Does a triathlete really need a scrotum

Bugger me, has it been that long.

Status:-

Swimming: I hate it. Seriously believe that after the 6^th of May 2012, I am unlikely to ever swim again unless I find myself on an Italian cruise liner. It’s coming along slowly, but really slowly…. As in still doing 1.5k swims and calling that a “long session”.

Cycling: Damn I hate having a scrotum. Strangely the bike leg remains my biggest concern. I’m still losing skin from the fuselage every TT ride, and to date the longest of those has been 78k. Have missed/shortened a few rides lately, largely due to being on holidays for a week in Myall Lakes, and from a brief flu-ey thingy that lasted a couple of days. Also have filled some spaces with short runs that might otherwise have been rides. Will get back on the job next week

Running: It’s happening. Been running for 2 weeks now. Only short, only slow, but consistent and (near) daily. If I don’t pick up any more serious injuries, I’ll make it…… just.

82 training days to go. It’s feeling real, and more than a little daunting

Very wet, cold, dark, slippery ride for this morning’s TT. Was miserable riding home until I spotted “The Legend” Keith Mayhew running along River Rd. Stopped for a chat (or more accurately a listen). Some people just effortlessly make you happy.

Gelatinous with fatigue

“Winston was gelatinous with fatigue.” George Orwell 1984

and so was freakin Tubby!!!

I suspect that exhaustion is going to pursue us IM wannas down the road for all of the next 100 days. We might draw ahead at times, but such moments are already starting to become somewhat interloodinal (Pretty sure that's not actually a word............ Checked - it ain't). Some ugly days coming - though strangely looking forward to it.

Saturday - Short Punt for 115(ish) km - Good bunch on deck.  Not sure why, but by the end I was quite thoroughly shattered. And I wasn't the only one. Nobody seemed to have done it much easier. Possibly the pace was harder than I had perceived at the time, possibly the head wind coming back was surreptitiously sapping, possibly Mango just enjoyed rogering us, possibly .......... no idea. But it got in like the chalk into the liquid, and it was still there today (Sunday) when I climbed back onto the bike.

Sunday - Ads and Leo - 50k Faulco and back with some detours to add a few kms. Ugly - a recovery ride (I hope) that will leave me set up better for the coming week. Hope to get a little light running in this afternoon.

1984 is a beter book for a 46 year old to read than a 16 year old (as was prescribed at Nepean High in 1981) - though at 46, Orwell remains a weird-assed pratt with a victum complex. Not a classical assessment I'm sure.

W

The circle of life

Had to happen some day, I just wasn't ready for it yet. Wed PM - 9 x 60m strides. Toweled up by the 10yo. Simultaneously proud as punch and soul destroyingly deflated. The circle of life ah.."............ The circle of life is pissing me off

Running like a duck is better than not running

STATUS with 104 days to go until taper starts.

In spite of a relatively ordinary race result on the weekend just gone, things are shaping up well at the moment.

1.       Swim is getting regular again after the chest infection, and rolled over a continuous 2k in the pool yesterday for the first time…. Ever. Longest swim of my life without a wetsuit. Actually felt surprisingly easy, though I do need to get faster and obviously considerably longer.

2.       Bike is getting quite solid, and, without any empirical evidence for supporting the claim, suspect I am going better than I ever have previously, at least since 2006 (which was the last time I felt strong on the bike). Just need to start slotting in some regular “longs”.

3.       Run is nowhere, but at least the most recent incarnation of the calf injury is slowly easing, and hopefully within the next week or so will disappear.

INJURY STATUS

Going away slowly. No pain to speak of while walking, and only very mild discomfort while running. Physio imposed run limit at the moment is 6 x 400m.

Rob Standen has me on a program of 40m run-throughs + 6x400m, which seems to be helping. Amazing how weak I’ve become in the legs, with a hideous range of movement. Running like a duck – and would be lucky to break 17 seconds for 100m I recon. Will give it a try once this damn IM thing is over.

WHAT’S NEXT

1.       Add lots of short easy runs. Won’t risk distance no intensity for a while.

2.       Get a long steady ride in of 150+

3.       Get a confidence swim in – 3k+ in open water – no suit.

FROM THE TRAINING LOG

Wednesday 11^th : Banged out a very solid 72k this morning. 50k mid section @ 36.48 ave.

Tuesday 10^th: 2k in the pool

Monday: Essentially a rest day with 6 x 400 running at XC – rehab session

Sunday: Club tri – all solid but slow. At least uninjured after a 5k run to finish

Saturday: Quality Cobbitty trip. Averaged over 30kph, with some very solid efforts along the way.

Friday: Lake swim. Was intending to do 2k, but put wetsuit on backwards again and missed the start. Moron

Thursday: Rooted in the morning – took a rest day ahead of going back to Rob Standen. Did 8 x 40m runs

Wolves in tu-tu's

My training routine is still so fragile that a wolf in a tu-tu could blow it over.

Needed a sleep in this morning, and man it felt good to wake up late today.

Can't afford to be slack at the moment though and will either punish today's ill-discipline with a late night wind trainer session tonight OR lay back on the lounge, read a little Bill Bryson (Home) and quaff down something from a bottle. Betting is currently 50/50, the wolf is still at the door.

Getting serious

Tuesday 3rd Gym in the morning, coughed and spluttered through 7x100m in the afternoon.

Getting towards the end of this infection thing

Wednesday 5^th – Still an absolute snot machine when going hard, but doesn’t seem to be a major hinderance other than for anyone drafting behind me on the bike.

75k including hard tempo 50 in the middle.

If I manage to get a decent bike leg out at IM, the Wednesday tempo session will be the one that gives it to me.

Lap	Cum	Lap Time
1	00:17:51	00:17:51
2	00:34:45	00:16:54
3	00:51:15	00:16:30
4	01:08:12	00:16:57
5	01:24:31	00:16:19

Status update

Where am I at. Swim was coming along until chest infection. Will be back into it this week I expect, but will need to start Getting longer sessions in. Need to slot a 3pm swim in soon. Bike is coming along fine. Good strength, though a little fragile in an endurance sense, and have been pretty much spent at the end of our recent bunch rides. Run is freaking we out. 18 weeks to go, and I m still limping to walk at times. Will ge an MRI as son as possible. Diet started today. Diet(ish) anyway Will turn optimistic if I can be racy to run by end of week. Will start packing shit if the MRI isn't a friendly outcome.

Log update

Log update Leg still rooted Sat 24: Sat ride with boys, Greendale + lappo hill to the turnoff, 81 ish - good clip Sun 25: Sun Christmas - rest day Mon 26: Sick - chesty infection - rolled out 35k in very shabby fashion Tue 27: Wollowing in man flu Wed 28: short punt for 118k Thu 29: Sprinwood - lousy, totally shattered 40k Fri 30: MTB 40k Week with a chest infection and crap leg > 314km. Super effort all things considered Sat 31: Sat ride, turf farms + glenbrook 82k.(AR, JL) V.Solid, cracked at the end Sun 1 : attempted swim. Rubbish, coughing up lungs, 5x 100. Pm 6k paddle Mon 2 : Reverse turf farms + Hawksbury for 85km - very hard going, great ride