Run / Walk / Swim / Cycle 1000km / miles in 2021 here we go again!

[TriSeaSwim99]

Third year for me aiming to be as active as possible most days. So join me in setting a goal and keeping on track by logging on here . I’ve set a 500mile run target this year to be realistic as I’ve nursed foot issues most of 2021 which really curtailed my running miles but sea swimming and trail running have developed into my passions. What’s your challenge this year?

In an IM half event it's 5:30 from the start to get the swim and bike done, but in the local event I did it was only 5:00 so ironic that if it had been an IM half I would have been under the cut off!

Best tips I can give to anyone road cycling is 1) get a proper bike fit done. They are around £100-£150 but worth every penny to make sure your riding position is comfortable as it can be and 2) join a club!!!! I've made some fabulous new friends and gained heaps in confidence

For cycling:
Make sure your points of contact on the bike are comfortable, so hands, feet and arse. Well-fitting gloves, shoes and shorts/tights. As PP said, a bike fit is worth the money.

Learn how to fix a puncture and bring the appropriate tools with you (tube, tyre levers, C02 or pump). Anything else and you'll be phoning your broomwagon/taxi home.

Get to know your local roads, do you like hills or the flats. A cycling club will help with improving your pace and your library of good routes.

Be curious and have a goal. Want to see how good the café is in the next town, can you cycle 60 miles in four hours? Beat your own PB up your local hill.

Learn how to eat and drink on the bike without being a hazard to other road users. Strong core muscles help you get stuff out of your pockets without wobbling.

Get and learn how to use clipless pedals and cleated shoes. It's tricky but find a quiet road/park/car park and practice clipping in and out one foot at a time. Proper shoes and pedals make a big difference to your cycling efficiency.

Be confident in your own abilities, yes you might not be the strongest rider immediately but everyone has their own cycling strengths. Don't take any shit from anyone else.

Here endeth the lesson!

In my own training I aced my V02 max interval session today. I hate these sessions, I'm a middle-aged woman and fast twitch muscle fibres are not a large part of my physiology. I do really like threshold intervals and I'm usually very happy powering along at a steady pace. Jumps in power absolutely kill me usually but I survived today. New max heart rate of 191BPM!

Oh I forgot to enter Tues, 4k just shops and around and back, have been looking at tips on fixing inner tubes...

I've done a very gentle 5.5km on the flat this morning to test out my hip. I did circuits last night with no real pain so thought I'd test the hip out. That's only my second run this month which is a dramatic reduction for me. I'm going to tot up my miles and update monthly as I get very confused with different tallies everywhere! Hip was ok though, I'd say 90% pain free. I suppose the real test is how it develops during the day.

As it's school holidays I'm going to try to build in a hiit dumbbell session (I'm really enjoying Zeus fitness on YouTube at the moment) and maybe even a yoga session later as well.

Another 4k today, mended my bike tyre, I'm not completely sure the second tube has a puncture so I've left it inflated overnight.

@TheLongRider

In my own training I aced my V02 max interval session today. I hate these sessions, I'm a middle-aged woman and fast twitch muscle fibres are not a large part of my physiology. I do really like threshold intervals and I'm usually very happy powering along at a steady pace. Jumps in power absolutely kill me usually but I survived today. New max heart rate of 191BPM!

Well done!

I have vo2 max tomorrow, not my favourite lol

@drspouse slime is your friend! I swear by it, used it for years

That's what I got! Glad to hear it works.

@TheLongRider and @FrangipaniBlue thank you so much for the tips!!!

Went out for my first bike ride this morning, did 40km in 1:48hr which I thought was okay for a novice😅 I really enjoyed it though I have lots to learn!!! Also - ouch! - I think I need some padded shorts😅

Gosh 40k without padding, you will be feeling that I'm sorry to say!

@drspouse it’s not too bad but I imagine it would bother me if I went further which I’m hoping to do. The bike has a really comfy saddle which is nice.

It’s just hard as I didn’t want to buy loads of gear before I decide I actually like cycling, but at the same time I don’t want a sore ass😂😂😂

Just get one pair of second hand padded tights?

Great ride Run1000km2021 along with the padded shorts most ladies I know ride knicker less and “grease” your undercarriage I’ve used Vaseline or sudacream in the past to ease any friction but my DH has actual branded cycle “udder cream” for his long rides.

Good luck with the IM training frangipan my friend spent the first 3-4mths of her training losing min10% of fat /body weight as her trainer said it was a good investment in time, she was a fit size 12/14 went down to a muscley size 10/12 before really building hard with the long rides and long runs.

Nothing to add to my totals feeling rather unmotivated by stuff at the moment just a bit of dog walking & yoga but I really do need to drag my arse out on a short run later or I’ll just eat more Easter chocolate. The Tri I was doing in May has now been cancelled for the 2nd year so I’ve lost my desire to train for it tbh.

[quote Run1000km2021]**@TheLongRider* and @FrangipaniBlue* thank you so much for the tips!!!

Went out for my first bike ride this morning, did 40km in 1:48hr which I thought was okay for a novice😅 I really enjoyed it though I have lots to learn!!! Also - ouch! - I think I need some padded shorts😅[/quote]
Excellent!!

It does get easier on the undercarriage the more you do, I can manage up to about 40 miles without padding if I had to but I very rarely go without!!

I was a large 12 about 6 months ago @SSwimCycle21 but now getting closer to a 10 and my body fat has gone from 28.5% to 27%..... I don't really want to drop anymore size but could definitely do with getting a bit leaner/losing more body fat!

It's a fine line because body fat helps with open water swimming, but slows you down on the bike and run 😂

The swim is the smallest element though, so better gains to be made on the bike and run.

I personally don't find padded shorts help, the one pair of tights I do have with padding just leads to chafing (although they are cheapo Aldi ones)

@SSwimCycle21 I’m chuckling at the udder cream😂😂😂 My bum seems okay after this morning but I’ll keep an eye out for padded shorts anyway.

Most of them seem shorts rather than long ones, do you guys wear shorts with something underneath this time of year? Or long ones?

Also how do you keep your feet warm? Extra warm socks? Mine were cold this morning in running shoes and socks!

I spend more on my cycling kit than I do on my normal clothes. I've cycled wearing kit that would add up to €1,000 and worn €20 normal clothes from Primark. Some of my cycling clothing is a decade old and still fits/looks good. Having said that my best winter gloves are an Aldi special buy

Get the most comfortable shorts for your size. I can fall between sizes but use the snuggest fit I can find. DHB is reasonably priced, Rose bikes used to do good own brand kit. At the other end of the price range my legs are too short for Assos kit. Alé do some great colours.

For cold feet, merino socks are great if you can tolerate wool. Otherwise shoe covers/overshoes are the best solution. I don't give two figs for how I look on the bike as long as I'm warm and dry.

If your cycling clothing isn't comfortable you won't want to spend time on the bike.

Thank you for the kit tip @TheLongRider! I’ll look those things up!

5km run today

Probably a bad idea as have had sciatica type pain the past couple of days, although running is actually less painful than walking. Ended up hobbling in the door. Hoping that getting in the pool next week is going to sort out all these niggles. Latest seems to have come out of nowhere, opposite side to hip I'd been having trouble with previously.

202km total

Bike still broken. I think a brake cable has snapped or shifted. Mobile bike repair man is coming in the morning, he's a gem!

Love a good mobile bike repair person @drspouse! Hope your bike is fixed soon!

We had a day off on Wednesday and then yesterday decided to take the old dog out to a local nature reserve. He managed once round the small lake which was more than we'd expected, but I didn't bother setting my app.

8.6km today, we went to the next town and walked up to the park which has splendid views over the bay to the mountains.

Forgot to update my total

599.1 walked
40 rowed