Winter time, cold weather and short days don't help either! Anyone who knows me, knows I love tropical type weather ideally, not something that often happens here lol! We are past the shortest day so things are on the up daylight wise at least!
My job at the moment is relatively active, but also involves getting cold, wet, muddy and sometimes sweaty underneath so that would help a bit with base fitness.
I feel I need to work hard on all disciplines, but cycling ironman style in a group is the one which scares me the most!
When I lived in Perth I had a road bike for many years there and took weekend and occasional recreational rides of anything up to about 108km a time, often solo! But always on cycle trails or quiet roads! I always used sneakers or thongs or the like and flat pedals! I put my foot down and stopped at intersections and if I felt like it or if too many people walking dogs were around! I liked the sensation of braking, but not putting my feet down till the absolute last necessary second! I put on little sprints and made sure I put in enough effort for it to feel like a workout! But I loved stopping off for coffees along the way, and also dunks in the beaches in summer! Infact in Perth on a weekend about 40 degree day one of my all time favourite things was to fill a camel-bak with ice and water, go for a long ride along the beach with a few stops for a swim in the ocean! Coffees, beers, icecreams, juices or smoothies may have featured too! I did a few super short triathlons in Perth.
Enter clipless pedals and cleats for the Wanaka Half Ironman, - and new bike!!!
The new bike thing started when I realised I could ride my boyfriend's new Avanti Montari trail/mountain bike around the 15.6k block 3 mins 20 secs than my absolute best on my road bike. I then did a sprint on each bike down to the end of the road and back, (1.5k) and was still 20 secs faster on his! My boyfriend told me it was because of the 29 inch rims, and told me I could do the half ironman on his bike! I then decided it was time for a new road bike and purchased a sexy Merida Scultura 5000 March this year! Pictures to come later! And to get further discounts I added in a turbo trainer, cleats, pedals, bike shoes, spare tube at purchase tiem. Luckily I managed to shave another 3 minutes off my time with new bike and clipless system, managing the 15.6k block in 32:20 best attempt so far!
I am still not comfortable with feeling clipped in and have to constantly concentrate not to come to a stop without unclipping! I have come close to stacking it, but haven't yet! I do keep wondering whether I should persist with the clipless system or go back to sneakers and flats! At the Busselton Half Ironman WA I noticed some of the competitors had flats and sneakers, (were happy to do their best with that), but at Wanaka, everyone seemed to be clipless! I have the gear so better keep persisting! :-)
I enjoyed some bike rides more in the warmer months of March and April. But then got slack. Thursday I remedied it, about 5 mins of clipping/unclipping/short intervals on turbo, then a 3k ride up and down road practicing clipping and unclipping, then doing a 5k timed best effort run, (28.39) before a 1.2k powerwalk home.
Yesterday morning I decided if it wasn't icy, windy, or raining I was doing 15.6k block on bike no matter what. Weather co-operated, however it was only 5 degrees! I hated it, the whole ride, was so uncomfortably cold, need better wind proof gloves and to gain confidence in cold on clipless so will sort that! But did it untimed. And followed it up with a 3.4k run with jelly legs. Was stoked with 10.47 for first 2k, but pace dropped a bit thereafter but I sucked it in and put on a sort of sprint for last 200m home.
So we are underway, lots more to be done obviously, but consistency with 5 days training a week is what I'm after this next week, and to get in at least a swim in.
Till next time :-)
Pip
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