PSOF Championships 2013 - Challenge Henley

Yeah, life does that doesn't it!

List updated (Hope removed)

CH - entered 
Barley 
Blisters 
ChallengeCheggers 
Fraggle 
Gladys 
Iron SwissBobby 
Iron Dreamer 
M.eface 
Rafiki 
Scuba Trooper 
Soupy 
UltimateBadger 
Ultra Cougie

CH Half- arsed 
Bedders 
Dubai Dave
AA

Badger - Nice swim session.

Should really be my rest week this week but saving that for next week after a half marathon on Sunday. After a swim and turbo on Tuesday and a swim and run Wednesday I did my long ride today (2:20 and 36miles) with 20min brick run and I feel totally spent now. Easy swim tomorrow morning and the Tri show in the afternoon (maybe try and fit in a little run too). Any one else at the Tri show tomorrow?

I ain't got time for shows - I'm training! 

Another 2km in the pool tonight (4.5km this week!) and a 45 min Z1 100+ RPM session at lunch. Going for my first cycle commute of the year tomorrow - must mean Spring's coming!

Evening. I'm going to the tri show on Saturday and will be biking there. 

A lovely 5 mile run home from work today. I almost dread the run days but after the first mile I love it, especially this easy zone 2 stuff. 

Swim session. Proper one. Today was another progress day.
16L = 400m= 10:05 without trying
64L = Mile= 41:39 PB by about 2 minutes.
100L= 2.5km= 65:35 PB
I started off the session trying to be ultra smooth and breathing every 3rd stroke. Amazingly I actually managed to get decent air on my unfavoured left side. That alone would have been considered to be progress. But I'm counting lengths because they all count, so reverted to RHS breathing only.
I do need to keep doing this sort of session, because it's what will build up the feeble arm muscles, and I need to do this plus 50%, with it all feeling under control. I was a bit tired around the 80 mark to be honest.
Happy swimbler.

What's your 400PB Blisters? Do you get any coaching?

I did 65 miles on the bike yesterday and ran and swam. Today I've just been and done what may be the best 120 lengths I've ever done. I can't believe it's really down to it but I had 2 large americano's at the local coffee place before I went - I may have to try the caffeine gels out now.

Well done on the swim cheggers and blisters. 

Blisters I would also recommend swim coaching, A lot of it is technique that can make it feel easier. Having said that I have coaching but I'm only up to 1000m - but its not tiring and I stop if feel I'm struggling so as not to implant bad form. I'm a very slow swimmer as well, my best 1 mile time has been 48 mins (open water) and my best 400m time is 9.5 mins in the pool. Don't think I've ever done a mile in the pool but going to give it a go soon. 

Caffeine eh? The caffeine gels help my running when I'm tired I know that, but never had them for swimming. 

I've not been swimming properly for a full year yet, and I get Tri club swim coaching as part of a group on Sundays. My progression has been in steps and consolidations, with this past 3 weeks seeing a significant leap forward. That coincides with the last 400TT, which compared with a race time of 9:56. I'm pretty sure that a race time set with a group of similarly paced folk would see it destroyed, or even set with the people in my coaching lane.
At my end of the swim spectrum I can actually feel the improvements in the water.

The truth is that I've spent 10+ years running training, and always HATED swimming. I don't mean disliked, I do mean HATED. I am so overjoyed about my current ability, you wouldn't credit it, in fact I'm enjoying spending an hour in the pool. In fact, I am currently approaching a point where I am at risk of getting close to my wife's mile (40min) and 2.5k (60min) times. The fish like elder daughter need not fear though.

Top biking Cheggars.

Keep trucking Blisters! You've definitely got the swim endurance already. I'd try and bias your training towards technique now with drills etc. There's plenty of time for long swim sessions further down the line. I don't do long continuous swims in the pool (I save those for open water) and do shorter intervals really trying to hone my technique. My 400 p.b. from a few weeks back is 7:19 and I still have technique flaws    

75mins on the bike today as an extended homeward commute.

Oh, someone buy me some Zipp 404's whilst you're at the Tri show? I'll post you a cheque...

Hi jamie.Good to hear that its good enough for you to return for more torture (I mean hills).  Welcome to the thread, you are not hijacking at all.

Well not unless you are talking IM Wales. 

Good to see this threat getting more and more active.

Badger - Cycle commutes will really help with the mileage, wish I could do the same. Nice 400m pd. mine is only 9:10.

Soup - I take it your not from a running background, I never have an issue getting out for a run, and as you say the Z2 stuff is so easy, I don't have the dread of a hard interval session to put me off.

Blisters - Great swim, I am terrible at keeping count, I can manage it up to 400m. I'm only doing interval type main sets at the moment, but I should start the long ones soon. I'm worried that with out interval rests my stroke technique will become worse and worse and lock in bad form. Have you tried alternating your breathing side, if I'm not doing bilateral then I switch breathing side ever length to make sure I don't favour and more than i do already.

Checkers - Nice sessions. I find the caffeine in gels helps and a rarely go out for a morning run/bike without a strong coffee in me.

Jamie - Welcome aboard, your experience will be welcome and local knowledge too.

I spoke to the USN guys at the tri show yesterday and glad to hear they have a load of products that will be l launching in the UK in the next month or so with will  be at the feed station. This includes isotonic gels, Zero style fizz electrolyte tablets etc. I also bought my swimming first wet suit from the Orca stand, I tried on four brands and Orca seem to fit best and had a decent price for intermediate suit.

ST - Surprisingly, I am from a running background albeit of a a slow plodding variety. But I've always struggled to get out and do it, and always enjoyed it once I'm out. Don't have that with biking or swimming quite so much. I love my bike and swimming. I think I'll be walking most of the run section though, my aim is just a sub 16 finish. 

Quick question, what do we become when we've finished, if anything? I mean like being called you are an Ironman or an Outlaw. Don't know why it matters but it does. I want to say I am an .................   

Fickle me. 

I think we'll just be er, 'challenged' Soupy (mentally or otherwise)

top training chaps, I should be doing my long ride tomorrow but I'm at the tri show, so it's going to have to be a 1.5-2 hour turbo session today instead (oh joy)  followed by a recovery run.

and welcome JT

44 miles on the bike this morning (2h55m)

masochism this afternoon.

Welcome aboard Jamie - you can tell us what it's like at the other end of the field!

Good detective work re: USN Scuba. I was looking at their products a few weeks back and thinking 'what the hell is going to be handed out?' as their range didn't seem as big as some of the other brands. However, on the bike I'm thinking of going self supported with a bottle full of gels and then just pick up water on the way round (with the odd treat in my back pocket)

Just realised it's less than two weeks until I'm off to Lanzarote for some warm weather training!

Now procrastinating about my one hour run/walk (hey, it's cold out there!).