To say that the lead up to my first triathlon of the season was less than ideal, is a huge understatement. So instead of boring you with the details, my OCD side will laundry list everything when necessary:

Got a cold a month before the race.
This was followed by a hedonistic weekend (think 8 hours sleep in 6 days, fueled by alcohol and coffee, no food and a lot of adrenalin).
Cold turns into flu.
Training weekend where I should have rested.
Flu, coupled with hayfever, turns into sinus infection.
So, I was undecided as to whether or not I would race. Luckily, coach Fi convinced me to go out and treat it as a training race and experiment. Here’s what I tried:

New race goggles for the swim.
Repeat swim tactic as I adopted for Placid (as far out as possible then try and sprint to the front pack).
Tri shoes on the bike (with no socks).
New aero helmet.
New saddle.
New position on the TT bike (higher sa...Read on..>

I just found an old blog from my 3rd ever triathlon back in 2006. It brought back some good memories and, before I start racing again this season, reminded me about the buzz of a race.

London Triathlon (1500m swim, 40km cycle, 10km run) - August 2006

Beep, beep, BEEP, BEEP... Oh my god it's early, 4am and time to get up for breakfast.
So tired.
Porridge, bananas and honey – the breakfast of Paula Radcliffe… the breakfast of champions (I hope).
Check the kit (again). It’s all there. Let's go.

05:10: Pull into London Excel car park (after only a couple of wrong turns at the diversion signs) - it's already getting busy. ID check, helmet check, put the bike on the rack, lay out the kit for a couple of quick, I hope, transitions. Another, last minute and hopefully final, toilet stop - nothing like a last minute panic to get the adrenalin flowing.

06:15: It's swim briefing time. 200+ under 29s huddled together in a corner (sweating buck...Read on..>

Discipline: To educate; to develop by instruction and exercise; to train. Or have the whip cracked in your vicinity?!

To achieve your goals as a triathlete..... What does being disciplined really mean?

Planning

Identifying high priority 'A' category races with performance goals, in combination with races for enjoyment, and a few 'B' races to test out pacing or nutrition strategies. This far into the season it is best to stick to your overall plan and race schedule, in order to maintain the planned progression towards the goals you have identified. If you allow yourself to become side tracked by other people's race plans, then you need to manage your own expectations so you're not disappointed when your recovery, or worse still injury or illness, compromises important training for your 'A'...Read on..>

Ironman Blog: The Ducan’t Diet

I have a pretty big goal this year: to get faster on the bike.

So, how am I to achieve this? Firstly, an improved work schedule will afford me more time on the saddle, not necessarily longer rides but crucial interval sessions I have forfeited in the past for endurance. Secondly, building muscle mass through strength sessions (as well as those interval ride). But to bulk up, you need to eat. And there are many ways and philosophies behind this.

Calories.

Simply, eat more. Take in what you can, six meals a day, snacks, consume everything in sight. This has its advantages, but volume isn’t always the best option. I am a firm believer in watching what you eat: good fats, no processed foods, natural colouring/flavouring and limited fried foods.

Carbs vs Protein.

We have all heard of the dieting fads; they come, they go, and none of them stay for long. All they leave you with is bad breath and an angry disposition. I r...Read on..>

Back into training with a vengeance this week...! Having taken 10 days out of regular training to go skiing (the snow is just fabulous this year!), I now feel like I'm getting back into it again - and getting used to this two-workout-a-day thing that Fiona seems to be trying to get me into!! Seriously?! Not like my last year's slacking! It could be because now I have enforced weights sessions....?! ANyway, I have to say that after 10 days of it, I'm starting to feel quite good! I actually enjoyed a long run for the first time this year last Saturday! Maybe it was just the lovely weather - warm, sunny, still...? Or maybe it was the 2,3-DPG left over from my sojourn at altitude...?! Who knows, but I'm feeling quite exercised at this point 5 days since my last day of training. Had a massage this afternoon - ouch! I'm increasing the running at the moment for a marathon and the ol' calves are lovin' it!! Anyway, I'm a total believer in massage to keep you injury free...

My goal'...Read on..>

After developing an addiction to triathlon last year and competing in a Sprint and Olympic distance events (still haven’t quite been brave enough to click the enter button on the Half Iron distance) I decided it was time to set a goal time to hit this year. So the next logical question was how do I actually achieve this time?

Do I spend hours reading through training books? Which guides are best? Or which is best for me? What if I get it wrong? Do I then have to go through it all again in 2013 to try and hit the goal time? Will it kill my motivation levels if I don’t hit the goal time this year? And most importantly of all, when do I find all the time to do the research the right training plan, train, work full time, complete a distance learning course in sports nutrition, and still have a social life?

Currently the answers to these questions for me are:
• Train after work and at weekends.
• Negotiate different start and finish time at work to make the...Read on..>

I don’t know about you, but my attitude to training seems to operate in upward or downward spirals. It’s easy to stay motivated in between races during the season but, once September comes along, it’s just too easy to get lazy, miss the odd session and go out for dinner and drinks instead. The evenings draw in, it gets cold and dark and I know the next session will hurt more because I missed the last one… I miss that one too… and so the downward spiral begins. Before I know it it’s the New Year and I’ve had a three month break.

It’s tough to break the cycle and to get the feeling of improvement again. I’m glad to say that after just a few weeks in 2012 I’m back on track. I’m surprised how quickly my fitness and weight are back to reasonable levels. The first few weeks in January were hard but the start to this year has seemed easier than before. A few things have helped get my mind in gear and motivated me to get off the sofa or out of bed even when it is cold and dark:Read on..>

 Challenge Vichy - Sunday 21st August 2011          

Geography

The inaugural Challenge Vichy is situated in the thermal spa town of Vichy, on the banks of Lac d'Alier. It's well located in terms of getting flights from the UK to either Lyon (2.5h drive) or Clermont Ferrand (30 min drive), train or comfortable 6 hour dr...Read on..>

Africa. The sting of sweat in my eyes. The searing heat on my neck and shoulders. Ofori. Disciplinarian, teaching me what was best, with structure. May she rest in peace. Ghenwa. Expecting her first child. Food. Frozen pina coladas covered in cotton candy, pillows filled with the scent of rosemary and strips of moss that stick to the top of your mouth. Imperial. Leaving home and discovering who I am. Dancing. Till the cows come home, drunk on endorphins; on stools and tables in Beirut. Brothers. Their everlasting support, making me laugh and giving me something to worry about. London. For all it has afforded me to do. To exciting new beginnings and happy endings. Cambridge. My first marathon, my closest friends. Fiona. Allowing me to achieve goals I thought were impossible. Diana. Making me realise that everything IS possible. Falling in love with New York and for the hundreds of people who can now wed after riots and tears over the last few decades. Parents. For never doubting m...Read on..>

The conditions at Austria last weekend were perfect for this Epic Ironman Race. I had my sister and husband there and a friend from London, it was great to see them on the course as it can get lonely when you’re racing on your own.

I headed down to transition at 6.00am, put my fuel on the bike, checked everything 10 times and then left for the swim start, I was on my way. 6.45 at the beach start, 2500 people getting ready and then U2 playing its a beautiful day, I was completely wired for this and ready to go. Bang - the Canon went off and my time had arrived, time to put my 6 months of training to the test!

The first part of the swim was good, held back when the canon went and just got into water and swam to the first buoy. A little bit of BIFF on the turn but all of ok. Second Buoy, all ok but now swimming into the sun rise and could not see the next marker. I finally got to the canal, ‘sh*t… cramp in the right calf’. Recovered and then bang, cramp in the left calf...Read on..>