Steady progress

I hope. In terms of running I'm not so sure that there's any progress going on. Two weeks ago I hit the all time low in 10K. My only excuse is that I felt like shit. Likely, the power of the local running family was so strong that I did not retire...

Swimming is now slightly better than it was right after when we returned from our trip to the USA. At least the average pace of 200m'2 has gradually dropped, not dramatically, but there's an improvement to be noticed. Still I get my ass beaten by really really slow swimmer who proceed with breast strokes. While having an extremely competitive mindset, it is painful but realistic.

Bike training is now taking place in the Bike Torture Chamber. My friends, such as the Simpsons, Big Bang Theory, Wu-Tang Clan, Behemoth, various movies, and whatever list I'm playing on Spotify, are accompanying my hours in our basement. As you may read between the lines: BTC is nowadays a bearable place.

Today I had an opportunity to join our clubs BRICK WO and it was a pleasure. 2 hours of sweat and great company.

High 5

This band might accompany me on my (and our = TuUl triathlon teams) way to next Summer's endeavours. Let's see what happens...

 

Back at it

I'm back. Not 100%, but still.

Our visit in the US went fast, but it did not contain any swimming or biking. Thus, I decided that both will be added to the new weekly routine. Due to pretty awesome Workout Tuesday (12km steady state on ice), I was on our bike trainer on Wednesday morning and swam on Wednesday evening. Bike was nice, but swimming felt really heavy and extremely slow (it was slow, so it feeling was just right).

On Friday evening I biked another hour (incl. 10x15sec'45sec full steam) and Saturday I had a short time slot for some swimming. The main workout for yesterday was 5x1600m on treadmill (5:45-5:25). An easy start...

Pause

Due to my work related trip to the US and busy schedule the triathlon training (read= swim workouts) are not gonna take place during this and the following 2 weeks. I'm fine with that until the point I'm able to run.

Here in SLC I had an opportunity to have a body work. My hips and back are now loosening up but only through pain (Thank you Steve Zike).

Life's good.

Swim technique practices are now done. Unfortunately, it does not mean that my presence in water is perfect. Not even close. Despite of this, I have dared myself and the pool of course twice a week. Nowadays, on Wednesday I'll swim something and then on Saturday something else.

Last Wednesday was a day of pyramids. In the early morning I ran with JK a faster 1/2/3/4/3/2/1'2min. pyramid. At the end the pace was sub 3:00/km, extremely nice experince. Only thing is that the muscles began to ache and this feeling was enhanced by Friday's hills + drills + core + flexibility session (lasted for 2.5hrs).

Today I swam 500 + 5x200m'1min. (3:55-3:45) + 500. Due to yesterday's workout and the swim practice I felt pretty done. But still I dared to try how my tired and aching legs would work. It wasn't pretty, but I did 20 minutes pace booster. Now I feel just great, but really tired. A long way to go???

T-295 days

Slow progress is better than nothing

Today, before I was biking back home and crashed into the asphalt, I sort of realized one of the (many) flaws in my swimming technique. My right arms does not function as it is supposed to. I have had hard time to figure out how to manage this but after mimicing swimming in front of a mirror helped. I hope.

So this is what I do at work....

Otherwise swimming training is ok. On Wednesdays I have a technique session and on Saturdays I do a more qenuine swimming exercise like intervals or tempo. In the Spring I have to swim more, but now is now.

Running training is progressing well. Hopefully this bike crash won't keep me off training too long.

Biking... I haven't done a real bike workouts during the last 3 weeks. Now the right gluteus is back in order so maybe I'll start trainer sessions soon. 

And huge congratulations to Ilkka for conquering IM Kona. You're an Ironman.

Sort of ok

So the tt-bike finally arrived, and I assembled right after it found its way to our residence. That's a mean machine which I'm not. Hhmmm... the bike does not yet have a nick name.

No more than five (5, that is not a lot) days after the above I generated an early-stage injury with that same mean machine. The reason basically was caused because of my eagerness to try that bike. The saddle was adjusted slightly too high and it generated tension in my right butt.

And this killed my vibe for 1.5 weeks. But I kept my calm and ran instead of riding. Now it is almost gone and accordingly I'm able to bounce back (to where???).

On the swim front I have been attending a swim practice sessions (once a week) during which we focus on improving the technique. That's highly needed. Further, I have a timeslot for swimming on Saturday morning. That's even more appreciated. Last Saturday I swam 2000m in a row. That's my longest swim ever.

No hurry, slow progress

Currently the triathlon training is minimal. I have full focus on getting my legs used to mileage and as of now, everything is working fine. Pain (and related numbness) are gone and strides are more and more stable. Pace is slow, but that's nothing. Last week I ran more than I did during July-August. Awesome!

Swim practice will start on next week or later. That's an open book, but luckily I registered for a swim clinic in order to improve the non-existing swimming technique. Maybe they teach how-not-to-hit a sailing boat and how to manage your nerves when the sea around you is restless.

And my TT-bike is now traveling from the UK. Gotta find a nice nickname for it...

Gearing up

So. The situation is this.

I have couple triathlons under my belt. All of them have been sprint distances. First one is from 1991, and the second followed only 13-15 years later. In the 90s I spent nice moments in helping M. Luoto during some of his races, but still I couldn't make any sense what and why to do an Ironman?

I have a clear recollection how much running a marathon hurts me, and I simply couldn't make sense why I should conduct a WU containing 4k swim and 180k ride. Just couldn't understand how that is possible. Now, I my 'triathlon wannabe' career v. 2.0 I have been able to widen my mind and have realized that there's much at stake, something more real and more honest than a number/race time; it's about finding yourself. And that sounds pretty fine to me nowadays.

As a trend triathlon is now the next marathon, and I'm okay if someone labels me as falling into that category. Or label me as being a MAMIL. No worries. I've been called by way worse expressions than these. For me the true meaning for this journey is to once again find the person (me) who is ready to kick some ass. I have lost the interest in racing against the clock on track basically because after 2001 every single time when I have tried to prepare my body for it, I have faced an injury. Of course, I'm really happy with what I achieved on track, but now I'm ready to refriend myself with the athlete within by throwing myself to wolves.

So in order to fit into whatever category, I had to invest to a (entry-level ) TT bike. Ready, set ...

The start

KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen 2014

Dear Pekka Stenholm, we confirm your entry for the IRONMAN Copenhagen!