Garmin Swim-Run (benchmarking race) - CHECK!

Garmin Swim - Run race is now over! I really enjoyed doing this race particularly because I was with a good group! So, this is a brief overview of what I felt while doing the race.

Since the race was divided into groups, I had ample time to perform a good warm-up in the pool (25m in length). I was really worried and anxious of how I need to keep my pacing during the swim simply because I never took part in a race which had swimming as part of the race itself. This particular thought was bugging me these last 2 - 3 days....that is how worried I was because of the swim lol!

To cut the story short we had to swim 400m and then run 3km straight after the swim. GET READYYY....GO!!! I starting swimming at a moderate pace because I did not want to finish last either hehe :) after about 300m into the swim my heartrate was getting higher and higher...high enough to almost go into hyperventilation. Because of this I had to make 50m breast (recovery swim) to catch my breath.

400m done in about 7 minutes 45 seconds or 8 minutes...not sure (forgot to start my stopwatch because I was too busy thinking about the swimming pace)...anyway, got out of the pool as fast as I could and I already almost couldn't feel my legs. I ran to the transition area, removed my goggles and swimming cap, put on my running shoes, drank a sip of water and put on my sunglasses. Transition time was about 10 - 13 seconds...quite good considering that this was my first time! :)

So far so good! Managed to survive my first 400m swim in quite a good time (for me). Now I needed to run 3 km with a good steady pace...4minutes 30 seconds per km. By now I could feel that my legs were back to normal.

After about 500 meters into the run, I was feeling a stitch to my right side. I thought that it's not a big deal since during training I often suffer from stitches and after a minute or two I'll be back to normal.

I continued to run but lowered my pacing in order to recover from the stitch as fast as possible however more than half way into the run I was still feeling the stitch and it was getting worse...as one time I had to stop running for 20 seconds (at least) because I was in too much pain that I couldn't run straight any more. :(

After that 20 seconds stop I walked another 5 meters and started running again with a slow pace. I knew that the race was about 500 meters away. Crossed the finish line (still in pain) but quite happy to have finished my first race.

Conclusion: For my first race I think I did well but I can do much better because I know how much my body can handle.

Finished the race in 21 minutes 14 seconds!

Placed 11th out of 23 athletes! :) Quite happy with the result (next time I'm sure I'll do better :D)

Benchmarking race - 7 days to go...

With only 7 days to go for my first race (which will only be serving me as a benchmark) I am trying to set some targets for me to be able to complete the race in a decent time. Following all the hard training I've been through these last months I know I improved a lot and will be able to finish the race. Not only, I will also try to set a good benchmark for the simple reason that I need to know my limits before the championship begins...and not test me limits during the championship.

One might think that I want to win the championship and that is not the case...I will NOT win the championship for sure...but I will race against myself and I need to know my limit so that I can overcome that limit in the races to come.

Since swimming is the least part I have practised till now, my mind is constantly wondering how should I swim 400m...I never swam 400m at one go...but I guess I will find my answer the hard way! Breathing in water is still quite a problem till now due to hay-fever causing blocked sinuses :( at the most I will try to swim a rather slow swim and then give 110% during the run! I have to make up the time I loose during the swim.

Also, with summer kicking in I can start swimming in the open sea hoping that I can cope with the pack at the championship races.

I would like to wish a good luck to all the athletes who would be participating in the Swim-Run race!

LET'S ROCK!!! =D

16 days to go...

It's already been 8 months now since I started training and my first race will be within 16 days. However, I still have tons of questions related to my swimming style. I feel that this is my weakest part since I did not have enough time to practice it as much as I did with running and bike.

Even if this is only a charity race and is not in conjunction with the championship, I will still give 100% during both swim and run. I have been thinking about my breathing during the swim these last 2 - 3 weeks and practising like an idiot what to do and what not do to during the swim. So, if maybe you saw me driving and taking deep breaths please do not laugh...yes I know you're already laughing at this point haha!

Anyway, training overall is going great, knee pain seems to be gone as well, so far so good. The only change I did was adjusted the cleat, so I guess that was the problem. Time per km is going down too :) Weight is also going down and now I am 71.9kg and I also gained some muscle all around my body. Pretty cool! :D

Will keep posting some days before the actual race and also after the race.

Have a good day and take care!