This tapering lark is a bit of alright really! I have more spare time, feel fitter and stronger and have no aches and pains! In fact, I'm finding the hardest part is stopping myself pushing too hard or going too long on the bike. I don't have such worries on the running front as I'm still protecting my calf and will not run more than 45 mins, and even that is at Ironman pace i.e. sloooowwwly....
I have been getting a fair amount of open water swimming done ,which has been great, apart from one day last week when a nasty thunderstorm descended on the lake complete with flashing stuff and very loud bangs! I don't know if anyone else has ever been caught in a storm while open water swimming, but I'm not ashamed to say I was more than a little spooked! I kept thinking, "if this water takes a hit will I get frazzled!?" Once those thoughts started creeping in I couldn't get out quick enough! Thankfully I made it out of one body of wet stuff only to be confronted with another...a flooded field to try and drive out of! That was some storm!
I did my last 'hard' session last Sunday which was a 3km pool swim, home for a bit of 'race' brekky then on the turbo for 2 and a half hours followed by a 45 min very steady run. This was all done in race kit (apart from the wetsuit) and on race food and it all served to build confidence really, especially in the calf department. I know my IM run is going to be slow, but I'm happy with that really, as it kinda takes the pressure off trying to push for any kind of time, and I can just try and enjoy the day!
When my new wheels arrive (hopefully in the next couple of days) that will be all my kit and nutrition all in place and ready to go. I'm really looking forward to my first IM but I'm already thinking about where my next one is going to be coz I want to try and turn up at one fully fit!
Train well.
Monday 20 July 2009
Wednesday 8 July 2009
It's a Miracle!
Hallelujah! My calf held together for my first ever middle distance event, the Cleveland Steelman! That's 12 miles of running after not being able to scrape together no more than 20 mins jogging at a time since the Brize sprint!
I had decided to just run for about 20 to 30 mins at the Steelman but, as I was literally plodding along and enjoying the views, I found a pace that didn't aggravate the calf at all. It felt fantastic to be able to finish the race and I really enjoyed it! It also gave me a chance to rehearse my Ironman plans during the race, including kit and food. It's a good course with 2 laps of each discipline, the bike was not too hilly and the run was more cross country than road. My plan was to take each first lap steady then push the second to attain negative splits, and I actually stuck to this plan and it worked a treat for me. Although my times were relatively slow (bar the swim) I felt good and surprised myself by finishing the run too! As far as IM plans go, it threw up some minor points I need to change for the big one, so it proved useful in that respect too.
I finished 5th in age group and 19th overall and was only a couple of mins down from the 2nd age group spot which gives me something to aim for next year!
The timings....
2km swim - 30 min
90km bike - 2hr: 38
12 mile run -1hr: 28 min (dodgy stomach early on forcing 2 toilet stops!!)
With less than 4 weeks to go to IM, and although my expectations timings wise will have to be adjusted, I'm feeling a lot more optimistic about actually being able to run most of the marathon! It's now time to taper the bike and swim but I need to keep upping the 'very steady' run miles for another week or so to get my creaking joints used to the miles again!
Bring on Bolton!
Train well!
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