January 2011 Stats

Swim: 6.53km, 2.2km/hr - more and faster. Yay!
Bike: 244.76km, 17.1km/hr, 3220m el - epic climbing achievements but low - again ice!.
Run: 32.38km, 8.1km/hr, 494m el - sensibly low for the time of year but faster.
Other: Backcountry skiing:79.39km Resort skiing: 166.53km
Strength: 1:02 hours - not enough.

Memories from the Lymm Triathlon

Lymm Tri Race Report

A hell of a weekend

I shouldn't have booked two bike tests in one week - neve mind left both till the end of the week then taken a brave decision to try to do both in two days.

1:09 spinning on Saturday followed by a 5km run.

90km freezing cold ride to Matlock. OK during the day but my god, when the sun went down, we shivered ourselves out of Sheffield and pumped the pedals just to get warm and get home as quickly as possible.

What a ride though, I can't wait to do it in the summer when we can actually stop in Matlock and enjoy it.

Note to self: The cafe near the roundabout at the end of Eccleshall Road is bloody cold and not worth visiting. What's the point in a cool caf?

Proper started

The last few weeks have been a build up / rest before starting properly... and what a way to start.

We decided to go riding tomorrow because it's going to be warmer tomorrow but I had still planned a 37km spin as a gradual build-up to some racing speeds later in the season, as well as the 90km bike climbing test I'd lined up for tomorrow.

So this morning I put Red on the turbo trainer and pounded out an hour & 10' of spinning in the living room with the conservatory door open for some cooling outdoor air.

I thought it might actually be interesting to keep a record of the shape of my legs this year so I took this before I hit the bike.



By the time I'd finished I was in the mood for a brick training session so (after a long transition involving dry clothing, hat and gloves) I put on the running shoes and did a short lap of the village.

I was suffering quite accutely from a left hamstring issue. Tried tightening the shoe but by the time I got into the village, I had to resort to removing the corrective insole from my left shoe. This seemed to work - no more hamstring pain and no more of the hip and knee pain I was experiencing on Thursday.

I took a run down a footpath but it got me nowhere except muddy and I retraced my steps and instead of doubling the distance, I took the shortest route home. Frightened by an ambulance overtaking some dumbfuck on a blind corner with a car coming the other way.

It must've been about 2:30 when I got in so we ate a big bowl of Puchero each and I spent the rest of the day cleaning and doing food shopping by way of recovery.

More of the same tomorrow.

What was today?

Still knackered in the legs from yesterday. Took a swim instead with new paddles and watch. Awesome but I'm not sure on use of the paddles so the legs got a bit of a kicking work out.

Only managed 30 lengths but about 20 were toughies. I really shouldn't swim after friday's Pork sandwiches.

1st run to work this year. 1st run in 2 weeks.

had a storming run to work - there's SO much oxygen in the air at this altitude. Shame about the run home. Achey hips, sore knees, out of breath on all the homeward hills, walking, chronic cramp back in the house. Still 12 minutes off previous best. Not bad.

Tri Lessons Learned 2010 season

Notes on last year's season - finally:

Good things I already do:

1. Packed transition box
2. Reference the transition point
3. Drive / ride the bike course before
4. Cool down / warm up in the water before the swim.
5. Garnier summer sun moisturiser helps to get a wetsuit off
6. Helmet on the bike saddle to make sure it's on before I un-rack and off only when the bike is racked.
7. Tie the pump on the bike to risk a ride without one.
8. Turn off computer auto-off and leave running on the bike in TX to save fiddling.
9. Arrange a rest week. 2010 end of season suggests one week of activity prior will help a finish like Todmorden.
   

Things I found out:

1. I can always dig out more at the end of the run. Make sure you know where to put it with a recce.
2. Get to the start line early.
   

Stuff to resolve to do or try out:

1. You have a number belt now - use it.
2. Get a run around the course beforehand.
3. A protein drink on the bike like after Ingleborough last year & take PS22 with.
4. Keep a small flask of coffee in tx incase Ullswater is really cold.
5. Save Go hydration and sugar for the run.
6. Eat something on the bike now we're doing long races.
7. Reign in the bike and save some for the run.
8. Protein food on Helvellyn.
9. Run your own race and ignore everyone else.