Have to embrace open water swimming - it is now ...Nova tris after all

Have you ever done this. Swam in the pool today and my goggle swimming (front crawl) is getting better and I did quite a few decent consecutive lenghts but that means diddly squat in an open water setting apparently. I know I will revert to breast stroke to keep above the water and not disappear under. Mind you, I am still quite looking forward to it. Almost a cleansing, baptism type thingy.... Or maybe not! Too much booze with friends yesterday as was a bank holiday so keen to clean my act up a bit and knuckle down to training this week despite it ring half term and so looking after the bairn so limited training options and weather is a bit grim so cycling is not so appealing. Gave shouty man a miss as still sore in the legs and knees from the last session and that was over a week ago..... Will try to do one of his later this week. Off to look at wetsuits.. How glam.

Tri hard ...well trying at least

Got up 'early' for a Saturday for me anyway and went to the gym and did  some spinning, cross trainer work, boxing(only a little vs the bag unfortunately) then swam for a bit, felt a bit better on the front crawl. Then home and out for a busking festival and unfortunately lots of booze. Woke today with a hangover but eventually went for a bike ride about 15k I think . Need to get more time on the bike as have the 24k plus the 4k run at the next event . Legs and knees in particular are in bits at the min so might give shouty man a rest and swim every morning next week depending in the time LLLneeds  to get out.  Are there occasional tri goals (sprint ones lets face it ) enough to stretch myself, or should I leave it at that considering my body complains a lot... I am sore almost every other day and my fitness, although good,is not dramatically improving? Do we all plateau or should we just do the right thing for our bodies (which in my case is eat less and do yoga every day for a fiery gal like me). Any tips, let me know. Mind you, although I might  find an inner calm, would I miss the high octane bit which comes with pushing your physical limits to do something you have not tried before.  Or is this an itty bitty mid lifer for me?

Shouty man session - usually means I can't walk the next day

And yes, I am struggling with the walk today so went for a swim instead. 2 potential tris coming up. Both open water but I won't have to do the swim at one, just a heck f a long bike 23k and 4k run. The other is open water and that means a wet suit. Sneaked into my favourite sports shop today but resisted buying yet another top, just got a running cap instead but was sorely tempted. Good job it is quite far from home. These tris are expensive in terms of time and money but I guess at least it is something to  aim for and I would like
 To get a couple more under my belt before I visit the sacred iron man course on Hawaii in the summer!

Hello all ! Has been Nova Cleans but did get a run in so Nova Runs again!

Nice little trot around the golf course with one tempo and 2sprints. Then 2short hills. Then weights. Was a lovely evening. Peaceful . The river was so close to me. Wierd to think of the other beginners , running the same course, chatty chatting, being lulled into a sense of achievement beside the  big, slow river. I could see the path their various sized thighs and feet had made. Didn't want to be part of that. Prefer solo.  I can run. I can run faster. Hills required so might go there on Sunday if the weather is good ? Hope. You all are well. What is the next goal......? More of that tat later!

Some stats for you

Really bad stats but I am happy with them;
320th out of 372.
44out of 58 in my age group......
1hour37mins no idea about splits.
Exercise today......none! Hung over really.
Will swim in the morning.
Thank you for keeping the faith. :)

My first tri.... Bloody fantastic

Photos and times to follow. Ok so just under 1hr36 which is bloody crap for a proprer tri fit sort but bloody marvellous  for me and, .....the most important thing..... I bloody loved it. Especially the bike. Bit of  a Sunday leisure bike ride as I did not want to tire my legs out for the run so probably took it a bit easy but grinned ear to ear, chatted to every Stewart and every person I passed, the only tough bit which still felt totally alien to me was the swim. Could only do a few front crawl and then still only just abut matched the swimmers in the next row doing breast stroke......  Stil loved it.  Felt on top of the world at the end,  milling aroud with terribly fit sorts (iron men and all that... although my arse, which is considerably smaller than other was still not quite iron man level..) So the next challenge will be.......HA.  hA?...

All prepared, bag packed just got to sleep and then do it.

Please send positive vibes this way for tomorrow. Want to finish it, want to be not quite last. Want to enjoy it. Thank you faith keepers :).

One day to go to the tri......not nervous but less confident than the GNR

Suppose cos I will be doing it on my own this time, will be totally new to me and a stretch given the limited training I have done. Mind you, complete rest (or as near s damn it  ) over the last couple of days ip might just mean I get a bit of a rush on the day and can find extra energy I seem to be lacking recently. Bike news though, traded in my piece of crap for another dodgy but significantly lighter piece of crap with road tyres. Following the hills on Thursday (might not have posted about this but went to an old haunt where I did some good training with the boss in the past and spent an hour and a half getting lost, mainly walking but maybe 3k if running with that steep hill to climb totally out of Brest for all of it and then fast walking in between - good way to clear the head but getting lost in a dark forest was a little scary) did a swim this morning and a quick cycle on he new bike. Tomorrow will do a short circuit of kirk and then now't , no booze nd low ads of carbs:).
I guess it helps when you have additional support but not this time, lets just bloody well go for it. Try to finish, try to not come totally last and try to smile......... And not need a wee half way through...... Keep The Faith for me my friends and
 your fingers and toes crossed ! By the way I bought a cheap tri suit - and. Mean cheap...so cheap that I
went for the blue and pink one , and I would never go for pink..... Only cos it was the cheapest. Bit tight, not quite the figure of Chrissey Wellington  with a whole heap if curves but so bloody what. This is clearly not a fashion show
with mirrors and hp hair dryers.. This is he world of the TRI...... a world in which I intend to dip my big toe in to, give an almighty grin to all taking part, and make a quick exit.

Jonny B Goode

Bad moon rising

Blockbuster

Proud mary

Rock and Roll is king

I love to boogie

Hi ho silver lining

Eight days a week

Keep on running

Can’t buy me love

 no loos let alone mirrors and hair dryers. This is the hardcore world of TRI!