Yeah! I swam 1km! Also going rafting tomorrow
Luckily the stormy weather cleared up and I was able to go for a dip. I swam 1km in total! (Pat on the back) Yeah, I know. 1km isn’t that far, but I’m taking baby steps…
I did do two sets of 500m. I also tried to work on my speed, so I increased my pace a bit. Got quite tired and decided to take 15-30 second breaks after each 100m.
Did not have my watch with me so I’m not sure what time I did in the end, but it wasn’t blindingly fast.
I’m leaving for a rafting weekend later today. I can’t wait. Apparently we’re going to do some level 5 rapids! I’ve only gone rafting once before, and at a place with level 4 rapids. It was great, but I can do with some more action. Hopefully it ‘ll be a very bumpy ride tomorrow!!
Logbook Activity
- Type: Swim
- Date: 02/14/2008
- Time: 17:00:00
- Total Time: 00:30:00.00
- Calories: 257
- Distance: 1000 m
- Average Pace: 3:00/100m
Filed under: Swim
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Thunder & lightning
I packed my swimming gear today, hoping to do a long session after work. Unfortunately, the weather has other plans for me. A huge thunderstorm is approaching fast, so I’ll just have to forget about that plan… unless I want to get my hair frizzed.
Think I should just give up trying to train this week and start next week with a clean slate. Things aren’t really going my way this week…
Filed under: Swim, Thoughts
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My first sprint triathlon!
I did my first sprint triathlon on Sunday in Johannesburg / Germiston. The race was held around Victoria lake, which is just a posh name for a small dam. The sprint races are a half-distance version of the Olympic distance triathlons.
It was a beautiful day in Joburg. We had clear skies, a warm sun and cool breeze blowing over the water. The race was set to start at 10:00am. 10mins before the start, we had a race briefing. To my surprise we weren’t doing a 600m swim (as advertised) but 750m. A bit unexpected, but I was pleased. I actually thought a 600m swim was a bit lame, since the Olympic distance is 1,500m. Another slightly unexpected part was the deep start to the race. A deep start means that you start offshore and not on the shoreline. You have to swim around 50m into the lake, where the race starts.
Right after the briefing, we got in the water and the water temperature was a pleasant 23 degrees. We swam towards the buoys and waited for the start signal. The signal went and the calm soon turned into chaos. I was kicked several times and dished out a couple of unplanned knocks and kicks myself. The pace was quite fast at the start, but I stuck to my own pace. Around 250m into the race, things cleared up a bit and I was able to get into a bit of a rhythm. I have ear problems and got water in them every once in a while, which meant I had to stop to readjust my plugs and cap. Half-way through I felt quite good, but was convinced I was falling behind into back-marker-group. I kept my pace steady, which was interrupted every once when a swallowed a mouth full of dirty lake water, blegh. I felt stronger at the 500m mark and started to push a bit harder. I managed to make up a number of places in the final section. I kept going left, so I guess I’ll have to work on my stroke. I got out of the water after 19:32. I was quite happy with this time. Next was the cycling leg.
I did not get time to do a mock transition, but I worked out a routine before I started the race. Turn on Garmin, put on HR monitor, shirt… This worked quite well and I was out of the transition area in a flash. The cycling section of 20km comprised of two laps. The route was quite flat with only two short steep-ish hills. Since the cycling bit is my ’speciality’, I really pushed hard. Doing it on a mountain bike was a distinct disadvantage, but I managed to average 28km/h. The highest I’ve done to date. I managed to go past a lot of competitors, but the road bikes were much harder to catch. I finished the cycling leg with my time on 1:00:00. On the dot! When I got off the bike there was trouble. My legs were very wobbly. I didn’t think they would be this tired, since I felt good enough to continue cycling much further. I only hoped they will recover during the run.
The next transition was much faster. Unfortunately much faster, since I really wished I could rest my legs for a while. But alas, no rest… I was in my running shoes and on the road. I struggled through the first 2km. My pace was around 8km/h. I was passed by a lot of other runners, some of which was doing the mini-triathlon, so I couldn’t really judge were I was in the crowd anymore. I felt much better after 3km and started to push much harder. I got my pace up to 10-11km/h. I caught a bunch of other runners in the final section.
I must say that the finishing line was a very VERY welcome sight. I crossed it in 1:34:56. I was quite pleased with this time. I always set myself two goals. In this case, I told myself I would be pleased if I finish below 1:45, and I would be over the moon if it was below 1:30. Given that we had to swim 150m further, I was very happy with my time.
The race was very cool. I wish my friends would get off their lazy butts and join me.
One thing that got me down thought was how boring the route was. The swim was fine, we only had to do one lap. With the cycling, we passed along the same road 4 times and the running 8 times. Boring!! This is why a stationary bike and treadmill is so mind-numbingly boring. The surroundings never change and you only focus on how hard you’re working. This is where adventure racing is much more fun. The scenery is spectacular and there’s no laps. You don’t even focus on your body that much. It is merely the ‘vehicle’ that gets you from one great view to the next.
That said, I’ll definitely do another triathlon, but I wish the organisers would try to spice things up a bit. My exercise routes are more interesting than the event.
Filed under: Triathlon, Swim, Run, Cycle, Race Report
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Swim - 0.3 hours - 02/03/2008
Logbook Activity
- Type: Swim
- Date: 02/03/2008
- Time: 10:00:00
- Total Time: 00:19:32.00
- Calories: 202
- Distance: 750 m
- Average Pace: 2:36.52/100m
Filed under: Triathlon, Swim
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First decent swim of the year
I have to confess. My previous swimming sessions were in my own pool at home. Swimming 60 lengths of 10m doesn’t quite cut it.
So I checked out one of the local pools and was pleasantly surprised to see how well the facilities were being run. I caught rush hour though, the pool was quite full and there was a lot of people having lessons.
The swim was quite good, but I struggle to stick to my pace. I always try pushing harder and then just end running out of breath and swallowing a bunch of water!
I saw one skinny little lady that must have been in her 40-50’s that is busy training for the Ironman. Unbelievable! I had one of those “If she can do it, so can I” moments. Well, we’ll see about that. I might regret saying that.
Logbook Activity
- Type: Swim
- Date: 01/30/2008
- Time: 04:45:00
- Total Time: 00:19:43.00
- Calories: 162
- Distance: 800 m
- Average Pace: 2:28.15/100m
Filed under: Swim
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Swim - 0.3 hours - 01/28/2008
Logbook Activity
- Type: Swim
- Date: 01/28/2008
- Time: 06:45:00
- Total Time: 00:16:02.00
- Calories: 137
- Distance: 600 m
- Average Pace: 2:40/100m
Filed under: Swim
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Great session today
I had one of those days where your body just kicked out more power than you are used to.
Today was the first day that I swam and cycled back to back. Furthermore, I swam and cycle the racing distances for next Saturday. My first sprint triathlon!
The swim was over before I knew it and I hardly felt tired. Given a mule could have beaten me, but I’ve never done 600m before.
The cycle was insane. I could feel that my legs weren’t too fresh after the swim, but I burned up and down the hills, over ditches and around corners. I love mountain biking!
I felt good enough to do a 5-10km run afterwards too. So I figure I should be fine for the sprint. Actually thinking of doing the full length one, but I think doubling each leg would be just a bit too rough for me.
Logbook Activity
- Type: Swim
- Date: 01/25/2008
- Time: 17:30:00
- Total Time: 00:16:32.00
- Calories: 137
- Distance: 600 m
- Average Pace: 2:45.14/100m
Filed under: Swim, Cycle, Mountain Biking
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Ooo my back!
Woke up this morning with a very sore back. Must have done something wrong during my swimming session yesterday. Did try-out the breast stroke for the first time. My technique might have been all wrong, or my muscles not used to that kind of exercise.
Guess it’ll be a day or two before I’m back in action again.
Filed under: Swim
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Endless summer rain
Sheesh it’s been raining like crazy in SA’s capital. We’ve had two or three days of sunshine within the last two weeks. Guess this is what training in Seattle, Vancouver or Christchurch must feel like.
Every morning I’m hoping to jump on the mtb, but alas… rain. Not that I mind riding in the rain, but water is like cancer for my bike. I always need to fix something after its been wet a couple of times. I’ve therefore decided not to take it out when it is very wet. So I’m sticking to swimming and running.
The forecast looks better for tomorrow. Lets hope I can get a 20-25km in.
Filed under: Swim, Run, Cycle
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Swim - 0.3 hours - 01/22/2008
Logbook Activity
- Type: Swim
- Date: 01/22/2008
- Time: 06:16:15
- Total Time: 00:18:00.00
- Calories: 132
- Distance: 400 m
- Average Pace: 4:30.68/100m
Filed under: Swim
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