2013: Tri-ing something new

[marathondan]

Week 3 of 17

Mon – a paradoxically easy yet hard swim session. Hard because of the distance. Easy because, apart from the warmup, it was all conducted wearing fins. When Mistress Merlem increased the warmup from the usual 150m to 400m we initially thought she was addressing the wrong group, but we got on with it. Then we donned the fins for 2 x 25m easy + 25m hard. As we recovered our breath, she prescribed 2 x 50m easy + 50m hard. A slightly sadistic smile played on her features as she went on to 2 x 75m easy + 75m hard. Gasping, we were grateful that, at last, it was time to move on to something lower intensity. Then she mentioned 2 x 100m easy + 100m hard. “You will surprise yourself,” she said.

I’m not sure I did – by this point I knew I would complete it, even if at a lower workrate. But it was an interesting lesson. Not a word of technical advice given in the whole hour – just get out there and do what you’ve been taught. An easy session for the teacher – but a surprisingly instructive one for us. We covered more than a mile in the hour, for the first time. But it was mostly with fins, much easier than the real thing. Judicious work with the fins cuts the difficulty and allows one to feel the stroke more and think about technique – the basic need to avoid drowning is removed. And no doubt it works the legs well, too.

Rounded off with 5 miles home on the bike, which was relatively pleasant. The temperature was up just a degree or two on last week, which makes all the difference. Still needing ski gloves, ski mask and technical top plus two base layers though.

Wed – donned the singlet for a distinctly springlike midday run. Encountered a couple of tracksuit-clad runners, who really need to get with the program. The agents were back, now dressed more lightly, in accordance with the season. But one was wearing what looked like a cowboy hat – an overt sign that they have defected, perhaps? TdJ: Metallica – Blackened; a proper feel-bad track to drive me on.

Thu – lunchtime swim.

250m 1/1 crawl / back
250m 2/1 ditto
250m 2/1 ditto
250m crawl

The last set is a seriously big deal for me. It may not look like much, but it’s probably the first time I’ve done that in 25 years. It was slow and awkward, but it’s a real sign of progress, maybe like the beginner runner completing their first 5K without walking.

Fri - a sound brick in heavy rain. I was soaked to the skin after 10 minutes, socks blackened from the contents of endless road puddles. I missed a turn towards the end of the bike leg, and added on 2 miles by accident. The run leg is now up to 3 miles, which justifed a trip up to my old haunt, the muddy field. After several dry weeks, the ground was hard and everywhere was standing water. My road shoes didn't stand a chance, adding significantly to the effort level no doubt.

Total time was around 90 minutes, knackered but happy. If I was only running, that would have been about 10 miles. This is the first time I've felt properly fatigued after a brick session, actually nodding off in my chair after the kids were home from school. I guess 90 minutes is around the duration I should start thinking about topping up my carbs on the go. Also, in marathon days, I would be doing this long session on a Sunday night, meaning that sleep is exactly what I would want to do afterwards. I'm not used to this daylight stuff.

Step back next week.

A satisfying week's work.