#Metal2Medal: July - Final Update
The Belron Triathlon takes place this Saturday and am I ready for it? I have no idea to be honest!
Over the past almost two weeks I've kept at my training and even attempted my first outdoor, open water swim. During the summer months, the Tri Centre in Edinburgh takes a bunch of gear out to the Threipmuir Reservoir where swimmers join in (free wetsuits provided) to swim the course, chat and eat some burgers (<-- if I had known that earlier I would have gone more often!)
What I wasn't anticipating, this being my first experience of this, was the fact that open water swimming means you're technically swimming blind. When your head is in the water, you can see absolutely nothing.
Add this to the temperatures of the water in the Pentlands, well, needless to say, I went into a bit of a shock! But I shook it off and completed the course. This was also my first swim in a wetsuit - which is actually not too bad.
Learnings from this experience that I will take with me to the event this Saturday (and with some kind advice from Ex-Triathlon Champ Liv Williams (@iLivExtreme) are:
Don't forget to kick
Look for 3 strokes for every 10
Breath!
Scoop water in in you suit as you leave the water (to enable quicker removal for handover to cyclist)
I can swim the distance
Deep breaths. I just have to keep telling myself I can do it, I can do it (and thanks for all your donations and support! I'll do my best to not let anyone down!)
If you didn't see my previous post: Follow #BelronTri for updates of the event and various ways to participate on Saturday!
See the last of my triathlon training workouts below:
Current weight (22nd July 2011): 9 Stone
10 July 2011 Bike L8 30 mins 9.5km 200cal #4: 20x50
Notes: no food; inhaler
11 July 3011 Swim 750m 13.5mins 100m cool down
16 July 2011 Swim 750m 14mins
19 July 2011 Bike Level 7 & 8 30 mins 12.15 km 239 cal #4: 30 x 75 quick glutes 30 x 20 calves #17: 5 3x10ea #19: 4 3x10ea #6: 10, 10, 10 x10
23 July 2011 850 meter swim - not timed
25 July 20ll 900 metre swim - last 100 sprint ~19 minutes
Possibly one more swim on Thursday.... we shall see.
*Notes for Gym workouts – machine definitions: Upper: #20 – lat pulldown (lays & biceps) #23 – chest press (shoulders, pecks & triceps) #14 – abs #19: Seated Row (lats – upper & lower, biceps & shoulders) #6: lower back: settings #2 on both
Lower: #18: squat (glutes & hamstrings) #22: seated leg curl (hamstrings) #21: seated leg extension (quads) #4: Lying down squat machine (glutes, Hamstrings, Quads)