Jog On...

Another day closer to race day, so this morning I've been packing my race/transition box.  I had yesterday and today off the training so I'm fresh for Sunday. I was lucky enough to get a sports massage yesterday on my legs, it was gratefully received and very much needed. I've even missed the open water session today which I really enjoyed last week on my birthday, so I must be keen to get a good time. So whats in the box.. Swimming hat & goggles Towel, this will be for me to stand on in transition, a quick dry off and off we go. 2 pairs of socks (I'm going to see how I get on with the socks thing, I'm temped to not to go on with putting socks on after this race. Well see how the transition goes. Talcum powder, this will help me put my socks on with wet feet. Vaseline, To help with chaffing.. say no more. Plasters and tape bag, general first aid bag with scissors etc. Jelly babies, Energy boosts on the go. Grab a few and scoff them down. Water Bottle,

Well another long weekend is here and I've be waiting all week for it, 2 things really.. the first, I've got 4 days off then 3 days back in work and then I've got another week off on holiday. The second, its my first triathlon race on Sunday so im ready for it. The club run tonight was 4x   (2x 1min @R, 1min jog + 2min @R, 2min jog) I normally do this session at 100% and I really enjoy it. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy today, but I took my foot off the accelerator and went at about 70% all the way through the session.   During the warm up I did managed to get my heart rate up to 179 beats per minute but that was some how in the warm up, but the average heart rate was only 137 so I felt great at the end of the session and definitely not so sweaty.  It was a small attendence on the club run tonight, im not sure what everybody has been doing recently, perhaps they are all at the royal wedding, the sun isn't going to be here much longer so the perfect running

After a long weekend I was back in the office today, it was like I hadn't had the days off, it was back to 100 mph were I left it last week., But enough about the office more about the training! I want to take it easy as im competing on Sunday so I decided to get out on the bike and do an easy cycle, the normal 9 mile route and take it easy on my legs. My parents bought some new Planet X cycle jerseys, a nice short sleeved yellow one and a long sleeved sky blue one. I wore the new yellow top tonight, and I had my Oakleys on.. I looked like a yellow jersey winner at the tour de France, but without the team car following me and talking about cars I over took this old granny in her micro-machine of a car going down the back lanes. I sounds like I was hammering it but I think it was only 20 mph! I still fell quite lonely on these routes I don't see many people and all I tend to see is cattle, sheep, lambs and today it must have been walk your horse day, I passed 2 sets of peop

Happy birthday to me, and how do I celebrate my birthday, sitting down, chilling, eating lots... no! I decided to get up at 7:30 this morning to get out for my first open water sea swim. I had the call late Sunday night to say some of the club were meeting in the morning for a swim so me being me I never turn down a chance to train. We met at 9am sharp and we were in the water by 9:05, I managed to get my new wetsuit on with no troubles, it was a great to get get some use out of the suit that I wasn't sure I was going to get about a month ago as the supplier went bust. The sun was beaming down and it was pretty hot at that time of the morning, and getting into a black wetsuit only made me hotter, until I stepped into that water... oh my it was cold. After letting some water down my neck by opening the top of my wetsuit it took my breathe away! I stuck my head under the water and I couldn't see a thing, but that wasnt an issue, it was the taste of teh salt water... It made

Today was just another "keep loose" 5 mile run, im into my taper now and im really looking forward to my first tri next /Sunday, so this time next week it will all be over and I'll be able to tell you all about it. I had been out all day visiting a Welsh museum with my parents in law so when we got home my lovely wife made a Sunday dinner while I went out for a quick jog. I'm sticking to 5 miles max for now on runs so I keep loose but don't over do it,  so I ran the same route as the other day, I know the roads so I could take it easy on the up hills and stride it out on the downs. Even though I took it easy, I still managed a personal best for the route! On the way home I had a extreme pain in my side, it felt like a "stitch" pain, so I loosened my HR belt and this seemed to help. I still worked hard on the workout as I got that PB and my legs feel great, and to top it off I did the whole set at an average pace of 7 minutes and 24 seconds! I have br

Its a bank holiday, which can mean a number of things, but the main thing.. NO WORK! The day was mine, well sort of. We've got the in laws coming to stay for the bank holiday so im sure we will be busy so I hope I get time to get my runs in. Im not planning on going any further than 5 miles runs until after next weeks race, Its long enough for my legs to get a work out and short enough to give me a good recovery. I ran the same route as the other day, and it was just as hot with no breeze. Its brilliant to be out in this hot weather running in my Oakleys, I just hope this weather is here to stay. Saying that the sun still doesnt bring any other runners out so I think once again im the only runner in Swansea. I was lucky enough to see the air ambulance come into land when I was running past the hospital, I made a bloody racket but the pilot managed to land the chopper on a six pence, I find it hard enough parking the car so god knows how they make it look easier in the massiv

Today work started early and finished early, well with work that is, early as in 16:30 and thats the earliest this week. It was great to get home and have a relax before I went out for the club run, the weather has been lovely and its been really depressing watching the sun from the office, and what made it worse was that some people  from eh triathlon club went for the 1st sea swim of the year :( and I missed out!. I was looking forward to this run session, it was the same set as last week, its a killer but great for the speed work. 7 x (2 min Hard, 1 min jog, 1 min  Hard, 30 secs jog, 30 secs Hard 30 secs jog) Hard = 98% max HR. I worked hard in this session, and managed to clock in 7.33 minute miles for the duration of the session which I was happy about. I definitely left the underarmour and skins at home tonight and I was drench by the time the session was finished, I love running in the sun and the Oakeys I purchased from New York were my best running purchase todate.

This week has been a meeting overload, along with trying to do my normal job and attending all these meetings it has delayed me going home by 2 hours each day this week, which has been killing my training plan. I was planning to get out of work, go watch the Wales ladies team play against Luxembourg, go for a long run and then watch the Spurs game. Well none of the above happened to plan! I was late leaving work so I missed kick off with the Wales footie, missed the chance for a long run and I had to pick my wife up from footie so I was going to miss some of the Spurs game... GREAT! I got out on the road and planned my 5 mile route. It was still boiling outside so I wanted to so a quick, short sharp run in time to get home for the start of the Spurs game. I have run this route a number of times, I used to do it alot last year as 5 miles was enough for me.. but not any more. The road was really quiet apart from the summer flies and I was lucky enough on a number of occasions to get

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I felt relatively fresh legged after the long bike session on Sunday, and after getting on the treatment table my legs felt in good condition. I had a day full of meetings so I was really looking forward to running as it looked lovely outside, to good to be in the office and I should be out running or some physical activity. When I arrived at run club, it was decided that we would run a beach run! Oh No! I dislike beach runs, yours shoes get all sandy, wet and the surface is a nightmare to run on... Also it was sunny so there we people on the beach eating barbecues so it makes you feels jealous as you should be catching the sun and not running. The plan of attack was 1km beach and return run on the road, I definitely felt alot longer than a 1km. At the end of each set we had 1 minutes rest. I tried to sit with the 2nd group of runners as the 1st group are insane-ly fast!. I was very happy with my my times as I competed with the front all the way through the session. as we did the

I decided to rest my legs Saturday, I still felt a little groggy from the long run on Friday, I don't know why I just did. It felt funny not running on a scheduled day but I got over it. I've got 1 more long run scheduled and then I can start to taper for my event on the 01/05/11. I had a lazy morning watching the marathon in bed, and decided that I would go out on the bike today, I commented on our club Facebook page to see if anyone else was out on the bike today and lucky for me 2 lovely ladies from the club were off out so me and my wife tagged along. Its was a brilliant ride, we met at 12:30 and went all the way along the coast line, there wasn't much climbing involved and it was mainly flat and I got up to 26 MPH. It was a brilliant ride and my bum isn't to numb after it either. I do have sore quad muscles so im hope I can get on the therapy table and get my wife to help me out with some of the aches! not any many as those who ran the VLM today.. well done e

After my unpredicted rest day and the ladder session form yesterday, The long run was moved from Wednesday to Friday. I decided to run the same route again, I do on the bike, its a quiet road so its ideal for running... so you thought! The first 5 miles was fair to good, and I recently bought some of the Maximuscle Viper Gels, the lemon and lime flavour and to be fair they taste great and I they work to which always helps! I took it 45 minutes in, I tend to use refuels only if im out for longer than an hour, I've been using Lucozade Sport for the past 12 months, but im getting fed up of carrying a 500ml botttle on the runs so I've changed to gels.. as they fit in my pocket and its nice to forget about it and and think "Ooooo I've got a energy boost in my pocket!". Well after the 6 mile marker, Its the home straight, there are a few bends in the road, nothing mad but I made sure I wore my hi-viz shirt so there was no excuse for people not to see me.. well

After yesterdays rest day I was ready to rock today, I had a manic day in work but 6pm couldnt come quick enough. Todays session was back with the triathlon club and it was a big ladder session. 7 x (2 min 98% Hard, 1 min 85% Recovery, 1 min 98% H, 30 secs R , 30 secs H, 30 sec R) It was a cracking set and we have moved location, its closer to home so next week im going to run to the session. It was the furthest I've ever run tonight in a ladder session tonight, I clocked in over 5 miles. I did work hard in the session, and the rest day definitely has helped me. I felt funny not running yesterday, but I'll just move my rest day from Friday.. so long run day tomorrow. We had some rain before we left the house so I wore my lightweight rain jacket and summer Under Armour, what a big mistake it acted like a sweat suit, I was drenched when I finished the sets. I think I also need to take some hayfeaver tablets as my nose felt like it was swelling, its that time of y

Even the walk to work was hard work today, I was hurting from yesterday, Sundays and even Saturday sessions. I think I could be in for a unexpected rest day tomorrow, we'll see how my legs feel in the morning. I was grateful it was a pool session today, I have been enjoying my swimming and I think my endurance and speed have got alot better since I first started. Even though I didn't swim the normal 2000 meters tonight I did a hard session on the 10 x 50 meter sprints. I haven't really tried sprints in the pool before, it was quite enjoyable but very tiring on the shoulders,  I think I will have to use this technique when it comes to entering the sea, from the starters gun.. But I doubt I'll be able to sprint more than 50 meters.. Any super dooper sprint triathlons out there that are just 50 meter swims :) The pool tonight was bloody freezing, But i soon warmed up and forgot about the temperature, Even my goggles didn't mist up! The pool stayed quite empty a

The chosen session today was a 5km time trial, I was keen to get some speed in the session but I new my legs were still tired from the long run on the weekend, But that wasn't going to hold me back. So, after our mile warm up we arrived at the Swansea 5km series start line, 30 seconds recovery from the warm up jog and off we went. It was a lovely evening and at clear views helped distract my mind from my tired legs. The route is an out and back course and as I raced last year I knew where the turn was and where the pain kicks in. I did some training last year, not as much as this year by any means but I knew the time I wanted to beat 22:34. After puffing some more I got to the turn and a split of 9 and half minute split, I was VERY happy with this, but then you turn, into the breeze.. It was only a little breeze but enough to alter your rhythm and one thing you notice with running 5km is that your always on the flat out marker, the rev meter is always on the red.. as you alwa

After my 10 miler yesterday I woke up with stiff legs, I was scheduled a long bike session today but as I don't have another day off till next Friday I want to keep my legs in good condition to last till then, so I decided to do a short bike and short run. My wife decided she wanted to tag along for this session as I planned to take it easy, she led the way on the bike most of the way so I enjoyed the drafting to give my legs a break, We decided only to do 5 miles on the bike, but after being out there for 4 miles I felt I could have gone on further, but that wasn't the aim of the brick session today, it was to cope with "jelly legs". After the relatively easy bike ride, it was home, quick dismount, and change my shoes and off we went again. Today I decided to wear my new 2XU triathlon suit, I did wear a Nike running shirt over the top of it and im still not confident enough to go out in just the triathlon suit. It was very comfortable and the padding on the butt he

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I had a crap nights sleep I think I was dreaming about running as I woke myself up a few times with "twitchy" legs, breakfast in bed didn't turn up so I thought I'd get out there an hit the pavement. Saturday is the planned long run day and I was in 2 minds it was going to be 10 miles or 13.1 miles, my wife is borrowing her friends road bike and she told me she could pick me up at the destination but I only had hour or so to finish so I went with the 10 miles set. The weather was stunning and ideal for running, so I missed breakfast (tut tut) and put Oakleys on and off I went... oh and my ipod ofcourse! Its a great route to run, its the local cycle path route, from our house to the centre of Swansea and across the sea front. The light breeze on the sea front helped cool me down, its about 6 miles in so it was great relief to cool me down. I paced myself all the way on the run, I did work hard, but I made sure there was more in the tank as I've got a brick t

Today's session was back with the triathlon club, it was a stunning evening again and ideal for running, the sun was setting and it was perfect temperature. The numbers have been quite low recently, im guessing because a few of the runners are doing the VLM so they are tapering. The session was a ladder session 4 x (1min 98% Max HR & 1min recovery) 1 x (2min 98% Max HR & 2min recovery) 1 x (4min 98% Max HR & 4min recovery) 4 x (1min 98% Max HR & 1min recovery). I really enjoy these session, the only bad thing about them is that it stops you getting a rhythm, its not that bad actually! The laps show on average im covering the same kind of distance in each lap, which show im not tiring during the session, But the stats lie I was cream crackered by the end! Lucky for me its a rest day on Friday so my legs can get a day off but I've got to cut the lawns! Todays session Duration 00 50 29 Distance 5.07 Miles Calories 663 Max HR 176BPM

What a beautiful day and its excellent conditions for training, Lucky for me thats what im doing, tonights choosen session was the bike! I managed to get out of the office 30 minutes later than scheduled so I had to turbo walk home, get changed and get out on the road. I had chosen my route before hand so I knew where I was going, I thought!. I was following the route I ran and cycled last week but after looking on google maps I had found an additional 5 miles or so to the route so I set my sights on 15 miles-ish.I motored around the first 5.5 miles, I must have been on for a PB, well I've only done the route 3 times so I doubt that's hard! Then I moved on to new territory... And to start with a massive bloody hill, the thought went straight into my head, why am I doing this new route it looks all up hill... oh yes it was. I carried on the route for 2 miles and none of the terrain looked familiar to google maps when I checked earlier, but I still carried on until I got to

I was ready for the swim today and my target is still to complete 2000 meters within the hour. It was also going to be a quick session because Spurs were on TV. The pool opens to the public at 6pm and I was ready to get it at 6:01. I decided to keep it simple again by completing 5 x 400 meters. The pool lane was really quiet again so I could practise my tumble turns and not worry about holding people up or bumping into them on the turn when I push off the wall on a squiff! My new goggles still work, they are still fogging up a little but its getting better, and I'm used to swimming in this hat stuff, I think it makes me go quicker and helps my breathing and makes my stroke better :) Well maybe not all of the above. I've noticed I need less time to recover from the 400 meters now and I am getting alot quicker, I think im doing 400 meters in about 10 minutes which im happy with as I've submitted 10 minutes in the next mini triathlon im doing. Fingers crossed I wont be a

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Well after my 2 days off, im back training. It felt funny not training for 2 days on the trot, my legs felt great and I was ready rock. The session today was 8 x 600 meters with 1 minute recovery. This was a killer set, we did the session in the local park, and it wasn't flat! in this 600 meters it had 2 down hills and 2 up hills, and you definitely feel it from the 4th onwards. It was great to be back training in a group as it gets very boring training on your own. The guys I train with are great motivators and point out improvements whenever they think something could be beneficial. 7 out of the 8 sets was great for me, but when I completed the 7th set I felt a tightness in my left calf muscle so I took the last set easier. Laps 2 to 18 are the 600 meters with the 1 minute recovery, lap 1 is my warm up and laps 19 to 21 are shuttle runs and lap 22 is the shower run. I was still happy, even after my 8th "take easy set" as still

Thank god Friday is here, its been one of those weeks in work and I was grateful the working week was over. I worked that hard in and out the office that I've definitely earned the weekend off. Today was a long run session, I decided to run the bike route I did the other night. Its the first time I've run it and it was a tough one. It was great to run a new route, with some cracking views. Its completed different to the normal urban route I do, the majority of the route is on the road, but the roads were deserted from runners, bikers, cars and horses.. even walkers... It was like everybody saw me coming and left! On the route I saw a cracking road sign, I've never see it before and it made me laugh at the 7 mile mark, which made me forget the pain in my legs, for a split second! Even though the route has a number of slow up hill gradients I still managed to keep to a 8 minute mile (and my legs are like steel) I was happy with the run. Its definitely warming up, su