Time for a Prediction

The last of the BIG weekends now locked away. Two weeks to go now. All that really needs to be avoided is snotty nosed kids, sneezing co-workers and overindulgence.

A lot of guys suggesting that this is the finish of the “serious bit” of the training block – though I must admit to not having felt like this was a particularly “serious” preparation (completely structureless due to injuries etc) – something that I am quite sure I’ll come to regret 12 days. The upside is that I am carrying virtually no residual fatigue and can probably shorten the traditional two weeks taper to 7 days.

Wiseman’s Ferry ride (yesterday) is a VERY pleasant way to spend a few hours. It includes a fairly gentle climb for 15 or so km starting at Riverside Oaks golf course, and then a steep descent down to the ferry. Thereafter the road hugs the river and snakes it’s way back to the Lower Portland car ferry (Long Punt). Cliffs on the left, river on the right, and bugger all cars for what feels like about 15km or so. Then it’s over the punt to a small but testing enough 4%ish / 2km climb and a long 12km ish tt’able scoot back towards Wilborforce. Again, very low traffic and a decent enough road surface for even the most poorly sighted biker.

Will definitely do it again soon, but more as a gran fondo than a training ride. Would much prefer it on a roadie than a TT bike also, and would probably include a scurry across East Kurrajong Rd for coffee and morning tea at Kurrajong village. Perfect preparation for a cyclo-jaunt next year.

Swam 49:57 for 3k in the pool in a wet-suit on Friday. Huge confidence giver – 5 minutes better than I was expecting. I had been aiming for an IM swim of 1:12, but realistically would now be disappointed with anything worse than 1:10.

To Do:

Ø  Still some time left to tidy up the swim a bit more, as I’m still very much on the steep part of the learning curve, and recovery is short on even the hardest of swim sessions.

Ø  Will have a balls-out 50k tt on Wednesday to try and put a nice confidence-lock my biking.

Ø  Will try to get in a couple of 5km downhill shuffles to prepare the hips and quads for what is going to be a freakin’ painful, and painfully slow, end to the day on the 6^th.

Time for a prediction? Will happily take anything under 13hrs, but here goes:

	Best Possible	Goal	Disappointing	Will be a very quiet drive home in the car	Fuck I'm lost – send for help
Swim	01:05:00	01:07:30	01:12:00	01:15:00	>>
T1	00:04:30	00:05:30	00:06:30	00:07:30	>>
Exit T1	01:09:30	01:13:00	01:18:30	01:22:30	>>
Bike	05:32:00	05:43:00	05:55:00	06:10:00	>>
	(32.5)	(31.5)	(30.5)		>>
T2	00:03:00	00:04:00	00:05:00	00:06:00	>>
Exit T2	06:44:30	07:00:00	07:18:30	07:38:30	>>
Run	04:45:00	05:37:00	06:15:00	06:30:00	>>
	(6:46 - 85% @ 6:15)	(8:00)	(8:52)
	11:29:30	12:37:00	13:33:30	14:08:30	>>

Still chuggin towards the finishing shute.

W