The detailed results from Blenheim Triathlon were published today and as we all rushed to see the split details I found myself looking up the number of a lady who passed me on one of the run laps.
She struck me at the time because her number was easy to remember and her years, well let's say she was mature. I was quite taken with her and wanted to follow up if I could.
Anyway, I looked her up and learned that she was in the highest age group possible 55+ yet still managed to beat my overall time by four minutes - not to mention many others. How fantastic is that. I'm totally in awe of this lady. I love the idea that sport, of whatever flavour, offers people of all walks of life the ability to stay active, young at heart and involved for as long as people are willing to put one foot in front of the other. When I am her age I reckon I'd be tickled pink to think I was out there playing with and beating the young ones at something I had no right to.
Quite inspirational, I have to say.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
switching things up in the pool
On the back of my successful short run last night I decided a swim would probably be a good idea to counteract any tightened muscles and let me have a good safe stretch out this morning.
I also decided it would be a good thing to change the type of swim session I did. I normally just go straight into the full length pounding, my theory being that's what you do in a triathlon so it's good to repeat it to get my body familiar with the order of events.
Of course, that's fine when you're starting off and need confidence. Now that I've done a few of these events and "should" have no fear of the distance it's probably time to start switching my attention to getting faster and varying the sessions to help with that. Don't you love theory.
Anyway, I did 2 x 20 lengths (400m) followed by the fastest 10 lengths I could muster. I took about 30 seconds break in between each set and on the fast one really pumped my legs. The good news was I did a faster 200m than I would normally do. The test of course will now be to extend the sets and see if I can keep that pace up without drowning or having my legs fall off once I get out of the pool.
It feels so good to be able to think about it all though. After months of not being able to do anything through injury I was beginning to fear for my sanity and wardrobe. It's good to be back - making mental note, I need to take things very very slowly and listen to my body or it'll be for nothing and I'll be back to square one, injured.
I also decided it would be a good thing to change the type of swim session I did. I normally just go straight into the full length pounding, my theory being that's what you do in a triathlon so it's good to repeat it to get my body familiar with the order of events.
Of course, that's fine when you're starting off and need confidence. Now that I've done a few of these events and "should" have no fear of the distance it's probably time to start switching my attention to getting faster and varying the sessions to help with that. Don't you love theory.
Anyway, I did 2 x 20 lengths (400m) followed by the fastest 10 lengths I could muster. I took about 30 seconds break in between each set and on the fast one really pumped my legs. The good news was I did a faster 200m than I would normally do. The test of course will now be to extend the sets and see if I can keep that pace up without drowning or having my legs fall off once I get out of the pool.
It feels so good to be able to think about it all though. After months of not being able to do anything through injury I was beginning to fear for my sanity and wardrobe. It's good to be back - making mental note, I need to take things very very slowly and listen to my body or it'll be for nothing and I'll be back to square one, injured.
Monday, June 09, 2008
So far, so fine on the back front
Two days after Blenheim touch wood but things appear to be going well, so far. I cycled into work this morning and this evening without any problems. On the back of that I decided I wanted to go for a quick little run along the river to make sure I stay reasonably active. I reckon not moving could be just as bad as not doing anything - as long as it's not for too long and not pushing too hard etc.
Anyway, I did a lovely 25 minutes along the river bank and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was also careful to warm down thoroughly and stretch for almost as long as the bloody run itself.
The funny thing about the run? On those 25 minutes I bumped into 5 different people I knew who were also out for a run. Popular business, this running.
Anyway, I did a lovely 25 minutes along the river bank and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was also careful to warm down thoroughly and stretch for almost as long as the bloody run itself.
The funny thing about the run? On those 25 minutes I bumped into 5 different people I knew who were also out for a run. Popular business, this running.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Survived Blenheim
So today I rocked up to do Blenheim Triathon. The drive from London took almost three hours thanks to horrendous traffic in and around Blenheim Palace itself. All I can say is thankfully I decided to go early. For anyone looking to do this event in the future, go early, expect to be delayed.
Anyway got there, found parking miles from the transition but was there.
Getting in was easy (once parked) and the surroundings really are superb. I wonder what it wuld be like if the weather isn't so nice though. For us it was beautiful, warm but not too horrible.
Speaking of horrible, the water was very cold. The sign said 15 degrees but even with my wetsuit and two hats for the first time ever I felt cold in the water when I put my head in. Probably a good indicator. The state of the water was good though, not much floating about and no squeshy mud to wade through like Heron Lake.
I survived the swim but really struggled those last few meters due to the cold and my general lack of fitness. The trip from the lake back to the transition area is long and hilly. If you look at the transition 1 times of people you will notice that they are probably chunky - that's your reason.
The cycle was tough for me. Not because of fitness really, mainly because at best it could be described as undulating, at worse hellish. For my under strength back, long demanding hills were not on the list of things to do. Unfortunately there were many of them and while the going down trips were welcomed and nice, the up hills jut went on for long times and that strain was difficult to bear in parts.
By the time the run arrived I was definitely aware I'd been doing more activity than I've done in three months. Thankfully the run route was less undulating so even though it was in beautiful surroundings and not as demanding as the bike route it was all I could do to just get through it. All I wanted was for it all to be over. I was afraid if I started to walk I'd not be able to stat running again, collapsing in a heap on the grass instead.
Thankfully it didn't come to that and I finished successfully in 2 hours 13 minutes. It's hardly a time to set the world on fire, and much less than my last year's London 1 hour 53 but given the three months leading up to it I feel pretty luck I was able to turn up at all.
I'm sitting on the couch now, many hours later beginning to seize up. I've done as much as I can so will just have to see over the next few days. I don't anticipate much pain tomorrow. It'll be Tuesday before the real toll on my back will emerge. Fingers crossed it will be manageable and short lived.
Finally, thoughts on Blenheim? Beautiful location and we were blessed with the weather. There were some organisational challenges I'd prefer to see addressed (traffic queue in wasn't helped by slow access to the car park, need to improve the distance markers and finally I think the system of having the public and participants pottering about together on the journey from transition to swim isn't great. People in shoes, with prams and many many animals etc all shuffling along together not necessarily watching where they're going with the bare feet of the soon to be swimmers beside them). These are all relatively minor and perhaps just my experience rather than what everyone observed.
End of the day, I've done Blenheim and lived to tell the tale. Not bad.
Anyway got there, found parking miles from the transition but was there.
Getting in was easy (once parked) and the surroundings really are superb. I wonder what it wuld be like if the weather isn't so nice though. For us it was beautiful, warm but not too horrible.
Speaking of horrible, the water was very cold. The sign said 15 degrees but even with my wetsuit and two hats for the first time ever I felt cold in the water when I put my head in. Probably a good indicator. The state of the water was good though, not much floating about and no squeshy mud to wade through like Heron Lake.
I survived the swim but really struggled those last few meters due to the cold and my general lack of fitness. The trip from the lake back to the transition area is long and hilly. If you look at the transition 1 times of people you will notice that they are probably chunky - that's your reason.
The cycle was tough for me. Not because of fitness really, mainly because at best it could be described as undulating, at worse hellish. For my under strength back, long demanding hills were not on the list of things to do. Unfortunately there were many of them and while the going down trips were welcomed and nice, the up hills jut went on for long times and that strain was difficult to bear in parts.
By the time the run arrived I was definitely aware I'd been doing more activity than I've done in three months. Thankfully the run route was less undulating so even though it was in beautiful surroundings and not as demanding as the bike route it was all I could do to just get through it. All I wanted was for it all to be over. I was afraid if I started to walk I'd not be able to stat running again, collapsing in a heap on the grass instead.
Thankfully it didn't come to that and I finished successfully in 2 hours 13 minutes. It's hardly a time to set the world on fire, and much less than my last year's London 1 hour 53 but given the three months leading up to it I feel pretty luck I was able to turn up at all.
I'm sitting on the couch now, many hours later beginning to seize up. I've done as much as I can so will just have to see over the next few days. I don't anticipate much pain tomorrow. It'll be Tuesday before the real toll on my back will emerge. Fingers crossed it will be manageable and short lived.
Finally, thoughts on Blenheim? Beautiful location and we were blessed with the weather. There were some organisational challenges I'd prefer to see addressed (traffic queue in wasn't helped by slow access to the car park, need to improve the distance markers and finally I think the system of having the public and participants pottering about together on the journey from transition to swim isn't great. People in shoes, with prams and many many animals etc all shuffling along together not necessarily watching where they're going with the bare feet of the soon to be swimmers beside them). These are all relatively minor and perhaps just my experience rather than what everyone observed.
End of the day, I've done Blenheim and lived to tell the tale. Not bad.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Blenheim sprint tomorrow, gulp.
Due to do Blenheim Triathlon tomorrow afternoon. Should be a whole pile of fun. Not.
If it weren't for the medal and entry fee already having been paid I'd be spending the time trying to get my back back to normal.
Thinking I've not quite gotten my priorities right.
If it weren't for the medal and entry fee already having been paid I'd be spending the time trying to get my back back to normal.
Thinking I've not quite gotten my priorities right.
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