Starting right
After having the flu last week, I knew that I had to get some good times in. With Christmas it was going to be a little hard as time with family can limit time training.
However, I managed a good 5 hours on the fluid trainer. This is where most of my cycling will be done during the wet season as the rain tumbles down. 600mm (24 inches) for the month so far and more expected. Did some speed work. Ran 6 x 1km sprints with 90 seconds between them. I managed my target, with all runs being at better than 6min per k. That's painfully slow, but I'll work up to faster speeds as I get more k's in the legs and have a better endurance base. On Boxing Day, I managed a little further than last Sunday's 2 hour run, with 16.58km.
Tried to get to the pool, but got held up at work virtually every day. managed an early afternoon on Christmas Eve. Walked the short distance to the pool in the driving rain. (Hey, I was gonna get wet anyway!) just to find they closed early. Next week, will get in even if I have to head out during lunch break.
Although I did the usual overindulgence on Christmas Day, the 2 hrs on the fluid trainer Boxing Day and 2 hr Run the same night minimised the weight gain.
Currently 83.4kg, aiming for race weight of 76kg.
Swim - Nil
Bike - Nil
Trainer - 5 hours (2x2 & 1x1)
Run - 2:34 (1 x 2hr & 6 x 1k splits)
Flu ridden week
This week was a shocker. Monday was a decent run and then down with the flu for 3-4 days. Fever running hot & cold, sweating like I was on a run. Overall, this really put a dampener in my training. The only bright thing to come from it was it enabled me to get my weight down a bit. Dropped 1.5kg for the week.
Being totally unfit and not having run since Monday morning, I decided to head out Sunday night around 6pm for a 2 hour run. Distance and time were not hugely important. I wanted to cover the normal distance over the first hour and then see what the second hour was like. I figure this could be close to what I may do in Cairns after the swim & bike leg.
First hour was a normal run. Slow, walking after 3k and just under 9km covered. The second hour pushed this up to 15.75km. The key was to keep trotting along between walking sessions. I was still trotting along at the end of the 2 hours. If this can be maintained during the run in Ciarns, I'm looking at a run time somewhere around 6:30. It was a balmy 27.3C when I left and by the time I finished, it had dropped to 27.2C. Humidity started at 86% rising to 88%. I'm counting on Ciarns being a lot cooler and less humid, making the run leg easier. Training in the tropics does have some advantages.
Overall:
Swim: Nil
Bike: Nil
Trainer: Nil
Run: 1 x 1hr 8.9k : 1 x 2hr 15.7k (24.6k)
Weight 83.0kg
Engaging Week
This week was one of exciting and interesting events. Celebrated my partner's 50th birthday and used the occassion to propose. So just after Challenge Cairns, this slow tri-man is off the market. Well, it's really only making it official as we had planned a June wedding anyway.
Needless to say, arranging the birthday party, engagement and the constant rain caused a few hiccups in my training plans.
I managed my first decent road cycle since May. There was no distance or speed set, tha plan was just to spend time in the saddle. 1 hour riding north, then turn around and come back home. 40km in and I blew a tyre on the Bruce Highway about 20km north of town. It gave me some practice running off the bike as I trotted 2-3k before acccepting a lift back to town from a passing driver.
Overall, less than the hours I wanted, but at least I got some real bike time in.
6 months to go
Cairns Challenge is just 6 months away. I'm being consistent with some training, getting out 4 days last week for 5 hours total and this week, despite having to travel to Geelong & Melbourne, heading out 4 times for 4.5 hours. I don't want to push too hard too fast, considering the recent surgey and only getting the OK to train 2 weeks ago.
Visited Melbourne for work most of the week, but got out each morning I was able for a 1 hour run. Unlike Mackay, the suburb I was running around has lots of hills. To quote Bart Simpson, "Ay Carumba!". Those hills really hurt. My gluteus is in maximus pain as are my ankles.
No pool work yet, which is my weakest leg. The key here is timing. Local pool hours are not conducive to early morning or late evening training. I may have to bite the bullet and book myself out of the office at the start of the day a couple of times a week to get some swim time in.
