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!

2-34 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. 

2-44 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?

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!

36 days to go

The last time I actually did a 'run' of five kilometers, I did it in 51 minutes and 50 seconds. Which was over ten minutes better than my first try. Since then I have climbed mountains, swam lakes and cycled. But I had never actually done another 5 km. 

Which I really needed to do! So, today was my first 'jogging' session. I had asked a colleague who is really quite good to come and help out; give me some pointers and such. My partner in crime was coming as well and together we made our way to the local training area and started. I walked, then I jogged, then I walked again and jogged again and so forth. 

At first it was 100 meters fast walking and 100 meters jogging, but I soon realised that was too much and changed it to 200 meters fast walking and 100 meters jogging. Until about the third kilometer. At which point I walked fast for several laps before ending with a few jogging bits again as well. 

My time? 52.04. Slower. Then again, we did stop for 40 seconds (thank you Gizmo) to take some selfies. So basically my time? 51.24! Nearly half a minute faster. And I think I could have done a bit more if I had really pushed myself. 

There are five more weeks. I will try to do the laps every week from now on. Try and get that speed up a bit. Or jog a bit more. Either way, it will help get the time down!

51.24!!