Triathlon at Hever Castle

I have been a runner for the past 8 years thanks to James for encouraging me. I started with a 5k race and quickly developed a passion for running and working with charities.

For the past few months I have been thinking about doing a Triathlon but they were all long distances and I didn’t find one that could suit me as a “beginner”

A friend of mine suggested the “Hever Castle Triathlon”, part of Multipower's Target 2010 Castle Triathlon series, as he did it for the first time last year and enjoyed the experience very much.

I went on the Hever Castle web site and thought the 400m race would be perfect for me. I love challenges and who knows… maybe next year I will be doing the 800m one!

With a friend’s help I have written a weekly training program and I have also bought several magazines to read.

I am a good swimmer but have never swam in a lake I think this will be my main challenge get used to the open lakes. I have been swimming twice a week in the swimming pool and when the weather gets better I am planning to go swimming at the sea side and at different lakes to get more experience.

My first few training days were a disaster but you just get better if you keep on practising…

 

Day 1 (15th may 2010)

I took my son Oliver swimming and knowing that 400m is “just” 16 lengths in the swimming pool I thought that would be so easy but I really struggled and just did 6 lengths. It is unbelievable how unfit you can be when you do different sports. I go to the gym (classes) 4 times a week and I could not swim 16 lengths in the swimming pool. Perhaps I was trying to go too fast and didn’t breath properly, I felt tired as ever.

 

Day 2 (16th May 2010)

I felt demoralized the day before so I decide to go cycling instead to check how fit I was so at 7:00am my friend Jessica and I went on a long bike ride through the Crab & Winkle (famous route between Canterbury and Whitstable where the cyclists go training) and I must say I felt tired and out of breath after cycling 25 miles. Would it ever get any better? I was questioning myself!

The following week I just kept on running as my Half Marathon was just around the corner and I want to do well but last weekend I had a very good weekend, good progress I would say…

 

Day 3 ( 22nd May 2010)

I went swimming again and this time I persevered, doing 10 lengths in 38 minutes and this time I didn’t feel that tired, I was so happy and couldn’t believe I will do 16 lengths sooner than I expected. I suppose I focused on my breathing and didn’t go as mad…it is all about quality and not quantity. I kept reminding myself…swim less lengths but swim properly.

 

Day 4 (23rd May 2010)

Jessica (whom I have persuaded to do the Triathlon with me) and I decided to go on a long bike ride at 6:00am even so we went to a wedding the night before and didn’t go to bed until 3:00am. The sun was shining and it was so lovely to cycle in the open air.

This time we went further and cycled nearly 40 miles, I learned how to breath when cycling through big hills and it was a lovely experience.

 

Day 5 (24th May 2010)

On Monday evening I went swimming by myself and this time it was easier as I swam 12 lengths but still felt tired. It will be ever so hard to swim in a lake I must say, I feel a bit scared but I keep reminding myself that I have got 32 weeks to get used to the whole idea and get as fit as I can. I have started eating energy cereal bars and have tried Multipower ISO drink and it certainly did the trick as I went faster and had more energy. I am looking forward to trying the Multipower products. I have been on the Multipower website and found loads of very interesting articles, especially at “What is your Discipline”. Their Nutritional Training Tips are amazing and I intend to follow them.

 

I have persuaded loads of friends to come and cheer me on, on the day as the Castle is quite far away from Canterbury. I have already started raising money for the Jigsaw4u charity.

 

 

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