triathlon

It’s been a busy few days of triathlon training and wedding planning.

Friday – ran a 5K PB of 25:45

Saturday – visited a load of potential wedding venues along the M4 Corridor and then went out for a meal in T Bones in the evening with Kathryn’s parents.

Sunday – visited a few more venues on the way back to Cardiff through the Brecon Beacons. Then ran a 10K at 55 minutes flat including a 24:59 5K for kilometers 1 to 6

Monday – rest day. Had to help Carlo with his computer.

Tuesday – 700m swim including a 400m PB of 11mins in the morning; finally got out on the bike proper in the evening, did 18K in 45 mins with a my supposed flat section of it into a headwind – then transitioned to the treadmill and ran a 10:06 2K.

I’m actually beginning to feel like a triathlete – assuming that all triathletes struggle to sit down after a bike ride!

Well I’ve gone and bought my bike – it’s a Specialized Allez road bike and I got it from local store, Don Skene, who were as good as any online store I looked at. They threw in a helmet, gloves, computer and water bottle in the total price and also throw in a free service after a months use just to check it’s all fine. Excellent service so far.

I’m collecting it tomorrow because they’re fitting all the bits for me, so I hope to take it out for a spin on Thursday.

Just over a week into training and I’ve clocked up 3 5K runs at a decent pace, the last of which I managed to do without walking at all. Need to build up my aerobic capacity but its coming quite quickly.[newline]

Have done plenty of swimming – yesterdays session was 22 lengths albeit fragmented into blocks of 4 and 3. Would like to get to 4 lots of 4 by the end of next week as 16 is not far at all. Still bikeless at the moment but I’ll buy one shortly.[newline]

Anyway onto the more important things – if I’m doing a Triathlon then you lot can dig deep and at least sponsor my pain – Chris and I have set up a page www.justgiving.com/daveandchris and hope to raise as much as possible for the St. Margarets Hospice. The charity is close to Chris’ family and I’ve always been keen one hospice’s as charities because you know your money is going to have a direct effect. Please look at our page and if you fell you can spare a fiver or whatever then please donate. Bear in mind you’re sponsoring us both too so for those who know both of us you won’t have us asking you twice.

The training continues albeit limited by a blister I picked up on my first proper run – which was a 27 minute 5K which is not bad for a start. Have also managed to swim 500metres but taking too many breathers.

Chris and I have probably decided to compete in the Warwick Triathlon as it seems more suited to beginners.

One thing we’ll do is set up a charity page on JustGiving.com but we’ve yet to pick a charity. Any worthwhile suggestions are welcome.

Well not so much gold, more completion in a reasonable time.

In a fit of stupidity I have agreed to do a Triathlon – not the full Olympic distance and certainly not Iron Man but either way its a 400m swim, 20K bike ride and a 5K run. The event I’m looking to enter is in September which leaves me with a 3 month training window.

Main problems in the way at the moment are

• I’m unfit
• I don’t have a bike – and do i want to spend 500 quid on one!
• I can’t swim (properly)

I’m going to have to train every day from now till then and I want to be able to do each individual bit comfortably before I move on to “joining the dots”. Using the excellent gmap-pedometer I have mapped out some training routes, a 5K around the leisure centre (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1039305) and a 22K bike ride (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1050349).

Anyone who fancies joining me in this madness should add a comment committing to the cause and anyone who wants to encourage (or mock) should feel free. Wish me luck!