I was wondering how it was going. Hopefully out training right now before things heat up too much.
Either that or back on the golf and Magners (mmm, Magners 
)
1 Like
Of course. I do hope he’s still going.
Sadly, if not, another case where I’ve seen it all before.
1 Like
He dropped some serious dollar didn’t he?
Needed all the toys
1 Like
Funny that I thought about this whilst on the treadmill on Friday. Hope the dude is alright. Maybe he’s gone back to drinking and golf. Also something I thought about whilst on the treadmill on Friday.
2 Likes
well, hopefully didn’t befriend Markie R or anything like that 
2 Likes
Hey everyone - yes I’m still very much going. wasn’t sure if people were following/interested in the thread so dropped off!! Thanks to everyone for checking in! There’s been some highs, some lows, some new kit, some crashes but all in all some great progress.
@fruit_thief magners and golf has been very tempting especially over the xmas period but kept my head down and trained, apart from xmas day which saw me reunite with my thatchers gold!
@Adam Indeed I did need all the toys and plenty more have been added!!!
So quick run through of last few months.
4th Nov was my first 5k! thought I was Kipchoge and went out at 4.20 pace, last 2k of this was one of the worst experiences ever! clinging on and wanting to stop. Finished 27.57.
19th Nov first 10k but was struggling with a chest infection but didn’t want to let me friend down who was doing his first one as well. Struggled through for a 1.04
26th Nov - First Sprint Tri - still feeling under the weather but on the mend, Swim was over 3m/100 pace, bike was slow and run was just holding on.
10th Dec - Back in full health and did a sprint Tri again - loved this one, felt great. hit PB in the swim 13 mins for the 750 (although I think the course was actually slightly shorter, bike I kept too much in the tank and didn’t push hard enough but the run was 5.30 pace so happy with that!
31st Dec - Finished the year with a half marathon - built up to this with 2k increments from 10k to 16k in the 3 weeks before. Really enjoyed it, felt like I got my pacing (6.44/km) spot on as it kept smooth throughout and my nutrition with a gel every 30 mins. Was really happy to get this under my belt.
31st - bought myself a TT @Adam because what better way to improve your swimming then a new bike 
1st Jan - went out for a new years day on the 14 hour old bike, managed to crash 13k into the ride at 35k/h! Luckily just a bit banged up, took a large chunk off my left thigh which is healing now and body felt banged up for a while but all good and the bike shop fixed the bike as best they could.
3rd jan - fell off the new bike coming to a stop and banged up my right knee and elbow!!!
6th Jan - did my first ride in the mountains of jebel jais - this it’s an average of 5% for 30ish KM - was a slog and monotonous but happy i got it done! my 110KG was definitely not heling me on the way up!
This weekend just gone had my best race ever! did my first olympic Tri!!! and went really really well especially bike and run.
Swim was ok, averaged 2.30/100 pace which is obviously mega slow but considering it’s only 4/5 months ago that getting a 50m length it seemed like Everest I was happy to get through the 1500. in 36 mins.
Bike - felt really string, held 218 watts (87% of FTP) for the full duration and passed a fair few people (they went back past me on the run 
) on my way to 1.11 for the 41k course.
Run - pushed hard on the run and felt good, and finished the 10.5km course in 59.05 so a PB in the 10k for me.
Was very very happy to clock my first Olympic tri in under 3 hours at 2.59.
So that is a quick catch up, still going strong, have my 70.3 in Oman just over 4 weeks so working hard towards that, this week is a deload week then 2 more big pushes and a taper. Still loving every minute of the training and still seeing a newbie I’m seeing improvements gains all the time which is super motivating.
Got another half marathon on Sunday so am going to aim to shave 15 seconds off the average pace and get it in under 6.30/km.
26 Likes
Wow! Wasn’t expecting that. You have been smashing it 
Great to hear
2 Likes
Fantastic stuff
You have probably done more races than most on here in the last couple of months
4 Likes
Brilliant! It’s a right of passage, that’s for sure.
I did a <4km race once and thought ‘there’s no possible way you can blow up if you’re running downhill for the first km or so’. Oh how wrong was i!!
Keep at it - as the guys have said, that’s a really strong (and busy) start!! Good luck in Oman!
1 Like
You’ve made some great progress and sorry to hear about your crash. This bit above though? That really would have been something to watch, we’ve all been there. 
Keep going 
3 Likes
Great to see you’re still going strong.
You’ll have to share your bib number so we can track you for the Oman 70.3!
1 Like
I’ll be in Oman on a holiday when the 70.3 is on but doubt I’ll be able to see it - and frankly it won’t be high on my priority list as I get to attend so many events each year as a TO so need a break!.
1 Like
very much interested, great to hear back from you! Keep it up.
2 Likes
Really sorry that you felt like that, honestly this group are great, no matter where you are coming from. I was where you are now (at least in terms of performance) around 8 years ago, and Tritalk has been my primary source of information, I’ve met a load of tritalkers at races over the years.
I did my first sprint in October 2015, here are my races for the first 12 months. I suspect yours will be similar based on your trajectory
4 Likes
Thanks for all the support guys, will keep the updates coming. appreciate everything!!!
3 Likes
@G8zzaj at the moment, it’s like you have thrown all the balls into the air, everything is a bit unknown, you are not sure where your strengths and weaknesses are. You are learning how to swim, will you become a good swimmer, or an average swimmer?
From my armchair, it looks like you will be a decent cyclist by the end of the year, probably in the top 3rd of the field. As you lose weight, you will improve in running, but running will be your weakness for a while (don’t worry, you will probably become a good runner, just takes time), if you push runnung too hard you will just end up injured. Your swim will improve the most, in no time you’ll be swimming 1500m in 30mins - you may then hit a plateau.
Will be interesting to watch your progression this year
1 Like
Thanks Matthew.
Would love the swim to be at the point where I am under 2m/100, had a good lesson this morning and we worked on my catch so hopefully can put it in to practice.
Yes cycling is going well and after the 70.3 I’m going to put a lot of effort into trying to kick this on over the summer in time for next season.
Running - i’m resigned to not being a whippet but would like to get under 5min/k for the 10k
1 Like
Had a tough but good swim session, few warm ups and drills then into a main set of 10 x 100m with a 10 second rest between each repeat. This was tough but easier than I could have ever imagined even a month ago. so happy with the 2.23/100 avg pace of these, swim is coming together, pace is still slow but ability to cover the distance is getting there and that’s the main thing at the moment. Getting out for a 2k sea swim in the morning.
Nothing to report on bike or run this week, deload week so 3 x 90 mins at 60% FTP on the bike and 2 x 45 min runs in Zone 2.
4 Likes
Hey guys - Open Water Swim today, 1.8k done in 46 mins.
I have a technique questions, I’m working on my catch and pull, how much power/effort are you putting into the pull phase? I’m finding that I’m putting a lot of brute force into it, is this wrong? should it be more along the lines I’ve getting the forearm in a good position and then gliding it back or are you pulling quite forcefully.
4 Likes
you shouldn’t be looking at this as a pull phase but a push phase. Get your catch right and arm position right and you should push against the water, not try to pull through. Get hold of the swimguru app or search YT for technique stuff from Becky Adlington and look at what they do.
This comes courtesy of Mrs FB who’s a swim coach.
No doubt our learned swim guru here, @Hammerer can add extra.