I decided to buy a bike. Found one secondhand yesterday, flat tyres...but appeared in perfect condition (actually.....what do I know?).....well its blue and pretty and I can touch the floor. I half wheeled it/half carried it home so as not to ruin the tyres anymore.
After inflating them today(bought a pump, water bottel and helmet in the rastro this morning...yay more shopping) I went down to the river again to try it out.
As they say you never forget how to ride a bike, well its true. I have never owned a bike, and it must be possible 15 years since I rode one properly. But as soon as I got on, I was off.
The gears I dont understand at all, but through trial and era I will work them out. My friend Garret joined me and tried to explain them, but it made no sense :-D
I have to get used to the body postion, as my shoulders started to ache, and I wont even go into how sore my butt is now! Next shopping trip...new soft comfy seat!
So with 3 months to go before the triathlon, I have now tested the waters of all 3 parts of the race. I will use this first month to get comfortable in each discipline slowly and then begin to contemplate bringing them together, although there is no way I can practice the swim part as race condition.
I need a siesta now.
Sunday 26 February 2012
Thursday 23 February 2012
Perspective
David told me hes doing the Iron Man Triathlon........thats 3.86km swim, 180km bike and then a full martathon 42km. OMG! I actually think people are crazy!
My challenge seems kinda pathetic now. hehehe. Im going to have to challenge him to a Bollywood dance class...see how he copes with that!
On a side note im going see how much in shape I get training for this. As well as the 2 days in the gym with the trainer, im doing doing 2 or 3 extra workouts swimming, running and cycling (max half an hour each time im guessing) PLUS my regular dance classes and courses. I think im taking july and aug off to recover from all this! Im trying to eat as healthy as I can (chocolate is my vice) , and i`ve never really been a big drinker so less alcohol is no problem.
Of course this is all so i can look good in a bikini in the summer not just the triathlon :-P
My weight right now is 55.4kg, i wont post my measurements....ill just keep a note of them!
My challenge seems kinda pathetic now. hehehe. Im going to have to challenge him to a Bollywood dance class...see how he copes with that!
On a side note im going see how much in shape I get training for this. As well as the 2 days in the gym with the trainer, im doing doing 2 or 3 extra workouts swimming, running and cycling (max half an hour each time im guessing) PLUS my regular dance classes and courses. I think im taking july and aug off to recover from all this! Im trying to eat as healthy as I can (chocolate is my vice) , and i`ve never really been a big drinker so less alcohol is no problem.
Of course this is all so i can look good in a bikini in the summer not just the triathlon :-P
My weight right now is 55.4kg, i wont post my measurements....ill just keep a note of them!
Wednesday 22 February 2012
Swimming
My trainer (davidhughes.es) has given us an 8 week plan for the triathlon in May so, I have time, but im using this first few weeks to remind myself there are 3 sports to consider: Im not sporty, ok dancing is nearly a sport but its a totally different mindeset. I can do a 1.5-2 hour performance, ending on a high but tired, but its totally different. Im sharing something with an audience, they are giving me energy, im changing costumes, I waiting for my entrances...the adrenalin is there but its a differente momentum.
So this month im retraining my brain as well as my body.
I ran a little on Monday....now its time for swimming.
This is the part that freaks me out the most. I kid you not....the last time I "swam" was in a 5 star hotel pool doing a light back stroke taking in the sun.
So today I went to the pool with my new swimming goggles (kids age 6-14...I have a small head! - at least I got a shopping trip out of this experience!) and decided to remind myself how to swim.
Its the breathing technique that I dont have and if Im to do a race, I have to get this sorted. The pool seemed to be full of pensioners, a couple who actually reminded me of the way to do it when they saw me practicing! The googles felt tight but there was no way my head was going under without them.
Luckily the monitor on duty gave me a couple of exercises to do and after half an hour in the pool I felt comfortable again and didnt splutter with a mouth/nose full of chlorine water by the end of the session.
300m really is very little and in a relaxed situation I would be quite calm...BUT....I will have probably 100 people splashing and kicking by my side (well probably way in front of me actually!) and the water will be black, cold and full of god knows what. How the hell do I prepare for that??
Oh $%*@!!!!!
So this month im retraining my brain as well as my body.
I ran a little on Monday....now its time for swimming.
This is the part that freaks me out the most. I kid you not....the last time I "swam" was in a 5 star hotel pool doing a light back stroke taking in the sun.
So today I went to the pool with my new swimming goggles (kids age 6-14...I have a small head! - at least I got a shopping trip out of this experience!) and decided to remind myself how to swim.
Its the breathing technique that I dont have and if Im to do a race, I have to get this sorted. The pool seemed to be full of pensioners, a couple who actually reminded me of the way to do it when they saw me practicing! The googles felt tight but there was no way my head was going under without them.
Luckily the monitor on duty gave me a couple of exercises to do and after half an hour in the pool I felt comfortable again and didnt splutter with a mouth/nose full of chlorine water by the end of the session.
300m really is very little and in a relaxed situation I would be quite calm...BUT....I will have probably 100 people splashing and kicking by my side (well probably way in front of me actually!) and the water will be black, cold and full of god knows what. How the hell do I prepare for that??
Oh $%*@!!!!!
Tuesday 21 February 2012
Inspired!
Just got off the phone to my dad. I remember him doing a marathon years ago, but I didnt really pay attention to him them, so I asked him about it.
He must have been in his late 50´s, it was actually a half marathon (21km) and he came last! They were packing up as he came across the finish line! Hes just amazing! He told me he got so tired, that he ended up walking the last bit, hense him being last. But he finished it. He wanted to do the full marathon one day but hes proud of this achievement. Me too :-D
He must have been in his late 50´s, it was actually a half marathon (21km) and he came last! They were packing up as he came across the finish line! Hes just amazing! He told me he got so tired, that he ended up walking the last bit, hense him being last. But he finished it. He wanted to do the full marathon one day but hes proud of this achievement. Me too :-D
Monday 20 February 2012
Day 1 - realisation
Last week I decided to do a Triathlon. I was inspired by a lovely email from my trainer and thought hell, why not. I had no idea what I was actually getting myself into.
Over the last few days Ive decided to read up and see what Im going to be putting my body though for the event in 3 months.
Yes im a dancer, but the endurance needed for what I´m about to do is so far out of my regular existence, its not funny.
Im doing the super sprint beginner triathlon, which I know for many of you is a doddle....but I dont swim with my head underwater and I havent cycled for years.
Its "only" 300m swim, 7.7km bike and 2km run.
See thats all fine seperately but the 3 together?? why?? :-D
After a full weekend of dance I usually keep Mondays free chilling in my pyjamas and trying to clean the flat whilst watching tv shows on my PC. Today I decided to go for a run. Well it was a jog. I dont have a fancy iphone telling my what distance Im doing so I tried to guess what 2km would be.
I ran down to the river near Piramides and low and behold they have the distances marked on the side of the pedestrian/cycle/running track. Its actually quite lovely there. The new Retiro :-)
I think I did 3 km no problem, although my thighs did feel a little tight after it. It felt good to see other people running and cycling, it really is another world. Is it ok to say "hi" as they pass? :-D or is that obvious I´m a newbie?!?
I have done some running before, in Retiro maybe 2 or 3 times (ive been in Madrid nearly 7 years...ahem)
On the way back home I decided to pass the swimming pool to get the times and prices. Now Ive never been a strong swimmer. Im happy with the breast stroke head above water taking in the views. Ill be going into the pool probably tomorrow to see if I can get my breathing technique right. Im a wimp really in the pool, but then of course today I actually realised we swim in the LAKE in Casa de Campo for the triathlon. The bloody lake!!! So there will be loads of other people diving in racing like their life depends on it, and Im going to concentrating on breathing and not drowning! Oh my god!
This will probably be where I need to train the most. Lucky the local pool is 3 mins from my house but I have to forget about nice shiny straight bollywood hair, if im training 3 times a week, this hair will take only so much blowdrying and straightening. Curly afro is it then for 3 months!
Tomorrow Im back in the gym with my trainer and he is organising a training plan for all of us. I will get my head around the cycling soon. Im trying not to panic just yet. Ive never owned a bike, but of course once Im back on a bike it will come naturally, just the endurance of doing the distance is the issue.
Ive never given up on anything ever.......
Over the last few days Ive decided to read up and see what Im going to be putting my body though for the event in 3 months.
Yes im a dancer, but the endurance needed for what I´m about to do is so far out of my regular existence, its not funny.
Im doing the super sprint beginner triathlon, which I know for many of you is a doddle....but I dont swim with my head underwater and I havent cycled for years.
Its "only" 300m swim, 7.7km bike and 2km run.
See thats all fine seperately but the 3 together?? why?? :-D
After a full weekend of dance I usually keep Mondays free chilling in my pyjamas and trying to clean the flat whilst watching tv shows on my PC. Today I decided to go for a run. Well it was a jog. I dont have a fancy iphone telling my what distance Im doing so I tried to guess what 2km would be.
I ran down to the river near Piramides and low and behold they have the distances marked on the side of the pedestrian/cycle/running track. Its actually quite lovely there. The new Retiro :-)
I think I did 3 km no problem, although my thighs did feel a little tight after it. It felt good to see other people running and cycling, it really is another world. Is it ok to say "hi" as they pass? :-D or is that obvious I´m a newbie?!?
I have done some running before, in Retiro maybe 2 or 3 times (ive been in Madrid nearly 7 years...ahem)
On the way back home I decided to pass the swimming pool to get the times and prices. Now Ive never been a strong swimmer. Im happy with the breast stroke head above water taking in the views. Ill be going into the pool probably tomorrow to see if I can get my breathing technique right. Im a wimp really in the pool, but then of course today I actually realised we swim in the LAKE in Casa de Campo for the triathlon. The bloody lake!!! So there will be loads of other people diving in racing like their life depends on it, and Im going to concentrating on breathing and not drowning! Oh my god!
This will probably be where I need to train the most. Lucky the local pool is 3 mins from my house but I have to forget about nice shiny straight bollywood hair, if im training 3 times a week, this hair will take only so much blowdrying and straightening. Curly afro is it then for 3 months!
Tomorrow Im back in the gym with my trainer and he is organising a training plan for all of us. I will get my head around the cycling soon. Im trying not to panic just yet. Ive never owned a bike, but of course once Im back on a bike it will come naturally, just the endurance of doing the distance is the issue.
Ive never given up on anything ever.......
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