anarchist_nomad | Summing The Parts

In some sense, I suppose that I properly started my triathlon training tonight. I mean, I've been running and swimming regularly -- about three times per week for each -- for nearly eleven months now. In that time, I have occasionally done both workouts on the same day; however, tonight was the first time that I swam and ran, back-to-back.[*]

Now that I am able to reliably run 10K -- the running distance in the Olympic triathlon -- I have two steps remaining before signing up for an event. One is getting some cycle training in; thus far, I have only focused on the swimming and running. The other is linking the three activities. After all, I can regularly run 10K now... but that's not the same as running 10K after swimming 1500 meters and cycling 40 km!

So tonight was the first step towards linking things up. I went to the pool and swam for an hour, covering 2500 meters (or 100 lengths). Then I came directly home and went out to run for an hour, covering about 10K. I could definitely feel a difference in running immediately after a swim -- tonight's run was the slowest 10K that I have managed to date! My speed was down about 8% from my best-ever hour-long run.

Even so, it feels good to have done the two back-to-back. I should probably start making a regular habit of this -- possibly on Sunday evenings, when the pool closes early.

[*] Okay, technically the two workouts were not actually "back-to-back". After getting out of the pool, I had a quick rinse-off shower, changed into street clothing, drove home, hung my swimming gear, had a drink, changed into my running gear, and stretched out before starting tonight's run. Adding that all up, there was actually a 40 minute gap between getting out of the pool and starting the run. Even so, nothing happened in that gap except for finishing up one workout and preparing for another -- it's not like I went off to check my e-mail or have dinner in-between the two.

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I look forward to seeing you in action!

Also, I was hoping you would send me the info I asked for. I've started Urban Fantasy for serious and real today, but to finish the story you have, I need the prices and any video you were able to get. Email addy same as LJ name at gmail.

Ganbatte!

Hi there! Apologies for the delay in responding! Things have been fairly busy here since I got back from Japan. I will try to collate the information that I was able to gather for you and send it to you by the end of the week.

Hope you're doing well, hon! *big hugs* Can't wait to see you in just a couple of months! Hooray!

Im working on doing one too. Having started with swimming the only one of the three I do, I now find my swimming has deteriorated (couldnt swim for a year), while cycling is now good, and running good up to 5k..

In terms of putting things together, bricks are apparently what you need to practice - cycle first, then immediately run. Ive been trying those in the gym on stationary bike and treadmill, and its a weird feeling. Having watched a tri up close now, the cycle/run transition is quick, so you do get that immediate... "argh, what are my legs doing"

Oh, hey, good to hear from you! Very cool that you are also working on an Olympic tri! If we lived closer, I would suggest that we train together... but I guess Oxford-to-Edinburgh is not terribly practical! ;-D

Like you, I started off only feeling particularly confident in my swimming. I mean, the swimming portion is only 1500 meters. My previous swim workout used to be one mile (1600 meters), and I've raised that up to 2500 meters two or three times per week. So no problems there. It helps to have easy access to a pool or two, though. If you couldn't swim for a year, I can see why this might be lagging for you.

The irony is that, when I began, I was already cycling regularly (http://anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com/332623.html), albeit not for 40 km at a time! In contrast, I had never run before. Hence, I focused on my running -- first with Couch-to-5K and then the Bridge-to-10K. So now I can do the swim and the run -- as last night proved, I can even do them back-to-back -- but I have let my cycling deteriorate.

I've got some travels coming up for the next three months, so I'll probably start serious cycle training in mid-October, with the goal of getting up to at least 40km (maybe more) in the two months before Christmas. So, by the start of next year, I should have all three segments up to distance, with a fair bit of practice running after swimming. New Year's would be a good time to start putting all three together, with an eye to doing an Olympic tri sometime in the Spring. It's a slow plan, but I'm in no rush. I have other responsibilities, travel, and commitments in the meantime... and, besides, the health benefits come in along the way, not just when I reach the goal.

Looking forward to hearing how your own progress goes! I know you don't LJ much these days, but perhaps you can pop on in here from time to time and let me know how it is coming along!

I imagine linking 2 things together makes quite a difference.Interesting that you have gone for the swimming/running option as the first link - that is probably the most difficult to do seamlessly. Calum above suggests cycle/run as a link which can be practised seamlessly in a gym and that seems like a good idea, though of course that isnt the same at all as doing it all outside. Good luck with it anyway. Whichever way it happens the whole exercise is making you fitter and stronger bit by bit, which has to be "a good thing"

Actually, the link that

calum mentions -- cycle/run -- is inherently superior to the one that I did last night (swim/run) for one very simple reason: The order of events in a triathlon is swim, cycle, run. So

calum's cycle/run link actually happens... whilst my swim/run link never does.

That said, I chose this connection because my training for the swimming and running is already "up to snuff" for an Olympic distance triathlon. The swimming segment is 1500 meters (60 lengths), whereas my standard workout is actually significantly longer than this -- 2500 meters (100 lengths). The running segment is 10km, which is roughly what I cover in a 60 minute run (averaging over seven 60 minute runs completed this month, I find my mean distance covered to be 10.4 km). So last night's swim/run was more than the requisite swimming distance and about the right running distance.

In contrast, I have not yet been working on my cycling. I need to do this -- possibly starting a training programme in the Autumn when upcoming travels have been completed. With a two week trip to Moscow in August, a visit from Mom in early September, a week and a half in Japan in late September, and a week and a half in the States in October, it might make sense to wait until I can do my cycle training in more regular conditions. I started running with no such stability, being in Oxford, Tokai (Japan), Chicago, and New York (plus one run near a roadside hotel in Pennsylvania) during my nine weeks of Couch-to-5K last year. However, road running is pretty to do anywhere! Cycling requires either bringing a cycle with me or having access to a gym. Hence, I may wait until late October, as I have no travel plans between the P**T*** trip to the States and the Christmas trip to the States.

Anyway, once I can confidently cycle the 40 km required for an Olympic distance triathlon, I will then start linking that into these multi-activity workouts. I will probably stop doing swim/run links at that point and do either swim/cycle or cycle/run for awhile. Then, of course, I will need to put them all together and do swim/cycle/run. But that's not likely to happen until early next year!

Meanwhile, I can definitely agree that these workouts are making me fitter and stronger. Last night, I swam for 60 minutes and then -- a mere 40 minutes later -- ran for 60 minutes. A year ago, this would have been far out of my reach! Weight loss is coming along nicely, too -- I'm down about a stone since last I saw you... with only half a stone to go until I leave "weight-loss mode" and switch into "weight-maintenance mode". Very much looking forward to it!

Edited 2013-07-23 11:44 (UTC)

Whoooo! Go you, Love! *puts on cheerleading outfit (okay, maybe not!) and cheers you on from the sidelines.*

That's awesome, you should be very proud.

Love you lots xxx <3

Ooooh, yes, we should put you in a cheerleader's outfit! Mmmmmmm... *thinks naughty thoughts*

Thanks, Sweetheart! I am indeed proud to have done these two in rapid succession. I've come a long way from a year ago, haven't I? *smile*

Legs are sore today, but not unbearably so. Actually they feel a lot like they did on Friday and Saturday, after hiking up and down Mount Fuji. I can feel the soreness, but it isn't bad enough to require ibuprofin. Wasn't bad enough to stop me from hopping a Boris bike in London, either, and cycling from Imperial to Shepard's Bush. *grin*

By the way, I think that we should be able to swim at Barton tonight. The quarter peal attempt should be starting at eight, which means it is likely to be done by a quarter to nine. I doubt that we can make it into the pool with time for me to swim my standard workout of 100 lengths, but I suspect that I can still make it for a short workout of 80 lengths.[*]

Fancy meeting me at the church at around a quarter to nine this evening? You will know if we are finished ringing, because I will be outside. You will also know if we are not finished ringing... because you will be able to hear it! *grin*

Love you!!!
xxxx
xxxx
xxxx

[*] Yes, you heard me right. Sometime last month, the definitions changes from 80 lengths being a "standard workout" (or "weekday workout") and 100 lengths being a "long workout" (or "weekend workout") to 100 lengths being "standard" and 80 lengths being "short", for when I don't have time for a full hundred. As is likely the case tonight.

Sounds like a good plan, Sweetheart! I see you then! *kissss* love you bunches!! xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx

Summing The Parts

You have awesome goals

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