finish a half-ironman

Did an Olympic distance tri last weekend. Pulled up fine. 1:34:33. Pretty happy with the time. The swim was a struggle at time, but I had a good consistent cycle and the run was ok. I’ve got to get better at swimming in the sea and a few more long cycles and I may just be able to face a half-ironman.

Shit, this may actually happen. Got an Olympic tri this weekend, a good litmus test and training run (1500,40,10). The swimsuit does wonders in the water, although still getting used to it. Feels like cheating, taken 3 mins off my swim km. Haven’t done enough of course, but I can swim 2km fine, around 40mins without the suit, been on a few rides, 35-50km, but definitely need some 70-100k’ers in there. The running is fine, only how will it be after the swim and run? Unfortunately I can’t just take it easy because I’m such a competitive fuck, but I will have a crack at it. Hoping for sub-3hr this weekend, should stand me in good stead for sub-6hr at Busselton.

Accidently fallen into maybe doing this in 2 months. Have been focused on the marathon, but seeing as GMan is hyping up for this, the competitive streak in me can’t let him go out there on his own. My swim is coming good, first time under 20mins for a km today and my first 2km yesterday, so on that front all I need to do is make sure I’m at the pool a few times a week, ensure I do a 2km session once a week – and get in the wetsuit and down to the beach a few times! The running is good, just need to ensure I’m still doing marathon training and not lose focus on the long runs (and do some Yasso 800 for fucks sake). The bike is the weak link, I finally got out and cycled 55km at just over 30km pace, which I was impressed with, but need to go up to 100km and got out there twice a week absolute minimum.

Yep. No starter in the Half-ironman, got diagnosed with pleurisy on the day. Not fun. Very disappointing to train for something for a year, but damn, I’m gonna do the same thing again. Busselton Half-Ironman 2009 here I come. Marathon training for Amsterdam 2008 begins as soon as I’m well again.

So my 3-week flu has effectively cancelled my half-iron next week. I’ve been training for it for a year. Disappointed, but still determined to do it – I guess its booked in for 2009. Still chasing up a wetsuit to get me through winter.

So on Sunday I may try an Olympic distance tri – 1500m swim, 40km cycle, 10km run. After a week off training, I feel I’m behind schedule about a month, but I only have a month to the half-ironman. My 6hr goal seems to be fading. My wetsuit is too small! What am I gonna do? I think the key to this weekend is do the tri, but don’t go at race pace, just pace myself so I finish strong, not shattered like the last one.

Ok, the Karri Valley Tri is done. 1km swim, 30km cycle, 8km run. The lake swim was tough but I got it done okay and came home strong, too strong? The cycle I went too hard, racing seasoned triathletes but did a great time on the hilly course. That left the run – I was out of steam. Struggled through after stopping a few brief times struggling with all the water I’d swallowed in the swim. My 42min 8km run was shocking, my benchmark easy run being 5min ks. The lesson – take it easier in the cycle, get your breath back, get rid of the swallowed water and run solid.

Ocean swimming is hard! Apart from the fact I feel terribly neurotic and uncomfortable out there in the bleak depths, I have to swim 1km out to sea and then back again. Plus it feels like a washing machine – I get dizzy. I’ve got 12 weeks to get comfortable out of the pool and in the ocean – or at least the mental capacity to deal with it!

Swimming – going well, can swim a km comfortably in just over 20mins and 2km trials under 41 mins. Haven’t been out in the ocean yet!
Cycling up to 45km, a bit stiff and I need to get cleats and more miles.
The running is fine, just need to keep some distances up though still struggling with this summer heat. 3.5 months to go, I would say I’m on track.

I want to do Busselton Half-Ironman 2008. I have my base. I have my stuff. I have my goal – sub 6hr. The hardest part will probably be keeping my cycle under 3hrs. If I can do that and still run a 1:45 half, I should be ok… if I can finish the swim. 2km in the pool – no problem. 2km in the ocean – hmmm.