Swimming makes me run faster?

I haven’t written for a week, not because I haven’t wanted to, but I have been reading other blogs and the generally quality shames me! So rather than scribble anything down I wanted to have something to say.

Last weekend was a mini tri training weekend. Swimming and turbo on the saturday, followed by my first run in 4 months. Having come to triathlon from a running background, albeit a slow one, I have deliberately not focussed on it. If I can be fit enough for the swim and bike, at least for a sprint triathlon I figure the run will take care of itself. And I could always walk…..

More seriously though, I have been playing 5 a-side football once a week, so I do get to run around, but as many a teacher has ever told me, focus on your weaknesses. Swimming and to a lesser extent, cycling are very much that – weaknesses! More on my swimming travails in my next blog, but back to the run.

I loved it! Bitterly cold, bright blue skys and a route along the Thames then through and round Battersea park. Watching the sun come down and having the reflections come of the water onto my face was magic. And to top it all off I deliberately took it easy, really relaxed and actually found I had some decent base pace – 6.5km in 33 minutes with lots in the tank. How I ran at this pace (12km/hr), my old quick speed, I don’t know, but I have 2 theories:

1. Having suffered with asthma all my life, I think the swimming may be having a big impact on my lung capacity in general

2. By really relaxing and not looking at the watch I wonder if I get more out of my muscles for less effort?

Looking forward to running more this weekend, snow allowing.
If you have thoughts on my training then let me know.
Keep on running
Maccatac

Tags: asthma, cycling, Ironman, Running, Swimming, Triathlon

Crowded swimming

I must be getting serious. At 6.35 this morning I am in the medium lane with 12 others. Now I am doing some leg drills, so every 2 lengths I am stopping to try and get just the right gap. I spent so much time waiting for gaps that I was late getting home to wake my wife! Tired, morning sickness and late equals grumpy!

My other gripe is why do 5 quick swimmers think it is OK to hog 2 lanes between them whilst the lesser mortals fight it out. Now there is a slow lane for older folks, which I think is great, but to top my frustration off, there is an open area which could have 2 lanes or be used by the order guys but insn’t. Instead 4 more quick swimmers hog it by going up and down a straight line. Us beginners need all the help we can get and don’t need to be treated like a battery farm chicken! GRRRR

Grump over. The session went OK. I love the feeling of getting home at 7.30am with a swim already behind me. It makes you feel alive and the pain of getting up is always worth it.

Tags: Triathlon

Broken Glass

Grrr. Broken  glass in the showed. Problem was I put it there after dropping my deodrant. Sorry to everyone effected at the Queen Mother Leisure Centre in Victoria (London).

Managed 4 x 200m swim. Very tired. With 50 WU and WD nearly at 1000m in a lesson.

Below is my reward

Tags: Ironman, Running, Swimming, Triathlon

Watts

If anyone reads this and has any idea what cottage to cycle at, then let me know?

Ugly fingers

Pleased to confirm a new inner tube has resolved my indoor tyre punture issue and my shiny new turbo trainer was purring away a treat last night. Managed to fit in 40 minute session (30m at 180 watts, 5m WU and WD).

I even mananged a quick swim this morning. Covered 700m in total with a mix of drills and technique concentration. Had to cover my sliced finger though (see previous entry), it really is offensive.

Going to aim for 300m non-stop this weekend!

Knifes and Swimming

Being the dutiful husband, on getting home last night I set about making a cracking dinner of Parma Ham wrapped steak, with a steamed carrots, runner beans and loads of mash. The problem arose when I got a bit cute with the 10 inch knife and sliced the side of a finger clean off – kind of. Blood a-gushing, I managed to finish making the meal, but I know have an even uglier finger with heavily bandaging to go!

Unfortunately I have thus had had to avoid the pool this morning – unfair to leave a watery red line behind me, but don’t fear, I will be getting on the turbo tonight. That is if I can solve the riddle of the indoor puncture ….. the link below discusses my travails!

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/forum/forummessages.asp?URN=12&UTN=187365&SP=&V=1#9683506

 

Tags: runnersworld

Triathlon Heros

Ever thought that an Ironman sounds cool. Scrap that, have you ever thought that anyone who has ever done a triathlon, any triathlon is cool or must be must be mad; but inside, secretly, you are impressed and wished it were you? Well that’s me. For a couple of years now I have talked about doing an Ironman – you see it’s a life goal of mine – but in reality I still can’t really swim. I tried a super sprint (400m swim required) last summer, yet after 3 lengths I was exhausted and had to break for a rest. So the concept of swimming 2.4 miles really is mad!

Mad it may be, but I want to try and therefore I have signed up for the Crystal Palace Sprint Triathlon in May to get me going. Only the 750m to swim then …. and the rest! I hope this blog helps keep me motivated and ultimately drive me on to an Ironman. If it puts me in touch with others who have been there, are suffering the same fate or are just interested, then all the better.

Here we go …..