My club has a London Marathon place going to ballot.
I am debating throwing my name into the hat.
Knowing my luck I’ll probably get it (in a cruel twist of fate and ridiculousness).
And if I did, I’d have to train for it. After saying I would never do a marathon.
Well.I’ve until the end of Sunday to decide if I;m going to throw my name in. I have, however, missed last nights and tonights run. I am off work tomorrow (job interview) so planning on running tomorrow morning and may use that time to contemplate life choices.
I feel like mission sub 30min 5k is back on. It’s been a long time coming but a few weeks out of the water and all my exercise consisting of running and strength training, I’m slowly seeing my park run time drop.
I know consistency is key to getting better – I talk about it a lot with the people I coach swimming too. Putting that into practice while in the stages where everything is hard – takes some doing.
Having a proper break from swimming and JUST running has been good for me. I’m nudging around the 31ish minute mark for my local parkrun and I am slowly finding myself enjoying running more – because I can feel myself getting fitter! Its always been something I find hard but it is genuinely easier to fit into my week at the moment compared to swimming.
All the events I have signed myself up for in the next four months are all running related, so maybe my running will see some good gains this winter. It’s the social side that is keeping me running and has kept the momentum. I’ve even managed some solo runs I mostly feel like I am in a good place – I just need to sort out the yoga habit and just be a bit stricter with myself!
I also want to get back in the pool – fingers crossed in the next few weeks I can fine tune the routine!
And maybe, before Christmas, manage a sub 30min 5k.
Last Saturday was Sundowner Triathlon, a particularly local race which we did in relay – the olympic distance. My last swim event of the year – and it wasn’t without it’s issues but nonetheless, it was a grand day out, followed by a pub tea. Win all round really. Saw in the last club member on the race too (never fun being the last one in).
This Saturday (today) has been equally pretty good but for different reasons. You can definitely tell we are heading towards the end of triathlon/duathlon season as there were few club mates out in the rain at park run this morning.
Mission was to run the whole thing and I nearly did – 20/30s of waking on the fourth lap – I probably could have just slowed it down and run it but pace is definitely improving. I cant decide how much I enjoyed it but I can definitely state that I am enjoying knowing I am getting fitter so something, somewhere, is working. Sub 30 might actually happen – its been a while – so taking that as a win!
This week though, I have generally sacked off swimming. I swam Monday night but I know full well that my shoulder needs pounding out as it is so so tight. It’s going to have to wait until payday anyway and now my wetsuit is off away – might knock the swimming down to twice a week. The students are back at the uni pool which means less decent swim opportunities anyway and, well, I need a break in general and to reacquaint myself better with my trainers!
I might be finding my run mojo again, which is slightly concerning!
Annual leave – if only there was more of it. I genuinely think I could retire and not be bored. First day of annual leave has been filled, to be honest, with lots of odd jobs and getting caught up on some admin for my own business however, there was one unexpected joy.
I was in two minds about swimming this morning. My shoulder is a bit tender – think it is tightness but a message from a mate made me get up and go. It was the last Monday morning swim at my local lake so I went.
I had the whole lake to myself. Granted, it isn’t the most beautiful lake in Yorkshire however, a member’s swim is only £4 and there is lifeguard support. I’ve lost a bit of pace with my ow swimming in the last few years and 3 laps took longer than it should have but it’ll pan out eventually – I probably need to do some really focused strength work over winter. I did feel a bit guilty having essentially my own personal spotter this morning but what a joy! I am so glad I got up and went. Still think swimming is my favourite way to start a day in all honesty.
Coupled with changing my bedding, feeling productive and some lovely conversations – unexpected joys seem to come in many shapes and sizes.
Looks like I’m swimming OW tomorrow morning too – if only summer was longer. (Although my bank balance is looking forward to me going back to tutoring in the next few weeks!)
….. I ran a sub 2 hour marathon then who am I to argue?
Went out for a run with a friend last night and it would appear the bike interval sessions I’ve been doing on the bike are paying off in terms of my running surprisingly (or not).
Last night was first time I’ve actually thoroughly enjoyed a run and it not feel like work from the get go in ages. 1k intervals. No idea what pace as I forgot my watch.
I actually think I run better without the watch. Mate had his on tracking interval length but I resorted to tracking on my phone in my pocket.
Stopped it, got in the car then ‘ping,’ form a friend in the group WhatsApp asking my to coach him to a 2 hour marathon. Leaving me wondering exactly what he was on about.
Well turns out I can run through time if the data is true (spoiler – definitely isn’t true!). I have never known any app be so poor at tracking and jumping some epic 5k time hops. Either way, looked impressive but actually wasn’t.
More annoyed though as it was, like I said, first run I’ve properly enjoyed and felt I was getting some fitness back in a while and it would have been nice to actually see the stats! Instead I’ll just bask in the glow of a good run and a nice confidence boost, while digging out and re lacing the new trainers. Thought it was probably about time….
Yesterday was a bit of a shock to the system (in a good way I think mostly). The biggest shock being how unfit I am! Although a few things were against me compared to normal summer riding but still. I am unfit. I accept this. So with this in mind, what else did I learn yesterday?
1. My winter bike is too big for me. This isn’t something new but more a reminder. My spesh was my second road bike and I bought her when I was still quite new to road cycling. I did get her fitted and she is comfy but compared to my ‘summer’ bike, she is huge and my handling skills aren’t as great as a result.
2. My winter set up is a bit retro by current standards. Claris group set, a triple, 9 speed, dork wheel still in place, reflectors still on. Mudguard. White bar tape (height of practicality). I don’t care – she’s pretty reliable and I have previously done 100 milers on her so meh. Saddle could do with replacing. And she now needs a wash. She is also quite heavy in comparison. But I am also heavier. I need to possibly lose some pounds!
3. Layering up in winter is hard. I have enough kit to shake a stick at but always find it tricky. Yesterday wasn’t too bad but couldn’t find shoe covers so had to make do with toe thingys. Cold toes but hey ho. New cycling gloves from Attaquer proved very good though (but also reminder that breaking and changing gears isn’t as easy with gloves or when your set up isn’t as good as on your fave bike.
4. Yeah the breaks on my bike – not the greatest.
5. Cafe stops on winter rides. Spent yesterday wondering if this was a good idea. My gloves had done an excellent job for first 20 miles but taking them off and putting them on again – but damp inside and therefore cold putting on. Issue didn’t last long…. Should have thought about finding cafe we could lock bikes up at and taken bikes rather than sitting outside. Nice day just cold and obviously got a bit cold – to be fair, soon warmed up heading back.
6. Mud and puddles. Just meh. It was quite nice out yesterday and only one driver was an idiot (so pretty good going). Will make me appreciate summer riding more. I’m sure riding in winter is FAR harder physically and mentally than summer.
7. Riding with friends is good.
8. Warming up and nattering at friends after. Also good.
9. Cycling is/can be faffy. Summer is easier – usually. Less layers and I usually have my basics near back door to grab and leave but winter riding? I didn’t help myself as I’ve barely ridden outside in winter for years. But urgh the amount of stuff! And trying to find stuff too. Loaded car up to get to friends to ride from hers – just stuff everywhere. Now need to unload car of said stuff and sort it.
10. And possibly wash bike. I should do this but might have to wait. I’ve a bit of a to do list to crack on with!
11. Did I mention that I am massively unfit? I have my work cut out for me.
More turbo sessions. More cycling outside. More hills.
It’s January since I last wrote anything. Simply because I have/had lost complete mojo for most things. It’s been a bit of an odd eight months really – and not in a good way. General lack of energy or enthusiasm for anything really and I am sure there are numerous factors, some symptoms of mild depression in there too I think but that’s by the by. Things feel marginally better than they did and I want to actually train and do stuff. I feel more like me than I have for a while. Somethings still aren’t right but it’s going in the right direction. I took the decision to try not to be too hard on myself and just ride it out but it has been frustrating.
Trying to train consistently or even wanting to train has been lacking. I managed to lighten some of my workload (partly) and lighter nights are definitely helping. The fact I am writing this now is a positive sign that things are possibly getting better. Hopefully… we will see.
I just have to stop procrastinating.
Apparently I am running tomorrow. Might even swim too.
‘I might do parkrun in rhe morning’ is something I’m heard to say but rarely actually do . It was brought up earlier in the week and my friends were , quite rightly, disbelieving, however, this morning I did my first parkrun since May 2019.
I’d forgotten just how much of a good thing parkrun is but what was so good this morning was also how little has changed. I think my first park run was sometime in 2015 and I managed at some point to manage a sub 30 minute once upon time..
This morning though, just under 35 minutes, continuous and not horrible. I’ve a 10k this year and a half marathon in May. My usual attitude to running is dire but… with no long distance swims pencilled in for this year and less races, maybe I’ll actually get better at running and maybe even enjoy it…
I just might surprise myself! (and everyone else too)
I’ve had two DNS this year. That’s Did Not Start for those who don’t know. One was Coniston End to End (5.25 mile swim) and the other, a roll over place for Outlaw X (a 70.3 triathlon).
For various reasons I’ve completely lost all mojo. I am tired a lot and my HRV (heart rate variable) has been all over the place since June. I’m supposed to be part time at the day job but feel I’m working full time there and I’ve quite a few private pupils in my own business and trying to balance that with coaching. It’s just too much to be honest.
So I’m current say in my car having loaded the bike back in and sacking off my last planned event of the year. Typically the weather is glorious and I would love to be out riding my bike but there will be other days when I can just head out and ride for the joy of riding my bike. And swim for the joy of swimming. Or even potentially tun because I fancy going for a run (hmmmm).
Do I regret my DNS – well Coniston I don’t. And to be quite honest, at the moment I’m not regretting my choice this morning either. I think next year I’ll just keep to fun short stuff and not put the pressure on and try and find a way to cut down on stuff in general – well, I say this, I really mean find a way to cut down on work! Need to get some sort of balance sorted but first I think I just need to relax and not worry about things.
I realised that I had started a blog post ages ago about getting ‘back in to running’ and it had been sat in drafts for ages so I decided to revisit it, only to wonder what I was thinking at the time of writing the two paragraphs that had been sat there. The only thing I’ve kept is the title of the blog post. Deleted the rest thinking ‘what a loada tosh!’
What I really hate about running is that I lose run fitness far quicker than I lose swim or bike fitness. Massively. I can also push myself swimming and cycling to the point of feeling sick, without feeling or thinking it’s beyond stupid. Running is a different entity for me. It also seems to take me a lot longer to gain run fitness again compared to swimming and cycling. Starting again feels like starting from scratch again.
Anyway, I have somehow started to find running marginally better. I started running with a friend on a weekend and it’s kept me somewhat accountable and I have started to feel my run fitness slowly improve and have slowly increased the number of times I run a week too. Small steps.
I have also realised I am my own worst enemy when it comes to running. I can happily swim train on my own, cycling I am somewhat similar but prefer training with people. Running – I really need to run with others to keep me on track and motivated to keep going. So running with one of my friends has really helped and because it is currently low stakes and we are both just heading out to get slowly better – I am enjoying it (and the chat!). It also massively helped my mood after a huge dip in January. I went out with another friend a week or two back post work. It was his slow run day – so we went out – well, his slow easy run was more like speed work for me to an extent but after several months running on trails – running on path felt easier than I expected and I ended up with the fastest 5km time I’ve done in ages. It also made me realise that actually the slow running is good for me and gave me a bit of a boost in terms of achieving without setting out to do it.
The blog post title refers to going back to basics and I feel like I have – the lighter evenings (which, with the clock changes, will be even better), running with friends, running slow and just heading out really is going back to basics and it’s helping. I have also tried to be more time efficient and I am getting changed to run, at work, and parking up at local woods to go run trail so it’s done before I get home and sit down! Although note to self – carry inhaler!
Maybe I will actually start enjoying running more again. LOVE might be too strong an emotion but small steps – it’s definitely more tolerable than it was three months ago!
The Jilted Triathlete 