I’ve signed up to do the HSBC triathlon at Dorney Lake (a former Olympic venue) on 15 September. While I’d love to do a full triathlon, I’m pretty sure my endurance levels aren’t up to much, so I’ve opted instead for the SuperSprint distance (400m swim, 10.6km bike, 2.5km run). Individually they seem like very doable distances, but the combination (plus the nerve-wracking transitions) is quite intimidating.
To be honest, I’m not normally much of an endurance athlete, you’re more likely to find me in the gym or in a boxing session than out on a run or cycle – a 10K run is usually my limit for events. But there’s something about the multi-discipline aspect of the sport that appeals to me. Plus the option of doing the shorter ‘sprint’ distances makes it much more accessible to an endurance part-timer like me.
I’ve been in training (on and off admittedly!) for my triathlon since the beginning of August. It started off well and, with the help of RG Active, I managed to commit to a fairly structured regime of several swimming, running and cycle sessions a week. I also threw in a few brick sessions (a cycle session, followed immediately by a run) to get used to the jelly-legged sensation experienced after the final transition. I also got kitted out with an amazing Jamis bike from Evans Cycles, and a (surprisingly flattering!) tri suit and helmet from Louis Garneau. The bike took a bit of getting used to – the riding position is so different from my previous ‘sit up and beg’ and commuter bikes – but it’s going to power me through that 10.6K with ease! I can’t wait!
My regular routine was to cycle to and from work two days a week (11ish kilometres each way), do a 5K run twice a week and hit the pool to brush up my front crawl twice a week – with a few strength sessions and brick sessions thrown in for good measure. So far so good, right?
Well, a few birthdays, tight deadlines, a work party and a holiday later, and my training has well and truly ground to a halt. So, this week I vowed to get back on my bike and head to the pool, but my plans were thwarted by a bout of the sniffles and a chesty cough that just wouldn’t shift.
Now I’m in panic mode. I have until 15 September to get in shape and I really need to crack on with it. Fingers crossed I can kick the cold and cough to the kerb and get a few good training sessions in over the weekend. At this point I’m hoping my decent level of regular fitness will carry me through, but I’m going to try my best to get any extra benefits I can out of the last few weeks. Keep an eye on the website to follow my progress!
For more information on the HSBC triathlon check out humanrace.co.uk.
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