Majorca Half Ironman Training

Well it's been a good 4 week training block but I was knackered and looking forward to the recovery week.

So what have we been up too?

We've completed a brick session every week in the first 3 weeks of our training cycle. A brick session is cycling followed immediately by a run. This is really good practise for the transitions between the bike phase and the run in a triathlon.

Luckily we have managed to fit them in around both our schedules so we were able to do it together, much more motivating! One of them at 6:45am, I'm not sure how awake we were for that one but that shows commitment , I hope you are impressed Coach Kemp :-)
We also had Stewart (Melinda's buddy) doing it with us the first week which was good (the more the merrier :-))

I have really enjoyed our Strength and Conditioning programme. I have always done a few weights but nothing serious because I just enjoyed running but man, I am loving the weights!!! We've had some good sessions and I have noticed a massive improvement in both of us. We've also had another buddy Frances, who joined us for 2 S&C sessions which was great fun. Our first session together we started on the pull ups and Melinda went for it and wanted to go again straight away but I said rest first buddy. Think she took it literally:-)

Buddies messing about in training - shorts pulled up:-)

I am chuffed to say that both Melinda and I have improved on our Pull Up Challenge!!!

Its great having a buddy to train with because we both have our strengths and weaknesses in different areas and its good to help motivate each other.

I have not managed to get out on my bike as much as I would like to have but went out with Melinda and Hilary one Thursday morning before work which was good. Melinda took me up this massive hill. OMG it was hard!! (Thanks buddy for staying with me and getting me up!!) Hilary is a machine on the hills so she waited for us at the top:-)

My swimming sessions are going well. My buddy Chris has been helping me with my technique and we have been doing some drills which is good fun. Its good to have someone watching you and giving you some advice and bits to work on.

We have had a few good long runs which I've found is also nice to have a running buddy to do with. I have to say that I am feeling so much stronger when I am running. This must be due to the S&C we are doing which has been devised by Rolandkempfitness.

My favorite run has to be the one where we decided to go off road and not worry about getting too lost. Thankfully we didn't got lost but my shoe nearly did!!!

Melinda managed to climb through the trees. I was not so brave, so I went the long way around:-)

This last week I've had to take it easy as I tweaked my back doing dead lifts so now I'm trying to rest it. I'm not very good at taking it easy but am being told by many its what I should do!!!

Bring on the next 4 week block....

Wide Grip Pull Up Challenge

Melinda and I want to be able to do more than one wide grip pull up by Christmas!!!

Watch this space.....Below are videos of our first week attempt!!

Kerry - Wide grip pull up

Melinda - Close grip pull up (negative) 

Majorca Half Ironman Training

My training buddy, Melinda and I are doing Majorca Half Ironman in May 2014. Melinda has inspired me to give it a go. She came back from Majorca this year on such a high that it inspired me to take the plunge and enter for 2014.

I have already completed a sprint and an olympic triathlon earlier this year so I am on my way to the half ironman distance. Scary stuff!! This will be my biggest challenge yet, so, over the winter period Melinda and I will train as much as we can together to help motivate each other.

We won't always be able to train together due to work and family commitments but it definately makes a difference having a training buddy to keep you motivated.
Roland Kemp has devised a training plan for Melinda and I am tagging along and going to try and follow it too.

My goal for next year is to cross the finish line in one piece and for Melinda she is looking to improve her time from 2013.
So this part of my blogg will be all about our highs and lows of our training and what crazy things we get up too.

So far we have ran for 2 hours in the pouring rain early on a Sunday morning!! Crazy chicks.... we even sorted our route so I was able to check on the chickens and let the bunnies out:-)

We did a core session in Berkhamsted followed by a run and we got some funny looks from people as we layed our mats out to do the core session along the canal.

By Christmas Melinda and I want to be able to do wide grip pull ups. Watch this space......