So here we are, the last week and I am in Bristol for two days , and have to put the car in the garage, so who knows how much I will be doing this week – probably not a lot. Still have not looked at the transitions, have not really cycled for 2 weeks, barely ran – I am putting it down to tapering, but in all honesty its not great – although is it worth training now – no, it is worth keeping it up and not lounging around eating, which is what I seem to be doing. Received the final details for the tri, and had a look at the run course – holy shite!
Monday started as the week means to go on – too much eating, too much sitting and nothing achieved. Had to be in Bristol with work for today, so was up at 5:30 and got home just before 18:00 so really didn’t fancy anything.
Same again on Tues – no exercise other than a trudge up to St Nicks market to pick up a Pork and Black Pudding baguette. Full of Gammon and chips was going to go out, but just cannot be bothered – I feel really really tired.
Back to a little bit of exercise today, now that things are settled down. Got in the pool just before 06:00, couple of people there, but in I went and tried the two stroke breath for a bit – it was knackering. so moved back to a four stroke which was ideal, nice long strokes and it felt good, but I kept forcing a change of breath, which made the whole exercise harder. Didn’t try any sighting, but found that I do roll the body more now with each stroke, and it is becoming slightly more natural- but I just keep thinking of the difference that bloody sea makes. My sister sent me a video and picture of the sea at Broad Haven last night, and it was like a pancake – well, it wasn’t actually, but it was pretty still. If we have that then things look up, but looking at the weather, I don’t think the weather will hold for the weekend – as long as its not blowy I don’t care – but with my bloody luck it will be stormy… Straight out on a 3 mile run when i got back – which felt pretty good. So all set. Desperate for a beer today – probably just because I know I shouldn’t ;o)
Thursday was time for a little cycle. We should have the car in the garage for a service now, but when we took it down yesterday, the key told the service bloke that it only needed an MOT – stupid bloody technology, so although it has been moaning for weeks that it wants a *service* it actually just wants an MOT. Anyway, it didn’t go in in the end. So 16 mile cycle, up and down a little, legs were burning at the beginning, but managed to keep to 17 mph, which is about the speed I need for the main event. Went from Newport across through Llanewrn today, they have opened a road right through the old steelworks from the edge of Magor to Newport – only 3 miles, will probably save about 12 miles of travelling (if you want to go to Tesco!)
So this is it – back to Pembs tomorrow, then an early night (may have a couple of beers to calm the nerves!) and we shall see what it is like. Weather says it should be perfect, but that changes daily so fingers crossed. Had a quick test of the transition – seems easy, but I suppose I will regret saying that ;o) Just heard that Greg has been ill for the last two weeks and is not sure whether he will start – 6 months training down the drain if he doesn’t – which would be a terrible shame – here’s to hoping he is okay to at least tri the tri!!!..
So here we are some 22 weeks after I decided to do an Olympic triathlon, I have managed to be able to go from swimming two 18 meter lengths with great difficultly to doing 30 50m lengths in 35 minutes. I am still crapping it over the swim, but I am defo better than I was. In 22 weeks I have run a fairt distance, and cycled some more, and swam a fair few miles – but in all that I have not taken the care on the other elements like booze and nosh – but I am at least fitter, if not much leaner, than when I first started. I still get butterflies everytime I think about Saturday and whenever I see the sea, but I feel pretty good now – and just hope I make it.
If I can finish I will be pleased, and I would hope under 4 hrs, if I can get under 3:30 I will be chuffed to bits, and quicker and it will be an impossibility. Here’s to the 29th!.
Cycle: 17 miles
Swim: 1 hr
Run: 3 miles
Beer: None (yet)