Earlier this summer I agreed to do a quad. I run and I paddle so, you know, how hard can it be?
I'm now a month into my training plan - and seem to be getting worse.
the course is 500m downstream swim; 5k paddle (down then up); 23k bike ride and 5k run.
I paddled this morning and did 4k on the river in about 28 minutes. When I trained regularly I could do 5.5k in sub 28. I also need to devote a session the transition from swimming to paddling and beach launches 'cos I've not had to do one for a few years.
I swam 400m crawl in the pool on Friday and thought it took me 26 minutes. Looking at times on the tri thread, I assume that that is badly wrong and when I went out with the tri club last week we did the course twice with associated briefings and faffing within the hour so i think I must actually be faster than that.
I have done some brick training so I know that i can come off a bike ride and run sub 6 minute ks which is OK (I run road based 10ks in 57-58 mins)
The cycle has always scared me. i don't cycle. Roads scare me. Cars scare me. I can't take my hands of the bars to signal... I've been training (on deserted lanes) on dh's hybrid bike which is heavy and has chunky tyres. Yesterday I bought a vintage road bike off e-bay which is quicker and easier but I'm struggling to change gear (the hand's off the handle bars to reach the frame thing).
So. My plan is:
1-2 paddles a week.
2 swims a week (including a river session every other week)
1 brick session a week
1 distance cycle
1 interval training cycle
1 interval training run
1 fun run with mates off road, in the hills.
6 short rides on the new bike - 5-10k for familiarisation until I can swap it in for meaningful training.
1 total rest day.
Looking at the times of least years event; the fastest female for each section did 6:30; 22:50; 46:52; 23:34 but the slowest did 11:24; 49:28; 1:03:35; 39:23.
I reckon I'm probably on 15; 34; 1:10; 35.
I have a month.
I'm also starting to train for the Great Birmingham Run today. This matters because my colleague is doing it and whilst we seem to run at the same speed we've never done the same race (and my half pb for last year is better than his and I'm. sadly, driven to maintain that edge).
I'm not looking for a top 10 finish (unless there are fewer than 10 particpants but I don't want to come last and I don't want to make a fool of myself.
Will I get there and can anybody offer any advice, tips, help or support to make sure I do?