My computer's borked again, so blogging is tremendously painful, but I had to make exception for this.
After a tough 50 minute bike ride, I managed to smash my run PB by over a minute, and break the magic 40 minute barrier!
This was despite having a pile of porridge in my stomach which I didn't quite manage to digest during the bike.
It hurt like hell.
PS. I took a picture of my Garmin after the run, but I've failed miserably to post it :-(
Friday, 29 April 2011
Sunday, 10 April 2011
An 'eventful' week
Oh, it has been.
I'll start with the bike. Last time I blogged, I was a little ticked off at not having got my bike back yet, but I didn't doubt that I'd get it back eventually. It's fair to say it didn't quite end up like that.
I was awaiting a call from All Terrain Cycles all Tuesday, and it finally came at about 5:30pm. I wasn't expecting the content of the call to be 'your bike's knackered, we can't repair it'. That's what I got, though.
It left me at a loss initially. I hastily arranged to borrow Rich's bike for Wednesday's planned massive brick session, then tried to work out what on earth I was going to do. It seemed plain that I wouldn't be able to race on my (t)rusty Merida again - so I needed another bike.
Plenty soul-searching followed, as I attempted to establish a budget for the new acquisition. Eventually, I decided it wouldn't be worthwhile to get a cheap stop-gap bike - I'd have to put my dreams of a TT bike on hold, and splash the cash on a shiny new road bike.
A trawl of the Internet took me, as it so often does, to Planet X, and the SL Pro Carbon. Specifically, this:
(albeit the white-frame version. And not as blurry.)
Originally, we'd planned to go down to the Rotherham showroom on the 16th to pick one up. However, it turns out that the showroom is just that - you can't actually buy a bike from there. So I've ordered one over the Internet. It should turn up sometime in the next two weeks or so. Suffice to say I'm pretty excited.
That's what the week kinda ended up being about, however this week was supposed to be about the big pile of training I'd scheduled. In the end, I managed to make it to 11 hours before collapsing in a metaphorical pile. Pride of place has to go to Wednesday's brick session - 2 hours of biking at 28.4kph followed by 1 hour of running (in searing heat) at 4:37/km pace. Not surprising I was knackered on Thursday, really...
That marks the end of the hard work this year, much to my delight. From here, it's a week of testing (woo), and then it's all about sharpening up my fitness for race season. I really, really can't wait!
I assume I'll probably have to. I can't see any of the race organisers moving their races to tomorrow...
I'll start with the bike. Last time I blogged, I was a little ticked off at not having got my bike back yet, but I didn't doubt that I'd get it back eventually. It's fair to say it didn't quite end up like that.
I was awaiting a call from All Terrain Cycles all Tuesday, and it finally came at about 5:30pm. I wasn't expecting the content of the call to be 'your bike's knackered, we can't repair it'. That's what I got, though.
It left me at a loss initially. I hastily arranged to borrow Rich's bike for Wednesday's planned massive brick session, then tried to work out what on earth I was going to do. It seemed plain that I wouldn't be able to race on my (t)rusty Merida again - so I needed another bike.
Plenty soul-searching followed, as I attempted to establish a budget for the new acquisition. Eventually, I decided it wouldn't be worthwhile to get a cheap stop-gap bike - I'd have to put my dreams of a TT bike on hold, and splash the cash on a shiny new road bike.
A trawl of the Internet took me, as it so often does, to Planet X, and the SL Pro Carbon. Specifically, this:
(albeit the white-frame version. And not as blurry.)
Originally, we'd planned to go down to the Rotherham showroom on the 16th to pick one up. However, it turns out that the showroom is just that - you can't actually buy a bike from there. So I've ordered one over the Internet. It should turn up sometime in the next two weeks or so. Suffice to say I'm pretty excited.
That's what the week kinda ended up being about, however this week was supposed to be about the big pile of training I'd scheduled. In the end, I managed to make it to 11 hours before collapsing in a metaphorical pile. Pride of place has to go to Wednesday's brick session - 2 hours of biking at 28.4kph followed by 1 hour of running (in searing heat) at 4:37/km pace. Not surprising I was knackered on Thursday, really...
That marks the end of the hard work this year, much to my delight. From here, it's a week of testing (woo), and then it's all about sharpening up my fitness for race season. I really, really can't wait!
I assume I'll probably have to. I can't see any of the race organisers moving their races to tomorrow...
Friday, 1 April 2011
No bike? Run!
As the title suggests, I'm still devoid of bike. I know that work's started on it, though, because I've been informed that both my brake callipers are beyond repair. Heh. That's two winters for you.
Still, less time on the bike means more time running. I've now run on three consecutive days for what I reckon is the first time ever. Even better, my legs haven't completely collapsed in a pile. Albeit it felt like that was going to happen on Thursday morning :-(
This week's running:
All that's mighty lovely, of course, but I'm not a 10K runner, I'm a triathlete. So what does it mean in tri terms?
Well, my run target for Ripon is 43 mins (a terrifying 7-minute improvement on last year). It seems that that time should be well within my capabilities given an extra 3 months' training. Unless, like last year, it's 300 degrees in the shade. Then, I'll be lucky to cross the line...
Still, less time on the bike means more time running. I've now run on three consecutive days for what I reckon is the first time ever. Even better, my legs haven't completely collapsed in a pile. Albeit it felt like that was going to happen on Thursday morning :-(
This week's running:
- Wednesday - 30 mins hill repeats on Shetcliffe Lane (bonus meeting with Ian Benn!) straight into 30 mins tempo running - average pace 4:23/km (7:03/mi). Quite a lot of hurt.
- Thursday - 45 mins recovery before work, with some 20-second pickups thrown in - average pace 5:04/km (8:09/mi). Running before work is always a bit shaky, but after a hill/tempo session, major hurt. [Also a hard swim session in the evening.]
- Friday - 60 mins, incorporating a 10km time trial. Managed a quality time of 40:54. Seem to have recovered quite quickly afterwards, which is nice.
All that's mighty lovely, of course, but I'm not a 10K runner, I'm a triathlete. So what does it mean in tri terms?
Well, my run target for Ripon is 43 mins (a terrifying 7-minute improvement on last year). It seems that that time should be well within my capabilities given an extra 3 months' training. Unless, like last year, it's 300 degrees in the shade. Then, I'll be lucky to cross the line...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
