Jog On...

23/04/12 - Free Run (Treadmill) When I first saw the training plan back 6 weeks ago, I was dreading this week, I knew it was going to be a hard one, and the first session of the week was a long run. I do miss running, as I used to do a lot in last years training schedule but I need to work on other areas in my triathlon training so the running had to be cut. As this was going to be a hard week I didn't want to kill myself on the first session of the week even though I managed 9.5 miles in 90 minutes on the treadmill. I wish I could go outside and run but I've only got the time to get into the gym and then back to work. Free run was on the cards today, I started the session at 9.5 min mile pace and when I loosed off about 3 miles I upped the speed to 8 minute mile pace. I managed to keep the heart rate relatively low, again the HR monitor has had a spike which I think is down to the machinery, as my heart rate hasn't seen 223 for years so I doubt this is right very m

The lovely people at CompressportUK  have sent me a pair of arm sleeves to try out and and review. Compressport keep on produced top quality products for all athletes and a must for the training essentials to keep you warm this triathlon season. As soon as you take them out of the box you can see how good the quality of these are, they are made with the athletes needs in mind. They are well fitted (They come in a number of sizes just like there other products) and are really easy to get in to. As soon as you have them on you can feel the 360 degree compression all the way from the grey band at the top of your arm, all the way to the wrist. I always worry about over heating while training, so I have tried to put on as less layers as possible, so when I got the arm sleeves I was worried that I was going to sweat more, this meaning that I'd have to take on more liquid for my training. This is NOT the case with these, the thermo technology that goes into the arm sleeves is

16/04/12 - Interval Run Session (Treadmill) Back training with a new drive, after a recovery week last week I was keen to smash my first session back and make it a hard one. By hard one I mean get into T5 for some parts of the session. This session was all about how my legs and lungs can cope with the change of intensity in the session of 75 minutes. It went really well the session was a mixture of 2 intervals for the 75 minutes. 5 minutes T3 15 minutes T5 It definitely broke up the treadmill session, and made it that little less boring, I know I should be outside in the light now, but I think all this training indoors is making me soft.. so much for wanting to be an Ironman. Session Details Duration 01 15 00 Distance 8.13 Miles Average HR 157 BPM Max HR 172 BPM 17/04/12 - Rest Day 18/04/12 -  Swim Session (Penlan Pool, Swansea) Its been a while since my last swim session on the training plan so I was keen to get in the pool, and it was a longer session that the

09/04/12 - Rest Day 10/04/12 - Free Run (Treadmill) A simple 75 minute run in T3/T4, my legs felt great after a few days off since the long ride on Saturday. The pace for the session was only at 08.57 minute mile pace, which is a bit slow, I know I can do 7 minute mile pace for a half marathon but should I be training harder and be working in T5 most of my sessions, the joys of training in T3/T4 is that I'm not to tired to train the following day. I'm trying to follow my plan to the letter, so fingers crossed come race day I'm in perfect shape and get the best time possible. I tried my hardest to keep in the T3 zone for the run, but for the last 10 minutes, I went off piste and pushed myself and tipped into T4. It was a good feeling knowing I've got power left in the tank after an hours run, just hope the power is there after 50 minutes of swimming and 3 hours of biking. Session Details Duration 01 15 00 Distance 8.35 Miles Max HR 177 BPM Average HR 155 B

  Thanks to Tom at S&X Media for the pair New Balance 573 off road trainers. This has been my first pair of off road shoes and all I can say is how surprised how light, comfortable, and water proof these trainers have been. When I think of off road shoes, my first thoughts are bulky, heavy, dull, boring, Wellington boot like.. these New Balance 573 are far from it.. they are an amazing off road pair of shoes.   I have used the trainers in cross country and off road half marathon races and they have performed on all levels, to a great standard. My feet stayed dry for the whole race, and I ran through some streams, bogs and ditches and the trainers repelled the mud and water and any surface water left on the shoe soon dispersed. The grip on the shoe is brilliant, I had plenty of traction throughout the race and even in the deep mud, and excess mud on the sole very quickly came off so I could climb hills with ease. The trainers looks great, the yellow and grey detail stands out

02/04/12 - Rest Day 03/04/12 - Brick Session (Swansea Pool of Wales & Swansea Sea Front) This is the first brick session that I've done that is from the pool to the road, and it went pretty well, there was some stiffness in he arms when I first started but that soon went, and as I was still wet from the pool I didn't have a chance to get on my tights so it was a cold one for me.It was great to swim in a different pool, it felt like a completely different swim, and I had to fork out for new goggles as I left my predators at home. The session was an endurance effort swim, a full 2000 meters in one hit and then straight out for the run (I did have to change first though). I managed to complete 8 minute mile pace run, and maxed my heart rate out at 176 BPM, it was a flat run, but a cold one, so I pushed hard to get out and back as it was sushi for tea. I can see from the training plan there are more of these to come so I'm keen to get another one under my belt. Ses