Mark's triathlon training diary #1
Posted on May 24th, 2010 by Mark, Metropolitan Police Sergeant
Tagged with: building stamina, training for triathlon, running, cycling, swimming, fuelling workouts, Multipower Active, sports nutrition, Iso Drink
A flapjack energy bar on the way with an ISO drink and I feel ready when we get there. I have done 5 days leading up to this of pool swimming with drills so just getting some distance in open water again will be good.
It's cold, so cold, but as I get to the first corner 100 metres in it is bearable. I swim a strong 1200 metres and feel good getting out of the water. A light run planned just to loosen up the legs, and after my short wave sports massage yesterday I can’t feel any issues. Justin my physio will do a drop in short wave to iron out any niggles before an event, this is worth its weight in gold.
I get home and run an easy 5k at about 70% of my heart rate, I am doing more and more easy runs mixing this up with speed work which I will go into in the coming weeks. I drink my recovery shake on getting back and stretch using the Stick, I brought this at the marathon expo a few weeks ago and its great for rolling over the calves and IT band. Hot bath and relaxing lunch before going to work in the afternoon.
Sunday was the Morden 6x6 aquathon. With my next target race the Olympic distance at Windsor in June this was a useful brick training session along with race day preparation. I get up early on the day and have a porridge breakfast, my stuff is already packed and I head off drinking an ISO drink on the way.
After registration I lay all my stuff out in transition and go for the briefing. My start time is in about an hour, although I love this as the wait allows me to relax and I have now started to swim the 600m in my head. I am in and apart from my watch falling off I have a good swim and head into the run, with this as a training exercise, on the 1st lap of 4 on the 6 mile run I have to remind myself to slow down.
I finished in 54 mins and feel this has to be worthwhile as every time I get ready for a race I learn something about transition and preparation.
Two days of rest follow for recovery, I use a recovery drink at night mixed with hot milk before bed. I am finding this helps when my muscles are really fatigued and tired.
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Read Double British Champion Will Clarke's tips on triathlon training.
