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As you all probably know by now I have recently started triathlon with CWTC and I have to say it was one of the best decisions I have made in a long time! I used to do triathlon club when I was in Year 8/9 but never really took it seriously. I only ever did one race, the Chichester aquathlon which I really enjoyed despite being extremely nervous as I knew everyone would be better than me in the pool. I have mentioned in a previous blog post that I have been swimming since I was very young. When I lived in Portsmouth I swam for a club but when we moved I didn’t continue for very long, I had a break from swim training. Since my injury last year and another one this year I have built my stamina back up and have improved massively in the pool (without sounding too boastful) and I have also rediscovered my love for swimming (#cringe). After speaking to a few friends, deciding whether to join triathlon or a swim team, I decided on triathlon because it would allow me to incorporate my love for running and swimming and I also wanted to get into cycling (hence why I had been saving up for a road bike since November). My first session would be after the Easter holidays and it would be a swim session (at this point I still couldn’t run so I was glad it was not a brick session or run session). I was actually a little nervous, 1) because I didn’t know many people and I am not very good at starting new things by myself (unlike my bro who is very good at that, not fair) as I am quite shy, believe it or not with new people; once I get to know them I am far from shy haha. 2) because I didn’t know how hard I would find it.
Anyway, the first session was good, I was in Lane 2 which was a comfortable pace + I got to meet new people. The next session was on the Saturday (swim training is a Thursday) and we were going on a ride to Sculpture Hill (Goodwood) where we were going to do hill reps. I had only just got my road bike and still hadn’t got a handle on the gears so I knew it was going to be interesting and yes I was even more nervous for this session than I was for the swimming because I know that cycling is my weakest area. (can you tell I am not very good at believing in myself?) When we got to sculpture hill, one of the coaches helped me with my gears and taught me how to use them which I was grateful for. We were to do 6 hill reps and then meet at the top, I ended up doing 7 but hey ho. Leo, Adam and Ollie then went out for an extra ride whilst they waited for the others, I decided to join with two of the coaches but I can’t say it was my best idea as the boys are so speedy and I am not, to put it bluntly. I had a little fall off the bike when I went into the hedgerow (wow aha) and would have never caught up with the boys once I had got back on my bike so I turned back early to meet the others and then we cycled home. I loved this ride so much and looking back I had no idea why I was so nervous. After these first two sessions I decided that I 100% wanted to continue with Tri club. The next Thursday I went to swim training and decided to move into Lane 3 with the boys because it would push me harder to try and keep up with them. We practiced open water swimming technique and then did some drafting practice in a little formation (which I can’t say I was too good at but practice, practice, practice). I loved this session and I definitely pushed myself harder than I did I the first session. It is tougher being in this lane but I like pushing myself and I know that it will be more beneficial. Overall I have done 4 swim sessions and 2 rides. Unfortunately I had to miss the first brick session last week as I was at Be:Fit but there will be more to come… Triathlon race season is among us and I am excited to do a least a few races even though I have never done proper transitions which is scaring me a bit but I am also very excited. Can you tell I love triathlon already? I have also learnt quite a lot already including: how to improve my breathing in swimming, open water swimming techniques, drills, new cycling routes and how to use my gears properly. So this is a bit of a ramble and I am sorry but I hope you enjoyed the post.
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RACE RECAPS TRAINING BESIDES RUNNING SELF CARE BACK TO SCHOOL OVERTRAINING THINGS I AM LOVING LATELY TRIATHLON NEW YEAR Month/year
August 2023
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