Have an excellent Christmas everyone! After a 5hr ride to Piha and round the Waitakeres yesterday I am biking to Hamilton the long way so about 150km today round the East Caost Bays, SH2 and SH27 to Morrinsville to Hamilton and back on Boxing Day an even longer way- 180km! Christmas Day I'll go for a run. I'll be spending Christmas with Bede's family, Margaret, Neil and Kate in Hamilton and the pressure's on me to make my pav! Lets' hope it doesn't sink!
Keep safe out there and enjoy the holidays spending time with loved ones. The countdown is on now as March 1 looms ever closer....
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Mac's Spring Tide Westcoaster Run
On Saturday I did the 18km out and back Mac's Westcoaster run on the Te Henga walkway from Muriwai to Bethells Beach and back.
I "downgraded" from the 28km when I realised that it would take me about 3hrs to do the 18km alone, and the 28km well about 5hrs..I needed to do a 2hr15min run so I figured that 18km was plenty!
What a beautiful setting and the weather Gods shone...I certainly have bruises, scrapes, rashes and cuts to prove it. The run was on a really narrow path, bush bashing was the order of the day, and I fell over so many times I lost count! Some parts of the track are literally crevasses, and some parts are just too steep to run. I have never walked in a run race before- well there's a first time for everything. Everyone was walking, so I thought, why waste my energy, if you can't beat them, join them! It was hard to pass anyone too on a track the width of my foot! The outward leg took me 1hr 16, and I was about 1hr 19 on the way back (which was harder) to finish in 2hr 35mins and I was 5tjh female overall.
A slow 18km but if you saw the course you'd realise why!! First time I ran with my new Nathan fuel belt- it was fantastic- I drank heaps, and had gels too as the course is really exposed, it was hot and breezy which made me so thirsty.
A great atmosphere put on by the guys from Total Sport and Mac's. Free beer from the lovely people at Lion ;o), free barbie, heaps of mini moros (my fridge is now full of them!) and the most beautiful setting.
My quads though were bu**ered afterwards. I managed my 4hr ride yesterday in the Waitaks and today I may just have to drop my run as my quads are screaming. So I'll head for the pool for some RnR.....
I "downgraded" from the 28km when I realised that it would take me about 3hrs to do the 18km alone, and the 28km well about 5hrs..I needed to do a 2hr15min run so I figured that 18km was plenty!
What a beautiful setting and the weather Gods shone...I certainly have bruises, scrapes, rashes and cuts to prove it. The run was on a really narrow path, bush bashing was the order of the day, and I fell over so many times I lost count! Some parts of the track are literally crevasses, and some parts are just too steep to run. I have never walked in a run race before- well there's a first time for everything. Everyone was walking, so I thought, why waste my energy, if you can't beat them, join them! It was hard to pass anyone too on a track the width of my foot! The outward leg took me 1hr 16, and I was about 1hr 19 on the way back (which was harder) to finish in 2hr 35mins and I was 5tjh female overall.
A slow 18km but if you saw the course you'd realise why!! First time I ran with my new Nathan fuel belt- it was fantastic- I drank heaps, and had gels too as the course is really exposed, it was hot and breezy which made me so thirsty.
A great atmosphere put on by the guys from Total Sport and Mac's. Free beer from the lovely people at Lion ;o), free barbie, heaps of mini moros (my fridge is now full of them!) and the most beautiful setting.
My quads though were bu**ered afterwards. I managed my 4hr ride yesterday in the Waitaks and today I may just have to drop my run as my quads are screaming. So I'll head for the pool for some RnR.....
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Taupo Half Ironman...if only I could swim...
Last weekend I did the Taupo Half IM.
When we arrived in Taupo on Friday it was cold and there was white water on the lake...not fun...but woke up Saturday to a calm but cloudy day, almost perfect conditions...
Starting off at 6.30am in the cold of Lake Taupo, my legs felt heavy in the swim and I really felt like I couldn't really be bothered racing, something didn't feel quite right. I hadn't tapered for very long for this race, and felt sluggish and tired. I stuck in there though and despite swimming way off course (as per usual), I came out in 35 mins, which will do me.
On to the bike....it was a good course, a bit lonely and a few bunches forming which were hard to stay out of, and a really bumpy road- it really takes it out of your legs, but I held a bit back for the return leg, which felt faster.
The annoying thing was you had no idea where you were as there were teams as well, so you were chasing blind. In Tauranga they number your legs with age groups- great idea to know who you need to make an effort to pass and those for whom you can conserve your energy! I paced the race well and it was a good race to try out the ironman course. It's an undulating course and heaps harder than Tauranga.
I pulled back a bit on the first lap of the run and only really pushed myself in the last 5km. My run time was quicker than stated as the times included transitions- I made it around 1.36. Great conditions, only a little cross wind on the bike, and it got sunny as I was finishing- wouldn't have wanted to be out there much longer! I didn't eat nearly enough as my stomach shut down and I had cramps on the bike. Then in the run I had pins and needles in my hands- a lack of electrolytes I presume, so I know I have work to do on the nutrition front.
I came 4th overall in the women in 5hrs 6mins. I would have had to really push myself too hard to break 5hrs that day. It was not my end goal of the year so I didn't go all out (even though I look completely buggered in the photos- they are awful!)
I'm relatively pleased with the result, and it was a good test of my fitness, and I didn't push myself to the limit, fearing injury on the run as my ITB band has been wickedly nasty to me recently.
So this week has been based around recovery and looked something like this:
Sunday: 1hr easy spin around Taupo
Monday: 45 min swim and 45 min run
Tuesday: 1.5hr bike all small chain ring
Wednesday: Running session and bike there and back, core and strnght work and intervals
Thursday: 2hr bike, 45 min run off bike
Friday: 45 min swim
My Mum's been up this week, so we have done heaps of Christmas shopping and catching up, putting the tree up and resting.
I have an off road a run race at Muriwai at the weekend- the Mac's Westcoaster run. I got a free entry so it will do as my long run for the week. It will be a toughie, at 28km, but it's just for fun. Sunday I have a 4hr ride, then back into training next week.
Good luck to all the Alpe Athletes doing Rotorua- go hard and look forward to hearing how you all get on.
When we arrived in Taupo on Friday it was cold and there was white water on the lake...not fun...but woke up Saturday to a calm but cloudy day, almost perfect conditions...
Starting off at 6.30am in the cold of Lake Taupo, my legs felt heavy in the swim and I really felt like I couldn't really be bothered racing, something didn't feel quite right. I hadn't tapered for very long for this race, and felt sluggish and tired. I stuck in there though and despite swimming way off course (as per usual), I came out in 35 mins, which will do me.
On to the bike....it was a good course, a bit lonely and a few bunches forming which were hard to stay out of, and a really bumpy road- it really takes it out of your legs, but I held a bit back for the return leg, which felt faster.
The annoying thing was you had no idea where you were as there were teams as well, so you were chasing blind. In Tauranga they number your legs with age groups- great idea to know who you need to make an effort to pass and those for whom you can conserve your energy! I paced the race well and it was a good race to try out the ironman course. It's an undulating course and heaps harder than Tauranga.
I pulled back a bit on the first lap of the run and only really pushed myself in the last 5km. My run time was quicker than stated as the times included transitions- I made it around 1.36. Great conditions, only a little cross wind on the bike, and it got sunny as I was finishing- wouldn't have wanted to be out there much longer! I didn't eat nearly enough as my stomach shut down and I had cramps on the bike. Then in the run I had pins and needles in my hands- a lack of electrolytes I presume, so I know I have work to do on the nutrition front.
I came 4th overall in the women in 5hrs 6mins. I would have had to really push myself too hard to break 5hrs that day. It was not my end goal of the year so I didn't go all out (even though I look completely buggered in the photos- they are awful!)
I'm relatively pleased with the result, and it was a good test of my fitness, and I didn't push myself to the limit, fearing injury on the run as my ITB band has been wickedly nasty to me recently.
So this week has been based around recovery and looked something like this:
Sunday: 1hr easy spin around Taupo
Monday: 45 min swim and 45 min run
Tuesday: 1.5hr bike all small chain ring
Wednesday: Running session and bike there and back, core and strnght work and intervals
Thursday: 2hr bike, 45 min run off bike
Friday: 45 min swim
My Mum's been up this week, so we have done heaps of Christmas shopping and catching up, putting the tree up and resting.
I have an off road a run race at Muriwai at the weekend- the Mac's Westcoaster run. I got a free entry so it will do as my long run for the week. It will be a toughie, at 28km, but it's just for fun. Sunday I have a 4hr ride, then back into training next week.
Good luck to all the Alpe Athletes doing Rotorua- go hard and look forward to hearing how you all get on.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
And I've got a job!
Well the contract will arrive today, I have verbally accepted at least! I'm going to be Events Manager for Thomson Brookers Legal & Regulatory. I will be organising legal events, seminars and conferences on new developments in the law for the legal community. It's a really challenging role, in a great company, who are really going places and there's a huge scope to develop the business. I start in the new year, so will continue my life as a pro athlete until then LOL!!!! Will be great to start earning some money to pay for the Ironman adventure!
K2 - it's not about the hills...
First of all, I know it's been an age since I posted anything on this site, but trust me a lot has been happening, and my blog disappeared on me so I've had to fix that too!.
The start of Ocotber saw me and Bede upping sticks and moving to Auckland from Christchurch. I finished my job in Christchurch and stayed around to supervise the move, and literally at the last hour, we sold the house!
Training has been easy to fit in, not having to work and I fitted in a ride to Akaroa and back from Christchurch, about 150km. I trained in Wellington on the way up to Auckland as well. To be honest it’s hard to stop yourself from overtraining when you aren’t working, but I've had plenty to do finding a job and a place to live.
Once I arrived in Auckland I found my way around by exploring a different suburb on each ride, round the Bays and through the Waitakeres. It has been quite nerve racking getting used to more traffic and coping with a multitude of punctures, to the point I think I have developed puncture paranoia!
The main focus of Ocotber was the K2. This is a 200km ride from Thames around the Coromandel Peninsula via Whitianga and Coromandel and back to Thames. Therefore my training programme for the last eight weeks building up to the race was based around long rides and hills, as the K2 is reckoned to be the hardest one day race in the Southern Hemisphere. I wanted to do a race which really tested my endurance on the bike as that is where I need to make big gains for Ironman. I have never really felt as though there was literally nothing left in the tank after a race, and the K2 should satisfy that I thought!
In the week leading up to the race, I did my last big ride on the Sunday, which was a bit of a mission. I biked to Raglan from Hamilton on the windiest day I have seen for ages, and I got a flat after just 15 mins which set me back a bit. It took forever to get there, at one point the wind was literally pushing me backwards. It was a real test in mental endurance, even though it was only 50km there! There was a lot of self talk (and expletives!) for sure. I treated myself to a moccachino in Raglan (caffeine and chocolate to keep me sane) and the return leg was 40 mins faster with the tailwind and the caffeine boost!
I didn’t taper for the race, as it was just a C race (A being Ironman, B being Taupo Half etc), and I planned to have a solid training day at a pace I could maintain for Ironman, test myself over the distance and try out a nutrition strategy similar to Ironman. The two days before ended up being totally off training though as I had a bad migraine, and my sister was in town, so I did plenty of power walking (well "shopping walking"/retail therapy perhaps!) and I felt mentally tired, and anxious in anticipation of the race. All I missed off my programme was a 1hr spin so I didn’t feel too bad.
The day before the race, I increased my hydration and decreased my fibre intake, by cutting back on veggies, salad, fruit (apart from bananas) and grainy bread. I heard that one Ironman pro calls this “going white”. To be honest it makes me feel mighty unhealthy, but I have to avoid the call of nature at all costs on the day!
I had a big bowl of spaghetti bolognaise on the Friday night and early to bed.
An early start and over to Thames on Saturday morning for the 7.30 a.m. registration and the 8 a.m. race start. I was a little nervous as this was my first bike race, but I consoled myself that I didn’t have to swim first at least!
I started steadily and got in a good bunch on the flat out to the Kopu-Hikuai hill- the first of the big seven climbs after 15km. It was a great long steady hill and I reached 85km/h on the way down!
After the next hill I found myself on my own when we reached the flat, and pegged it at the 35km mark to reach the tail end of the bunch ahead of me, which was hard work, but allowed me to test my interval power. As I approached Whitianga I realised how the time was flying. Just out of Whitianga I reached the 100km mark at exactly 3.5hrs, which I was surprised at as I was contemplating an 8hr finish time.
The main hill of the next 100km was just before Coromandel. It was described as “hors categorie” meaning it was beyond the 1-5 hill grading used for the ride! I loved it, a fantastic challenge. After whizzing down the next hill, I unfortunately got a flat at about 160km…but luckily enough a support motorbike man stopped and basically changed my tyre for me, and used a stand pump, so I was back on my bike after about 5-6 mins, but three or four girls did pass me during my unplanned stop. I was gutted, and the last 30km was a bit demoralising and I felt myself hitting the wall a bit. Fortunately a girl doing the K1 let me draft off her and carried me through- she said she had done the K2 the same way 2 years ago and understood what I was going through! I kept eating and drinking and soon came right. I was elated when we got into Thames and picked up the pace to finish strongly across the line. Funny that, whenever I see the finish line I seem to find my overdrive gear and finish at a sprint!
Nutrition wise, I used One Square Meal bars, bananas, jet planes, leppins, water, enervit and my new find- Apricot Naked Protein Bars. Seven hours is a long time and I ate at least every 30 mins. My stomach seemed to handle it all well, whether a marathon after would soon put an end to that I’m not sure!
My computer showed my time as 6.55. Officially it was 7.01 due to the flat but 7 hours was a good day’s ride. I was 8th in my category as well and got a spot prize too, which more than enough covered the entry fee.
It was a fantastic ride, beautiful scenery and I loved the hills. I felt that my hill work in training paid off, as did my big long rides. I pushed myself over the 150km limit previous to the race and sorted out a wee black spot after my flat to finish happy. I kept my pace to Ironman heart rates- steady expect for the climbs and tried to keep sat down most of the way and not to draft too much as you can’t in Ironman. You certainly have a lot of time to think abour things and to focus on the job at hand, and to keep your eyes on the prize which is of course March 1.
November - back to base training, the Harbour swim and building up for Taupo half IM.
Man it's getting close! K2 over, the focus for this month is getting back to base training over all three disciplines, and working towards Taupo Half Ironman in early December. My aim for Taupo half is to test myself to see where I'm at right now. I know I SHOULD race at IM pace, but I know I'll get sucked into "racing" and really want to go hard with the hope of doing a reasonable time. Afterwards my Mum's coming up for a few days Christmas shopping so I have a really easy week planned- the last respite before the hammer goes down for IM.
Looking forward to Christmas, and the rest of the summer I'll head down to Taupo a few more times to ride the bike course as I have at least 3 180km rides to do before 1 March and swim in the lake as recovery! The weather in Auckland was fabulous this month, and whilst job hunting I have had plenty of opportunities to enjoy the sun whilst training. Maintenance of aerobic endurance was paramount this month, building my long runs to 2-2.5hrs with a recovery bike ride of an hour afterwards, and my long rides to 5.5hrs. I haven't as yet joined a swim squad, expense being the main reason as I'm not working, and have been focussing on my own technique sessions and getting used to swimming in my new Blue Seventy Helix wetsuit at Parnell saltwater baths and in the sea. Swimming in a wetsuit is a lot different as it affects your bouyancy and body roll, so it's good to swim all the time in a suit, plus no more sniffles and colds from chlorinated pools! I have rotator cuff sopreness in my shoulder so I have dropped the paddles for a while and I'm compensating my using fins.
I did the Harbour Swim this month from Devonport to the Viaduct. I much prefer lake swims, but this swim was designed to take me out of my comfort zone and overcome my fear of open water....there are no sharks in the Harbour I kept telling myself! My time was 53 mins, which I found a little disappointing for 2.8km, but then with open water swims I for one never swim in a straight line and most of the time there was no one to my left so I reckon I swam at least 3km, and as heading home to Mission Bay at one point...but then I hate being in the mosh pit washing machine in the middle, so there's go to be a bit of give and take there. If I have to swim a bit further to avoid getting frustrated I will do, I really don't want to drown!
Right now I'm feeling pretty confident about my biking, having focussed on biking for the K2 and my running's feeling strong. I've been to a few sessions with Walter Thorburn and his "No Regrets" squad, which focusses on core strength exercises and interval training, much like a circuits class. One week I was very sore after the walking lunges, so it's working! I've also purchased a new Giant Trinity Alliance tri bike with some Grammo race wheels from Planet Cycles in Mount Eden so it will be put through it's paces at Taupo Half. They are a great bike shop, really helpful and I'm now sporting one of their jerseys, and I certainly get some envious looks on my new steed. The idea behind it is to get more speed on the flat, being more aero and leaving me fresher for the run, so I can execute my softly softly catchy monkey race plan.
So at the moment my training's looking like this through to the end of the year:
Mon - Distance swim 60-75 mins, 75 min undulating run, steady pace
Tues - 2hr hill repeats on bike, 20 min steady run, 10 min drills and 20 min core
Wed - Swim- intervals, Running squad/Stroke and Stride
Thurs - LSD run building to 3hrs, with 1hr easy spin on bike straight after
Fri- Technique swim
Sat - S/B/R brick, open water swim 45-60 mins, 2.5hr bike, 1 hr run
Sun - Long bike building to 180km/6.5-7hrs
I did my first Stroke and Stride last night in awful blustery conditions- a 1km swim and 3km run. Swim was manic mosh pit and the waves were pretty testing, then it was horrible on the run, but I love running in the rain! I went at a good pace, but didn't smash it completely as I have Taupo half IM this weekend. I think I finished in under 35 mins, which given the horrific swim, is not too bad. Like Lance Armstrong says wind and rain are your friends, if you can train and race in those conditions you can do anything. But fingers crossed Taupo is a bit friendlier on Saturday!
So day off today, a quick S/B/R run through tomorrow and I'll be on the start line in Taupo at 6.30 am! The first real test of the season....watch this space...
The start of Ocotber saw me and Bede upping sticks and moving to Auckland from Christchurch. I finished my job in Christchurch and stayed around to supervise the move, and literally at the last hour, we sold the house!
Training has been easy to fit in, not having to work and I fitted in a ride to Akaroa and back from Christchurch, about 150km. I trained in Wellington on the way up to Auckland as well. To be honest it’s hard to stop yourself from overtraining when you aren’t working, but I've had plenty to do finding a job and a place to live.
Once I arrived in Auckland I found my way around by exploring a different suburb on each ride, round the Bays and through the Waitakeres. It has been quite nerve racking getting used to more traffic and coping with a multitude of punctures, to the point I think I have developed puncture paranoia!
The main focus of Ocotber was the K2. This is a 200km ride from Thames around the Coromandel Peninsula via Whitianga and Coromandel and back to Thames. Therefore my training programme for the last eight weeks building up to the race was based around long rides and hills, as the K2 is reckoned to be the hardest one day race in the Southern Hemisphere. I wanted to do a race which really tested my endurance on the bike as that is where I need to make big gains for Ironman. I have never really felt as though there was literally nothing left in the tank after a race, and the K2 should satisfy that I thought!
In the week leading up to the race, I did my last big ride on the Sunday, which was a bit of a mission. I biked to Raglan from Hamilton on the windiest day I have seen for ages, and I got a flat after just 15 mins which set me back a bit. It took forever to get there, at one point the wind was literally pushing me backwards. It was a real test in mental endurance, even though it was only 50km there! There was a lot of self talk (and expletives!) for sure. I treated myself to a moccachino in Raglan (caffeine and chocolate to keep me sane) and the return leg was 40 mins faster with the tailwind and the caffeine boost!
I didn’t taper for the race, as it was just a C race (A being Ironman, B being Taupo Half etc), and I planned to have a solid training day at a pace I could maintain for Ironman, test myself over the distance and try out a nutrition strategy similar to Ironman. The two days before ended up being totally off training though as I had a bad migraine, and my sister was in town, so I did plenty of power walking (well "shopping walking"/retail therapy perhaps!) and I felt mentally tired, and anxious in anticipation of the race. All I missed off my programme was a 1hr spin so I didn’t feel too bad.
The day before the race, I increased my hydration and decreased my fibre intake, by cutting back on veggies, salad, fruit (apart from bananas) and grainy bread. I heard that one Ironman pro calls this “going white”. To be honest it makes me feel mighty unhealthy, but I have to avoid the call of nature at all costs on the day!
I had a big bowl of spaghetti bolognaise on the Friday night and early to bed.
An early start and over to Thames on Saturday morning for the 7.30 a.m. registration and the 8 a.m. race start. I was a little nervous as this was my first bike race, but I consoled myself that I didn’t have to swim first at least!
I started steadily and got in a good bunch on the flat out to the Kopu-Hikuai hill- the first of the big seven climbs after 15km. It was a great long steady hill and I reached 85km/h on the way down!
After the next hill I found myself on my own when we reached the flat, and pegged it at the 35km mark to reach the tail end of the bunch ahead of me, which was hard work, but allowed me to test my interval power. As I approached Whitianga I realised how the time was flying. Just out of Whitianga I reached the 100km mark at exactly 3.5hrs, which I was surprised at as I was contemplating an 8hr finish time.
The main hill of the next 100km was just before Coromandel. It was described as “hors categorie” meaning it was beyond the 1-5 hill grading used for the ride! I loved it, a fantastic challenge. After whizzing down the next hill, I unfortunately got a flat at about 160km…but luckily enough a support motorbike man stopped and basically changed my tyre for me, and used a stand pump, so I was back on my bike after about 5-6 mins, but three or four girls did pass me during my unplanned stop. I was gutted, and the last 30km was a bit demoralising and I felt myself hitting the wall a bit. Fortunately a girl doing the K1 let me draft off her and carried me through- she said she had done the K2 the same way 2 years ago and understood what I was going through! I kept eating and drinking and soon came right. I was elated when we got into Thames and picked up the pace to finish strongly across the line. Funny that, whenever I see the finish line I seem to find my overdrive gear and finish at a sprint!
Nutrition wise, I used One Square Meal bars, bananas, jet planes, leppins, water, enervit and my new find- Apricot Naked Protein Bars. Seven hours is a long time and I ate at least every 30 mins. My stomach seemed to handle it all well, whether a marathon after would soon put an end to that I’m not sure!
My computer showed my time as 6.55. Officially it was 7.01 due to the flat but 7 hours was a good day’s ride. I was 8th in my category as well and got a spot prize too, which more than enough covered the entry fee.
It was a fantastic ride, beautiful scenery and I loved the hills. I felt that my hill work in training paid off, as did my big long rides. I pushed myself over the 150km limit previous to the race and sorted out a wee black spot after my flat to finish happy. I kept my pace to Ironman heart rates- steady expect for the climbs and tried to keep sat down most of the way and not to draft too much as you can’t in Ironman. You certainly have a lot of time to think abour things and to focus on the job at hand, and to keep your eyes on the prize which is of course March 1.
November - back to base training, the Harbour swim and building up for Taupo half IM.
Man it's getting close! K2 over, the focus for this month is getting back to base training over all three disciplines, and working towards Taupo Half Ironman in early December. My aim for Taupo half is to test myself to see where I'm at right now. I know I SHOULD race at IM pace, but I know I'll get sucked into "racing" and really want to go hard with the hope of doing a reasonable time. Afterwards my Mum's coming up for a few days Christmas shopping so I have a really easy week planned- the last respite before the hammer goes down for IM.
Looking forward to Christmas, and the rest of the summer I'll head down to Taupo a few more times to ride the bike course as I have at least 3 180km rides to do before 1 March and swim in the lake as recovery! The weather in Auckland was fabulous this month, and whilst job hunting I have had plenty of opportunities to enjoy the sun whilst training. Maintenance of aerobic endurance was paramount this month, building my long runs to 2-2.5hrs with a recovery bike ride of an hour afterwards, and my long rides to 5.5hrs. I haven't as yet joined a swim squad, expense being the main reason as I'm not working, and have been focussing on my own technique sessions and getting used to swimming in my new Blue Seventy Helix wetsuit at Parnell saltwater baths and in the sea. Swimming in a wetsuit is a lot different as it affects your bouyancy and body roll, so it's good to swim all the time in a suit, plus no more sniffles and colds from chlorinated pools! I have rotator cuff sopreness in my shoulder so I have dropped the paddles for a while and I'm compensating my using fins.
I did the Harbour Swim this month from Devonport to the Viaduct. I much prefer lake swims, but this swim was designed to take me out of my comfort zone and overcome my fear of open water....there are no sharks in the Harbour I kept telling myself! My time was 53 mins, which I found a little disappointing for 2.8km, but then with open water swims I for one never swim in a straight line and most of the time there was no one to my left so I reckon I swam at least 3km, and as heading home to Mission Bay at one point...but then I hate being in the mosh pit washing machine in the middle, so there's go to be a bit of give and take there. If I have to swim a bit further to avoid getting frustrated I will do, I really don't want to drown!
Right now I'm feeling pretty confident about my biking, having focussed on biking for the K2 and my running's feeling strong. I've been to a few sessions with Walter Thorburn and his "No Regrets" squad, which focusses on core strength exercises and interval training, much like a circuits class. One week I was very sore after the walking lunges, so it's working! I've also purchased a new Giant Trinity Alliance tri bike with some Grammo race wheels from Planet Cycles in Mount Eden so it will be put through it's paces at Taupo Half. They are a great bike shop, really helpful and I'm now sporting one of their jerseys, and I certainly get some envious looks on my new steed. The idea behind it is to get more speed on the flat, being more aero and leaving me fresher for the run, so I can execute my softly softly catchy monkey race plan.
So at the moment my training's looking like this through to the end of the year:
Mon - Distance swim 60-75 mins, 75 min undulating run, steady pace
Tues - 2hr hill repeats on bike, 20 min steady run, 10 min drills and 20 min core
Wed - Swim- intervals, Running squad/Stroke and Stride
Thurs - LSD run building to 3hrs, with 1hr easy spin on bike straight after
Fri- Technique swim
Sat - S/B/R brick, open water swim 45-60 mins, 2.5hr bike, 1 hr run
Sun - Long bike building to 180km/6.5-7hrs
I did my first Stroke and Stride last night in awful blustery conditions- a 1km swim and 3km run. Swim was manic mosh pit and the waves were pretty testing, then it was horrible on the run, but I love running in the rain! I went at a good pace, but didn't smash it completely as I have Taupo half IM this weekend. I think I finished in under 35 mins, which given the horrific swim, is not too bad. Like Lance Armstrong says wind and rain are your friends, if you can train and race in those conditions you can do anything. But fingers crossed Taupo is a bit friendlier on Saturday!
So day off today, a quick S/B/R run through tomorrow and I'll be on the start line in Taupo at 6.30 am! The first real test of the season....watch this space...
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Akaroa beckons....
Another great week of training down. The house got passed in, but apparently there are a few interested parties in the wings, but nothing yet...
Anyhow, this week was my thrid repetition of the previous two weeks, with a mix of core work, tempo running, lots of hills and long distance and technique swims. The week ended with a bike ride to Akaroa and back, well almost. Bec, Ginni and I rode to Little River, accompanied by lots of freeloading lake flies- disgusting and worse than magpies. Then I headed on up Hill Top, down to Barrys Bay and up the sting in the tail hills to Akaroa. A quick coffee and refeul then back to Little River, where I was supposed to be meeting Bede. Well he got held up coming back from a work do on the coast (read lots of hungover people needing breakfast, so left late..) and so I had a quick pit stop and continued on. The hills were indeed testing, but great fun even with temperatures in the 20s and a strong headwind all the way home. Nevertheless I got a flat 2km out from Motukarara, then another....and another....having so proudly changed the tubes I later found the bastard piece of glass sneakily tucked in the outside of the tyre- couldn't for the life of me find it the first two times. But anyway, with no more tubes, I called Bede for an SOS from Tai Tapu- I was only 20km from home damn it! Still a great 150km ride, with big hills- about 6.5hrs riding and having eaten lots I felt I had done enough....
I watched a great film on Saturday night- On a Clear Day about a guy who gets made redundant having worked all his life in the docks building ships, and sets out to swim the English Channel. There a more touching plot about his relationship with his wife and son, but an amazing accomplishment, and based on a true story. Made me feel that whenever I am swimming and finding it tough, 3.8km, is NOT the Channel, just suck it up! You are not that bad a swimmer after all!
Another 3hr flat ride and a 30 min run yesterday (having gone and bought some new tubes!) , a yummy chicken roast and then I farewelled Bede up to Auckland to start his new job on Monday.
Over 20hrs of training this week, I know a bit on the heavy side already, but a ride to Akaroa and back was on my wish list for a long time! I biked the Le Race route last Feb, and got a bus home, this time there was no way I was going to do that! But I have discovered I CAN do longer rides, and I can almost...fix a flat....I did two for practice on Sunday morning a lot faster than usual, with no help. Yey!
Recovery week this week, and in Auckland for the weekend, so will just run and swim. Finish work on Friday, I will be sooooo happy!
Anyhow, this week was my thrid repetition of the previous two weeks, with a mix of core work, tempo running, lots of hills and long distance and technique swims. The week ended with a bike ride to Akaroa and back, well almost. Bec, Ginni and I rode to Little River, accompanied by lots of freeloading lake flies- disgusting and worse than magpies. Then I headed on up Hill Top, down to Barrys Bay and up the sting in the tail hills to Akaroa. A quick coffee and refeul then back to Little River, where I was supposed to be meeting Bede. Well he got held up coming back from a work do on the coast (read lots of hungover people needing breakfast, so left late..) and so I had a quick pit stop and continued on. The hills were indeed testing, but great fun even with temperatures in the 20s and a strong headwind all the way home. Nevertheless I got a flat 2km out from Motukarara, then another....and another....having so proudly changed the tubes I later found the bastard piece of glass sneakily tucked in the outside of the tyre- couldn't for the life of me find it the first two times. But anyway, with no more tubes, I called Bede for an SOS from Tai Tapu- I was only 20km from home damn it! Still a great 150km ride, with big hills- about 6.5hrs riding and having eaten lots I felt I had done enough....
I watched a great film on Saturday night- On a Clear Day about a guy who gets made redundant having worked all his life in the docks building ships, and sets out to swim the English Channel. There a more touching plot about his relationship with his wife and son, but an amazing accomplishment, and based on a true story. Made me feel that whenever I am swimming and finding it tough, 3.8km, is NOT the Channel, just suck it up! You are not that bad a swimmer after all!
Another 3hr flat ride and a 30 min run yesterday (having gone and bought some new tubes!) , a yummy chicken roast and then I farewelled Bede up to Auckland to start his new job on Monday.
Over 20hrs of training this week, I know a bit on the heavy side already, but a ride to Akaroa and back was on my wish list for a long time! I biked the Le Race route last Feb, and got a bus home, this time there was no way I was going to do that! But I have discovered I CAN do longer rides, and I can almost...fix a flat....I did two for practice on Sunday morning a lot faster than usual, with no help. Yey!
Recovery week this week, and in Auckland for the weekend, so will just run and swim. Finish work on Friday, I will be sooooo happy!
Saturday, September 22, 2007
This week (Mon-Thurs) has been very similar to last week. I tend to do three weeks of the same training, building the long rides each week, then back off for a week as recovery. This way my body can take on board the training from the last three weeks and absorb it all, before building into the next phase.
This week I have concentrating a lot on technique in all three disciplines, and I have had to switch things round a little as we had a big weekend ahead of us! So, on Thursday I did my Friday technique swim, and then on the weekend we (Nadia, Tanya and I) headed up to Hanmer. This would be quite a testing weekend for me, having had time off for my sinus infection and migraines, which still bothers me from time to time.
Approx 140km of undulating hills and a gradual climb from Christchurch. We started off at about 8am in foggy dull conditions, had a pit stop at Amberley and once we go to Waipara it was blue skies and sun, beautiful! We stopped for lunch at Culverden for about 45 mins and reached Hanmer at 2pm. It was a great ride, good to get some good miles in and nice to ride with others for a change, great to have company on those long flats, especially safer in numbers when the magpies decide to swoop! Longer rides (this one was about 5 hours) also give you the chance to try out nutrition- I had two bobby bananas and one OSM bar cut up into pieces, 2 bottles of water, 1 can diluted fresh up apple and 1 bottle Enervit (1 scoop).
Rebecca, Kalina and Paula joined us in the evening in Hanmer and we had a nice relaxing supper and good triathlon and girlie chat!
We were up at a good hour the next morning had breakfast and headed out towards Lewis Pass, into a persistent headwind, but a mild and sunny day.
Heading towards the pass are some testing climbs, but definitely do-able- we all worked really well in two small bunches for 30km and headed back after that. We flew with the tailwind, it was great! Back in 50 mins! It was good to see the girls all improving at their biking in the pursuit of their goals for the next season. It was great to find out that my climbing is improving and I felt comfortable on the hills, keeping a moderate/low hard heart rate and keeping sat down. Back into Hanmer I went on a hour's run in the forest after downing a leppin, was really hot so the shady forest was a blessing.
After lunch we headed to the hot pools and had a relaxing time combined with whizzing down the waterslides.
Sunday we headed back to Christchurch. The ride to Waipara was testing in parts, we rode well to Culverden then we felt the southerly coming in up some long but gentle climbs. We met the girls for a coffee at the Brew Moon in Amberley which offered some awaited respite! The weather set in after that and a blustery, drizzly southerly accompanied us back home. We were a wee bit slower on the way back with the conditions, but as we reminded ourselves, we are not icing sugar, we will not melt!
Poor Nadia had a crash about 1km from home on a slippy painted median strip, I hope she gets some well deserved r n' r tonight and feels better in the morning. It's really the shock of falling in the wet which sucks.
I felt really hungry on this ride, as I had salad the night before and didn't eat my usual oaty breakfast, just crumpets. So on the menu was 1 OSM bar, 2 small bobby bananas, 1 powerbar and 1/2 gel, with a trim FW, Enervit and Water to drink. I was wet and cold when I got home, but not too tired. A hot shower, good stretch and food sorted that out, and a relaxing afternoon. I decided that my regular Sunday pump class would be pushing it!
It was a fantastic weekend, where I felt I could really relax amongst girls with the same interests and love for training. It was my biggest biking weekend ever, so that's an accomplishment in itself. I loved it and think I have made a breakthrough in my bike base endurance to carry me to the next build of my bike focus to the K2, and hills, hills, hills ;o)
This week I repeat the last two weeks again, and plan to bike over to Akaroa and back as far as I can on Sunday, hopefully with some company if I can convince the girls I'm not nuts.
Our house goes to auction on Thursday so fingers crossed it goes and we can concentrate on the move up north. QEII running session tonight, which I will focus on core work mostly as my legs may feel a bit shot. Monday night sessions are always a test after the weekend, but I love the group training feel, so I will head over after work.
I'm up to reading about Pain in my mental training guide, and apparently if you feel pain, smile ;o) It releases endorphins to your body which help ease it away....so there's my thought for the week, keep smiling ;o)
This week I have concentrating a lot on technique in all three disciplines, and I have had to switch things round a little as we had a big weekend ahead of us! So, on Thursday I did my Friday technique swim, and then on the weekend we (Nadia, Tanya and I) headed up to Hanmer. This would be quite a testing weekend for me, having had time off for my sinus infection and migraines, which still bothers me from time to time.
Approx 140km of undulating hills and a gradual climb from Christchurch. We started off at about 8am in foggy dull conditions, had a pit stop at Amberley and once we go to Waipara it was blue skies and sun, beautiful! We stopped for lunch at Culverden for about 45 mins and reached Hanmer at 2pm. It was a great ride, good to get some good miles in and nice to ride with others for a change, great to have company on those long flats, especially safer in numbers when the magpies decide to swoop! Longer rides (this one was about 5 hours) also give you the chance to try out nutrition- I had two bobby bananas and one OSM bar cut up into pieces, 2 bottles of water, 1 can diluted fresh up apple and 1 bottle Enervit (1 scoop).
Rebecca, Kalina and Paula joined us in the evening in Hanmer and we had a nice relaxing supper and good triathlon and girlie chat!
We were up at a good hour the next morning had breakfast and headed out towards Lewis Pass, into a persistent headwind, but a mild and sunny day.
Heading towards the pass are some testing climbs, but definitely do-able- we all worked really well in two small bunches for 30km and headed back after that. We flew with the tailwind, it was great! Back in 50 mins! It was good to see the girls all improving at their biking in the pursuit of their goals for the next season. It was great to find out that my climbing is improving and I felt comfortable on the hills, keeping a moderate/low hard heart rate and keeping sat down. Back into Hanmer I went on a hour's run in the forest after downing a leppin, was really hot so the shady forest was a blessing.
After lunch we headed to the hot pools and had a relaxing time combined with whizzing down the waterslides.
Sunday we headed back to Christchurch. The ride to Waipara was testing in parts, we rode well to Culverden then we felt the southerly coming in up some long but gentle climbs. We met the girls for a coffee at the Brew Moon in Amberley which offered some awaited respite! The weather set in after that and a blustery, drizzly southerly accompanied us back home. We were a wee bit slower on the way back with the conditions, but as we reminded ourselves, we are not icing sugar, we will not melt!
Poor Nadia had a crash about 1km from home on a slippy painted median strip, I hope she gets some well deserved r n' r tonight and feels better in the morning. It's really the shock of falling in the wet which sucks.
I felt really hungry on this ride, as I had salad the night before and didn't eat my usual oaty breakfast, just crumpets. So on the menu was 1 OSM bar, 2 small bobby bananas, 1 powerbar and 1/2 gel, with a trim FW, Enervit and Water to drink. I was wet and cold when I got home, but not too tired. A hot shower, good stretch and food sorted that out, and a relaxing afternoon. I decided that my regular Sunday pump class would be pushing it!
It was a fantastic weekend, where I felt I could really relax amongst girls with the same interests and love for training. It was my biggest biking weekend ever, so that's an accomplishment in itself. I loved it and think I have made a breakthrough in my bike base endurance to carry me to the next build of my bike focus to the K2, and hills, hills, hills ;o)
This week I repeat the last two weeks again, and plan to bike over to Akaroa and back as far as I can on Sunday, hopefully with some company if I can convince the girls I'm not nuts.
Our house goes to auction on Thursday so fingers crossed it goes and we can concentrate on the move up north. QEII running session tonight, which I will focus on core work mostly as my legs may feel a bit shot. Monday night sessions are always a test after the weekend, but I love the group training feel, so I will head over after work.
I'm up to reading about Pain in my mental training guide, and apparently if you feel pain, smile ;o) It releases endorphins to your body which help ease it away....so there's my thought for the week, keep smiling ;o)
Sunday, September 16, 2007
First week of official IM training down...lots more to go!
This week has been the start of my official "journey" to IM. Ok, now that will be the first and last time I use that overused word...(just watch pop idol and count how many times you hear it!)....I'm starting with a real bike focus leading up to K2- I entered this week!- so working on overall bike endurance and muscular endurance with the hills- lots of them!
On Monday I had a great running session at QEII which is run by the New Zealand Multisports and Triathlon Centre- John Newsom my coach and Glen. After lots of core work- about half an hour, consisting of sets of running split up with triman holds, press ups, side planks, dead ant cycling, crab crawling up grassy banks, squats etc- we did a series of intervals- 10 x 400m using our 10km race pace time and adding less seconds to our 400m pace time each couple until race pace/just under on last lap. Well I went conservatively at 45mins and ran all laps too fast! I think my 10km pace, despite my rest time is still 43-44 mins, even though my heart rate was rocketing over 175...then we did a series of stadium step intervals- singles, doubles, accelerations, bunny hops then another 4 x 400m as before, then some warm down laps and a long stretch...I love this session, despite it being tough sometimes, as it's the one session of the week which I do with a group, and most of them are multisporters- a different breed I swear, and such a good laugh, and we can all share our stories from our weekend training! I'll really miss these sessions when I move.
Tuesday - swim solo with long sets/technique and Short Bays-just snuck it in as it turned dark about 30mins from home. For those not from Christchurch, this is a ride which takes in Hackthorne Road- a hill up to Sign of the Kiwi, down to Governor's Bay along the coast (undulating) to Lyttelton and up to Evans Pass (second largish hill) and back to Sumner, back to my house is just under 2hrs- about 50km. It's a decent ride, and what you cut your teeth on as a cyclist in Christchurch, and I've done it more times than I can count, but I still love it, the beautifyl scenery and, doing it "on the way home from work" with not another cyclist in sight.....bliss
Wednesday AM off- read chores, anyone could come round the house (it's on the market) so have to prep the show home each morning....PM Wind trainer session and 1hr run off bike. This session mid week is really to focus on a bit more up tempo, plus technique work. I use Gordo Byrn's sets- today it was 2 min alternating 90rpm, 6rpm and some single leg work to get those glutes working. Run felt good off bike, but couldn't keep heart rate in steady zone- more like moderate, could have been the track "Running" by Evermore I had on repeat on my new ipod ;o) It's such a motivational song to run to, you end up going a bit nuts.....
Thursday swim solo then Bike hill reps- up Hackthorne to Sign of Takehe x 3 then I continued up to Sign of Kiwi and whizzed back down home- about 1.5hrs. Home- 20 mins core work and 20 mins stretch.
Fri- technique swim and pump class.
Sat- Coopers Knob ride 2.5 hrs in the clouds and Guns n Roses on iPod- nice...30 min run off bike. Hills are great in clouds- you can't see the top!
Sun- 4.5hr ride to Hill Top and back overlooking Akaroa- flat out to Cooptown then one rather large hill- sat on all the way, concentrating on building muscular endurance, and keeping feet horizontal and pulling up from glutes. Just done another pump class too.
This weekend I had lots of headwinds and I loved it! Instead of letting them beat me I charged through them. Hilltop felt really easy. I felt comfortable on my aerobars for once. And I managed to include Bede in my Sunday ride with lunch at Blue Duck, (yummy veggie frittata and the obligatory coffee) then I continued on home.
Weather has been stunning, so sunny (great for selling the house, fingers crossed) and our beautiful fucshia magnolia has come out right on cue for the open homes.
I've been reading a mental training guide to tri this week (thanks to Kathy!) and Going Long...What I've learnt is I need to focus on my limiters (note we do not call them weaknesses!) - for me number one is bike endurance, My run is good, but will only be as good as how efficiently I can get my legs through the bike. Number two is the swim, but I'm not letting this worry me- I know I can make greater gains in the bike. Having to cut down my runs sucks- but this is precisely what you shouldn't do, i.e. train the most on the discipline you enjoy the most. Focus on the limiters and the positives will take care of themselves. Hence me entering the K2....
I've also learnt to set myself realistic goals....and not confusing ambition with ability! Although I do have a "secret" goal for IM, which only I know...And patience...I do not need (or want) to do IM tomorrow and I need to have a focus for each training session- be in the moment, and not focus my attention on the end result....I don't want to burn out by Jan...but I am itching to do those 6hr rides every weekend!
And lastly balance...that's actually my worst limiter (and I do not mean standing on one leg with my eyes closed with a book on my head)...Being so single minded and determined to get to my goals, I need to keep my eyes and ears open to everything else going on in my life (which right now is quite a lot!) Oh. and getting the bed earlier....I do try honest!
I also got an article published in Femme magazine on Lorient this week and I heard back from BlueSeventy confirming my prodeal sponsorship, yey!! Things are looking up ;o)...at last!
So, no job in Auckland yet, no where to live, but Bede and I are making plans and it looks like a wee road trip to Wellington then to Auckland will be on the cards once I finish at work, cool...
Tonight there's some IM coverage on Sky, so that's booked. Morning off tomorrow. I hated Monday morning training for France, so I'm not for IM, that's all! But it does mean no rest day on Friday as I have a swim, but I think it works better. I am a moose on a Friday, I hate Fridays, I'm so tired, but I am worse if I don't train....but I love the weekend. So beware if I don't get enough sleep Friday nights..
Looking forward to next week. There's a bit of chop and change as I'm heading to Hanmer with some girls for the weekend, biking there and back (about 260km in all).
Right signing off, venison for dinner, and some of my lovely (low fat and exceedingly healthy, honest- you'll believe it if you saw the recipe) Carrot Cake, my favourite....
Train safe, live in the moment and aim higher x
On Monday I had a great running session at QEII which is run by the New Zealand Multisports and Triathlon Centre- John Newsom my coach and Glen. After lots of core work- about half an hour, consisting of sets of running split up with triman holds, press ups, side planks, dead ant cycling, crab crawling up grassy banks, squats etc- we did a series of intervals- 10 x 400m using our 10km race pace time and adding less seconds to our 400m pace time each couple until race pace/just under on last lap. Well I went conservatively at 45mins and ran all laps too fast! I think my 10km pace, despite my rest time is still 43-44 mins, even though my heart rate was rocketing over 175...then we did a series of stadium step intervals- singles, doubles, accelerations, bunny hops then another 4 x 400m as before, then some warm down laps and a long stretch...I love this session, despite it being tough sometimes, as it's the one session of the week which I do with a group, and most of them are multisporters- a different breed I swear, and such a good laugh, and we can all share our stories from our weekend training! I'll really miss these sessions when I move.
Tuesday - swim solo with long sets/technique and Short Bays-just snuck it in as it turned dark about 30mins from home. For those not from Christchurch, this is a ride which takes in Hackthorne Road- a hill up to Sign of the Kiwi, down to Governor's Bay along the coast (undulating) to Lyttelton and up to Evans Pass (second largish hill) and back to Sumner, back to my house is just under 2hrs- about 50km. It's a decent ride, and what you cut your teeth on as a cyclist in Christchurch, and I've done it more times than I can count, but I still love it, the beautifyl scenery and, doing it "on the way home from work" with not another cyclist in sight.....bliss
Wednesday AM off- read chores, anyone could come round the house (it's on the market) so have to prep the show home each morning....PM Wind trainer session and 1hr run off bike. This session mid week is really to focus on a bit more up tempo, plus technique work. I use Gordo Byrn's sets- today it was 2 min alternating 90rpm, 6rpm and some single leg work to get those glutes working. Run felt good off bike, but couldn't keep heart rate in steady zone- more like moderate, could have been the track "Running" by Evermore I had on repeat on my new ipod ;o) It's such a motivational song to run to, you end up going a bit nuts.....
Thursday swim solo then Bike hill reps- up Hackthorne to Sign of Takehe x 3 then I continued up to Sign of Kiwi and whizzed back down home- about 1.5hrs. Home- 20 mins core work and 20 mins stretch.
Fri- technique swim and pump class.
Sat- Coopers Knob ride 2.5 hrs in the clouds and Guns n Roses on iPod- nice...30 min run off bike. Hills are great in clouds- you can't see the top!
Sun- 4.5hr ride to Hill Top and back overlooking Akaroa- flat out to Cooptown then one rather large hill- sat on all the way, concentrating on building muscular endurance, and keeping feet horizontal and pulling up from glutes. Just done another pump class too.
This weekend I had lots of headwinds and I loved it! Instead of letting them beat me I charged through them. Hilltop felt really easy. I felt comfortable on my aerobars for once. And I managed to include Bede in my Sunday ride with lunch at Blue Duck, (yummy veggie frittata and the obligatory coffee) then I continued on home.
Weather has been stunning, so sunny (great for selling the house, fingers crossed) and our beautiful fucshia magnolia has come out right on cue for the open homes.
I've been reading a mental training guide to tri this week (thanks to Kathy!) and Going Long...What I've learnt is I need to focus on my limiters (note we do not call them weaknesses!) - for me number one is bike endurance, My run is good, but will only be as good as how efficiently I can get my legs through the bike. Number two is the swim, but I'm not letting this worry me- I know I can make greater gains in the bike. Having to cut down my runs sucks- but this is precisely what you shouldn't do, i.e. train the most on the discipline you enjoy the most. Focus on the limiters and the positives will take care of themselves. Hence me entering the K2....
I've also learnt to set myself realistic goals....and not confusing ambition with ability! Although I do have a "secret" goal for IM, which only I know...And patience...I do not need (or want) to do IM tomorrow and I need to have a focus for each training session- be in the moment, and not focus my attention on the end result....I don't want to burn out by Jan...but I am itching to do those 6hr rides every weekend!
And lastly balance...that's actually my worst limiter (and I do not mean standing on one leg with my eyes closed with a book on my head)...Being so single minded and determined to get to my goals, I need to keep my eyes and ears open to everything else going on in my life (which right now is quite a lot!) Oh. and getting the bed earlier....I do try honest!
I also got an article published in Femme magazine on Lorient this week and I heard back from BlueSeventy confirming my prodeal sponsorship, yey!! Things are looking up ;o)...at last!
So, no job in Auckland yet, no where to live, but Bede and I are making plans and it looks like a wee road trip to Wellington then to Auckland will be on the cards once I finish at work, cool...
Tonight there's some IM coverage on Sky, so that's booked. Morning off tomorrow. I hated Monday morning training for France, so I'm not for IM, that's all! But it does mean no rest day on Friday as I have a swim, but I think it works better. I am a moose on a Friday, I hate Fridays, I'm so tired, but I am worse if I don't train....but I love the weekend. So beware if I don't get enough sleep Friday nights..
Looking forward to next week. There's a bit of chop and change as I'm heading to Hanmer with some girls for the weekend, biking there and back (about 260km in all).
Right signing off, venison for dinner, and some of my lovely (low fat and exceedingly healthy, honest- you'll believe it if you saw the recipe) Carrot Cake, my favourite....
Train safe, live in the moment and aim higher x
Monday, September 10, 2007
Spring has Sprung!!!
After having what I could only call a bleurgh August, I have begun September with a spring in my step, a determination to update my blog each week, and to get to bed by 10pm each night! Ok, so the last one will be a struggle with the forthcoming Rugby World Cup! I don't know how people get to bed much before then. By the time I've finished my training, had dinner, done the chores it's at least 9pm. And I do need some TV time each day.
This week I've been for a couple of 3-4hr rides which have been really good fun, a wind trainer session, some gym work- circuits and weights, three swims, lots of technique drills and a few runs. I had a great ride on the grading ride yesterday (it's a race which is used as preparation for the Five Passes- but I would never "race it"! and then I ran 6km to the gym, did a pump class and ran home, it felt really good, running at dusk with a beautiful sunset disappearing over the hills with a tail wind home.
My IM build up programme starts (officially) today, with a coached running session- core work and interval training at QEII stadium in Christchurch. Then Tues swim and Short Bays (about a 2hr ride-hills), Wed 1hr wind trainer session and 1hr run off bike, Thurs swim and 1.5hr hill reps, Fri technique/drills swim, Sat- tri club training (Bike/Run) then Sun medium bike (3-3 1/2 hrs) and short run off bike. Plus we have a tri club quiz night on Friday….and that is the extent of my social life this week ;o)
This is the start of my big bike base phase which includes the K2- I think I must be going crazy. I have never felt really really stuffed at the end of a race, and if this doesn't do it, well IM certainly will. I need to improve my bike so this provides a fantastic opportunity (and also to use my flash new race wheels!) I have never done a bike race before, and I need to do something that I am just doing for fun, taking away all that competitive go hard, go nuts from my race plan and just go steady - let's face it, it is 7 hours (plus?!, minus?!!) of biking hills! Most of my rides are hilly to build well needed strength, the hills are my friends….But I've yet to officially enter, I entered Taupo half IM this week, so will wait a while before another splurge.
This weekend I flew up to Auckland for the afternoon to meet Steve and Simone (the company owners) and the other sponsored Alpe d'Huez IMers in training, Graeme, Kathy, Kieran and Raewyn. It was great to meet them all and talk IM, tri and our aspirations and fears for the next six months.
Kathy, one of the other Alpe gear athletes has lent me a triathlete's guide to mental training - I read the Ironman chapter on the flight home. The advice and stories were right on the nail- now to read the rest of the book and put the suggestions and mental training into practice! The main thing I have learnt is to throw away all time conceptions I may have. I'm even thinking I may cover my bike computer, so it doesn't plague me and just enjoy the ride and the laps. I'm in it to finish it, it's my first Ironman, softly, softly catchy monkey!
This week will also see me hunting for a job in Auckland. I'm looking for a complete change and I've applied for all sorts of jobs, but anything with a sports bent is catching my eye. No bites as yet, but I'm not panicking yet. We need to sell the house and get settled first. Nevertheless if anyone out there has any suggestions or connections in this area, please let me know. I may be a qualified lawyer, but I have many talents, and skills in other areas which are transferable. Most importantly I need to be active!
This week I've been for a couple of 3-4hr rides which have been really good fun, a wind trainer session, some gym work- circuits and weights, three swims, lots of technique drills and a few runs. I had a great ride on the grading ride yesterday (it's a race which is used as preparation for the Five Passes- but I would never "race it"! and then I ran 6km to the gym, did a pump class and ran home, it felt really good, running at dusk with a beautiful sunset disappearing over the hills with a tail wind home.
My IM build up programme starts (officially) today, with a coached running session- core work and interval training at QEII stadium in Christchurch. Then Tues swim and Short Bays (about a 2hr ride-hills), Wed 1hr wind trainer session and 1hr run off bike, Thurs swim and 1.5hr hill reps, Fri technique/drills swim, Sat- tri club training (Bike/Run) then Sun medium bike (3-3 1/2 hrs) and short run off bike. Plus we have a tri club quiz night on Friday….and that is the extent of my social life this week ;o)
This is the start of my big bike base phase which includes the K2- I think I must be going crazy. I have never felt really really stuffed at the end of a race, and if this doesn't do it, well IM certainly will. I need to improve my bike so this provides a fantastic opportunity (and also to use my flash new race wheels!) I have never done a bike race before, and I need to do something that I am just doing for fun, taking away all that competitive go hard, go nuts from my race plan and just go steady - let's face it, it is 7 hours (plus?!, minus?!!) of biking hills! Most of my rides are hilly to build well needed strength, the hills are my friends….But I've yet to officially enter, I entered Taupo half IM this week, so will wait a while before another splurge.
This weekend I flew up to Auckland for the afternoon to meet Steve and Simone (the company owners) and the other sponsored Alpe d'Huez IMers in training, Graeme, Kathy, Kieran and Raewyn. It was great to meet them all and talk IM, tri and our aspirations and fears for the next six months.
Kathy, one of the other Alpe gear athletes has lent me a triathlete's guide to mental training - I read the Ironman chapter on the flight home. The advice and stories were right on the nail- now to read the rest of the book and put the suggestions and mental training into practice! The main thing I have learnt is to throw away all time conceptions I may have. I'm even thinking I may cover my bike computer, so it doesn't plague me and just enjoy the ride and the laps. I'm in it to finish it, it's my first Ironman, softly, softly catchy monkey!
This week will also see me hunting for a job in Auckland. I'm looking for a complete change and I've applied for all sorts of jobs, but anything with a sports bent is catching my eye. No bites as yet, but I'm not panicking yet. We need to sell the house and get settled first. Nevertheless if anyone out there has any suggestions or connections in this area, please let me know. I may be a qualified lawyer, but I have many talents, and skills in other areas which are transferable. Most importantly I need to be active!
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Winter Blues
Winter Blues...
I arrived back in France at the end of July, having had an amazing experience at Worlds in France. On the spur of the moment I told Blue Seventy wetsuits about my success and I secured a Pro deal sponsorship discount for the upcoming season, so hopefully I can get my hands on the Helix! I tried this wetsuit out in France as Gina Ferguson had a spare one (mine was lost with my bike…) and I loved it.
August was set down for some R n R and getting away from triathlon. I started training again- just one session a day, sometimes two of whatever took my fancy, some gym sessions and whatever the weather had in store. I got back out biking as my main focus for the next base period will be to up my bike mileage somewhat, and I scheduled in a few long runs in the hills.
But, I started to feel lacking in motivation, coming off the high from my trip abroad. Training with no short term goals and no programme sorting out what you have to do each day was difficult to getting used to. And to top it all I got sick.
One weekend I went for a 2hr15 min run and the next day a 5.5hr ride. On the ride I felt really lousy. I didn't take enough water or food and I got really cold. I was on my own on the Gorges ride in Canterbury and I hit the wall big style. I even cried, I was really distraught. To add insult to injury I got attacked by a magpie in the Waimak Gorge. But on no account was I calling Bede, my husband, for an S.O.S pick up. Besides, he was at home building a fence. It wasn't until when I got back to the outskirts of Christchurch I got my hands on some coke and a liquorice log to perk me up for the rest of the hour's ride home. Afterwards I had a bath to get warm, but I didn't eat enough in my recovery time to compensate for my dehydration and lack of food.
I learned the hard way and ended up with a temperature, on antibiotics and off work for a week and a half. Following doctor's orders I was off training as well. A lesson learned in listening to your body. I tried to push through the on set of my sinus infection and it just got worse. It has been the most frustrating time, but some days I had such a bad migraine I was in so much pain and couldn't get out of bed. I'm rarely sick and have difficulty with my rest days as it is, so you can imagine I was crawling up the walls at times, and getting obsessed about all the weight I was putting on not training.
So come 3 September I'll be back into it. My body (and mind) needed the break, the sleep ins, the weekends with more time with Bede and my family. I'll be starting more structured training, more bike miles for sure and keeping the running and swimming ticking over. I'm going to see a nutritionist as I need a proper plan for IM, which will give me bags of energy. I eat a very healthy diet, but I’m sure it could be tweaked to provide me with more energy and get me off the coffee addiction! I love coffee, but I need to stick to two decent ones a day, not the four it’s been creeping up to lately. I rely on it for a pick up, but I need to tackle the tiredness first through a better balanced diet, and not rely so much on caffeine.
I need some short term goals, so the Auckland half marathon will be my next event, then Taupo Half IM. Indeed, we are in the process of selling our house and moving to Auckland as Bede has got a promotion and relocation up there. Which means I need to find a new job, and a new place to live. This, added to the stress of being sick has meant any training I have been doing hasn't been that effective and I've really been at an all time low in terms of training, motivation, happiness and enthusiasm for triathlon. We shall have a very busy few months ahead of us. I'm half contemplating working part time so I can really devote as much time as I'd love to my Ironman dream. I would love to pursue a career in triathlon. I’ve had enough of being stuck behind a desk in a windowless office 5 days a week.
One thing my coach said to me once was the happier you are, the happier, and consequently the better you train, and more importantly, race. I want to give IM my all and be happy doing it. The last two weeks have been acknowledging I've been sick, perhaps even on the verge of burnout and sorting my head out, to train happier. I have really felt the Winter Blues this month then, but Spring has sprung, the lambs are out, and when you see the blossoms appearing and leaves on the trees you've got to smile - it was even 19 degrees in Christchurch today!
My Alpe d’Huez kit arrived in the last week of August. I tried out the leg warmers, boot covers, cycle shorts and top on a 3.5hr ride. The leg warmers, although a bit long (I have very short legs!) are toasty warm and the shorts are very comfortable
I'm also contemplating purchasing a time trial bike. I've been looking at the Giant Trinity Elite- good bang for your buck, the trusty Cervelo and the Scott Contessa Plasma. It all depends on getting a good price for the house ;o) Then I can spend some money on a run around car and more money on a bike!
The move to Auckland is exciting, all those new places to train, new running trails, new bike shops ;o) I'll also be able to catch up with the other Alpe D’Huez sponsored athletes and the other Kiwi Age-Groupers I met in France.
I’m looking forward to getting stuck into training, and getting my miles up. The thought of Ironman at the moment seems daunting, but then I look at what I have achieved in the last year and how far I’ve come I know I can do it. I love a challenge, having goals and doing my best. The next few months will be a test of time management, prioritizing and not getting obsessed with training, and letting it take over my life. Looking after myself and family is just, if not more important.
I’m having to remind myself that completing Ironman is my goal, despite being as competitive as I am, my goal is not to win, not even to place, just enjoy it and see how it goes. I put a lot of pressure on myself to always finish top ten, and beat certain girls. I must learn more self control, softly, softly, catchy monkey in Ironman and not to go off guns blazing in all my workouts and stuff myself.
My mantra for the next 6 months will be harder , better, faster, stronger…….
I arrived back in France at the end of July, having had an amazing experience at Worlds in France. On the spur of the moment I told Blue Seventy wetsuits about my success and I secured a Pro deal sponsorship discount for the upcoming season, so hopefully I can get my hands on the Helix! I tried this wetsuit out in France as Gina Ferguson had a spare one (mine was lost with my bike…) and I loved it.
August was set down for some R n R and getting away from triathlon. I started training again- just one session a day, sometimes two of whatever took my fancy, some gym sessions and whatever the weather had in store. I got back out biking as my main focus for the next base period will be to up my bike mileage somewhat, and I scheduled in a few long runs in the hills.
But, I started to feel lacking in motivation, coming off the high from my trip abroad. Training with no short term goals and no programme sorting out what you have to do each day was difficult to getting used to. And to top it all I got sick.
One weekend I went for a 2hr15 min run and the next day a 5.5hr ride. On the ride I felt really lousy. I didn't take enough water or food and I got really cold. I was on my own on the Gorges ride in Canterbury and I hit the wall big style. I even cried, I was really distraught. To add insult to injury I got attacked by a magpie in the Waimak Gorge. But on no account was I calling Bede, my husband, for an S.O.S pick up. Besides, he was at home building a fence. It wasn't until when I got back to the outskirts of Christchurch I got my hands on some coke and a liquorice log to perk me up for the rest of the hour's ride home. Afterwards I had a bath to get warm, but I didn't eat enough in my recovery time to compensate for my dehydration and lack of food.
I learned the hard way and ended up with a temperature, on antibiotics and off work for a week and a half. Following doctor's orders I was off training as well. A lesson learned in listening to your body. I tried to push through the on set of my sinus infection and it just got worse. It has been the most frustrating time, but some days I had such a bad migraine I was in so much pain and couldn't get out of bed. I'm rarely sick and have difficulty with my rest days as it is, so you can imagine I was crawling up the walls at times, and getting obsessed about all the weight I was putting on not training.
So come 3 September I'll be back into it. My body (and mind) needed the break, the sleep ins, the weekends with more time with Bede and my family. I'll be starting more structured training, more bike miles for sure and keeping the running and swimming ticking over. I'm going to see a nutritionist as I need a proper plan for IM, which will give me bags of energy. I eat a very healthy diet, but I’m sure it could be tweaked to provide me with more energy and get me off the coffee addiction! I love coffee, but I need to stick to two decent ones a day, not the four it’s been creeping up to lately. I rely on it for a pick up, but I need to tackle the tiredness first through a better balanced diet, and not rely so much on caffeine.
I need some short term goals, so the Auckland half marathon will be my next event, then Taupo Half IM. Indeed, we are in the process of selling our house and moving to Auckland as Bede has got a promotion and relocation up there. Which means I need to find a new job, and a new place to live. This, added to the stress of being sick has meant any training I have been doing hasn't been that effective and I've really been at an all time low in terms of training, motivation, happiness and enthusiasm for triathlon. We shall have a very busy few months ahead of us. I'm half contemplating working part time so I can really devote as much time as I'd love to my Ironman dream. I would love to pursue a career in triathlon. I’ve had enough of being stuck behind a desk in a windowless office 5 days a week.
One thing my coach said to me once was the happier you are, the happier, and consequently the better you train, and more importantly, race. I want to give IM my all and be happy doing it. The last two weeks have been acknowledging I've been sick, perhaps even on the verge of burnout and sorting my head out, to train happier. I have really felt the Winter Blues this month then, but Spring has sprung, the lambs are out, and when you see the blossoms appearing and leaves on the trees you've got to smile - it was even 19 degrees in Christchurch today!
My Alpe d’Huez kit arrived in the last week of August. I tried out the leg warmers, boot covers, cycle shorts and top on a 3.5hr ride. The leg warmers, although a bit long (I have very short legs!) are toasty warm and the shorts are very comfortable
I'm also contemplating purchasing a time trial bike. I've been looking at the Giant Trinity Elite- good bang for your buck, the trusty Cervelo and the Scott Contessa Plasma. It all depends on getting a good price for the house ;o) Then I can spend some money on a run around car and more money on a bike!
The move to Auckland is exciting, all those new places to train, new running trails, new bike shops ;o) I'll also be able to catch up with the other Alpe D’Huez sponsored athletes and the other Kiwi Age-Groupers I met in France.
I’m looking forward to getting stuck into training, and getting my miles up. The thought of Ironman at the moment seems daunting, but then I look at what I have achieved in the last year and how far I’ve come I know I can do it. I love a challenge, having goals and doing my best. The next few months will be a test of time management, prioritizing and not getting obsessed with training, and letting it take over my life. Looking after myself and family is just, if not more important.
I’m having to remind myself that completing Ironman is my goal, despite being as competitive as I am, my goal is not to win, not even to place, just enjoy it and see how it goes. I put a lot of pressure on myself to always finish top ten, and beat certain girls. I must learn more self control, softly, softly, catchy monkey in Ironman and not to go off guns blazing in all my workouts and stuff myself.
My mantra for the next 6 months will be harder , better, faster, stronger…….
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Lorient World Long Distance Champs 2007
OK so the drama of the week started when my bike didn't arrive on Paris after a day's travelling from Christchurch to Auckland to LA to London and then to Paris...and neither did seven others!
So we got to Lorient on Tuesday. As I had no wetsuit either I went for a swim in the local pool and a short run round the lake where the triathlon was to be held, just eager to have a dip- but I have a real aversion to swimming without a wetsuit in open water so I passed! The next few days were spent exploring Lorient, swimming in the pool and a couple of short runs to get my bearings...and chasing the bikes...and some great team meals- lots of good tri chat, kiwi chat, using my somewhat rusty French and eating great French food (however I really don't ever want to see a white baguette or a croissant for a long time!)
Come Friday we were getting worried...no sign of the bike at all. So we headed down to the lake on a gorgeously hot day to watch the French tri national competition- Andrea Hewitt, Nicky Samuels, Taryn McLeod and Jenny Cooper were all competing for their French clubs. Andrea won and looked so strong, it was great to see all the kiwi girls out there. So...I sheepishly introduced myself to her after the race and asked if it was ok if I could borrow her bike on Sunday for the race( we being a similar height...I say similarheight not size as she is soooo tiny!) So I was all set for a speedy Cervelo...until my bike arrived at 1.30 am on Saturday morning!
Thank goodness it did though- I was so scared of crashing Andrea's bike, and elt much more comfortable on my own.. We fixed it up with some great Race X lite Bontrager race wheels and I was ready to go!
So to race day...
The swim (in what I found out later to be a lake infested with snakes...!)
I have never ever been so nervous...ever! Kristin and I shed a nervous tear and a wee hug before the swim as all us kiwi girls headed to the Pontoon and sandwiched our way into our start. And we're off...all the women together in one wave, it was madness arms and legs flying everywhere. I tried so hard to think about technique and not panicking about others, and just swim my own race. The first time I would ever swim 3km. First lap was a breeze, really steady and even passed some blokes in the wave ahead. Up the ramp over the pontoon and dived in for the second lap. Again I took it steady head down knowing a long hot windy day lay ahead. I was actually enjoying it! Thinking to myself yep I can do Ironman- 3.8km no problem. Up and out of the water to start the 800m-1km transition. Put bike shoes on as the start was straight up a hill and ran out...
Bike
Having only biked 15 mins one way and driven the rest in a car, I knew I'd be winging it...It was windy from the on shore breezes and hot, with false flats and a steady climb to the turnaround. Focus was to keep legs spinning, take on fuel, water and not get pinged for drafting...of which there was a plenty. To be honest it was more like the tour de France peleton...Drafting rule was 10m, 30 secs to pass and a 6 min penalty....well I didn't see them ping anyone, depsite a rather hilarious demonstration of what they would pull up at the race briefing, and a strict zero tolerance enforcement policy- allegedly.... Well anyhow....Fiona and I pushed each other the whole way- we're so evenly matched it was good for the kiwis to be right up there. So the bike felt strong, and going into the run I was looking forward to it- I knew it would be a toughie- some testing hills- not as flat as originally planned.
Run
I felt strong on the run but knew it was really hot and it would be so easy to blow up- lots of people were walking, being sick, one girl was on oxygen! I felt a bit dehydrated on the last lap, and couldn't stomach any more gels, but I left every last bit out there and snuck in under 1hr 30 mins. So I was running faster than my half marathon pace on the flat, even after the swim and bike- I was stoked!
I finished 6th in my age group in 4hr 46 mins. Us 4 kiwi girls all finished within 2 mins of one another.
It was an amazing experience. I now go forward to Ironman having learnt so much after the last six months. There's still a long way to go. I know my strength is running, but my biking has come on leaps and bounds as has my swimming. There's much room for improvement in all areas. Pacing and nutrition and tweaking my bike will all be considered in the next six months.
Now I'm looking forward to a well deserved rest and catching up with my family and school friends in the UK. I am proud to be a kiwi, my adopted nation! We were a great team. A great family team spirit was evident everywhere in our team hotel, team meals and on the course. For a small nation, we did ourselves proud.
I'm itching to get back out there training though but know I need the rest to be reenergised to take on Taupo! Bring it on!!!!!
So we got to Lorient on Tuesday. As I had no wetsuit either I went for a swim in the local pool and a short run round the lake where the triathlon was to be held, just eager to have a dip- but I have a real aversion to swimming without a wetsuit in open water so I passed! The next few days were spent exploring Lorient, swimming in the pool and a couple of short runs to get my bearings...and chasing the bikes...and some great team meals- lots of good tri chat, kiwi chat, using my somewhat rusty French and eating great French food (however I really don't ever want to see a white baguette or a croissant for a long time!)
Come Friday we were getting worried...no sign of the bike at all. So we headed down to the lake on a gorgeously hot day to watch the French tri national competition- Andrea Hewitt, Nicky Samuels, Taryn McLeod and Jenny Cooper were all competing for their French clubs. Andrea won and looked so strong, it was great to see all the kiwi girls out there. So...I sheepishly introduced myself to her after the race and asked if it was ok if I could borrow her bike on Sunday for the race( we being a similar height...I say similarheight not size as she is soooo tiny!) So I was all set for a speedy Cervelo...until my bike arrived at 1.30 am on Saturday morning!
Thank goodness it did though- I was so scared of crashing Andrea's bike, and elt much more comfortable on my own.. We fixed it up with some great Race X lite Bontrager race wheels and I was ready to go!
So to race day...
The swim (in what I found out later to be a lake infested with snakes...!)
I have never ever been so nervous...ever! Kristin and I shed a nervous tear and a wee hug before the swim as all us kiwi girls headed to the Pontoon and sandwiched our way into our start. And we're off...all the women together in one wave, it was madness arms and legs flying everywhere. I tried so hard to think about technique and not panicking about others, and just swim my own race. The first time I would ever swim 3km. First lap was a breeze, really steady and even passed some blokes in the wave ahead. Up the ramp over the pontoon and dived in for the second lap. Again I took it steady head down knowing a long hot windy day lay ahead. I was actually enjoying it! Thinking to myself yep I can do Ironman- 3.8km no problem. Up and out of the water to start the 800m-1km transition. Put bike shoes on as the start was straight up a hill and ran out...
Bike
Having only biked 15 mins one way and driven the rest in a car, I knew I'd be winging it...It was windy from the on shore breezes and hot, with false flats and a steady climb to the turnaround. Focus was to keep legs spinning, take on fuel, water and not get pinged for drafting...of which there was a plenty. To be honest it was more like the tour de France peleton...Drafting rule was 10m, 30 secs to pass and a 6 min penalty....well I didn't see them ping anyone, depsite a rather hilarious demonstration of what they would pull up at the race briefing, and a strict zero tolerance enforcement policy- allegedly.... Well anyhow....Fiona and I pushed each other the whole way- we're so evenly matched it was good for the kiwis to be right up there. So the bike felt strong, and going into the run I was looking forward to it- I knew it would be a toughie- some testing hills- not as flat as originally planned.
Run
I felt strong on the run but knew it was really hot and it would be so easy to blow up- lots of people were walking, being sick, one girl was on oxygen! I felt a bit dehydrated on the last lap, and couldn't stomach any more gels, but I left every last bit out there and snuck in under 1hr 30 mins. So I was running faster than my half marathon pace on the flat, even after the swim and bike- I was stoked!
I finished 6th in my age group in 4hr 46 mins. Us 4 kiwi girls all finished within 2 mins of one another.
It was an amazing experience. I now go forward to Ironman having learnt so much after the last six months. There's still a long way to go. I know my strength is running, but my biking has come on leaps and bounds as has my swimming. There's much room for improvement in all areas. Pacing and nutrition and tweaking my bike will all be considered in the next six months.
Now I'm looking forward to a well deserved rest and catching up with my family and school friends in the UK. I am proud to be a kiwi, my adopted nation! We were a great team. A great family team spirit was evident everywhere in our team hotel, team meals and on the course. For a small nation, we did ourselves proud.
I'm itching to get back out there training though but know I need the rest to be reenergised to take on Taupo! Bring it on!!!!!
Monday, June 25, 2007
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Always the Hunter...
Let me introduce myself…I'm 27 from the UK originally, now living in NZ with my kiwi hubby Bede. My folks live in Wellington and my sister Laura, her husband Chris and my niece Paris live in the Hayward Hills north of Wellington.
I was always sporty at school, and did gymnastics, lacrosse and athletics as my main sports, plus dance outside of school, as a child I just could not sit still.
At uni I played Lacrosse for Birmingham, U21 England and when I came to NZ I got into the NZ team. I've had to give it a miss this season for IM training, but I'll be back! The two just can't be married together, IM requires endurance, and Lacrosse requires a lot more speed, which I just can't concentrate on along with the IM.
A friend of mine did the London triathlon in 2003. At the time I had come back from a year out in NZ and whilst enjoying the time immensely I had gained a few Speights pounds and thought enough was enough. So I started back at the gym with a vengeance and quickly shifted the OE baggage. Then I decided to enter the Sprint distance in 2004. I've always loved running, so that was the easiest to get back into. I got a mountain bike at first and borrowed my Dad's Raleigh Racer-no joke. Bike fit? What's that? The gear levers were on the frame and all that, but I got the bug, and started loving the training. Bede came over for a year in February 2004. I had just started back swimming then. I could only do about 5 lengths free style without stopping.The first time I went swimming with him it was a 9pm session at my local pool in Harpenden and it was snowing outside, he thought I was nuts and lasted about half an hour and read a book whilst I continued my spluttering and splattering intermingled with much breast stroke for the remainder of the hour…that was my first lesson in dedication.
So London Triathlon 2004, antique bike and swimming in the docks with about 400 other women, not the best start, but quite a baptism of fire. I was 20th in my race and clocked not a bad time I thought!
Moving on…I was living in London so did little biking, mainly spin classes and the gym and running. We had a tiny pool at the gym-it was stainless steel and only about 15m long in the basement, but it was only 8 quid a month- and was in Mayfair dahling!!! (OK so it was subsidised work gym at Holmes Place, but I loved it!)
Fast forward to NZ, Feb 2005….Bede and I were married in Hawkes Bay in the March and we moved to Nelson. I was looking for a job so had heaps of time on my hands to explore the hills on my Mountain Bike, keep the running and swimming ticking over and enjoy the Summer.
We moved to ChCh in August 2005 and I didn't really get into the tri thing properly until Bede's cousin Pip sold me her bike as she was going on her OE. I promised to do the Taupo half IM as she unfortunately had to pull out of doing it on the trusty Trek 1000 steed the year before due to illness.
So I get the help of a bike coach about this time last year to set me on my way and joined the Canterbury Tri Club. I started swimming at aquagym and going to John Newsom's swimming and running classes. Soon enough I was hooked into the tri scene.
My first race was the short course in Ashburton 2006 as a warm up for Tauranga half IM. I came a surprising third and won my age group. The race felt fast, I had a crap swim and kept getting caught in weeds, but a good bike and caught people up on the bike and run.
But I felt short changed. I saw the competitors in the half IM and knew I should be out with them. The longer distance was definitely for me.
So next was Tauranga…it was supposed to be Taupo, but I pulled out of Taupo when it was canned due to Council politics….
Race Report
In the couple of days leading up to the event I did the Ocean swim on the Thursday night which gave me a chance to try out the course with similar conditions/tides to what was predicted for the Saturday morning, I had an good swim time was about 35mins with no in and out, just two laps so it was a bit different to Saturday. On the Friday morning I went for a 20 min swim, biked the run to the turnaround (about 20mins) and ran once round the Mount (20 mins).
I then took it easy during the day, cleaned my bike, got all my kit together and hung around our apartment. I had an early tea (pasta with tuna and pesto and toast) then attended the briefing at 6pm and then went back to the apartment and went to bed at normal time- 10.30pm.I woke at 5am and had my pre-race breakfast- white toast with marmite and peanut butter and banana and Enervit sports drink. I arrived at transition at 6am and set up my kit. I was still in the queue for the loo with 5 mins to go so had to put my wetsuit on really quickly and I forgot to have my carboshotz. But this proved out to be good as I didn’t feel as sick as I can do on the swim.
The swim went well, I didn’t push it too much, but did get caught in a few boat tow ropes. The second lap was shorter (1st 1200m, 2nd 800m) and I came out feeling pretty good. My time was 38 mins, I was hoping for under 40mins so that was good.
Quickly onto my bike I got through T1 well and put socks on and took my banana and three carboshotz with me.
The bike started on the long 55km lap and this was good to split up the field, although there was definitely some drafting going on. I felt good on the way out with a tailwind and there was a head/cross at times wind on the return leg. I passed a considerable number of people and was looking out for girls in the same age group which I used as targets to set my sights on. I had some carboshotz taped to my bike but when trying to get them off I split them on my bike so it got sticky, esp. on the handlebars which was gross. I had my banana at the turn into the second lap and had some jet planes. I took on board fluid every 15 – 20 mins, but I really needed to pee so I felt like I couldn’t drink. I kept a good pace- about 32-35km/h at times, and came into T2 preparing myself for the run. My time was about 2hr48, under 3hrs which I had planned for. I had to stop for the loo, as I couldn’t go on the bike…which cost me a couple of mins in T2. Will have to learn how to do this for sure!
I really enjoyed the run as the crowds were great spurring you on. I was conscious that I was dehydrated, as it was hot, but also windy so I made sure I took water on board and I also had some pepsi at the stations. I had two gels on the run, with water at the stations. I held back in the first lap as I knew I wanted to negative split and finish strongly. I upped my pace for the second half especially the final lap from the turnaround and round the Mount base track. I aimed to keep my running style efficient with quick turnover and keeping my posture good and I felt very strong coming into the final straight.
My time was bang on 1hr45 mins which was what I had aimed for, but I think I could go faster.
Overall time 5hrs 16 mins, under the 5hr 30mins I had hoped for. For my first long distance event I felt I did really well and all my preparation paid off. I was running off the buzz of the event for days. I did go for a 30min run round the Mount base track the day after and then had a day off then I think I went for an hour and a half bike the day after that. When I got back to Wellington the weekend after I went out on my bike for a couple of rides and a few runs as I felt good.
Two weeks later in Timaru, I did the Olympic distance Placemakers race. I was physically there, but mentally I was still pretty tired I think and had come down off the high since Tauranga. I threw up on the swim and felt crap, but the bike was great fun, some challenging climbs and I enjoyed the run along the cliffs, but I knew I had too much time to catch up. I ended up 5th.
A little while after this race I found out I had been selected from Tauranga for the Age Groups team to go to the World Champs in Lorient. I was really pleased, but scared at the prospect of the 3km longer swim! I would never have even contemplated such a feat a few years ago when I could hardly keep my head under water!
I had one last good race at the Canterbury Tri Champs (Oly distance)- a top five result and third in my age group over a real toughie of a course over in Corsair Bay.
So I contacted John Newsom from the local NZ Multi Sports and Triathlon Centre and he agreed to coach me for the Champs.
I started swimming with Roly Crichton at QEII, having done little squad work before. This has helped my competitive edge and confidence enormously. Technique sessions were the order of the day as I will never be a super fast swimmer. I just need to be able to make the distance without having a panic attack! So the early mornings do take their toll, especially when studying part time, working full time and keeping the other half (relatively!) happy…and the housework….well let's not go there!
Biking wise, my endurance has increased as the longer rides got longer, far longer than in my training for Tauranga and far more hill work to build my strength as I'm only a wee thing. My running's been steadily improving, helped by speed/interval sessions at the NZMTC and core work.
I coming up towards my final few weeks before Lorient. I leave on 8 July. I'm feeling fit, and trying to ward off those nasty bugs going around. Doesn't help every time I swim I get so blocked up in my sinuses. Winter has really set in throughout June, making training hard at times, but I'm getting through it. It's been cold, but the sun seems to shine most of the time. And we've had little rain. The tiredness is starting to set in, so I shall be looking forward to the taper.
During my build up I have also secured sponsorship for Ironman with Alpe D' Huez, to whom I owe my deepest gratitude. I'm really looking forward to March 1 on the shores of Taupo!
Firstly onwards and upwards through the hemispheres to the shores of Brittany, then a good rest and holiday in the UK catching up with friends and family.
Will catch up soon before I head off to France. Wish me Bonne Chance!
Train hard, train safe x
I was always sporty at school, and did gymnastics, lacrosse and athletics as my main sports, plus dance outside of school, as a child I just could not sit still.
At uni I played Lacrosse for Birmingham, U21 England and when I came to NZ I got into the NZ team. I've had to give it a miss this season for IM training, but I'll be back! The two just can't be married together, IM requires endurance, and Lacrosse requires a lot more speed, which I just can't concentrate on along with the IM.
A friend of mine did the London triathlon in 2003. At the time I had come back from a year out in NZ and whilst enjoying the time immensely I had gained a few Speights pounds and thought enough was enough. So I started back at the gym with a vengeance and quickly shifted the OE baggage. Then I decided to enter the Sprint distance in 2004. I've always loved running, so that was the easiest to get back into. I got a mountain bike at first and borrowed my Dad's Raleigh Racer-no joke. Bike fit? What's that? The gear levers were on the frame and all that, but I got the bug, and started loving the training. Bede came over for a year in February 2004. I had just started back swimming then. I could only do about 5 lengths free style without stopping.The first time I went swimming with him it was a 9pm session at my local pool in Harpenden and it was snowing outside, he thought I was nuts and lasted about half an hour and read a book whilst I continued my spluttering and splattering intermingled with much breast stroke for the remainder of the hour…that was my first lesson in dedication.
So London Triathlon 2004, antique bike and swimming in the docks with about 400 other women, not the best start, but quite a baptism of fire. I was 20th in my race and clocked not a bad time I thought!
Moving on…I was living in London so did little biking, mainly spin classes and the gym and running. We had a tiny pool at the gym-it was stainless steel and only about 15m long in the basement, but it was only 8 quid a month- and was in Mayfair dahling!!! (OK so it was subsidised work gym at Holmes Place, but I loved it!)
Fast forward to NZ, Feb 2005….Bede and I were married in Hawkes Bay in the March and we moved to Nelson. I was looking for a job so had heaps of time on my hands to explore the hills on my Mountain Bike, keep the running and swimming ticking over and enjoy the Summer.
We moved to ChCh in August 2005 and I didn't really get into the tri thing properly until Bede's cousin Pip sold me her bike as she was going on her OE. I promised to do the Taupo half IM as she unfortunately had to pull out of doing it on the trusty Trek 1000 steed the year before due to illness.
So I get the help of a bike coach about this time last year to set me on my way and joined the Canterbury Tri Club. I started swimming at aquagym and going to John Newsom's swimming and running classes. Soon enough I was hooked into the tri scene.
My first race was the short course in Ashburton 2006 as a warm up for Tauranga half IM. I came a surprising third and won my age group. The race felt fast, I had a crap swim and kept getting caught in weeds, but a good bike and caught people up on the bike and run.
But I felt short changed. I saw the competitors in the half IM and knew I should be out with them. The longer distance was definitely for me.
So next was Tauranga…it was supposed to be Taupo, but I pulled out of Taupo when it was canned due to Council politics….
Race Report
In the couple of days leading up to the event I did the Ocean swim on the Thursday night which gave me a chance to try out the course with similar conditions/tides to what was predicted for the Saturday morning, I had an good swim time was about 35mins with no in and out, just two laps so it was a bit different to Saturday. On the Friday morning I went for a 20 min swim, biked the run to the turnaround (about 20mins) and ran once round the Mount (20 mins).
I then took it easy during the day, cleaned my bike, got all my kit together and hung around our apartment. I had an early tea (pasta with tuna and pesto and toast) then attended the briefing at 6pm and then went back to the apartment and went to bed at normal time- 10.30pm.I woke at 5am and had my pre-race breakfast- white toast with marmite and peanut butter and banana and Enervit sports drink. I arrived at transition at 6am and set up my kit. I was still in the queue for the loo with 5 mins to go so had to put my wetsuit on really quickly and I forgot to have my carboshotz. But this proved out to be good as I didn’t feel as sick as I can do on the swim.
The swim went well, I didn’t push it too much, but did get caught in a few boat tow ropes. The second lap was shorter (1st 1200m, 2nd 800m) and I came out feeling pretty good. My time was 38 mins, I was hoping for under 40mins so that was good.
Quickly onto my bike I got through T1 well and put socks on and took my banana and three carboshotz with me.
The bike started on the long 55km lap and this was good to split up the field, although there was definitely some drafting going on. I felt good on the way out with a tailwind and there was a head/cross at times wind on the return leg. I passed a considerable number of people and was looking out for girls in the same age group which I used as targets to set my sights on. I had some carboshotz taped to my bike but when trying to get them off I split them on my bike so it got sticky, esp. on the handlebars which was gross. I had my banana at the turn into the second lap and had some jet planes. I took on board fluid every 15 – 20 mins, but I really needed to pee so I felt like I couldn’t drink. I kept a good pace- about 32-35km/h at times, and came into T2 preparing myself for the run. My time was about 2hr48, under 3hrs which I had planned for. I had to stop for the loo, as I couldn’t go on the bike…which cost me a couple of mins in T2. Will have to learn how to do this for sure!
I really enjoyed the run as the crowds were great spurring you on. I was conscious that I was dehydrated, as it was hot, but also windy so I made sure I took water on board and I also had some pepsi at the stations. I had two gels on the run, with water at the stations. I held back in the first lap as I knew I wanted to negative split and finish strongly. I upped my pace for the second half especially the final lap from the turnaround and round the Mount base track. I aimed to keep my running style efficient with quick turnover and keeping my posture good and I felt very strong coming into the final straight.
My time was bang on 1hr45 mins which was what I had aimed for, but I think I could go faster.
Overall time 5hrs 16 mins, under the 5hr 30mins I had hoped for. For my first long distance event I felt I did really well and all my preparation paid off. I was running off the buzz of the event for days. I did go for a 30min run round the Mount base track the day after and then had a day off then I think I went for an hour and a half bike the day after that. When I got back to Wellington the weekend after I went out on my bike for a couple of rides and a few runs as I felt good.
Two weeks later in Timaru, I did the Olympic distance Placemakers race. I was physically there, but mentally I was still pretty tired I think and had come down off the high since Tauranga. I threw up on the swim and felt crap, but the bike was great fun, some challenging climbs and I enjoyed the run along the cliffs, but I knew I had too much time to catch up. I ended up 5th.
A little while after this race I found out I had been selected from Tauranga for the Age Groups team to go to the World Champs in Lorient. I was really pleased, but scared at the prospect of the 3km longer swim! I would never have even contemplated such a feat a few years ago when I could hardly keep my head under water!
I had one last good race at the Canterbury Tri Champs (Oly distance)- a top five result and third in my age group over a real toughie of a course over in Corsair Bay.
So I contacted John Newsom from the local NZ Multi Sports and Triathlon Centre and he agreed to coach me for the Champs.
I started swimming with Roly Crichton at QEII, having done little squad work before. This has helped my competitive edge and confidence enormously. Technique sessions were the order of the day as I will never be a super fast swimmer. I just need to be able to make the distance without having a panic attack! So the early mornings do take their toll, especially when studying part time, working full time and keeping the other half (relatively!) happy…and the housework….well let's not go there!
Biking wise, my endurance has increased as the longer rides got longer, far longer than in my training for Tauranga and far more hill work to build my strength as I'm only a wee thing. My running's been steadily improving, helped by speed/interval sessions at the NZMTC and core work.
I coming up towards my final few weeks before Lorient. I leave on 8 July. I'm feeling fit, and trying to ward off those nasty bugs going around. Doesn't help every time I swim I get so blocked up in my sinuses. Winter has really set in throughout June, making training hard at times, but I'm getting through it. It's been cold, but the sun seems to shine most of the time. And we've had little rain. The tiredness is starting to set in, so I shall be looking forward to the taper.
During my build up I have also secured sponsorship for Ironman with Alpe D' Huez, to whom I owe my deepest gratitude. I'm really looking forward to March 1 on the shores of Taupo!
Firstly onwards and upwards through the hemispheres to the shores of Brittany, then a good rest and holiday in the UK catching up with friends and family.
Will catch up soon before I head off to France. Wish me Bonne Chance!
Train hard, train safe x
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