New Training Toy

I go my new training toy today.
It is a cycling turbo trainer which contacts to your pc to control the resistance, monitor you training level and there is even a virtual reality feature where you can race on particular courses.

I think my cycling training will now increase, todays 30 minutes trial was the first time I have cycled (excluding at the gym) for 3 months.

This Week

This week I have lost 1lb (0.5 Kg).
My running training was a bit more intense with a 5.5 mile cross country when it was thundering and torrential rain and then a few days later a 800m time trial. The photographs from the cross country are available here, some the image quality looks lower than normal but that is the amount of rain that was pouring down.
I have also swam 1km in a pool, this is the longest I have swam in the last few months since I last did a triathlon.

Weigh-in

This week I have lost 1 lb (0.5 Kg). I was a bit more careful what I consumed this week plus I ran a few more miles at a faster than normal pace.

An Enjoyable Hilly Race

At the weekend I did a 10 mile running road race in a different area of the country but was only 50 miles away. I had not done any races in that area and did not realise how many and big the hills where until I was running in the race. I think it was the hilliest race I have done which includes some cross countries. However I did quite enjoy the race despite the hilly/undulating nature of it. In the end I was only 1 minute away from my PB which was set on a flat course.

Next Years Races

I am already starting to plan for next year's races / events. In addition to Ironman UK, I have already booked a 3 day cycle event which is for 325 miles.

Some other potential events are those which I did this year plus some local races. There are also events those members of the two sports club's has mentioned which I am thinking of doing.

It is quite scary that I am working out my training and therefore races now, for 2007 up to mid August.

Fast Runs

Despite run a marathon just 2 weeks ago, at the weekend I did my first cross country of the session. I completed it over 1 minute 15 seconds quicker than the same race last year. When I later analysed my data I found for the race I averaged 95% of my working heart rate range, no wonder it felt hard during the race.

Then the following day I did a 6.4 Mile route at a fast pace about 30 seconds a mile slower than the previous day but I felt good doing this. Today I have decided to take a rest as not to overdo the running training. I will do run tomorrow at an easy pace.

Post Marathon Weigh-in

Nearly two weeks after the marathon I had put on 1/2 lb (0.3 Kg). This was better than expected due to the no exercise and the “recovery”/junk food I had for the week afterwards.

The Road to Ironman UK

The road to Ironman UK began for me yesterday with my first bit of exercise after the Marathon that I did the previous week. I did a 5 mile run at an easy pace but I could tell my legs had not fully recovered as my left leg muscles where tighter than normal but not giving any pain.
I kept to an easy pace and occasionally stopping to allow different run with different groups of runners at the club who where doing various distances at different paces.

Today I had dry hydrotherapy session help my leg muscles recover a bit, I will see if that helped later this week when I run again.

New Marathon PB

I am back from a few days away where I completed the Marathon in 3 hours and 49 minutes. This is 6 minutes quicker than my PB I had set last year.

I felt the race was more relaxed for me this year despite aiming to improve my time. I was chatting to a few runners as I went around the course. From about the 14 miles my legs seemed to be heavier than normal but I was able to keep fairly close to my target pace. In the last half a mile I picked up the pace a bit quicker about 2 minutes/mile faster. I am not sure if this was due to the bigger crowds at this point or I was nearly finished (both the course and my energy/muscles). After finishing I was so pleased with my time and out of breath from the faster section at the end I forgot to stop my watch until a number of minutes afterwards.

My legs are not that sore now, only sudden movements give a slight pain. I will have a few more days of exercising but should start some easy pace running next week.

Bring on my next target Ironman UK in August 2007.