TriathLot

Hello and welcome back to Triathlot!  The past 2 months have been plagued with injury, but thankfully recuperation prevails and I run on, much to my parent's delight as I was going slightly crazy to say the least!  Top tip folks, don't try and run 7 days a week, your body needs a rest! I was forced to rest after training for weeks on end with little to no rest... Lesson learnt! It is very easy to get carried away when you are running well and feeling strong, however that strength quickly disappears and before you know it previous niggles become more serious. After a week or two of rest my Piriformis pain eased and I established a more sustainable and effective running plan. With no racing in the immediate future, I simply need to keep ticking over, I definitely don't want to risk getting injured again!  On the bike, I have finally conquered my cleats and most importantly gained some speed. Dad and I ventured out to Yoxall one Friday night to ride a 40K section of t...

Hello and welcome back to Triathlot! Another month of lockdown has flown by and surprisingly it's been a busy one, only in terms of training of course! Last week, following the loosening of some restrictions, I was finally able to return to where I feel the most comfortable, in water! As a result of our local lake still being closed, my Dad and I ventured slightly further afield to a new location where organised Open Water sessions are underway - Dosthill Quarry. Known for its diving centre and intrepid underwater adventures,  I was slightly nervous to enter the water. Despite my initial nerves, I loved the course, a short 380m loop means you are never far from the shore, although I have to admit I was slightly spooked by a sinking buoy and a few, small fish at the back of the quarry, safe to say it made me get a move on! After an exhilarating, yet slightly intimidating swim last June in the Staffs Ironman relay, I was keen to overlook any previous open water frights and start a...

Day 41 of lockdown and I'm reminiscing, again! Whilst we remain indoors, I thought I would keep you updated with what I have been up to over the past couple of weeks, training wise and just day to day life, whilst I also look back on my second year in Edinburgh (albeit a shorter one). My end of year exams should have started last week and continued over a four week period until the end of May. My final exam would have been on Wednesday 20th May, then my Dad and I were due to run Edinburgh Half Marathon, on the Sunday. Of course, this event has been postponed and hopefully it will go ahead in early September. The new date is definitely proving to be a good source of motivation, at a time when there are no immediate races to aim for. I have a training plan set out which I will start soon, in the hope of running a 'peanut butter' (Personal Best), when the race comes around. Last week I finally dusted off my helmet and took to the roads again with my Dad, we cycled 30 mil...

With another year to wait for all us sporting fanatics, our summer viewing of the greatest sporting show, has merely been delayed, however for Olympic athletes, their world has been turned upside down. Meticulous training plans and daily routines now need to be adapted in order to ensure that they not only stay motivated in lockdown, but they are able to peak at the perfect time to compete in Tokyo. Whilst Olympians battle to adjust their goals during this period, I am sure, like myself, you are also disappointed and disheartened following the cancellation of so many races and sporting events. However, this is now the time for us to look at the bigger picture. We will get the chance to train and race again, so why not focus our time on setting new goals for future. When we are able to train fully again, we can achieve whatever we set our minds to, our hard work will pay off and we will reap the rewards. Nevertheless, nerves can often surround setting the goal itself, rather than the ...

This Sunday, 19th April, over 80 runners from Chasewater Running Club, will be running/jeffing an Ultra Marathon relay, around their local streets and gardens, in aid of the charity 'Our Blue Light'.  Adhering to government guidelines and restrictions, each runner will run for 15 minutes, a route that is close to home, or even laps of their garden, before the relay baton is virtually passed to the next runner.  The relay will take place from 7.30am until 7.45pm, with many of the 15 minute slots being occupied by two runners, who will each be taking part from their homes.  There will be plenty of photo opportunities and video evidence during the relay event, so be sure to follow all of our CWR family, on their social media platforms and Strava of course!  This virtual running event is in aid of the charity 'Our Blue Light', which supports the mental health and well-being of our emergency service workers and essential worker...

For many budding triathletes and runners, this period of lockdown has significantly disrupted our normal training routines, however it is crucial that we follow the government guidelines and adapt our training plans to ensure that our bodies keep ticking over, whilst we continue to follow the rules that are in place. So, many of you may be looking for ways to keep active during the lockdown period? Why not try a home workout and keep fit without leaving your lounge!  Whilst gyms and leisure centres remain closed, many of us may be concerned about the impact this will have on our physical and mental health. Not to worry, there are plenty of ‘no-equipment needed’ workouts that can be done from home. Embrace this time in self-isolation to try a workout that you've never done before. You could try to add some simple exercises into your daily routine that will become a healthy habit in no time. Personally, I am trying to focus on adding in some all-important strength and cond...