Yesterday, in a rainy day, I picked up my new (secondhand) bicycle from Cycle Traders. It is a Scott Speedster with Ultergra parts and Shimano wheels…apparently that’s good. I also got some mountain bike cleats and shoes as these are easier to work than road bike cleats and tyre changing things and hopefully everything that I need to get out on the road.

Today dawned beautifully clear and sunny (though it was still dark when I got up). With the bike and everything else that I could possible need packed into the car (seats folded down), I headed through to join the Embark group. The training schedule said that we needed to do a 3 hour out and back ride followed by a 15 minute run. Being my first time on the road I accepted that I might only go for 2 hours, but would see how I was feeling. Keep reading »

So officially I am entering week 3 of my training program with Embark. Unofficially I haven’t been to one group training session yet, don’t have a bicycle and the doctor has booked me off for a week. Sigh!

The training was going well and I was especially enjoying the couple of swimming sessions that I did. Thank goodness for friends who understand the program and swimming. Then I went to my home town to assist with the final preparations of my sister’s wedding. An amazing bachelorette’s party, quite chilly wedding day and sleeveless bridesmaids dress have resulted in me being man down. I even went to the doctor to get some antibiotics, nasal spray, cortisone and anything else that they would let me have.

Ultimately the result is that no training happened in week 2 and very little training will be happening in week 3. My mission for this week is to get the bicycle. I’m going for a second hand one. I did have one lined up, but it fell through, so currently we are waiting for something else to come up in my price range. Really need to have that sorted by the end of the week and start getting some saddle time in.

I officially start training on Monday, but after chatting to a friend about the training program I know that I need to get a little fitter before starting. She joined joined one of the other triathlon groups for training last week to see what it is like and the stories of running up hill for 12 minutes made me scared. Tie that in to the fact that I have my sister’s wedding in exactly 2 weeks and have picked up a few nasty kilograms from a 4 week holiday and I need to do some serious work. Keep reading »

I have just entered the Specsavers 70.3 Ironman in East London on the 22nd of January 2012. I should be committed to an institution.

After 4 weeks away on an amazing tour of Germany, eating far too much and exercising far too little, I am officially shaking in my shoes at the idea of starting this training. I have joined a group called Embark and training officially starts on the 1st of August. I really really hope that there is at least one other person there as slow as I am.

I’m enjoying doing the spinning sessions at gym. It’s a start although I realise is not quite the same as getting proper bike time. I will be hopefully buying my bike next weekend (my birthday present from  my wonderful husband) along with a proper swimming costume and all the paraphernalia that is needed for the training to start properly.

The goal is to finish the race, not to win it, but at the same time I want to be comfortable throughout. I know that this is something that I can do with the right training and I just need to get my mind straight. I’m going to track my progress here and hope to write rave reviews on increased fitness, decreased weight and training highs although I’m sure that there will be some lows and tough times too. The mental challenge has begun and that is the biggest obstacle. So, as of now, I am being positive and excited whether I am the fastest of slowest in the group or have to sleep an extra 20 hours on the weekend and end up going to bed at 7pm. This is something that I really want to accomplish. I think I need a mantra….