And it starts>>>

So I have had a few questions as to why it is that all I seem to do is swim, run and (at this point) spin (which will become real cycling soon!)...well the answer is simple... IRONMAN 2012..

What this means....

1. I get up at 4.30am

2. I go to bed by 9pm

3. I often smell like chlorine

4. I eat ALL DAY!!

5. You might need to socialise with me in the pool or the gym...

I am sure there will be a few more interesting adaptations to my lifestyle and when I come across them I will add them to the list...but until then... here goes...I look forward to seeing you along the way, and , of course, at the finish!!

I am thinking of keeping a blog...but not sure I'll have the time (haha!)...but there might be a sporadic appearance of notes!

Thanks for all your support

xxx

29/07/11

One of the hardest things about doing a triathlon (well for me anyway) is having to train for the swimming part of the race. To motivate oneself to get out of bed at 4.30am, when it is 1 degree outside, and to jump into cold water (no, it is a heated pool but compared to the temperature of my warm, cosy bed, it is cold) is a bit of a challenge. Then, to swim up and down for an hour (sometimes an hour and half) without wanting to fall asleep again, is even more of a challenge!! Don't get me wrong, the feeling when you get out of the pool (bar the wobbly legs and arms) is the best feeling- but to get from bed to best is the hard part!

That's why I am SO thankful for my swim squad...what would I do without the constant motivation ("ah come now Tracy, a paraplegic slug would swim faster"), encouragement ("much better than last week, Trace, you didn't look like you were dying today") and support (if we tie her to the buoy maybe it will help?") that they give me. Thats the reason I go back every week... Bedfordview Athletics Club...you guys rock :p

Ok, Ok so its not that bad (maybe a bit of the chlorine has gone to my brain!) but really, if I can suggest anything to anyone thinking about a triathlon, and the swimming part seems as terrifying to you as it did to me, then join a squad. Having people to swim with makes all the difference in the world! I don't think I would manage the bi-weekly chlorine plunges without people there to make it slightly more entertaining and I think, at the end of the day, if you can get through the first couple of weeks then you are well on your way to swimming towards the end of your first triathlon!

So now, having been put through my paces this morning, it is time for a cup of coffee and a hot shower- this eau de chlorine is not a winner (I would put it in the same catagory as the new Paris Hilton fragrance).

P.S for those of you wanting an idea of a typical swim session at this time year then below is today's swim...it was an endurance swim and I will post the speed session next week)

400m warm up

150m (25m with fist, 25m x 1 finger, 25m x 2 fingers....full hand)

100m (4 x 25m sprints) 30sec rest between

1250m pyramid (50m, 100m, 150m, 200m, 250m, 200m, 150m, 100m, 50m) 1 min rest between

100m cool down

Total: 2000m

01/08

So I knew there would be some dietary adjustments that would have to be made in my pursuit of my first IM completion...and my first giant leap in that regard was to try to eat eggs. For those of you that know me well, you know that the sight of a googly-eyed fried egg, a bald-headed boiled egg or jelly-bellied poached egg turns my stomach inside out and makes me fade in to a pale green colour. However, considering the protein content of eggs, and my need to support my poor overworked muscles, I took the plunge and ordered scrambled eggs on rye this morning...they arrived...stared at me, and promptly got smothered under about 10 liters of tomato sauce. (To be fair on the poor mangled eggs, they weren't half bad...with enough pepper and tomato sauce I think I will be able to do this thing) What I have to mention is that whilst I was (sort of) happily consuming my tomato eggs one of the personal trainers walked past with his victim's, I mean client's, breakfast...2 cups of boiled brown rice and a banana. Delicious. Not. I was feeling rather accomplished with my eggs but the sight of that "breakfast" has made me rather nervous as to what other plunges into the realm of IM eating I am going to need to take!! And if that's for breakfast...whats for lunch?! Yikes!

So here goes with the rest of the day, eggs eaten and 1.5 hours of spinning complete! Bring on swimming later...and lunch (whatever it may be!!).

05/08

So Friday is always swim day, and because I (wrongly) assumed this week would be a sprint/drill session (as last week was an endurance session), I did my own endurance session on Tuesday night. Basically I swam until I couldnt swim any more, than I stopped, had a rest, and swam some more. The result: a 2.5km swim (100 laps). So when I got into the pool this morning and was told that today was a 1 km time trial I was a little nervouse. Add the fact that I was told I was the pace-setter and you have a recipe for a nervous disaster.

All things considered, it wasn't that bad. I survived and was rather stoked with my 15:50 time (for 40 lengths). I have also checked (twice!) that next week will indeed be a sprint session so I can safely put in my Tuesday night endurance session! Phew!

(I also have to mention that this swim was done post-birthday celebrations...which involved WAY too much food and WAY too much birthday cake!!! (and a little tipple of wine!) so hopefully next week, after better nutrition, I can improve on my time!

P.S the swim session was as follows

400m warm up

50m head up crawl

100m kicking

1km time trial

100m sprint (4 x 25m)

100m medley

50m underwater (2 x 25m)

200m cool down

Total: 2000m