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the idea of flowers on race day is superb and I'll 100% be doing that (or similar)...I've got my wife and son, and some of her family and a few close friends coming out to offer support so that will be a good boost hopefully, and plenty of hands to help lug my kit back to the accommodation
Gels are small sachets of flavoured wall paper paste textured carbohydrate mix, designed for easy digestion (allegedly) that are for topping up energy levels on the move. It was a year after my IM before I could look at a High5 gel again without feeling sick.
For a sprint tri, I used to use a caffeine one just after getting on the bike. Not sure it made much difference, but it was a routine.
Cupped Water
Cupped High5
Half bananas
Jelly babies
Salt and vinegar Pringles
Salt stick crisps
Salted Peanuts
Jamaican Ginger cake
Chocolate cake
Jaffa Cakes
Fig Rolls
Nice biscuits
It was great
It's easily one of the best run endurance events in the UK. I've marshalled it a few times, so I might be slightly biased, but I always have a great time, and I've never heard anyone speak badly about the race. If I can find the money, I'll be adding it to my training schedule next year.
My favourite fuel though is the little 1 inch flapjack squares you get in supermarkets. Sugary for quick energy and oats for longer lasting energy.
I should be able to work on technique through winter and make it easier, and faster. Then I'll do open water in Spring and combine cycling and running.
On Sunday I did a Sprint Triathlon (750m river swim, 23km road bike, 5km run)
I haven't been training much but I felt I'd be able to get through it.
And I did. The swim was really pleasant, I just took my time and got into a rhythm. Coming out of the water feels weird so I took my time to peel the wetsuit off and get my cycling shoes and helmet on, by that time I felt steady enough to jog and jump onto the bike before blasting past a few who obviously prefer the swim leg.
I felt good all the way and finished with a rapid spin of the legs to prepare for running. Despite not being a fan of running, and it was starting to get hot in the sun, I managed to do a 5k PB (23:00).
I enjoyed it. I am actually looking forward to my next one.....maybe September. And I think I'll go for a longer distance next year.
The official photographer caught this beauty of me.
Allow me to tell a story....
I did my first Sprint in 2014, enjoyed it over all, but found it jolly hard work and audibly said "how on earth do they do double that in the Olympics??????"
Fast forward 3 years and I did the London Olympic Distance Triathlon with my mate. He was using it as a warm up event for Middle Distance (half ironman) event later in the year.
"FUCK THAT" says I. "you're a nutter! I'll do the Bristol Half Marathon with you and THATS IT. How the fuck do people do an IRON MAN too???? absolutely insane"
Fast forward another 12 months and I'd been persuaded to compete in and completed the Cotswold Classic Middle Distance (half ironman). I also enjoyed that, and was buzzing to get a sub-6 hour time.
Fast forward 11 months to the present day....and I did my 2nd middle distance event back in june and I'm now 5 fucking weeks away from doing a fucking IRON MAN in Copenhagen. WHAT THE SHIT AM I THINKING??????????????????
What an idiot.
I'm retiring after Copenhagen though (if I complete it - nursing a leg injury currently )
The feeling wobbly after the swim is normal, especially in open water. Apparently increasing your kick intensity for the last 100m helps (although I've not found that it does) as do ear plugs (wouldn't know as never wear them), as it's something to do with your equilibrium (or so I'm told).
Best just to take your time and compose until you're ready to go.
I'll probably have complete sea legs after swimming 3.8km in the lagoon at Copenhagen...should be interesting
that's the kind of pattern that I tend to follow with these things too, but I'm under orders to not let it take up too much of my life. I think standard or Olympic distance will be enough. But....we'll see.
I think I'll continue to enjoy open water swimming in its own right, and I've been into cycling for a while so think I'll do some touring and endurance events like C2C and LEJOG.
My wife has been an absolute saint this year. In fairness, I've tried to keep the impact on home life to a minimum and until my injury, all of my runs were incorporated with dog walking, so that sorted that out...
Cycling was some commutes a few times a week and a longer ride at the weekends where I could fit (now it's closer to the event I'm in panic stations so every weekend I'm doing at least 4 hours in the saddle).
And swimming I'm "ok" at, so have been very sporadic, but try and get a 3km swim done at least once a week.
Truth be told, I could have done more training, but I wanted a decent life/training balance, without it impacting too much, especially with an 18 month old.
I had a bit of a mental wobble yesterday and it dawned on me that I only have 6 weeks (or less than) and I'm nowhere near ready (doesn't help that my running has been hampered after doing SO much work on it over the winter)...went into proper meltdown mode on the train to London Paddington full of commuters!
I can only do what I can do now, and see what happens on the day. whatever happens, I'll be grinding it out until they tell me I've missed the cut off.
But it's a bucket list thing for me, I want to hear the words as I cross the finish line, then I'm done with exercise forever (or at least until I get a place in the London Marathon )
Basically, what I'm saying is, it's definitely doable working around family life, especially if you can commute on your bike and do some early morning/late night runs as that takes out over 60 % of the training.
You'd be able to do a 70.3/113 on minimal training for sure. But I'd definitely do an Olympic - there's some fantastic ones available too...but I can assure you, you'll want to challenge yourself with a 70.3 event after that
Also, I would try and lift my head out to breath by pushing down with my hand rather than rotating, look up "catch up" swim drills as this one really helps slow you down (in a good way! )
I'm now confident that I could swim the distance for an Olympic triathlon, in open water with a bit of current. I wouldn't be fast, but I'd be comfortable. And I'd be able to get out and ride a bike straight after.
My next swimming step is to use the local triathlon club to coach me into improving that technique and hopefully my pace.
Tri club is a good shout. My mate could barely swim 400m a few years ago. He's as quick as me now. And although I'm not quick, I was basically a good 400m quicker than him on a 1500m swim.
Good luck @joneve. let us know how you get on.
And congratulations @roundthebend.