2013, the year that I ….

Learnt to run, finished C25K, ran my first 10K, and then many more, and then first trail run with Chewie.
Learnt to swim, cranked up to 1500m a session, started swimming 10 laps a set.
Lost 15+ kgs – started the year at my heaviest, 99.8kgs, and settled in low 80s.
Planned, but didn’t attempt, a triathlon.
Got my first set of injuries in a long time – hamstring for over 3 months, then knee injury for 2 months and counting.

It was a good year.

2013, the year that I ….

Disappointment. Inspiration. Optimist. Or Plain Crazy?

Earlier today went swimming only the 2nd time this month. Suffered.
Even managed to get a cramp finishing just 40 lengths.

Haven’t run in 16 days. Hate myself.
Disappointed in myself.

There was just one big target for this year – to finish a standard (Olympic) distance triathlon. After working hard for 5.5 months towards it, I’d completely slacked in last month to go completely off course, laying all that work to waste1.

My main pre-triathlon target was the Thames swim from Hampton Court palace to Kingston bridge. The event happened a week ago. I didn’t even go close.

The Tri I had planned to do is on 8th September, the Diamond triathlon, at Dorney rowing lake. After the swim today, I came to grips with reality, and accepted defeat.

Between the cramp and giving up on the triathlon target, the day had turned gloomy.

After sulking a few hours, I chanced upon Alan’s race report from his first Ironman. He’s an Outlaw!

I’m inspired again. So inspired that I can’t sleep thanks to the adrenaline rush.

And I’m planning again.

Thinking of adding an early season open water swim event to the usual Tour of Flanders, and the planned Brighton marathon. Then planning to target a tri in May or June, instead of leaving it for later in the season. And if all goes well, training rest of the year for an ironman in 2015.

How does it sound – optimist, or just crazy?

Continue reading “Disappointment. Inspiration. Optimist. Or Plain Crazy?”

Disappointment. Inspiration. Optimist. Or Plain Crazy?