Tuesday 27 September 2011

Open water swim at Manley Mere

Discovered another open water swim venue at the weekend that hadn't yet closed for the season so went along for a last swim before this weekends Capesthorne Triathlon.

Swam 1,600m in about 39mins. Disappointingly not the best of times but know what I need to do for the weekend!

Monday 26 September 2011

Evening run

Grabbed an evening run at the start of an Indian Summer heatwave tonight. A 4.5 mile circuit through Sandbach up The Hill to Malkins Bank and then back along the Wheelock Rail trail and Abbey Rd to home in 37minutes and 26 seconds. A good run at a good pace (equivalent to a 50min 10km)

Saturday 24 September 2011

Put through my paces!

Had a bike to run bricks training session this morning with my mate Dom pushing me round the upcoming Capesthorne Triathlon bike course (or as much of it as we could cycle given a mile or so through Capsthorne hall grounds were closed to the public today). After some pre ride bike tweaks (moved the Aero bars further back, raised the seat and tilted it forward to try and get a straighter/flatter line of my back) covered just over 10 miles of the circuit averaging just over 18mph :-)

Followed this up with a 3 mile run which felt great!

Friday 23 September 2011

End of the open water swim season :-(

Seems to be over before it's begun but tonight was the last open water swim session of the year at Boundary Water Park. By the time I'd finished the 1,500m circuit (about 32 mins) it was getting well and truly dark!

The niggle of missing my under 3 hour target for the Tatton Triathlon has gotten the better of me so I've entered the Cheshire Triathlon at Capesthorne Hall next week (Sunday 2nd Sep)... If at first you don't succeed... Tri tri again!

Tuesday 20 September 2011

Crewe Tigers Swim Session

A good swim session this evening covering 1,600m

Thursday 15 September 2011

Open Water Swim Session

Swam 3 laps of the 500m open water circuit at Boundary Water Park this evening stopping for a few minutes to have a chat with my mate Dom after the first and last lap and a few pauses of breastroke to take in the sun set at dusk and tranquility of the lake... And still managed to complete the circuit in under 40minutes which was almost 3 minutes less than my '1500m' swim at Tatton at the weekend!? Not that I'm letting that get to me ;-) The Tatton organisers have now said on their website that the swim distance was longer than it should have been?... Anyway... Onwards and upwards :-) RNLI total now stands at £1,465 :-)

Tuesday 13 September 2011

No rest for the wicked!

A good swim training session with Crewe Tigers Triathlon club tonight swimming a total of 1,800m in the hour

Sunday 11 September 2011

RNLI Tatton Triathlon ~ Done! (Time 3:07:34)

A great day out at a top class event, even if it did mean a hellishly early start of 7.30am for the swim!

The swim itself didn't entirely go to plan! Very choppy, dirty water which left swimming a true course very difficult. I've been swimming 1500m in open water regularly in about 32 mins but ended up swimming 42mins and 47 secs which was disappointing. I also knew early on therefore that I'd blown my 3 hour target to complete the course... Oh well :-)

Time in Transition 1 (swim to bike) was probably reflected therefore in the time of 3mins 07secs!

Bike Stage was good! Four laps round, out and back into Tatton Park in a fairly good time of 1 hour 23 mins and 53 seconds.

Transition 2 (bike to run) was ok at 1 min 32 secs.

The run stage was also good, two 5km laps cross country around Tatton Park which seemed mostly up hill! 56 mins and 13 secs for the 10km which wasn't the best ever time but fun bolstered by my supporters! :-)

Relief at the finish line to complete in a fairly respectable time of 3 hours 7 mins and 34 seconds and a target to beat for my next Olympic Distance Tri!

Of much greater importance was the overwhelming support I received in sponsorship for the RNLI having raised £1,415 to date! A total of which I'm very proud and humbled and can assure all supporters will be put to good use by the Abersoch RNLI crew!

A huge thank you on their behalf!!!

Thursday 8 September 2011

1500m Open Water Swim

A chilly swim at boundary water park this evening... Swam the 1500m is just over 32 mins which I'm really pleased with.

Even more pleased with the fundraising total... £1,039 as of this evening! Thank you all!

Wednesday 7 September 2011

6 mile run

Got a last 10km in this evening before this weekend's RNLI Triathlon, a loop around Hassal, the wheelock rail trail (which was dark by the time I got to it with the nights drawing in already) and up to Sandbach train station in back... 52 minutes and 39 seconds. Felt good despite the dark and rain!

Fundraising total stands at £930 this evening :-)

Sunday 4 September 2011

Bike & Run

Only a week to go to the Tatton Triathlon! Did a Bike to Run 'bricks' session this afternoon... A 25 mile cycle to Knutsford and back in 1 hour 30 mins averaging 17.2mph. Managed to use the Aero bars for most of the ride. Then did a quick change to running shoes at home and ran 3 miles around the Wheelock rail trail in 26mins and 21secs.

Saturday 3 September 2011

Down to Earth with a bang!

1500mtrs early morning open water swim training @ Salford Quays this morning covering the distance in just over 32mins which was great! Funnily enough the water at 19'c was considerably colder than my last few swims in the Carribean! :o)