I did it! My first Olympic Distance Triathlon

So... wake up & could already hear the wind outside, even on the fire place... Arrrggghhh... :(

Swim: That Australian stuff was not so good when you are part of the last waves going into the water. Not only you have to deal with the crowd in your wave but also with the other ones that are on their second loop... Way too many people in the water. I wasn't scared but I was swimming more water polo style than anything else at one point...
Think I did something like 39:30 minutes... swimming on the side the 2 loops... did way more than 1500 m...

Transition 1: It was like 1/2 mile running to get to the transition. I had to stop at the portable... :) Try to put on a bike short when you're wet... that's a challenge right there! lol
Anyway, let's just say I took my time! :)

Bike: Wind was 28 km/hour with gust (rafale) around 43 km/h. You cannot imagine how hard the bike leg was! lol 
On a U-turn, I almost fell because of a gust, that was amazing! lol

Transition 2: I was faster than transition 1!

Run: That was the longest 10K I ran in my life! :) As usual, I was a snail but I meet a lot of buddies along the way.

Overall: Did something like 3:44:12... I know, nothing amazing really but It was fun! I never thought it would be that hard... really wonder how I am going to finish the half-ironman in 4 weeks... :) 

Half-Ironman Training - Week 15 - 5 to go... Olympic Distance Triathlon

So... 6 more days & It will be my first Olympic distance triathlon...
Timing doesn't matter. What I'm in for is that I enjoy the training & to stay in shape. I love the atmosphere of the race, we meet so many nice people it's amazing. :)

So this week it was a little light on the training, too much work & I need to keep my strenght for Sunday... :)

Monday September 19, 2011
Bike: 00:45:00 - 15 miles - 20 mi/hr

Wednesday September 21, 2011
Swim: 1 x 1000 m
          1 x 100 m 

Sunday September 25, 2011 - Olympic Distance Triathlon - 03:44:12
Swim: 1 x 2000 m
Bike: 40 K
Run: 10 K

Olympic Distance Triathlon Preparation...

1500 M Swim - 40 K Bike - 10 k Run

Let's just say under 03:30:00 I'll be happy! :)
It doesn't matter anyway, I'm not in for the timing.

This morning I went with my monkeys to pick up my packet/bib at the expo.

I bought a new handle tape gel... so girly! :) At least I will be able to find my bike easier at the transition area!

I changed it so many times when I was young & it's so easy on tri bike.
But here are some tips for newbie.
http://www.btwincycle.com/EN/how-to-remove-and-fit-new-handlebar-tape-107425672/


Tomorrow should be sunny - 22 to 34 degres Celsius from 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM - a little windy (hopefully not too bad... considering it's a 26 miles ride on the bike...).
So I decided to wear my swimsuit, then my cycling short... then switch from cycling short to running skirt. No socks. I will have a tee-shirt ready on top of my cycling shoes just in case I'm cold getting out of the water... to be continued! :)

Check List
Tri bag
Timing chip strap
Tri watch
Swim cap
Swim goggles
Swimsuit
Cycling helmet
Cycling shoes
Cycling short
Sunglasses
Running shoes
Running skirt - bib is on it
Running visor - My old one that I cannot get rid of for some reason. :)
Towel
2 packs of organic energy chews - Honey Stinger
1 bottle of water
1 bottle of Gatorade

Bunny is fixing & trying the bike rack on his car... & we will be almost ready to go!
Then a big thank you to Mathieu who changed his working hours to take care of the monkeys in the morning. :)

Half-Ironman Training - Week 14 - 6 to go...

Ok so this week was pretty bad when it comes to find time to train... But anyway, I tried to do a little still...
I really enjoy the training at the pool, it is so peaceful & quiet in the evening.
I always swim 100 m on back stroke before it's time to leave, looking at the stars... :)


Monday September 12, 2011
Run: 1:00:00
Stretching: 00:10:00



Tuesday September 13, 2011
OFF

Wednesday September 14, 2011
OFF

Thrusday September 15, 2011
Run: 00:18:38 - From home to the pool...
Swim: 1 x 1000 m
          7 x 100 m
         
Friday September 16, 2011
OFF



Saturday September 17, 2011
Bike: 1:06:00 - 20 miles - 18.18 mi/ho

Sunday September 18, 2011
Bike: 1:23:26 - 26 miles - 18.7 mi/ho
Run: 1:10:10 - 6.3 miles
Streching: 00:10:00
      t     

Half-Ironman Training - Week 13 - 7 to go...

In theory I should increase the hours of training per week but in reality there is no way I can possibly do it... Well... @ least I am training a little! :)

Monday September 5, 2011
6:00 PM - Bike: 01:07:00 - 20 miles - 17.71 mi/hr
               Stretching - 10:00

Tuesday September 6, 2011
8:30 PM - Swim: 2000m - 47:21

Wednesday September 7, 2011
OFF

Thrusday September 8, 2011
8:30 PM - Swim: 1000m - 23:32

Friday September 9, 2011
12:30 PM - Bike: 30:40 - 10 miles - 19.57 mi/hr

Saturday September 10, 2011
9:00 PM - Swim: 500 m - 11:58
                         Kicking drills: 200 m
                         100 m - 2:12
                         Kicking drills: 200 m
               Abs - 5 x 10
               Arms - 5 x 10

Sunday September 11, 2011
Bike - 1:03:30 - 20 miles - 18.90 mi/hr
Abs - 5 x 10
Arms - 10 x 10

Half-Ironman Training - Week 12 - 8 to go...

This week I was suppose to increase hours with a key session on Sunday as race prep. Since we are not working tomorrow - Labor Day - I switched with today. :)

Hamstring seems to be ok, not completly back to normal yet but ok...

Back to the pool, feels so good in the evening!
Le pied quoi!!! :)

Monday August 29, 2011
Evening meeting @ Work - Run cancelled

Tuesday August 30, 2011
7:30 PM - Bike: 45 minutes - 14.3 miles / 30.8 km/h
               Abs: 3 x 10
               Arms: 5 x 10

Wednesday August 31, 2011
7:00 PM - Bike: 60 minutes - 18.6 miles / 30 km/h
9:00 PM - Swim: 500 m - 11:47
               Kicking drills: 300 m

Thursday September 1, 2011
I was suppose to Run 30 minutes but came back home late from work.
9:10 PM - Swim: 500 m - 10:32
               Swim: 100 m - 2:15 - Easy
               Swim: 100 m - 2:16 - Easy
               Swim: 100 m - 2:15 - Easy
               Swim: 100 m - 2:17 - Easy
               Swim: 100 m - 2:14 - Easy

Friday September 2, 2011
OFF

Saturday September 3, 2011
7:00 PM - Run: 50 minutes - Easy
               Stretching: 10 minutes

Sunday September 4, 2011
4:30 PM - Bike: 40 minutes - 12.5 miles - 30.18 km/h
               Stretching: 10 minutes
               Abs: 5 x 10
               Arms: 5 x 10

Concentrating on the bike segment - Speed training.

Trying to regain strength in my hamstring, so I am taking it easy on the run segment. I'd rather wait another week than ruin everything. :)

I don't have enough time to bike & swim at the moment but since Mathieu will start school next week (and will not go out with his friends every night...) I will be able to go @ the swimming pool from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM with my bunny! Yes... Mathieu will be our official babysitter. Kids will be sleeping at this time so we are not offering him any $$!!! lol 

 

So I have been biking a lot lately. This is fun actually, I was able to really test my equipment.

 

I must say I love that Louis Garneau bike equipe short. It is so confortable! I will order another one soon since I am biking every day.

 

Then I tested my cycling shoes as well. Even if I bought them several years ago, I never biked that much before!

I wouldn't need any socks even biking 56 miles.

 

I am trying to travel light. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More about speed training:

 

The bike portion of a triathlon requires both endurance and speed, similar to the swim and run segments of the race. However, as the longest of the three legs in terms of distance and duration, the bike's physiological requirements for sustaining a high level of performance are significant.

 

Speed training is particularly beneficial to utilizing both explosive speed and sustaining a pace throughout the course of a race. Short intervals of 45 to 90 seconds require a rider to pedal at full intensity and then back down to a comfortable pace. Triathletes often repeat intervals up to 10 times throughout the course of a training session to develop speed. Longer intervals, meanwhile, build stamina to sustain a certain speed over distance. A triathlete's quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and gluteus muscles are the primary engines for powering the bike forward. Riders work to develop these muscles throughout their training while focusing on keeping their ankles and hips stable. As such, spin technique is an important part of triathlon bike training, and ensures a fluid pedaling motion that maximizes efficiency.

http://www.tri-ecoach.com/art21.htm