A tri-ing sport

So the months of muscles are sadly over and the triathlon training has begun, and, wow, is it time consuming. The problem is I'm not training for one sport, I'm training for three. I've read that in triathlon training you're supposed to concentrate on your weakness, but what happens when you analyse your times and work out that every aspect of your triathlon (swim, run, cycle and transition) are your weakness.

Triathlon training should be periodised across a year, with a foundation, preparation and competition phase.  I, however, have chosen to start my training right in the middle of the season.

So, I'm concentrating on technique and strength and hoping that these (rather than fitness training) will help me improve my times. So, what does a week's triathlon training look like.

Monday- Easy swimming technique practice followed by "Brick" session (extended spin class and treadmill run)

Tuesday morning - Weights
Tuesday afternoon-  swimming stroke correction

Wednesday -  1.5 km ocean swim with the Manly Bold and Beautiful crew from Manly to Shelly and back again. (This can be followed by a run to Queenscliff beach and back)

Thursday - Weights

Friday Morning - yoga
Friday evening- Manly dualthlon - Shelly beach swim and run to Queeenscliff and back.

Saturday morning 32 km bike ride with the Bay Bug group around Homebush Bay
Saturday afternoon - Indoor climbing (this is not part of the training, but I just can't give it up!)

Sunday - rest or light yoga and meditation

All this and I am doing the shortest competition distance triathlon, a sprint distance of 750m swim, 20km ride and 5km run. Can you imagine how someone who does a iron man triathlon (3.8 km swim, 180 km ride and a marathon) must train.

Months of Muscle: Losing and Winning

So, you know about the month of muscle but what what you may not know is, at the end of it all there is a prize, with a trophy.

When I was a kid my sister had trophies, and medals. I'm guessing if i saw them now they would be small plasticky things. They are probably also a lot smaller than I remember ***, but boy I used to spend time staring at those trophies ... and wishing.

So the thought of winning that prize kept me motivated, and, like the other awesome people who did the program with me, I thought I was in with a chance.

Sadly, it was not to be **** and last night, at the finale party I started to get a little down. And then someone did something special. The winner of the last round pulled plastic medals out of her purse and hung one around each of our necks. In an instant I was reminded that we were all winners. I didn't take that medal off all night and at the end of the night I hung it with my triathlon, half marathon and city to surf medals as a reminder of just how far the month of muscles has brought me.

But the medal reminded me of much more. It reminded me that my original goal was to wear my bikini to finale night and whilst I had technically worn my bikini (I threw an orange see-through dress over the top) I hadn't really fulfilled my goal. So I whisked my dress off and danced, hands above head in bikini and high heels.

And suddenly ... I was the winner ...


*** I've found that as I've aged things have become smaller. The big pineapple and the big banana in particular.

**** You should see the abs on the fantastic guy that did win ...

Months of Muscle: The results

So, what does three months of struggle and strategic application of fake tan get you:

• 55 push-ups on toes in one minute
• Wall squat for five minutes and 20 seconds
• 5 chins ups
• 120kg leg press
• Almost 1 minute off my 1km sprint time trial
• 2.4 kg of new muscle
• 500gm less of fat

And this ...

Now bring on the triathlon season ...