I’ll not lie, I did not see this coming.
I stopped looking at motorbikes, yay!
Then I started looking at smart bike trainers. Where did that come from? I was hot on the trail of some decent bargain second hand ones. Used is a bit of a gamble, but the reviews said one of them was built like a tank. The latest model of it has wifi connection, which I would like, but that one is over £500 second hand. Then one of my Bluesky chums recommended the JetBlack Victory. Never heard of it. I read DC Rainmaker’s review and it sounds fantastic, he said it is basically the only choice for a sub £1000 trainer, and isn’t far off the spec of the £1k+ ones. He said the only problem is getting one, as demand is outstripping supply. It’s £400 brand new and has the wifi connection! It’s supposed to be silent and really good at the smart trainer thing, with smooth transitions. My Elite one makes a nasty grinding noise, is noisy, and when it hits a hill goes from spinning to standing on the pedals immediately. It’s brutal.
OK, so I’ve just switched my obsessing. Wendy called it. But a smart trainer is a slippery slope. If you’re running and cycling…
I’ve joined the gym and I’m going for a swim in the morning. And I’m bidding on a tri bike.
AAARRGGGHHHH!
I’m back at triathlon. I totally did not see that coming.
I was looking at some half distance races. The Outlaw one is in May (too soon) with another in July in Norfolk (I think) which I was considering, but it’s £240! For a half! I’ve spotted one not much further than the Outlaw (Nottingham) at Rutland Water. It’s a half, a lake swim, pretty flat and fast bike leg, tarmac run. It sounds great. And it’s £159.
If I don’t drown tomorrow I’ll sign up.
I’m quite buzzing off it.
Next day…
I forced myself to go for a swim this morning. I managed 50 minutes in the pool, with a rest most every 50 meters. I watched (and bookmarked) a rather excellent swimming video last night. I’ll try and apply it. Today was mainly about focusing on slapping my leading hand (not windmilling, leaving the front hand stretched far out until the other hand passes it) and breathing. As I focused on one aspect I lost the other. I was breathless at first, until I remembered you rotate and breathe in, as soon as your face is underwater you start breathing out. The front hand slap made me realise how often I was wasting a stroke by letting my arm just flop backwards as I was breathing. Lots of things to work on, but there were brief moments when it felt like it was working. While I was at the leisure centre anyway, I did some gym work. 30 minutes (15k) on the bike trainer, then straight into 4 miles at sub 8.30 on the treadmill. I’d forgotten just how punishing the run is after the bike. I got through it all.
I am a bit beaten up around my shoulders, but mostly OK. Going forward I want to try and get a minimum of 3 swims a week to build up my strength, then book an hour’s 1 to 1 coaching. It’s £40, but if they can make me a reasonable swimmer I could crack this triathlon lark.
I got home, battered but buzzing, and signed up for the half tri in September.
Just been looking at what I’m up against. Cut offs seem to be 1 hour 10 for the swim and T1, 4 hours for the bike and T2. 1.1 miles swim is 71 lengths. It’s day one, I can do this.
Later,
Buck.