sunday will be the first and maybe I will do another in Sept. Swiftly followed by Amsterdam marathon in October.
Swam 2,750m yesterday in about an hour then cycled another 30km later in the evening so I feel ready. I have also been running a bit - around 30km this week. All in all looking forward to being a Pirate again.
The big problem looks to be getting a starting slot at the IMCH as they seem to be offered and sold out in a matter of hours. I see that IDE sold out in less than 12 hours but last year IMA was done in 4! I am thinking of coming back to Holland late on Sunday evening, arriving home v late so that I have a reliable internet connection to try and register on Monday 14 July when IMCH opens. Must admit I didn't think it would be that difficult but it looks as if around 40 UK Pirates alone are going to do this - add in a few thousand Swiss and Germans and this thing may get booked up very quickly indeed.
Swam 2,750m yesterday in about an hour then cycled another 30km later in the evening so I feel ready. I have also been running a bit - around 30km this week. All in all looking forward to being a Pirate again.
The big problem looks to be getting a starting slot at the IMCH as they seem to be offered and sold out in a matter of hours. I see that IDE sold out in less than 12 hours but last year IMA was done in 4! I am thinking of coming back to Holland late on Sunday evening, arriving home v late so that I have a reliable internet connection to try and register on Monday 14 July when IMCH opens. Must admit I didn't think it would be that difficult but it looks as if around 40 UK Pirates alone are going to do this - add in a few thousand Swiss and Germans and this thing may get booked up very quickly indeed.
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