15

Osteopath & Triathlete

Sunday 15st March 2009:

Another fortnight has shot by, but I am pleased to be able to report progress. My training has continued to develop steadily and I have finally made the break through and got some swimming into my schedule. This was largely motivated by fear. With tri training camp just 2 weeks away now I was suddenly very aware of my inadequacies in the pool. So, not wanting to just sink whilst on training camp, I finally got to the pool 10 days ago, and have since managed 3 more sessions.

I am painfully slow in the pool, and the technique pretty rusty, but I have been able to complete my training plans, so all in all, I am quite pleased. It was a real shock to the system, after a 6 month absence from the water. It was painful, but left me satisfied, and somewhat exhausted.

My running is coming on leaps and bounds. I have been putting in interval and hill sessions regularly. I am also up to 1hr 30min for my long runs, and at a good pace too. Averaging under 8 minute mile pace, which for me is just fine.

I had a real boost the other day when I ran with a friend who is significantly stronger than me. Usually he drops me on the climbs, but this time he was unable to shake me…and made comment to my progress! Always good for the spirit.If anything has lacked attention in the last 2 weeks it has been my cycling. A couple of turbo sessions over the last week, but until this weekend I was very short of time on the road.

So I tried to remedy that with a tough but inspiring hilly ride over the Mendip hills, climbing up Cheddar Gorge and Burrington Combe. This is one of my favourite rides, and it didn’t disappoint! Today I also put a good 50 mile ride “under the belt”, although it was into a stiff headwind for much of the time and it felt more like 70 miles.

So a couple of weeks to build up to training camp now, and I’m really looking forward to it! Can’t wait.