Letchworth Outdoor Pool: swim training

As well as cycling, I've also started to increase my swim training while I can't run. After deciding to enter Freedom Tri's Duck N Dash Aquathlon in September (400m swim, 6K run), I thought I ought to train a few times at least at Letchworth Outdoor Pool, to familiarise myself with the layout and the length. The pool is 50m long, so a lot different to the 25m pool at Saxon that I'm used to.

I swam last Thursday with some friends, and today I went on my own to see if I could manage the full 400m distance without stopping between lengths. I didn't really manage that, it's so tiring! I definitely need to practise more. But I covered 800m in 30 minutes, so I'm happy with that.

Not running, cycling

2 days before the end of Juneathon and I had to give in. SOMETHING (no idea what) has happened to my shin and it hurts to run on it. I don't want to injure myself unnecessarily. I have no races coming up until September so I've curtailed the running for the next few weeks.

Time to up the cross training (ie, anything other than running). Swimming will start again next week (still need to buy a new suit), but for this week I've dusted off my bike and bought a helmet. Let's go ride a bike.

I'm a nervous cyclist. I don't like cars behind me or passing me (I'm too polite and don't like to inconvenience people). I'm also prone to falling off. Plus, for the past 5 years I've had a small child attached to my rear. Doesn't make for confident cycling.

So, for my first ride, I stuck to quiet lanes near my house (no small child attached, the seat has gone forever). Of course, everyone decided to be out driving their car on Thursday, so after 10 minutes I was quite used to people passing me. I'd also got used to being on my bike again, solo, and getting faster with every minute. Instead of just going home after 4 miles I decided to push myself until I was tired. 10 miles, averaging 12 mph. I was very happy with that!

On Saturday I went out for a slower ride but a bit further distance. I decided to go off-road and cover the full Greenway around Letchworth (13+ miles). I've run it in 1 hour 46 minutes. I cycled it in 1 hour 22 minutes. Average 10 mph (14 miles total). Mo Farah could've run faster. In my defence, I was hindered by road crossings and kissing gates. Those things are tricky.

Today I had a very slow 3.5 mile bike ride with the family. Ice creams and the park were our reward. Well done us.

Juneathon day 28: broken

I'm definitely feeling the effects of Juneathon today. Which for day 28 is pretty good going I think (in Janathon I was knackered by the end of the second week).

Last night I had a bit of a niggle in my left shin when I got back from run club. I iced it, and again this morning. It seems fairly localised to one area, and it doesn't affect my ankle. By this evening it felt better and because I'd eaten so much dinner I decided I had to go for a run. 

I stuck to my route around town, it's usually 4 miles, but 2 miles in my leg started to REALLY hurt. To the point I had to slow right down because I could barely put my weight on it. Cut my run short. Ice pack straight on when I got home. Already feels better. I think the last 2 days of Juneathon will be core work and perhaps a bike ride. 

Juneathon day 27: intervals in the rain

Last night I agreed with Cat Simpson from The Twitter that hill sprints were so much nicer than 400m intervals. 

Tonight at run club we did 400m intervals. 

In the rain. 

We did 5 fast 400m sections with jogged recoveries of 400m, and then a walk back to base. 4 and a bit miles in total. 

Slightly disgruntled to be the slowest in the group. And I'm really trying and everything. 

Must. Try. Harder. 

Juneathon day 26: unexpected

I went to circuits tonight. I didn't expect to, but my husband went out for his bike ride early so there was time. Booked it an hour before the class, as I was eating. As a result I had indigestion and felt sick throughout. Didn't force repetitions but concentrated on technique. Did some nice slow deep squats. And after many attempts I managed to hold a two-ball plank for longer than 5 seconds. 

I also watched the tennis. And did some ironing. 

Juneathon day 25: running with my kids

Last Sunday my kids nagged me for hours to take them out for a run. I very reluctantly obliged, and we ran-walked for 1.5 miles. Today, I decided to test their enthusiasm and take them out again, after school. 

We ran-walked as we did before, and covered the same distance in the same time. But we also had time to say hello to the ducks and have a few goes on the zip wire. Yay for the park :)

In the evening I took the run-walking beginners group at club, we covered 2.5 miles and ran for about 7-8 minute stretches, with a minute walk in between. 

Then the quick dash to Pilates. Tonight was "back to basics" and it was so relaxing I almost fell asleep. My favourite exercise tonight was the shoulder bridge with squishy ball between my knees. If you do Pilates (and are female) you will possibly understand why that's enjoyable. Or maybe it's just me. *ahem*

It's the last Pilates class for 2 weeks, so next week I'll be back at both running club sessions :)

Juneathon day 24: trying not to dance while planking

Another Monday, another circuit class. This is now a regular thing because my husband has decided he wants to cycle regularly, on Monday and Wednesday evenings, meaning I will have to give up Wednesday circuits.

Enough of that. Circuits is circuits. Today we did 10 stations repeated three times. I started on inverted row (I don't like them so I try to start on them), moving on to plank (double ball), kettlebell swing (16kg), reverse curl, skipping, press ups (full and three-quarter), bicep curl, hamstring curl (one-leg, with scaffolding pole across my abs), ab crunch (with a 5kg kettlebell), and finishing on star jumps. 

Exhausting stuff. The problem I have during circuits though is containing my desire to dance when my favourite tune comes on. Today, I was trying to hold my plank while Sam and the Womp's Bom Bom was on -- quite tricky. I managed a small bum wiggle.