'Brick'ing it!!

Well, I did my first brick session today - just to show I may not be a triathlete but I do know the terminology!! This is a back to back session of two of the sports - in this case cycling and running. I did my 20k route cycle followed immediately by a 2 mile run. The idea is to get used to the feeling of moving from the bike to running and I have to say it did feel odd for the first half mile. It was good to experience it. I was not too happy with my cycle. I was even slower than last week, and that was snail's pace. I need to find out what I am doing wrong, it was very windy and my route is very hilly so maybe I need to get a flatter route and try the same distance to see just how rubbish I really am.
Keep watching for the next exciting instalment of my progress!!

Achilles update

Well the achilles is just about right and I've been running again. 2 miles on Monday to test it out then 5 on Tuesday night and another 5 tonight. With all this wind and rain about I can't help but think this is like double training for the summer. I am sure it was sleeting at one point today and the face first wind doesn't help, but I felt so virtuous afterwards, I even felt I had earnt the eclair I had in the afternoon!!
I alos did my firstw eights sesion for a week last night and am feeling it in the arms today. Vicky, my pT lady, will work me even harder on Saturday so I needed to break myself in yesterday. I am hoping to get in a swim and a cycle tomorrow. So far, I am managing the distance but am in danger of still being on the road whiole everyone les has showered and gone home, so may need to get the pace up a bit.
Still (mainly) enjoying it and do certainly need to get the promtion stuff done ASAP, I think that is harder than the training.

Tri-training update

Well, good news and bad news this week. The bad news is that I have managed to get an inflamed achilles heel so my training over the past couple of days has been much curtailed.I have been swimming and cycling, but the running and weights are not happening. I am really hoping it will be better by tommorow. I have been resting it and getting the ice pack out regularly so here's hoping. On the plus side I did a speed swim session last week and did the 800m (40 lengths of a 20m pool) in 19mins 4 secs, which was my first ever under 20 mins so I was really pleased with that.

Jerry has taken some pictures of me cycling, well with my bike, to try to prove that I have used it. I was wondering about my slow speed so asked him about it (he knows about cycling) and after he realised I never stand up while cycling, and he stopped laughing, I have been recommended to stand and really put some effort into it!!! I'll try it next time.

First race of the season

Well I survived the first race of the season. The Inverness half marathon, which was held in snow and wind (what else should I expect in Inverness in March). Despite the weather it was a really good run and I managed my best time for this distance for ages - 1 hr 56mins 46 secs according to my watch, but we'll see if the chip time agrees.
The snow came on hard as we lined up, but miraculously stopped as soon as the gun went off. It is a good route, although the first few miles were into the wind and although it promises no testing hills there is a steady rise for the first few miles and a couple of sneaky slopes. The snow re-appeared a couple of times but by the time we turned for home the wind was behind us and it became a lot more fun. In places the scenery was terrific and I even took time to look around me and remind myself why I run - it was fantastic to be in the Highlands.
This will be my last half marathon for a while. The distance is too long to help me with my triathlon training and I will take the stamina training to date and now start with the cycling in more earnest. Too many races means too much time off resting for the event and this takes out too much training time. I will do a couple of 10K's as they are a bit easier, and I'm also signed up for the Hairy haggis - a relay team for the Edinburgh Marathon, and I'm doing the first leg of 8.1 miles.
Off to have a well deserved glass of wine now.