2-31 days to go (or are there)

Tonight was the first run of the season. For me in any case. I had done this run last year as well and nearly had to be pushed to the finish by my friend. So, this year's goal was: beat last year's time! 

I started jogging as soon as we crossed the starting line. Of course I couldn't keep that up, but still, the first few seconds had been won. I jogged again a bit later and immediately noticed a problem. I need a knee brace and the one I have now is too small (it was the largest they had) and came apart at the seams. No knee brace means problems in my calf. That was it for the jogging. 

Or was it? Because I tried again a bit later going downhill and it didn't bother me that much. From then on we jogged as much as we could when going downhill. 

During the fourth kilometer it started to rain. Not heavily, but enough to get wet. I had to take my glasses off to be able to see anything. In the fifth kilometer my friend left me. She wanted to take a photo of me crossing the finish line. I kept going on my own, which was a lot harder than with my friend who will spur me on each time. But finally there was the finish line!

The big question of course is: did I beat last year's time? Well, you will have to come back tomorrow... just kidding. I did. I beat last year's time. By about 9 minutes I reckon and I am chuffed to bits. Now I just need a better knee brace!

In other news: I have decided not to participate in the triathlon. At least not the one in June. I am a fair weather athlete (using that term very loosely here) and I don't like gyms and such, so my training so far has been mainly jogging in the last few weeks. My friend and I will continue doing that twice a week, but that is not enough for a triathlon. I also need to swim and cycle. There is bound to be another triathlon sometime in August/September, which would suit me much better, because I do want to beat last year's time there as well!

2-33 days to go

Being Dutch I am used to riding a bike. But since moving to Norway I have not ridden a bike that often. At first because I didn't have one and once I had one (very old), I hardly rode it because of the terrain. Humpy, bumpy, hilly. And always that wind! 

For last year's triathlon I got a bike. But it's not like any of the bikes I grew up with. For starters, I have to lean forward. Which wouldn't be a problem with a normal chest and belly, but with a chest like mine (we're nearing the halfway point in the alphabet) and a belly like mine, it's a bit harder. Even with the strap-them-in torture devices used!

Tonight I had a spinning class and basically I have the same problem. The handlebars are too far away from my bum, meaning I have to lean over. That also means that because of the leaning, I tense my shoulders. Tense shoulders equals tense neck equals guess what! I stopped before it became an issue (I felt it coming). 

During the spinning we are also supposed to stand up on our pedals. Yeah, as if that is going to happen. I loose all control that way and am afraid I will fall off. So, I stayed seated the whole time, just upping the resistance when the others were doing their bit for King and country. So to say. 

I did manage about 40-45 minutes today, after which I got off the bike and started moving to the music. Swinging my arms, stretching my shoulders, doing whatever. I am pleased with the work I did. Even if it wasn't as much as all the others did. 

2-34 days to go

After a weekend of snacking, apple pie, cakes, fries and other not so good food, I was out today again to run. My friend had found a perfect spot to do just that: between two bridges. Basically the goal was to run from one bridge to the other (about 600 meters) and then walk back. 

I didn't manage it. Basically it was a bridge too far. What I did do however, was trying to run further at each try (which I managed) and then instead of walking back, running back again to whatever point was possible and walk the rest of the way. Again, trying to run further at each try. 

According to my friend my breathing is becoming better, so that is something. There are only a few days left to the first trial of the year: the five kilometer run I did in just over an hour last year. I do hope I will do better this year.

As for the triathlon, I am seriously wondering about that. Last year's triathlon was in August, giving me plenty of summer (read nice weather) to train, both on my feet, on my wheels and in the wet. This year's is in just under five weeks from now and the outside water is still too cold to swim in. I've only just started the walking/running bit and as for the cycling....

But, we'll see. 

2-40 days to go

Air! That was the main thing today. Air! Or lack thereof really. For the first time since last September I took out my bike and oh my GSD! it was hard. Unlike the tires which weren't hard at all and lacked a severe amount of air. 

That lack showed itself quite soon, as I was trying to get my chocolate filled body up a hill. I was soon gasping and gasping. I did manage to get to the training center though, because we were going spinning. 

Which (for the uninitiated amongst you) means a stationary bike and then cycle on it. No distance or calories shown, nothing fancy. Just cycle until you drop of. It was to be an hour's lesson, but after only half an hour, I was done. After all, I had that hill climb in my legs already. 

Fortunately I didn't have to cycle home, one of my colleagues had a big van and drove both me and the bike back. I will get the tires filled tomorrow I think and then I can go out and do some proper training again. Although I do think this was quite a proper hard training as well. Just saying...

2-44 days to go

Last night was my second time out in my jogging shoes. This time the weather was a bit better: less wind for a start. Still not warm by any stretch of the imagination though.

Fortunately the walking helped get me warm and I even managed to get a few running sessions in as well. From this tree to the next and then I ran until at least the next tree, but tried for a bit more. It showed in the final tally. Where I managed to get 3,75 kilometers in on Monday, last night I managed a whole half kilometer extra in the same time of 45 minutes. 

Of course I'm nowhere near good, but I moving forward. The Hydro Rundt run (62 minutes last year) in two weeks' time will be mostly walking with some running, but I am aiming for a triathlon that is mostly running with some walking. 

2. 48 days to go

It was windy, it was cold, but I did go outside tonight to do my first training in a long time. A running training, although not a lot of actual running was done. Mostly it was walking and speed walking, but I did do some running. Over the next few weeks I will have to keep that up and progress, but I am happy with tonight. 

After all, I have to start somewhere don't I?

2: 137 days to go

After a very wet walking training that was interminably long and a lovely sunny walking training that was quite short, last night I went for another wet training. This time by choice though. Because I had my first swimming training.

During last year's triathlon, I swam breast stroke. I am not fast at the best of times and breast stroke is the slowest of all the swimming strokes, so it took some time to complete the two laps. One of my aims this year is to be faster on the swimming and one way of doing that is learning the crawl: the fastest of the swimming strokes.

Last night was my first training. First a bit of warm-up by swimming several laps. Then some breathing and floating exercises. And finally trying to do some sort of crawl. I think I did fine. The crawling bit was somewhat there, but I still breathe as I would when doing the breast stroke, ie, head up facing forward, so that needs to be changed. Of course I need more technique, better breathing, faster swimming, better endurance, but the beginning is there!

My main question of the evening though: why oh why was the swimming pool filled with salty water? Yergh!

June 11th, 2017

Today I registered to take part in the 2017 Haugesund Triathlon. Which will take place on June 11th. Which in turn means I have a little over 5 months left to get into shape and beat the time of 2 hours, 33 minutes and 45 seconds. Who's with me??

3 days ago

Well, the triathlon has been done and dusted and my body is slowly on its way back to normality. This week I will return the wet suit to the place I got it from. I haven't got the money for it at the moment and besides, it is way too big! Plus of course, the temperatures will be dropping from now on, so outside swimming is not on the cards for the next few months. Which means no need for a wet suit right now. I will get a new one next year. One that fits!

The bike is back in the basement as well. I will probably be cycling to work in the coming months, but I will need proper lighting for that. Right now I only have one light to the front and I want one at the back as well. 

And last but not least, my running shoes are back in their place. I doubt I will be using them much over the next week and I don't need them on my holiday, so they will get a little rest before I start training again. Because I will start training again! 

I am not sure when exactly next year's triathlon will be, but until at least the spring of 2017, this will be a dormant blog. And then the training will probably start in earnest again and I will wake it up from its hibernation and get going. Thank you for your support and comments here. They meant a lot to me, even if I didn't answer any of them. 

16 hours to go

Oh my! Less than a day to go and I can tell you this: my nerves have started to flutter. Today I picked up my start number and went to a race brief to learn all about it. There was a lot to stuff into my head, and I am not sure I will remember every single thing, but I think I will be okay. 

There was a worry for me that I would be overtaken by the elite athletes (who will be part of the Norwegian Championships) while cycling, but I was told I would be taken out in that case. And it turned out that I had just under two hours to complete the swimming and cycling, so I should be fine. If I am overtaken during the running I will be okay and they let me finish.

The amount of stuff I need though: incredible! As you can see in the photo, there is so much of it! The number (258) to be worn on the back during cycling and the front during running. A chip to record the actual time. A bottle with squash for my cycling part. A wet suit to be worn while swimming. A swim hat, goggles, ear plugs and a personal buoy. Cycle shorts and shirt, bra, running shoes, socks and wrist and knee protectors. Not in the photo are my cycle helmet and my bike. 

I will be picked up tomorrow by my partner in crime, who has been incredibly helpful over the past few months. I don't think I would have been as ready as I am now without him. Not to say that I am that ready, but I will get over that line tomorrow.

6 days to go

Last weekend's stick between the spokes (ie me being sick) meant that in the end I have hardly trained for the past two weeks. It needed to change and fast, since it is only a week until the actual triathlon. So, I had big plans for yesterday and then found several excuses to not do anything. This morning however...

I woke up early and put on my cycle gear. I was out the door by 8.15am and began my twenty kilometers. Not my usual four laps, but a different route, combining my first cycle trips with the lap and then back home. I was back after just over 20 kilometers. I was quite tired, because it had after all been two weeks. But I wasn't done yet...

On the bed was my running gear. My knee bands, my shorts and shirt. Off with the cycle stuff and on with the running stuff. A little adjustment to Gizmo, on with the headphones and I was out the door again. Off for my five kilometer walking/running training. I walked, I ran, I walked some more, I ran. I admit, it was mostly walking fast and not so much running, but I did manage to come in in 51.29, just 5 seconds slower than my best time, which had been on a track and had no ups and downs at all. 

So, I have done the cycling and running in one go. I was really tired when I finished, but I did it in a time I was happy with. And next week it will be the whole thing!

12 days to go

Tonight was an open water swim training. And because I was feeling much better, I went. However, I did not venture out into the water. I wanted to, but I am not too dumb to realise that I needed a bit more strength in my body after not eating for two days and not eating that much on day three. 

Anyway, my body is on the mend, and tomorrow I will get back to work. I lost about 3 kilograms in total (around 7 pounds), plus I got to see a lot of the Olympic Games, including the Dutch lady who won the 10k open water swimming!  So, the inspiration is definitely there to go back to my training. 

13 days to go

Aren't plans brilliant? Just fantastic? On Friday the plan had been to have a walking/running training on Saturday and then a cycle training today. Right...

My head didn't agree with that for some reason and presented itself on Saturday morning feeling very achy. It didn't help either that I had difficulty keeping my food down. And today unfortunately is not much better. Where yesterday's vomit session was somewhat assisted (felt better afterwards), today's was completely spontaneous.

So, basically, I am sick and even if I had wanted to cycle and/or walk/run, I am in no shape to do so...

15 days to go

After more than a week of lazying about, doing nothing much and generally watching more than doing sports, today was the day I was going back to work. A swim training.

Now, the summer we have had so far, has been with quite high temperatures, but with a lot of rain. This past week though, the temperatures plummeted. Single figures at night and during the day in the low teens. Which meant that the open water we swim in, has not been warmed up by the sun. At All!

I knew that of course, but I came prepared. Neoprene socks and a neoprene hat together with my usual outfit and I was good to go! Absolutely fine! Apart from my hands and face of course, which were not covered and freezing. After a bit though, even they warmed up (or I didn't feel them anymore of course). 

I am glad to say that even though I had had a week's slacking off, it didn't show in the swimming. Even though I only did one lap (my partner in crime had some problems and decided to sit it out. In the rain), I only had one stop and was not out of breath at all. Two laps might have been possible, but the warm shower beckoned as well. 

The plan is to walk tomorrow and then another cycle training on Sunday. The weather is promising to be better from tomorrow onward and even going up to summer temperatures again. 

20 days to go

After Wednesday's walk, I realised that in order for me to do more walking/running, I will need something to protect my knees. They were quite painful for several days. Unfortunately I didn't get them yet, so until then I will not do any major walking. 

For some reason however I have been feeling a bit down in the dumps as well. And very tired for some reason. I tried for some good nights' sleep, but last night was interrupted by a smoke alarm. Don't worry, it was only some beeps to tell me the battery was empty, but still. 

Today I was supposed to cycle my four laps again. Looking outside however, I see the flags standing at attention and the wet on the window. Of course I could come up with lots of excuses like being tired or not wanting to have a snotty nose again or it being too painful to my wrists. But the fact of the matter is: I Don't Want To! There, I said it. I don't want to today. I just want to enjoy my day off. Watch a bit of television (Olympics probably) and potter along at home. 

So, no training today. I will start afresh tomorrow (with ankle and wrist protectors)!

24 days to go

The days are moving so fast now! Only 24 left before the big day! Anyhoo...

Today was not really meant to be a training day, but a five kilometer fast walk with my friend was something I ended up doing. There was a moment where I thought I would cancel due to the rain, but in the end we braved it and it turned out to be okay. A bit of rain, but nothing we couldn't handle. Besides that, we would come home to a meal waiting (although it needed warming up).

So, Gizmo is almost happy. Almost, since I forgot to put it on this morning and therefor it only knows what I did this afternoon. Which is only 75% of what I should have done. Better luck tomorrow. Because every single step counts towards reaching the Excellent! Right now I am only on: not quite there yet. 

25 days to go

Another swimming training today. I can do the whole distance now, it is just a case of how many stops I need while doing the distance. The first time there were too many to mention (although I did try). Last week I needed a fair few as well. So, what about today?

On my first lap I stopped twice, on the first buoy and on the second one. I then took a little break at the finish, before setting off for lap 2. I swam straight past the first buoy and only stopped halfway between the first and second. No more stops were required. 

My partner in crime is much faster than I am, but I managed to sort of keep up with him, so pretty pleased with myself. The other bit I was pleased about was that it didn't rain during our swim. Nothing as bad as getting out of your wet swim clothes and into your wet normal clothes. Eek. 

Partner in crime's brother was there as well today. And he asked me what I was most scared of. When I first started this training thing, I said the swimming. But that has changed. Now it's the cycling. It's quite a hard course (for me anyway) on a normal day. Doing it straight after the swim might prove to be brutal. I am not too worried about the running. I can just walk, fast or not and get across the finish line in the end. He did think though that my aim of under three hours was very achievable. 

27 days to go

As I got out of bed this morning, I heard the rain. Not the best start of today's training. But, once I made my way to my bike, it had let up a bit, so I was hopeful. After all, I had a thin raincoat on over my cycle gear.

I cycled to the start and began my first lap. I wasn't even a kilometer in when the heavens opened. For real. Within minutes I was soaked. It was so not fun, it was unbelievable. Half way through the lap, I saw this woman jogging. In the still pouring rain. We smiled at each other, asked if we were having fun, gave each other the thumbs up and continued. 

I was certain that I would only do one lap and go straight home. Sod (sorry for my French) the training. But, the rain let up and I continued on to lap 2. Which was all I was going to do. After all, I was soaked. Lap 3 was completed (the sun came out) and then I figured I might as well do the fourth lap as well. So, I did. 

I then started cycling home. A different route from the way to, but in my view an easier route as well. Just straight ahead and no bother from cars and angry motorists thinking I cycle too slow (which I do). And just when I thought I could continue a bit more, the heavens opened once again and this time I had had enough. I just wanted to go home and take a shower. 

I was wet throughout. From hair to toes, I was soaked. Even though I had worn a raincoat. I did a bit more than last week (about a kilometer I would say), but for some reason Gizmo decided that that was good enough for today. I am not arguing! 

29 days to go

The blueberry picking tour that I had planned was cancelled. It rained and rained and rained and rained. Instead, me and my friend went blueberry picking yesterday. It rained on and off all day, but when we started, it was nice and dry and quite pleasant. Until we got to the blueberry bushes, where I stepped on an ant hill (clever) and was eaten by almost every single midge around. At least, that's what it feels like. 

Today would be the jogging training. But again, it rained and rained and rained. And I have this slight aversion of getting wet and then having to walk/jog in the wet for five kilometers. Call me a baby if you want, but I would rather not get ill at this point in time. So, we cancelled. Of course the weather started clearing up by then, but we had cancelled, so cancelled it was.

The guilt however. The guilt! So, I told myself that I would do a five kilometer walk later. I had my dinner. I watched television. I was comfortable on the couch. It was 8.45pm. 

And then? I got dressed. Went looking for my iPod. Went looking for the ear plugs. And yes, a little over 9pm, I made it out the door. 

I walked for just over 5 kilometers. Tried to keep my speed above 5 kilometers per hour (managed that, averaged at about 5,3). Only stopped once to pick a raspberry, but found that a little worm had gotten there before me. He was welcome to the raspberry.

I may have chickened out this afternoon. But I am happy I did this walk tonight. It might not have been jogging, but I got out of the house and got my excellent for today!

32 days to go

It was swim training today. As I said on Sunday, my usual partner in crime is on holiday, but Facebook is a brilliant thing. About a minute after I had put the question to the members of the triathlon club, the first answer was in. And before I knew it, about 6 people had said they would be there!

Talking to some of them, I realised that the lap we have to swim is not split in three equal parts of 125 meters, but it's a wonky triangle. The first stretch is about 175 meters probably and the remaining two are about 100 meters each. Which I noticed, because the first stretch is the hardest for me. I had to stop once halfway and once at the buoy to get my breath back. The remaining two stretches however, I was able to swim without stopping. Well, able, but not possible. My goggles kept slipping up and letting water in. Very annoying.

Anyway, after my first lap I took a little breather and then it was on to the second lap. Again, one stop on the way to the buoy and one smaller one there. Then a stop at buoy number two and on it was to the finish line. 

I did do the wonky today as well though. There is a family of swans living in the lake and they came quite close. I don't want to get to know an angry mum or dad, so I had to divert my course somewhat. Once the swans moved though, I set course once again for the finish line. 

I don't know how much time I needed. But, I think we were in the water by about 6.15pm and I was out again and drying myself off around 6.45pm. Not bad!!

Tomorrow will be a blueberry picking outing in the wherevers of Haugesund and then on Thursday I hope to get another jog in. Twelve and a half laps around the track. Time to beat: 51.24!