Ballbuster duathlon

First race of the season and after my bad days of Wednesday and Thursday, I'm now feeling much better. A gentle jog this morning for 20 minutes just freshened me up a bit and I rode to work very easy, starting to think about tomorrow and get in the right frame of mind. Got a lot to sort out tonight, bike, running shoe laces, new battery in watch, work out what gear I'm gonna wear, find some CO2 cartridges from somewhere, or whether I'm even gonna bother with changing a flat. And generally getting ready. I gott a be up at 4am and leaving by 4:30, travelling up with James Gilfillan. Really hoping he goes well and can come away with the win! After winning the Peopleton Duathlon last week, he's obviously in good shape and dominating the bike as well as running strong.
Race Report to follow, and wishing fellow DrivenToTri athletes all the best for the race, and indeed, hope everyone who races has a fun( if slightly painful!!) morning!!

Not always positive

Well, I experienced a new low whilst training last night. I was swimming at Wareham pool and after a bunch of 100s that went pretty well, I was swimming easy and I just stopped half way down the pool, floated to the end and got out 15 minutes before the session ended. I just had the urge to get out of there as quick as possible. I didn't want anything more to do with swimming, biking or running. I thought to myself 'What the f*** am I doing all this for, what's the f***ing point!'. I got in the car and drove home completely vacant. I don't feel much better about things this morning, and I'm in no state for racing on Saturday. Mentally frazzled. My legs seem to have been like jelly all week which hasn't helped, I have no top end speed on the bike and I've been struggling with bike pedals since I changed to Look. I've now gone back to Shimano and much improved. But I don't know what I can do to get over this mental low point. I'm sure it will pass and a decent night's sleep is bound to help.

triblogs.com

triblogs.com has had an update. Excellent resource for planning training and racing for all triathletes. Sign up and use it for free.
http://www.triblogs.com/

James Gilfillan wins duathlon

Well done James, good man, I don't know why you were worried about your bike legs!

http://www.tri247.com/event_6783.html

Come on James, Ballbuster is there for the taking!

Forest of Dean Half Marathon results

couple of people I know doing this race. Lovely weather for it!

http://www.blacksheepsports.co.uk/public/results.aspx?raceid=622

Running hurts

Well, today was nasty interval session day! Not a big fan I must say, but I'm sure it's doing me some good. I hope so anyway! No pain no gain and all that.
Another Steve Monghetti set, spent most of my time looking at my watch trying to hit the lap button, about 55 times in all! 53 minutes of fun. Well, 20 minutes was easy running, 33 minutes of hurt! Rest day tomorrow, and I must say I am looking forward to it. Oh no, hang on, I just remembered I missed today's swim so I'm doing it tomorrow. Oh well, least my legs will have a rest, before the weekend which will be a 2 hour solid bike on Saturday, and a 3 hour ride Sunday, with a 40 minute run straight off the bike. I must admit I do like the long bikes and then the run, almost feels like racing!

No, it won't!

Fed up of having to ride everywhere still in leggings and winter tops. Oh for some warmer weather. Binned swim this morning as I was too tired from last night's 3 x 1000m efforts and wanted to be fresh for today's run session, a nasty interval set that requires more concentration looking at my watch than it does actullay running! I should really get a programmable one but it's more money and to be honest I'm really anti gadgets at the mo'. For the last year I now just accept the gear I have and actually spend the money on a coach and put in the hard work. If it works for the pros then it'll do for me!!
http://www.resultstriathlon.co.uk/ results are out from last weekend's Mad March triathlon, which I finished second in last year in 49:12. Fitter, stronger this year and would have been interesting to see how I would have gone. But, racing is not my focus for the time being. Ballbuster duathlon next week, and then back to concentrating on good consistent training.

Do you think Spring will ever come?

March is well under way, the good weather threatens and then disappears behind numerous rain, hail and snow clouds, and it's less than 2 weeks to my first race of any note, to kickstart the season. Ballbuster duathlon. Bike legs are slowly returning, my run fitness is improving and mentally I'm going through a good patch, so hopefully I will be able to put in a reasonable performance. I just want to finish the race strong having put in 100%. It will give me an idea of where I'm at, what needs work for the rest of the year and how training has been going under the supervision of Harry.
Since last post I've been out for 2 strong bike sessions, 2 hours and 3.5 hours, an easy 40 minute run, and a 5 mile run off the bike and just had a good swim session today. Will do an hour on turbo tonight. I seem to have got the balance right with my training and the level of effort is just about right, recovering well and at last managing to get a reasonable amount of sleep. Long may it continue!!

Crisis of confidence

Well, it's been a funny old week so far, and life seems like a bit of a rollercoaster after all. I'm not one for cliches, but this seems somewhat appropriate. I have been on and off with training, mentally shattered and yet physically in great shape, until a little a soreness returned in my medial quad, which was the source of last year's long knee injury. So I have backed off the running, and biking is only light spinning. It's just me being over cautious but no bad thing because it's still 3 months to my first 'A' race and there is no point overdoing it at this stage.
So I have taken the opportunity to re-focus on my swimming.
Now, the swim camp I went to back in January was excellent and gave me lots to think about. Only problem, that was the problem!! I've spent the last 6 weeks over-analysing how I am swimming and actually not getting anywhere, just more and more frustrated that I'm not swimming right. Instead of just relaxing in the water and getting a 'feel' for it I've just been worrying and tense and stressed and as a result not getting very far!
That was all laid to rest last night, and this is the benefit of having an Olympic standard triathlete as your coach. Harry Wiltshire came to see me swim last night for some one on one coaching. And a result I have never swum that quick. It just felt great to have someone to take care of the counting, timing, and just telling you what to do. I could just get on and swim. And it turns out I'm doing pretty well, and only a couple of things that I need to improve to get me swimming a lot quicker. 1 hour of solid coaching and expet help was the tonic I needed and we're now back on track and off the rollercoaster...for the moment anyway!!

Castle Coombe Duathlon results

Seems like Lee Piercy is on form again!! Good turnout again for this popular duathlon.
http://www.dbmax.co.uk/The%20Big%20Adventure%20Store%20Chilly%20Duathlon.html