Ironman

Harrison and I have smashed out an iron man this week! Approaching each discipline separately rather than together we decided to start on the bike, cycling our furthest distance we rode the official loop of the Challenge Henley course. Tackling the long taxing hills three times put a massive strain on our body. We completed the course in 6 hours 36 minutes, happy with this we decided to have a day to recover and put our furthest run in, wanting to become familiar with the Challenge Henley run course we set out to run three out of the four laps aiming to complete 19 miles. However we added a little extra to each loop to complete the gruelling 26.2 miles in 3 hours 54 minutes. Being fulfilled with our achievements on the run and the cycle we could not justify cutting our swim short so the following day we swam the 3.8km. This week has been all about putting in the distances, this has had both physical and mental gains. On completion of this I have decided to further my research on preparing myself mentally and methods to increase mental strength.

Lake swimming in Italy

A holiday with Mrs Hindley to the Italy Lakes offered me with a great opportunity to gain confidence in my swim and get some millage in. Within a week I managed to get 6 good 3km swims in I also managed to get 4 good runs in, a hard 1hr run, 2x 12 mile runs and15 mile run. On my return I contact Harrison and we had a spin out on the bike covering 50 miles, I picking up a puncture 35 miles into the cycle but this offered me practice to use my foam canister. The repair job on the tub lasted a further 15miles. In general the cycle ride was a really good eye opener as we meet approx. 50 cyclists all cycling the challenge Henley loop. The training session inspired Harrison and I to get some millage in our legs!

Training on the bike

The bike element could be argued as the most important out of the three disciplines, it is certainly the furthest distance and takes the longest time to complete therefore it is one that cannot be neglected and ignored! With this in mind my recent focus in training has been towards the bike, getting strong on the bike and more importantly getting my legs prepared for the hills that Challenge Henley course demands. Cycling approximately 200 miles in 4 days the training was going well just before picking up a puncture in my back tub. A trip to the bike shop slowed my progress down. Whilst I was still at work I decided to ordered some spare 650c tubs for my front wheel and visit the bike shop at the weekend to get me back on the road for the week ahead. Not wanting to lose days training I cracked out a small 4 mile run and a 3km swim over the weekend. With training slowing down slightly over the weekend I decided to swim 3km followed by an 83 miles bike ride, which was my furthest cycle to date. Rest for a day I decided to get back out on the bike and get two hours in the saddle.

Training up date

Alex and I closed the training month of July with a long distance triathlon training session. Fresh from America Alex was keen to get some millage in after his success in a sprint Tri. Over in the States Alex has been working on his swimming technique and as a result the hard work has paid off. We set off to complete 2.25km swim in the lake, Alex looked extremely comfortable and strong. We followed the swim with 39miles on the bikes and 13 miles run.

Thames Trots

Down Tow Up Flow Half Marathon.

The race was the first long distance running event since i completed the Marathon in April, it followed the Thames tow path from Marlow into Windsor. The course was flat so i set out hard and aimed to run as close to my PB as possible. Although i knew this was going to be tough as i entered Cookham at the four mile marker, I suffered with bowel problems and was forced to take a pit stop, getting any where near my PB was going to be a challenge! Disappointed and frustrated with myself i attempted to make up the time lost by attacking tricky corners, road crossings and bridge crossings.

The beautiful scenery of the course took my focus from my bowels and allowed me to run and enjoy the course, well for three and a half miles until i had had to pull over for a second pit stop and this did not improve, a third stop off came close to the ten mile marker, this was not a good run! Runs being the appropriate word! The course itself was not closed off from the public, so i apologies to fellow athletes, cyclists, dogs and walkers. Going into the last three miles i still had my sights set on subing 1hr 30mins, so i picked up the pace and focused on catching up the athletes ahead. I cracked it, running a respectable 1hr 28 mins which included 3 pit stops and a dehydrated body. The run was a serious wake up call, to how difficult the Iron Man is going to be.