We have a trainee-in-waiting

I have some great news from the 500 miles charity. We have a trainee who is willing to go to Tanzania for training as a prosthetist. His name is Patrick Mwila and currently works in the workshop in Zambia.

It is really great to have a real person to be raising money for rather than just the theory of supporting someone. It has got me even more motivated than I have been.

The other good news is that I have got my posters made and will be really pushing the money raising side of things in the next few weeks. Many of my colleagues have already given me great support both financially and with help on my training which is going really well, despite a slight problem with my knee. I am making sure I don't push it too hard and am icing it regularly. I am getting loads of encouragement from work, several cyclists pals are giving me loads of tips and advice (thanks Phil and Jamie especially), and Andrea keeps going with making sure I will be okay in the swim. I am actually thinking I will finish it and not be last, which in addition to my goal of raising the £6,500 needed for Patrick to get his first year's training guaranteed.

Training progress

It's been a mixed week or so for training. A business trip to Prague last week broke into my training and I only managed to get a few swims and one weights session in while I was away. I then threw myself into training over the weekend and did a short fast run on Friday, a long cycle and weights on Saturday and a run and swim on Sunday. The run on Sunday was supposed to be 10 miles but I was not really on it, and only managed to do 6.5, and had to walk some of that. Probably over did after a slow week. However, on Monday (I was off work) I did put in two hours gardening (counted it as weights work, especially as I dug the veg patch over) and did a good swim session. I then did a good 5 mile run tonight with the jogscotland group, and followed this with one of my best swim sessions ever. I have found a new training program for beginner triathletes and intend to follow this and it includes several work sessions in the pool so I tried this for the first time tonight and it went really well. I managed to only work on my crawl and between float work (on my legs) and flipper work (focuses on the hand technique) as well as several straight forward swim lengths I managed to do 40 lengths. The first time I have ever managed this and it really felt good. My breathing and arm movements seem to be coming together, so while I am still not sure I will be good enough to use this in the race I certainly feel like I have made a lot of progress in this area. I can certainly manage a pool length without drowning now.

Next post I should have the promo stuff in place and I'll post more info about the charity.

'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.

Good training week

Well this last week or so has gone really well for training. Last week I was training most days in accordance with my plan. I do have to admit that I took a few days off last weekend as my sister was visiting and we went and had a fantastic pamper day in Edinburgh on Saturday. After that I couldn't bring myself to train on Sunday either. Just as well, as the weather was not great with really strong winds and my running pals did a crazy 14.5miles which they all said was really hard.

To redeem myself I have pushed hard this week, Two swim sessions, full weights workout and strong 6.5mile run and 20k cycle in gym with 1k on treadmill to get used to the idea of cycling then running. I know the gym bikes are much easier and once I get some daylight I will be out on those West Lothian hills for the real thing.

The training is feeling good right now - something to be said for a massage and pamper I think, so I am striking while the iron is hot and getting those sessions going well. I am well aware that it can all change if the weather gets bad again, and we are still in February so I have no doubt it can and will, so am getting those miles in my legs while I can.

I have offers of help for the promotion stuff so this weekend I will get some piccies of me in training and also with Jerry so we can get this side of things moving. I have even been reading books on triathlon training and can't decide if I am now more motivated or terrified. Some of them seem to require a PhD in physiology to work out what you are supposed to do. I think I'll stick with my mix and match approach for now, although I have one other secret weapon. Vicky, my lovely PT lady (although that is NOT what I call her when we are in the gym at Ratho!) has experience here so I will be calling on her for advice I am sure.

Off to have a low fat hot choccie and relax now....