It was only yesterday I realised that I have less than 3 months to go for the Triathlon event. I was trying to assess my current level and let me tell you, I am not even 10% of my event distance.
Swimming - 1.5 km is the target. Currently, I can do 300 metres with multiple stops in between. I can barely do more than 50 metres in one go. There are so many components in swimming that I need to fine tune. First is the kicking technique - should be too fast or too slow? What is good for endurance athletes? I quickly run out of breathing when I am kicking fast. I need to cycle after the swim and so fast kicking seems too demanding. I would like to settle in for a moderate kick, in which the legs don't come out of the surface of the water. I have started using a kickboard to improve kicks.
Another area is the torso, twisting your torso with hand moments helps to generate more thrust. I find it convenient to allow my upper body to twist with the hand and leg moments. This way you also stay more involved in swimming.
Third is hand strokes and breathing. There are various options available, to breathe in every stroke ie left right left right and so on. This way you simply don't run out of oxygen and feel less exhaustive. What I have experienced is, my body (legs) go down when my face comes up to take in the air. This way by kicking efficiency goes down. Another option is to breathe in every two strokes. This way, you will always be breathing on your one side only, ie right side for me. This creates some un-symmetry in the strokes. The third option (which I prefer) is breathing every third stroke. It is much like juggling. Left Right Left and so on. You breathe on right side, take two strokes and then left side and then again take two strokes and then breathe on the right side again. My only concern in using this technique is the inability to hold breath for three strokes. I am working on it and by the end of this month, I should be able to swim 100 metres in one go using this breathing technique.
Cycling and Running - T2
Running after cycling has been my weakest point in triathlon. Last week I practised this transition. I used to cycle more than 18 km in 30-35 mins and then go for 3 km run. The first day was tough but after that, the T2 transition felt comfortable. Every night I go for moderate speed cycling for 10 km. Run - I haven't done much in terms of running in last 10 days. I am more focused towards swimming and T2 transition.
I have raised my cycle saddle by half an inch and lowered the bar by more than an inch, now the position feels more aero. I thought lowering the handlebar will increase my shoulder pain, but I haven't had any such issue in my night rides. Also, my cycle looks more professional now.
On Sunday I decided I would practice twice a day, ie 1 hour in morning and 1 hour in the evening, but I haven't able to put that plan into practice. My alarm starts ringing from 4 am and I get out of bed only after 7:30 am and head off straight to the office. Anyway, I am happy with how the things are going and I am expecting a significant improvement in my swimming stamina in next 10 days.
Diet - I better not talk about it. I have started eating too much sugar and sweets nowadays. There hasn't been any healthy eating in last 10 days. As a result, there is no change in my body fat and/or mass content.
In my next blog, I will write about my new Bike, Fuji Sportif 2.3. I felt great when I bought it, then read some review and felt bit sad since mine is endurance geometry and so less aggressive. Anyway, performance wise it is 100 times better than my old cycle and there hasn't been any technical issue on the bike. It is light and fast. More on it in the next post.
Do like and subscribe to Endura-athlete blog :)
Swimming - 1.5 km is the target. Currently, I can do 300 metres with multiple stops in between. I can barely do more than 50 metres in one go. There are so many components in swimming that I need to fine tune. First is the kicking technique - should be too fast or too slow? What is good for endurance athletes? I quickly run out of breathing when I am kicking fast. I need to cycle after the swim and so fast kicking seems too demanding. I would like to settle in for a moderate kick, in which the legs don't come out of the surface of the water. I have started using a kickboard to improve kicks.
Another area is the torso, twisting your torso with hand moments helps to generate more thrust. I find it convenient to allow my upper body to twist with the hand and leg moments. This way you also stay more involved in swimming.
Third is hand strokes and breathing. There are various options available, to breathe in every stroke ie left right left right and so on. This way you simply don't run out of oxygen and feel less exhaustive. What I have experienced is, my body (legs) go down when my face comes up to take in the air. This way by kicking efficiency goes down. Another option is to breathe in every two strokes. This way, you will always be breathing on your one side only, ie right side for me. This creates some un-symmetry in the strokes. The third option (which I prefer) is breathing every third stroke. It is much like juggling. Left Right Left and so on. You breathe on right side, take two strokes and then left side and then again take two strokes and then breathe on the right side again. My only concern in using this technique is the inability to hold breath for three strokes. I am working on it and by the end of this month, I should be able to swim 100 metres in one go using this breathing technique.
Cycling and Running - T2
Running after cycling has been my weakest point in triathlon. Last week I practised this transition. I used to cycle more than 18 km in 30-35 mins and then go for 3 km run. The first day was tough but after that, the T2 transition felt comfortable. Every night I go for moderate speed cycling for 10 km. Run - I haven't done much in terms of running in last 10 days. I am more focused towards swimming and T2 transition.
I have raised my cycle saddle by half an inch and lowered the bar by more than an inch, now the position feels more aero. I thought lowering the handlebar will increase my shoulder pain, but I haven't had any such issue in my night rides. Also, my cycle looks more professional now.
On Sunday I decided I would practice twice a day, ie 1 hour in morning and 1 hour in the evening, but I haven't able to put that plan into practice. My alarm starts ringing from 4 am and I get out of bed only after 7:30 am and head off straight to the office. Anyway, I am happy with how the things are going and I am expecting a significant improvement in my swimming stamina in next 10 days.
Diet - I better not talk about it. I have started eating too much sugar and sweets nowadays. There hasn't been any healthy eating in last 10 days. As a result, there is no change in my body fat and/or mass content.
In my next blog, I will write about my new Bike, Fuji Sportif 2.3. I felt great when I bought it, then read some review and felt bit sad since mine is endurance geometry and so less aggressive. Anyway, performance wise it is 100 times better than my old cycle and there hasn't been any technical issue on the bike. It is light and fast. More on it in the next post.
Do like and subscribe to Endura-athlete blog :)
