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!

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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!

39 days to go

Well, I did it! I actually did it!! I swam 750 meters!! I had made a deal with my colleague: I would do two laps and then he would do three. 

It didn't start too promising. The water was colder than last week it seemed and my first stretch was not that good; I needed a couple of breaks. The second stretch was a lot better and I managed to get around in about 17 minutes, including breaks. I took a bigger break while sitting down, trying to catch my breath back and trying to find the motivation for a second lap. And off I went...

The second lap was actually easier. My strokes were even, my breathing was good. I didn't notice the cold anymore, I needed fewer breaks and when I had finished the lap, I had done it in a bit over 15 minutes! My colleague (as per the deal) had done three laps and he was very pleased with that as well.

I have done some mental rithemetick and calculated that I would need about 45 minutes on the swimming (including breaks and changing into the cycle gear), an hour and a quarter for the cycling and an hour for the walking. Totaling three hours! So, that will be my goal for the triathlon. Well, one of them anyway. 

Goal 1: complete the thing

Goal 2: under three hours

Goal 3: and enjoy myself

46 days to go

Today was the day I was going to do the whole swimming lap. Now, don't worry: we have to swim two laps for the 750 meters, so one lap is 375 meters. 

First I had to swim to the first yellow buoy. Which would have been about 125 meters. I only needed to stop three times. Then on towards the second yellow buoy. Another 125 meters. Another three stops as well. And then the home straight. Guess what: 125 meters and yes, three stops as well. 

All in all, it took me a little under twenty minutes to do the lap and for a first time I was quite pleased. I do need a bit more training though, if I am going to do two full laps and then continue with the cycling and the running/walking. 

51 days to go

For the first time in well over two weeks I made my way to the water again. In those last two weeks the temperature of said water had dropped, so it definitely wasn't as nice. Not only that, there was no sunshine and we had to put up with drizzle. 

I noticed a change almost immediately. Two weeks away from swimming and I have to start from scratch almost. I was not able to do more than two under water strokes in a row and I tired quite easily. Mind you, I never was the fittest person in the water, but still...

The course for the triathlon is now laid out as well, but I didn't make it to the first buoy, let alone the whole thing. It was a quick twenty minutes for me, while my colleague went round the buoys twice (the length we will have to swim). Next time I will try to get at least to the first buoy. Not sure when that will be though. 

Tomorrow will be a 'day off', on Saturday we are going to climb another sort of mountain and then on Sunday I will go cycling with the same colleague I went swimming with today. I will have to try and keep up with him, since he is a bit faster than I am.

66 days to go

Another swim training today. I swam 4 times 50 meters. The first two times were good, the second two times were a bit less. Not that the swimming was bad, but I got tired towards the end of the 50 meters. Next time I swim there, I want to do at least 5 times 50 meters. Tired or not. I have to get to 750 in the end and that is 15 times 50 meters!!

In other news, tomorrow I will have to go to the gym again. I haven't been in ages, mainly because I am going on my own and I find it incredibly hard. But, I will have to do it to get my walking speed up and my general cycling distance as well. The same for Friday and possibly Saturday (although I have to work and I don't know until what time the gym is open then). 

But, on the plus, more and more people say I have lost weight. I haven't, well, not that much anyway, but my face is tanned, which always gives the illusion and apparently I move better or more fluidly or something. Now let's see if that gym membership could actually make me loose a few ounces as well...

69 days to go

When I woke up this morning I was feeling quite done in. My shoulders were hurting due to sunburn, my legs were feeling rubbery and I was a bit tired. And then came the message of a colleague of mine. Whether I could come and swim today?

I was tempted to say no and just veg out in front of the telly, but in the end I drove up to her house, walked down to the lake, put on my gear and lowered myself in the water. Where I swam, showed her how far I had come and listened to her pointers. 

I swam to the other side of the lake (the narrow bit), which was still close to 200 meters one way and then swam back again as well. Not in one go, I had to stop several times, but I swam close to 400 meters. I got back wheezing a bit, but that was soon over. Especially after the strawberries and cream!

Now I just have to continue the way I have done so far, but with a bit more focus on both the running and the cycling as well. 

73 days to go

Another swimming training tonight. It should have been a cycle training, but several of us felt a swimming training was more use at this point. After all, we all know how to cycle and can manage the 20k without too much trouble (I hope so anyway). 

On Monday I had been able to get my whole head under water, but I had to have one stroke above water before going under again. Today I tried to take a breath and go under again immediately. And even though I didn't manage it all the time, I managed it twice to three times in a row. Very very pleased with that. I will work on that a lot more.

Because I am the weakest of them all, I get shorter distances to swim, but it fits me fine. Exactly the right amount of swimming before I get fed up. I will however put the focus a bit on the swimming and try to get as much training in this summer. As well as walking and cycling of course. 

In fact, this morning I had the choice between car and cycle (I was quite late), but opted in the end for the bike. 

The rest of the week will be swimming (tomorrow at least), gym and on Saturday the friend who took today's photos is taking me to Olalia. A nature area not too far from here with some good walks on gravel roads. I am looking forward to that. And then perhaps on Sunday another swim. 

74 days to go

Yes, it has been almost a week. A week in which not much has happened. Last Thursday the headache had come back, on Friday it was still lingering and during the weekend I unpacked box after box after box. So I did get a bit of training in. Ahem...

Last night however, it was back to training. Swimming training! And not just any swimming either: a huge bunch of people swimming. Like a pack of piranhas eating a zebra. I got my own personal co-swimmer though. Since I am not that strong yet. And half way through the first lap, I got a personal buoy as well, since I was doing pretty badly at that point. To hang on to just in case. 

But, eventually I did better than last week. I managed to get my whole head under water (instead of just my nose) and I noticed it immediately in my back and neck. Because my body was flatter in the water, the friction was less and I was able to swim a bit faster. Still nowhere near the speed everybody else has, but I can practice. 

Tomorrow will be another swim training, and possibly Thursday as well. The rest of the week I have to figure out for myself. Which I must admit I find quite hard. The telly is very tempting!! I am however already starting to see differences. Or rather feeling them. It's easier to stay in a higher gear. My clothes are a bit looser (even though not a single gram has been lost so far) and the only thing left to clear up now is the wheezing and whistling when I am short of breath. 

82 days to go

Tonight was our first swim training. We should have had several others already, but what with roofs coming down and thunderstorms, it kept being postponed. 

The swimming part of the triathlon is actually the most scary to me. I am not the strongest of swimmers and can only do the most basic of strokes, but I am willing to learn! One of the things I definitely need to learn after tonight is that I am not a fish (as coach J told me). Breathing in is done above the water and breathing out below. For some reason I kept breathing in below the water, gulping in vast amounts of water and then having to cough and paddle and keep myself above water while trying to get my bearings back.

After a while though, some sort of compromise was reached between my nose and my brain. If I would only put my nose under water for the shortest of time, my brain would let me breathe out. Thus avoiding any drowning attempts. 

The swimming itself wasn't too bad. I am in no way good enough to start the crawl yet (the whole breathing thing gets in the way), but if I want to do the breast stroke, that is fine too. So, for now I will be concentrating on breast stroke and getting my face deeper and deeper into the water, thus reducing the V-shape my body makes while in the water and thus reducing any back aches that pop up while being a V. 

The other thing I have to work on is my feet. More to the point: the soles of my feet. They are not used to anything resembling gravel and such and that is what we will be facing more or less. So, the soles need to be toughened up. 

Tomorrow I am going swimming again, this time with a colleague. And according to the weather reports we are due to have the warmest summer on record this year (don't ask me how they know) and for me that would be bliss: a lot of cycling, walking/running and swimming. You won't know me from Adam by the time this triathlon comes around!