The best inspiration is not to outdo others, but to outdo ourselves

I've not being doing a very good job with this recently. Well, no, I've been silent. That's doing no job whatsoever. However, last year I found it useful to witter on about my training for the marathon, the biggest thing I'd ever undertaken. This year is looking to be even bigger. I have been promising myself for a while that I would try my hand at the half-ironman distance. Managing the marathon okay was my personal test as to whether I'd be capable of the training and the amount of time during a race required. The marathon went well, leaving me thinking that I could probably do it. Once I'd come to that conclusion, I spent ages thinking about which race I might like to do and whether this should be the year to try it. In the end I decided it should. I don't know what my employment situation will be next academic year, but I know what's what between now and the end of August, so I know I should have time to train.

So, what have I done? I've entered the Vitruvian! So, at least I've got until the beginning of September to get ready for it. I've downloaded a training plan from BeginnerTriathlete.com and am hoping that it'll get me round. It looks manageable in terms of the time commitment. I've been gradually upping my cycling and running for a while now, the swimming has been almost non-existent. I need to get back in the water, letting the bit I'm best at slip away doesn't seem like a terribly good plan. The cycling bit has been made easier because I spent the back pay I got from last year on a spin bike, a rather impressive one too - I'm really pleased with it. I got a Kettler Giro GT, it's great and I'm glad I spent the extra for that model as it actually does everything that I wanted it to. Obviously I will need to get back out on the road, but it's allowing me to train in the very cold and icy conditions that we've been having. Also, it significantly cuts down the amount of time needed for a workout, changing, riding, showering and changing - all in under an hour and a half, with a full hour on the bike. Good stuff!

I started thinking about my training again at the beginning of July and this is what I've done since then:

Swimming: 13,525m i.e. next to nothing, really pathetic and must be sorted out!

Biking: 685 miles, rather better.

Running: 288 miles, pretty okay.

I'm in the midst of sorting out my training plan and race plan for the year. My A race is clear, I'll fill you in on the rest of it once I get myself properly sorted out.

I did an hour on the bike today, clocking up 19.39 miles. I don't imagine I can manage that in an hour in the real world, but hopefully my legs will be a lot stronger than if I hadn't been doing anything. A good start at least. So, watch this space, and let's see whether I can do it or not. I plan to give it my very best shot.