Tuesday 1 November 2011

Progress

For three years I have worked hard at my swimming and I have now come to enjoy it even though there is a lot of technical work required.  But I am starting to see and feel the results of the hard work.  Yesterday my coach said we would reduce the swimming to twice a week for a while as you have to weigh up the time put in against the gains you will make i.e. for all this work I may shave 5/10 minutes of my current time for 2.4 miles.  She is happy with my running especially after my 16 mile race on Sunday.  I've included a picture from the last 100 yards which was taken at the top of a set of steps which came after an up hill climb - as you will see there was nothing left in the tank!
So the focus will switch to the bike which is the largest part of Ironman and the area I need to improve on the most.  I have to get two mirrors so I can watch my "form" as I work out on the turbo trainer.  I also have to video myself so we can analyse the video at a later stage.  As you can see we are taking this exceptionally seriously but if you have another look at my picture after 16 miles you'll understand why.  In 199 days I need to be fit enough to swim 2.4 miles, cycle a hilly, hot and windy 112 miles followed by a 26.2 mile marathon - but progress is being made.