First Triathlon

Triathlon - Olympic Distance is 1.5km swim, 40 km cycle, 10km run.

A dream event for some and just a piece of cake for other. I guess i'm belong to the latter group. Jun bo?

For triathlon preparation, for a slacker(just to complete and not compete) like me(amateur), as long as put in sufficient training time in each of the event should be fine. Of course find time to do some brick training(swim/bike, bike/run, swim/run) will help as well.

With my current training schedule, i should be on par for half IM(Ironman). Triathlon being a poor cousin of IM, shouldn't be a problem no matter how i see it, left or right.

Something inside me got burst yesterday(?) and today i completed a triathlon on my own! Well, it isn't tough! It was plain easy, maybe because i take it REAL easy.

After sending sweetheart to her tuition in Bishan, i came over to gym with all the barang barang necessary for the event. The plan is to do 1.5 km swim in the 25 meters pool. Follow by 1:30 hr on the stationary bike(more than sufficient to cover 40km). Finish with a 10km along the Pandan canal.

I start the swim at 10:11am. Intend to use the same strategy as per last swim in Clementi. 50 meters breast stroke, follow by 150 meters free and repeat again until 1.5km is completed. I feel good throughout the swim, maybe because of the shorter pool length or maybe i keep telling myself to go easy! I completed the swim in 38mins and hit straight to the changing room to do the transition.

Bring out my bag of fruits, newspaper, 2 water bottles that is mix with Gatorade and laid it out on the stationary bike as well as the bike next to it. Everything in place leow then jump up on the bike. As usual take it relax and enjoy the morning straitimes, munching on banana and apples. It was a good relax cycle for 1.5 hr. On the bike mileage states 34.8km(1hr) + 17.4(30mins). I have to do it in 2 sessions, as the bike max out at 60mins interval. Even though the machine indicates an overall of 52.2km. I shall take it as 40km! It is a relieve to get out of the bike and realise my ass bone hurt! KNS! Anyway, not to waste too much time, packed up the barang barang and head back to the changing room.

Took a can of H20, top up the water bottle with Gatorade mix drink, Cap on and off i went for my 10km run along pandan canal. 12 noon ++, the SUN! Just treat it as heat training...Did an easy jog to the start of the canal over the bridge, not wanting to hurt myself after hearing so many horrible stories of bike/run transition!

I remember my last few swim/run transitions in East Coast keep me alert not to push at this stage. I was surprise that i didn't get any of the pain that associate before. I remember my first Aquathlon experience where i can maintain a 5mins pace for 5km after the swim, where the transition is painless! Reasons, being it is a sprint event, and i have been doing swim(1.5km)/run(6/7km) prior to that for at least 3-4 times!

I did two sets of 2km along the canal in slightly lower than 6 mins pace, then continue to do next set of 2.2km in 5:30 mins and last 2.2km is 5:15 mins pace. Reach back to the gym in 59:53 min for 10km effort. Ok, it maybe slightly more than 10km, i will take that as 10km.

The watch show 1:30:45 pm when i reach back at the gym. Meaning i have complete the triathlon in slight under 3:20 hr.

It wasn't as siong as imagine....take it easy...piece of cake....anytime...haha...

No lah, the environment is different. I am doing it in "control" environment. It isn't the same as actual event. It will be slightly off i reckon.

Went for a recovery swim 200 meters stroking to warm down, plus some stretching. Not too bad for a slacker effort...which doesn't took account of yesterday LSD effort.

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Speaking a lady friend. I just completed a triathlon, what do you think i will do in actual race, if i take part?

EG: Swim, let say 35mins
XZ: Nope, make it 40 mins( talk to myself "u think i am that fast as you meh!")
EG: Cycle, 1:20hr
XZ: Can make it 1:30hr or not? (talk to myself "must give myself more allowance to slack!")
EG: Run, hmmm
XZ: 60mins....hehe
EG: U so slow meh?
XZ: Give discount lah
XZ: Transition 5 min enough?
EG: More than enough for 2 transitions

Total: 3:15hr

EG: Is this the first time?
XZ: Of course (talk to myself "ask u for advice of course 1st time lah")
EG: Then target yourself to complete in 3:30hr
XZ: Orh