this will be my 3rd triathlon, and my second sprint distance
(after a short beginner's Try-a-Tri as my first). ever since
my last race last July, i've maintained the training, though
eased off considerably on the running during part of the
winter, increased the swimming, and trained a few times a
week on the stationary bike.
i'm feeling ready now, though i certainly have not been as
"by the schedule" as i was last year. maybe i should correct
myself there; i haven't really needed to *look* at my
schedule this winter/spring. i know what needs doing and
just do the training as required each day and don't really
make many notes in my log nowadays. only when there's
something special (good or bad) to mention. like
breakthrough swims, or sore spots from running.
at this point i'm doing :40-:45 runs three times a week,
one or two tempo runs and a speed or hill workout
(alternate weeks usually). and i do about :45-:50 on the
bike two or three times a week, and then a one hour swim
each weekend, which consists of a warmup, a :20-:25
continuous swim, some 50m repeats, then cooldown. i'm
adding to those numbers each week, but will give myself a
bit of a taper week for the race.
i had to work a lot harder to prepare for my first tri last
year at this time, but now i just feel like i'm cruising
along nicely, not burning myself out, yet i'm at a higher
performance level now, i believe. i've taken about five
minutes off my swim time from last year this time. That has
always been my weakest discipline.
i do need to get a better handle on nutrition... i know
exactly what a good diet is; i have simply been eating
badly, though i'm cutting back a lot on the soft drinks,
chips and chocolate. the workouts burn it all off, but i
know that nutritionally, these are crappy choices.
a little bit of ITBS has been hampering me, but not so much
that i can't run. i recently learned some new stretches and
exercises to get ALL the leg muscles looser to do away with
and then avoid the condition.
my only goal with this race is to complete it faster than
last year's sprint race. it's my first one of the season, so
won't put too much pressure on myself for this one 🙂
now i just want race morning to hurry up and get here!
Cam