Just Wondering

If you never push your limits. How will you ever know what your limits are?

The return of Janathon

Its that time of year again, Janathob. I had thought I would not enter it this time as Outlaw Training plan says 1 total rest day per week but I am a week late starting the plan due to a nasty bug that Ive had for nearly 2 weeks now. I have only covered 15 miles this week, no cycling at all not a great start but I have needed the rest. Janathon will help me get my training on track.

Start of Ironman training a non starter

Today is the first day of my proper 30 week Ironman training plan. When I was looking for plans they all seem to have Mondays as rest days, but since Monday is the only day I can get to the pool for a long swim session I decided to swap Mondays for Wednesdays. I dont see this as an issue as I have always trained the day after my long runs when I have done marathon training and used it almost as recovery. I hope I am right. anyway today's plan called for 1 hr swim session and 50 min bike. But I feel awful, I'm full of cold and feel really washed out so I decided that for this week Monday is rest day. hope that tomorrow i am feeling back to my normal self. This cold has plagued me all of last week disrupting my sleep, but I carried on regardless running and cycling 105 miles over the week including my first 50+ mile bike ride on Saturday and The Percy Pud 10 km road race on Sunday. Both of these were completed despite strong winds and icy rain. I ran the Percy Pud dressed as a snow girl and completed it 24 seconds faster than last year in a time of 55:48. so I am pleased with that, especially as I have this cold.

So rest day it was today. Tomorrow is another day and hopefully training for Outlaw Triathlon will commence.

getting the speed back

On Sunday 20 November I ran a 10km race in aid of Help For Heroes at Lightwater Valley, a theme park about 3 niles from home. It was an incredibly foggy morning. The race was not till 11:00 am but we set off at 9;00, my running partner, Vicky and I. The junior runners that we have been helping to train we to run tge 3km fun run at 10:00. 13 of our juniors were entered. They looked great in Ripon Runners vests as I warmed them up around a carousel whilst Lisa the main Coach was making sure everyone was there and ready. I was then photographer and Lisa timekeeper aided by Vicky and Pam. We were all so proud as one of our runners was 2nd and the third runner was one of ours too she was first girl. All of our juniors did fantasticaly and we were so proud as we set off for our own race. There seemed as if there were loads of runners about 1000 I thought. Turns out there were more like 300. I was always rubbish with numbers. I set ogf cautiously the ground was uneven and it was crowded on the lanes, but after a couple of km it spaced out and I settled into the run. Ever worried about the injury Ive been fighting I ran hard to "bank some miles before it went" the course was muddy and uneven and was definately undulating. I used club members to guage my progess. I felt I was doing well. As I turned into the field for the finish I slowed slightly and was overtaken by a team mate, I didnt care too much because I was nearly home and my calf had held. I increases my speed again as I approached the finish and was astounded to see 54:38minutes on the clock as I was approaching the final turn. I have not ran that fast since 2009 when I ran a renouned pb course in 54:34. So I was ecstatic to finish in 54:46 my 2nd fastest ever 10km.

32 weeks to Outlaw

This weeks training has gone well, my calf has improved and I have trained for 99 miles. 11/20/11 Cycling Distance ride 38.65 02:45:09 14.0mph 11/20/11 Running LightWater Valley 10km 6.2 00:54:46 11/18/11 Swimming Swim training 1.14 01:00:00 52:47 11/17/11 Running club training 5.42 01:05:00 11:59 11/17/11 Cycling town loop 11.28 00:59:01 11.5mph 11/16/11 Cycling Bigger loop 13.6 01:10:00 11.7mph 11/15/11 Running Club run 5.82 01:19:00 13:34 11/15/11 Running Ripon Runners Juniors 3.5 00:45:00 12:51 11/14/11 Swimming distance swim 1.7 01:12:00 42:14 I feel however that I need to lay off it a bit, I dont want to be too tired when I start training propper in 10 days. On the plus side, my race on Sunday at Lightwater Valley was my 2nd fastest 10km ever. 11/14/11 Cycling morning loop 11.31 00:59:34 11.4mph

Outlaw -231

Well this week has been a bit tough for me. I was forced to stop running. My calf is still not right. This is kind of new territory for me. I sprained my ankle running the Brass Monkey 2010 because I hit a pothole. I could accept the fact that I was injured because I knew what had caused it. This tine is harder, the pain came out if the blue and I am not sure of its cause.. There is no heat, swelling or bruising. It just hurts in a cramping sort of way. It affected my last two races and as I wasnt racing this weekend, it was a good time to rest it. Fortunately it behaves when I swim or cycle, so I have swum and cycled more this week.I have found myself a loop around the outskirts of Ripon so that I can cycle a loop that is well lit rather than country lanes dodging potholes in the dark and being blinded by headlights. The downside of living in such a small city is that the whole loop is only a little over 10 miles. I also will be using my old bike to do this route as it is a heavy steel bike without any form of clip pedals and with big fat tyres, therefore it is a much more dificult and slower ride. Hopefully this will strengthen my legs. Monday I went to the pool to swim for an hour non stop. I did 4 lengths to warm up and then started my watch. I simply swam, I didnt count lengths but kept an eye on the pool clock to give me an idea of time. When I felt an hour had passed I checked my watch and realised I had swum for 1hour 2 minutes.I stopped my watch and swam another 2 Lengths of the 25yd pool. I did that 50yd in 1 min 5 sec. So I estimate my distance as 3000yd. A massive improvement. The training sessions on a Friday in a t shirt are clearly working. Workouts this week. Swim 5040 yds bike 56.47 miles run 16.79 miles Today I went for a bike ride with hubby, my aim was to increase distance. The weather was horrid, fog and rain but we went anyway. We cycled the Black Sheep route. When we got back to Ripon hubby went home and I went around some of the outskirts giving me a total of 36 miles in 2hr21 which averaged 15 mph average speed. If I can build up my distance but maintain that pace I will be quite happy.

Outlaw Training one week in

Well one week in for training and only a week since I ran a marathon. I am wondering if I should hsve had a week off before I started this new adventure. I raced again on Sunday, A 10 mile run around Ripley North Yorkshire. Last year I ran this race 3weeks before the Newcastle Yown Moor Marathon, but due to the marathon being moved into October, this year I was ta weking on a hilly 10 miler the week after a marathon and with a niggling calf. It was a cold day so I warmed up carefully and wore my 2xu leggings. The race started slowly due to bottlenecking on a narrow lane and people avoiding mud and puddles *frustrating*. I just ran in a straight line through the mud and water. The course was mainly uphill for the first couple of mile and my calf felt fine but as the course took a downward turn my calf became very unresponsive. At 4 miles as I headed up a steep hill I decided to run it slowly rather than walk as many were to prevent that changing of le position. About 3/4 up my calf twinged. I stopped and stretched but could not get going again it was quite painful. So I speed walked up the hill and abit on the flat, but with a hop skip and a jump I got going again, slower but going forwards. I continued onwards and at the next big hill with short steps I made it almost to the top but as it turned a corner I was forced to walk a while again. I was nt going to let it beat me. It was no way as bad as last week. I managed to run the last big hill but faltered slighyly on the uneven ground of the last mile. I completed the race 50 seconds slower than last year but am very happy with that under the circumstances. After a light lunch I went out with my husband on a hilly bike ride and although my legs were tired and that affected how far ahead Billy got ahead of me, I kept chasing and did the route 15 minutes faster than ever before. The good news is that my calf never hurt at all on the bike.

Journey to Outlaw 240 days to go

Earlier this year, after the Black Sheep Tri, I expressed an intrest in the Outlaw Triathlon (ironman distance). This soon became an obsession. In September my wonderfull husband entered me for said event. I still had some of this years challenges to complete at this point, but now they are done, boxed off and compartmentalised in my mind. As I am always looking ahead and moving forwards I am now concentrating on Outlaw. S whats the plan? How can I Build up my training in the next 240 days from swimmimg 2km to swimming 2.4 miles, 42 miles cycling to 112 miles and still have the energy to run a marathon afterwards? Theres a lot of work to do.I will be using this site to help http://www.trifuel.com/triathlon/ironman-workouts/ and doing a bit of it my way I have started even though I am carrying an injury from Sunday's marathon. This is week I so far Mon Swim 1 mile Turbo 4 miles Tues run 9 miles Wed cycle 11 miles Thur run 8 miles Fri Swim training 2000 yd On Wednesday I had a sports massage which really sorted my calf. Its still a little tender but much improved. So thats my first 5 days of training sorted. I know that my biggest challenge will be the cycling. Please feel free to give me tips. I would really appreciate any help.

The challenge is over for 2011

On Sunday I completed my 2011 challenge. Here is the summary; I ran the LONDON MARATHON on 17th April 2011 in 5:02:44. Gosh it was hot and smoggy. But I achieved a child hood dream. The EDINBURGH MARATHON on 22nd May 2011 in 4:33:00. This time it was raining with gale force winds. I have swum the Great North Swim, (1 mile in Lake Windermere) in 45:38, my first ever swimming event. On 9 July 2011 I became an Olympic distance triathlete, completing the BLACK SHEEP TRIATHLON in 3:12:34 (my 1st Triathlon to mark 3 years since Dad went) I completed the GREAT NORTH RUN on 19th September in a personal best time of 2:00:41. The GREAT SCOTTISH SWIM 2km in a Scottish loch (NOW REDUCED TO 1MILE DUE TO LOW WATER TEMPERATURE) 24th September 39:33 The ROUND RIPON ULTRA a 35 mile trail race. 1st October got lost twice. Actually did 37.18 miles in 9:05:23 The NEWCASTLE TOWN MOOR MARATHON Sunday 30th October 4:48:57 This last challenge became the toughest as my calf cramped at 7 miles forcing me to walk almost a mile, but I was not going to give up at this point in my challenge, I forced myself to run again (well more of a shuffle with the occasional hop) determined to finish within the 5 1/2 hours allowed, which I did through total pig headedness. Thank you so much to all who have supported me and donated this year Lena Conlin TOTAL RAISED £644.00 Thank you all so much for your support.

Ripon, Black Sheep, Triathlon

Saturday ( July 2011 started with a lie in for me, 7 am, then at 9 am I headed for the racecourse to register for the Triathlon. I was issued a yellow swimcap for wave 5 and someone marked my number 830 on in black marker, next someone else with a black marker drew my number on my right arm and calf, carefully avoiding my tattoo. Then it was home for final carbing, porridge and bacon and mushroom sarnie on Bergen bread, but not all in one bowl. I repacked my bag into the race bag I'd been given. at 12 O'clock I got on my bike, which was stickered up with my numbers,donning my NYP Tri suit. the sky was a bit grey as I arrived. I had my bike and helmet checked as I entered Transition, then I went to set up. I unpacked my bag as a few fat raindrops fell.I turned over my shoes, and suddenly it was hailing, big hailstones, I ran for shelter with everyone else. Oh boy they were stingy on the ears. Within a few minutes the hail turned to rain and gradually slowed to a stop. Everyone tentatively emerged from their shelter. I went back to my bike to find everything soaked with a layer or little ice balls coating everything. I decided to don my wetsuit to stay warm even though it was an hour and three quarters before the first wave was due into the water.

I put on my wet suit and realised that I had forgotten my flip flops and set off out of transition in my bare feet, brrr!! suddenly the clouds burst again and I squeezed under a gazebo for shelter. When the rain passed again I headed into race headquarters to wait for Billy. On the way it was announced that the race would be delayed because of the weather for 30 mins. All to soon it was time for the race briefing then a final goodbye to Billy i headed off for the start gingerly walking over the rough ground around the lake. I chatted to other Yellow hatted competitors as we watched the orange hats work their way into the lake and swim to the start line, and the whites followed them. the klaxon went and off swam orange as white lined up and blue entered the lake, and again as the klaxon went and white swam, blue lined up and green entered the lake, there were only yellows left on the bank now. I was glad I was on familiar territory I knew the lake and had practiced a deep water start last week, I jumped as the Klaxon went again and blues swam, green lined up and us yellows worked our way into the lake. There was no gasp as I entered the water it was 19.5 degrees lovely and warm, I splashed my face and swam gently to the start area as the Klaxon went and off swam the green hats. There was no rush for the front, it was quite funny really as everyone tried to be at the back and the sides,

I suspended myself amongst the weeds and decided just to stay where I was and deal with possition later. The klaxon went and I was off swimming, I remembered to put my face in the water and relax. I got to the 1st island quite quickly there were still people behind me so I was reasonably happy, I just wanted to get the swim over and get on the bike. As I rounded the 2nd island (half way) I looked down and saw a good sized perch swimming in line with me under my belly, I tried not to be distracted but the fish stayed with me for quite a while, I laughed and then had to tell myself off. If I wanted to be a triathlete I needed to focus on the race. I focused on the bouys and aimed for the exit. I wobbled as I exited the water Kind hands steadied me as I ran (staggered) to my bike which was one of the closest.

I got out of my suit pretty quick and sat down to put on my wet socks and bike shoes, helmet on and bike unracked and off I ran with calls of "come on Lena" from what seemed like all directions. I waved at Tracey and Julie. I ran to the mount line. So glad I changed my shoes for MTB ones so much easier to run in. I mounted my bike and headed out of the racecourse following a fellow Tri/Running club mate. If I could keep up with him I was likely to get a good time. The first stretch of the bike route is a bit uphill, so I used this section to fuel up then as the course leveled out I picked up the pace. At Copgrove the route did not go the route that I had practiced, it was going a much platter route, I found myself laughing like a crazy woman as i realised the route was easier than I had practiced. I kept having bouts of crazy laughter I was having so much fun, john was still in sight as I hit the bypass, this is a horrid stretch so I just concentrated on John and kept on pedaling. As I approached Dishforth roundabout the wind increased and the distance between John and I was decreasing. As I rounded the roundabout I was nearly blown off by a gust of wind. I steaded myself and overtook John, a few yards on he overtook me but I stayed close and overtook him again as we entered Kirkby Hill. A few yards on and he overtook me again, I stuck to him like glue as we raced back towards Ripon, I was carbing and hydrating in preparation for the run. John and I entered dismount together and walked chatting towards transition.

As john went to rack his bike I ran again , to more shouts of "Go Lena", Iracked my bike changed into soaking trainers and set off on the run. Surprisingly my legs felt not too bad, a bit like mule 20 in a marathon, tired but nearly there. I ran past Stephen (nimblerunner) who had come to marshal and support me, He offered jelly babies and Kendal mint cake, I risked offence as I declined as I had just fueled up, then there was Billy taking a pick as I headed for the exit. I was a bit pressured I knew John was somewhere behind me. As I reached the bridge over the canal there was Ellie and Mike marshaling and cheering me on, it kept me going as i passed a couple of runners, I wasn't running fast but it was steady. As I approached the point where there were runners both directions I saw Bruce, he was looking great and well and truly on his way home, "looking strong" he shouted, " dont feel it" I replied. I was tired and would have walked if I didnt have John behind me. I ran on to the turn point and water stop, There was Chris she cheered me on and I walked through the water stop to make sure I got plenty on board and there was John, I'd better get a move on, I felt a bit better and found a nice pace but everytime I heard someone on my shoulder I thought it was John I kept me going. At the 2nd water stop, there iwasd Emma cheering me on, a faster NYP Tri bloke was close, I let him cross the stile first. then it was the canal path, I laughed as I realised that I was nearly home, 2 km to go I was nearly a triathlete. that thought kept me going as I approached the marina and then the racecourse. I ran past people who had finished and were leaving, i kept on going, it wasnt fast but I was running it all. It felt great as I turned through the narrow gate in the hedge, between the railings that I had helped put out on Wednesday night, around the trees and over the lumpy bumpy bit. I picked up my pace for my trademark sprint finish, it was there the blue inflatable finish line and the Blue mats, people were shouting my name, Vicky and Helen, who had driven back from London after watching Take That, Hilary, Julie and their friend, and Billy. As I hit the Blue timing mat my name was announced and I was greeted by Chris Mercer (cmmercer). It was over, a year of planning and training. I AM A TRIATHLETE 1500M SWIM, 42 KM CYCLE AND 10KM RUN 3:12:34 Way faster than my estimated 4 hours. A triathlon to mark 3 years since Dad died.

I would like to thank all of my supporters on the course and on the Internet (FB, DM and Twitter) You helped me achieve this goal.