Yet again I have left a long time between updates.
Unfortunately just about nothing training wise has happened since running the triathlon on 4th Oct. For once this has not been down to too much work/beer, too little time etc but an enforced period of rest whilst I work with the physio to cure my knee problem.
I started at physio on the Monday after the the tri and was impressed with what I found. As well as issues with the kneecap I was also suffering from a tight ilio tibial band (ITB) (which had caused ITB Friction syndrome) and poor flexibility in the hamstrings.
One session down and I was feeling pretty happy, although I was not to train conventionally for a while, it felt good to have a fuller diagnosis and treatment plan. Session two saw treatment begin with some massage to attempt to release the ITB, unfortunately during this massage a nerve in my leg got irritated causing a fair amount of pain over the next week. A couple of physio sessions later and the nerve pain had thankfully gone.
Got back on track with last weeks session. My flexibility has improved massively over just 3 weeks and my ITB has also started to loosen off. The pain in the knee is just about gone, just a couple of little niggles now. I have moved to do static but gentle exercises to strengthen specific muscles in the thighs and things are looking good for getting back into full training in a few weeks.
Outside of stretching and doing my prescribed exercises, the only other training I have done is 30 mins easy spin on the turbo at the weekend just to test out the leg. No problems to report.
I am still finalising my schedule for next year, another trip to Lands End appears to be on the cards, though not cycling all the way from Duncansby Head to get there this time.
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
I am a triathlete
Sunday 4th October and my first ever tri race day.
Left home at 7.45 for the 2 hour drive up to Stratford. Our route covered the last 4/5 miles of the bike course where the men were already out. This got the nerves jangling nicely.
Arrived and registered then spent a good bit of time stood around transition watching people setting up their kit and going through transition in the race.
Managed to grab a nice spot in transition for myself which minimised the running around. Wasn't quite sure how best to set things up, so I went with what I thought would be most logical.
Headed on to poolside and lined up in start order, chatting away with those around me was nice.
It was then time to enter the pool and I noticed we had a deep end (there is no deep end in the pool I train in) but did not think too much about it. 5-4-3-2-1 Go and I set of on my first tri. I forgot to start my watch but decided it was not important. First 2 lengths went fine, then whilst turning at the the deep end I ended up underwater - I can only guess that i tried to put my foot down on the pool bottom. A short cough and splutter and I headed off, only to have somebody swim into the back of me. On length 4 I got a nice kick in the ribs by somebody overtaking me and I had decided that tri swimming was not nice! The rest of the swim was fairly uneventful, but I was very glad to get out of the pool after 12 lengths. Time was 12 mins 8 seconds, 10 seconds slower than in training last week but after all that happened I am fairly happy.
Prior to the event I decided I would walk the transitions and think through what I was going to do. In the race I ignored this and ran down to transition, I remembered exactly where my bike was and started to get ready for the bike. On with shorts, a bit of a struggle but not too bad. On with socks, then stand in the puddle I have created on the ground - doh. On with shoes,top, number belt, helmet and shades and off out on the bike.
I loved the bike. My pre race plan was to hold back at the beginning, in training I have a tendancy to fly off and die later. With a 5km run to do after I do not want this to happen. There was quite a string of riders ahead going a bit slower then me. All of my cycling training has been down on my own and I don't usually meet many other riders and almost never get the chance to overtake. I forced myself to keep the pace down and just slowly reel in the riders ahead. I continued this all the way round to the dual carriageway and up the hill. Then it was hammer time back to transition. It was so much fun, I was overtaken by 4 athletes but overtook far more than that and did the entire course with a huge smile on my face. The only downside on the bike was the return to the leisure centre where a car in front got in my way and caused me to stop, thankfully a guy from the crowd came out and asked the driver to stop so I could get by. I think this was an area which could have done with a marshall or two. Time was 58:55 (includes transitions) which I'm quite happy with.
Transition to the run was fairly simple and I headed off onto the course. The start was hard but I knew it would be. I had a sore achilles and a sore back (ribcage) neither of which I have experienced before. I ignored it and plodded on and the pain went away. I overtook and was overtaken by a few runners but survived round lap 1. Onto lap 2 and knee pain kicked in, I have been having problems with my knee for a while so this was not unexpected. Still I kept going and at each turn around point selected somebody to try and catch which kept me going. Finally I was around the final corner and it was time for a little sprint over the finsh line and I had earned the right to call myself a triathlete!
Time for the run was 30:23 which I am happy with.
Total time was 1hr 41mins and 26 seconds giving me 136/192.
Left home at 7.45 for the 2 hour drive up to Stratford. Our route covered the last 4/5 miles of the bike course where the men were already out. This got the nerves jangling nicely.
Arrived and registered then spent a good bit of time stood around transition watching people setting up their kit and going through transition in the race.
Managed to grab a nice spot in transition for myself which minimised the running around. Wasn't quite sure how best to set things up, so I went with what I thought would be most logical.
Headed on to poolside and lined up in start order, chatting away with those around me was nice.
It was then time to enter the pool and I noticed we had a deep end (there is no deep end in the pool I train in) but did not think too much about it. 5-4-3-2-1 Go and I set of on my first tri. I forgot to start my watch but decided it was not important. First 2 lengths went fine, then whilst turning at the the deep end I ended up underwater - I can only guess that i tried to put my foot down on the pool bottom. A short cough and splutter and I headed off, only to have somebody swim into the back of me. On length 4 I got a nice kick in the ribs by somebody overtaking me and I had decided that tri swimming was not nice! The rest of the swim was fairly uneventful, but I was very glad to get out of the pool after 12 lengths. Time was 12 mins 8 seconds, 10 seconds slower than in training last week but after all that happened I am fairly happy.
Prior to the event I decided I would walk the transitions and think through what I was going to do. In the race I ignored this and ran down to transition, I remembered exactly where my bike was and started to get ready for the bike. On with shorts, a bit of a struggle but not too bad. On with socks, then stand in the puddle I have created on the ground - doh. On with shoes,top, number belt, helmet and shades and off out on the bike.
I loved the bike. My pre race plan was to hold back at the beginning, in training I have a tendancy to fly off and die later. With a 5km run to do after I do not want this to happen. There was quite a string of riders ahead going a bit slower then me. All of my cycling training has been down on my own and I don't usually meet many other riders and almost never get the chance to overtake. I forced myself to keep the pace down and just slowly reel in the riders ahead. I continued this all the way round to the dual carriageway and up the hill. Then it was hammer time back to transition. It was so much fun, I was overtaken by 4 athletes but overtook far more than that and did the entire course with a huge smile on my face. The only downside on the bike was the return to the leisure centre where a car in front got in my way and caused me to stop, thankfully a guy from the crowd came out and asked the driver to stop so I could get by. I think this was an area which could have done with a marshall or two. Time was 58:55 (includes transitions) which I'm quite happy with.
Transition to the run was fairly simple and I headed off onto the course. The start was hard but I knew it would be. I had a sore achilles and a sore back (ribcage) neither of which I have experienced before. I ignored it and plodded on and the pain went away. I overtook and was overtaken by a few runners but survived round lap 1. Onto lap 2 and knee pain kicked in, I have been having problems with my knee for a while so this was not unexpected. Still I kept going and at each turn around point selected somebody to try and catch which kept me going. Finally I was around the final corner and it was time for a little sprint over the finsh line and I had earned the right to call myself a triathlete!
Time for the run was 30:23 which I am happy with.
Total time was 1hr 41mins and 26 seconds giving me 136/192.
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