Rookie Goes for 3 in a Row at Ironman UK Week 15 of 40
Areet?
As you know, last week I went and rode the 47 mile IMUK circuit for the first time in 2019 to discover the effects ‘December Debauchery’ had on my loop time.
Prior to xmas, I worked hard getting my loop time down to 2:39 but then proceeded to take the whole of December ‘off’ and went on the piss because ‘it was christmas’ and I didn’t want to ‘miss out’
Sat at the bottom of Babylon lane, I was more than a little apprehensive about what was about to happen….
Here is what I wrote on FB immediately after the ride…
“First 47 mile IMUK loop of 2019….3:21…Bloody Hell….The easiest way I can describe this is to say that it felt like my ‘second lap’ from the outset and throughout and anyone who has ever done 2 laps of the IMUK circuit back to back will know exactly the point I am making here…..
The first hour felt like I was cycling in Iceland with 2 huge lead weights strapped to the bike…
Hours 1-2 and, realising I wasn’t that far off my usual checkpoints, I ‘went for it’….
2 Hours in and with a third of the loop still to go I’ve lost all my energy and power and I felt like shit…
Once I got up Hunters I lost the will to live..
In the end, I was grateful to return sub 3:30….
On reflection, my tactics were all wrong today, I should have eased myself into it way more gradually instead if going for it early doors…
Also, let us not forget that I am currently carrying at least 2 stone of excess baggage and am operating at about 70% vitality after ‘man flu’…”
The big question was, ‘Do I regret December Debauchery?’….
Fukin right I do…..
That said, if I can still ride a 3:21 loop after all that then i’ll take it all day long (maximum loop time for IMUK cut offs 3:30) ….
To be fair, the thought of starting the year with the target set at smashing 3:21 sits much better with me than starting the year with the target set at smashing 2:39!
Luckily, the bike is the sexy bit of the three disciplines and also the area where you can have the most fun as far as I am concerned….
So guess what….
The focus returns to getting loop times down once again!
I’ll keep you posted with progress over the next few weeks…
PS…..Something really amazing is going to happen very soon and I promise you are going to love it – keep an eye on my blog for further info…
Here is what else I have been up to this week….
Sat…IMUK Bike Loop (see above) www.strava.com/activities/2057888170
Sunday… 10k ish run….55 min!….Sub Hour Re-conquered in fine style and its only the first week of Jan FFS….What the fuck am I meant to do for the rest of the year now?
Mon…Pool mile 38 mins…Easy
Tues…What do you do when it’s tuesday and you are in derby? Go the gym of course!….it’s weights day!….today was one of those when you can’t really be arsed but glad u went afterwards
Weds…10 Mile TT 32 mins….Whilst I felt strong as an Ox all morning and was itching for lunchtime to come round so that I could ‘get out’ – the writing was on the wall when I saw a single magpie en route to the ‘runway’…The one thing I would say though is this….Whilst there was little difference in time versus last weeks effort, the difference in the way I felt was nite and day
Thurs…Pool mile 39 mins….There was some sort of structured swim session going on with a fairly large group and I had no choice but to swim directly next to them….Of course, th’ironman hat was like a red rag to a bull and they all took their turns to give me a clump….They then realised that I was actually enjoying it….So they stopped..
Fri…Weights set in the gym…saw someone using the IMUK ‘bar towel’ from last year for the first time ever….
Current Weight 14/6 (pathetic) Height 5/11 (ok)
Like this article? so will your mates – feel free to share it and don’t forget to ‘add’ me on FB where you will find my daily training log for 2018/19 updated daily, as it happens
By the way, have you heard about this book? its nearly 500 pages crammed full of hints and tips detailing exactly how I was able to go from zero fitness to completing an Ironman triathlon and covers super sprint, sprint, olympic 70.3 & full iron distances all from a ‘first timer’ perspective – please take a moment to read the reviews on amazon www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Ironmen-Iron-Rookie/dp/1974002322/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540676777&sr=8-1&keywords=iron+rookie
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