My biggest worry at the moment is to try and regain some core strength, to hopefully keep those niggling injuries at bay. I've introduced some pretty general strength exercises - Push Ups, Sit Ups, Squats, leg raises etc; a few weeks of these and hopefully I'll feel some improvement. Back in the pool as soon as my new swim gear and goggles arrive!

Short term aims: Keep up the strength exercises, get back in the pool and see what happens, steady runs and a mountain bike XC endurance event.]]>
I've been reading the reviews and race reports about the Outlaw and it brought memories flooding back from my outing there last year when I struggled round (although I loved every single minute)in 13hrs35mins. That was my last triathlon. The mistake I made was not planning anything beyond that event. I knew I'd be away all this summer and my workload was immense preparing for this trip.

Thankfully my time away is drawing to an end and I'm now thinking about what I can do to get back into some sort of triathlon based activity. I would love to give the Outlaw another go next July and providing I can convince my wife, this maybe difficult as I will have been away for 6 months by the time I get back, I will. I've been able to keep my fitness ticking over quite nicely with an aim by the end of Aug to push out a half marathon distance in sub 2hrs.

I've thought about squeezing a 70.3 distance event in during late Sep but I'm finding it difficult to choose one. Any ideas?? I must do one event before the tri season closes down.....]]>
Just under 6 weeks to the Outlaw now and feeling very excited about it. having not done anything like this before I think the only way I'll find out if I've done enough training is on the day. Pretty much got everything for the day sorted kit wise including a new TT bike that I've been training on for the last few weeks. Its a Fuji Aloha 1.0 and seems to be doing the job for me. Definately a more aero riding position and fits me well. Having a few dilemas where to put all my kit on the bike but I'm sure i'll find somewhere to stash it all!

The last few weeks have been pretty steady and consitant training wise. The long cycle rides just haven't been as often as I wanted but I have done more 2 to 3 hour rides than initially planned. It really has been a huge juggling act to fit things in around work and family. I guess the same for most people out there trying to do this.

I did have the opportunity to go to the Fench Alps a couple of weeks ago. Les Contamines, a few miles from Chamonix. The week was spent doing Rock Climbing, Moutain Biking and Trekking. I did take my road bike as well and managed to get a good ride out. Quality hills training but maybe not quite the terrain I'm expecting for the Outlaw. Managed to get some good runs in as well. The mountain biking was awesome with some real steep inclines, very fast decents and some very technically demanding sections too. The Trekking took us up to 2550m and at times was a real slog. Scenary was amazing, although when we reached the summit of Mount Joly the weather and cloud closed in. I hate it when that happens!! A great week (sometimes being in the Army has real benefits!!).

A few more weeks hard traning and pushing the boundaries including some lake swimminng and an Outlaw cycle recce and judgemet day will be here!

With my blogging record I reckon thats one more entry to go.]]>
With the Outlaw just over 12 weeks away I'm beginning to panic...... Have I really bitten off more than I can chew!! The advice I had with regards to my achilles injury was 1st rate, so thanks to everyone. I did no running for 3-4 weeks but upped the swimming and kept going with the cycling. It still gets a bit tender after a long run (10miles plus) but on the whole is now fine. I think without some advice I would have just kept training and proably would be written off for the Outlaw by now.

I currently have a big dilema about whether to buy a new bike for the Outlaw. My current bike is a 4 year old Giant OCR compact with Campagnola Mirage 9 speed groupset and Ksyrium SSC wheels. Profile carbon aero bars. As usual money is tight but could probably find £1000. My dilema is that will a new bike make me any faster, probably not significantly as my aim is to get round (14hrs), but will a new bike make it easier?? and therefore more likely that I will get round. I have contemplated getting a TT bike as I have read that the course is flat and suited to using one but my lack of experience worries me.

On a training front I think that with the injury/work and personal pressure(family) i'm progressing as well as I could be. My biggest training worry is pushing out a 100mile cycle by the end of May probably the last weekend. I just want to know how my body will be feeling with that time in the saddle and to find out if my ideas on nutrition hold out in practice.


Anybody do their Open water swimming training in Reading? If so it would be good to have someone to meet up with on my first visit there. Oh did i say that i haven't done much OW swimming either.... the more I write today the more I realise that I have a bloody mountain to climb!!!!

I guess if this thing was easy they wouldn't have called it Ironman!!!]]>
The training for the Outlaw has been going pretty well based on my own training plan which is loosely based on the Fink programme but adapted to fit my working and personal life. I think the time and distances are somewhere between the 'just get round' and 'intermediate; plan. The bad news is that I have strained a muscle in my leg. Not sure of the medical term for the location but the pain is coming from about 1-2 inches below my calf muscle. I initially felt a twinge last week during a long run. Seemed Ok after a couple of days(during which I was still training) but tonight after a track session (my first ever) it is feeling quite severe. Very annoyed but with 24 weeks to go I hope some rest will see it off!! I'm hoping swimming will still be OK and will probably take the chance to push out some weights in the gym.

Advice on how much time off is too much with Iron distance event on Aug 8th gratefully received.

On the home front I am continuing to re-decorate my house and its moving along nicely. The house has been up for sale for just over 7 months now and with no views in the last 2 months I was thinking of taking off the market for a bit, however out of the blue two viewings booked for the weekend, the bad news is the dining room needs some wallpaper on the walls!!! I think I'll be busy tomorrow night.

Well thats all for now folks, so safe training.]]>
Training over the last couple of weeks has been pretty good although no cycling apart from on the turbo trainer. I had a close encounter with black ice on sunday morning and had my first cycling crash. Not too bad just a bruised but cheek and a few scratches on the bike. Hopefully no ice this weekend.

Feeling a bit anxious about the event at the moment and I guess that is just down to thinking about my lack of experience and the unknown that is 100mile+ cycling and marathon running. Just gotta keep the faith and trust that the training will get me to the end!!

Thinking about a new bike as mine is OK but I want something more dynamic for the summer and for the Outlaw. The eternal question is tri or road bike? Just not sure. Whatever I choose I'm thinking of building it myself over the next couple months. Spreads the cost!!

Thats all for now......Safe training avoid the black ice!!!]]>
Although entering this event is a personal challange that I want to do for just for me, I have decided that it would be a wasted opportunity if I didn't try and raise some cash for charity as well. I have chosen BLESMA as they do a terrific job of supporting our soldiers when they return from operations with some truely horrific and life changing injuries.

Training has been going well and so far since the new year have averaged 2 sessions a day. The snow is getting in the way a bit but thank-goodness for the Turbo trainer for Xmas. I haven't decided how to list my training on the blog yet but will likely be summarised once a week with totals listed in time and distance.]]>
I've been thinking about how to keep the training on target over the festive period and have decided to just not worry about it. Make a plan but don't be my usual grumpy self if I miss a session. Although I will have an excuse to put some serious turbo hours in as my wife , I hope, has got me a new trainer for Xmas!! Nothing like a new bit of kit to encourage some hard training, in fact my kids have got me some new goggles so theres another reason to bang in some extra swimming sessions!!

Athough my training has been ticking over for the last couple of months with a few 1hr runs, some swimming and a bit of cycling, I guess like a lot of 'Outlaw's' the serious training begins in earnest in the new year. Still to sign on the dotted line for the Outlaw but will be doing so on the 22nd Dec.

To all on TriTalk, Have a very Merry Christmas and a New Year full of commited training to reach those triathlon goals!!!]]>
This race seems very popular with the TT'ers and all going well am looking forward to keeping those at the back of the Outlaw company!!!!!]]>