How To Do A Last Minute Triathlon Training

Last year my focus was mainly on triathlons. I did the Kenyir Lake, PD and Desaru triathlons. Though I managed to finish all the races, I realized that I was (and still am) not good at the running leg, and also the cycling leg, and also the swimming leg. Actually, I still don’t know what I am good at in triathlon.

Oh yeah, maybe the only thing I’m very good at in triathlon is being nervous. Especially when I’m there standing by the shore, among 300 other triathletes, waiting for the gun off.

As a countermeasure, the first half of this year I focused more on running. That automatically means my swimming and cycling get a massive amount of abandonment. Only after I finished with my last marathon of the year in June (SCKLM), I started some express triathlon training in both swimming and cycling regimes. Three weeks time was all I have. I call it express, they call it “last minute”.

And I’m sure all of you have done many last minute things in your life. Last minute exam preparation, last minute travelling preparation, last minute this and last minute that. Such a nerve wrecking moments, aren’t they?

So, to kill off the excessive edginess, I introduced some new spices into my ‘last minute’ triathlon training. For the swimming, I started using the training paddle. If I was able to use it correctly, I could feel an infinitesimal amount of increase in my swimming speed while training. Good enough to make me perasan laju, when in fact I am still not. Better than nothing, right?

Kecik tapak tangan, paddle besar gedabak ni saya tadahkan.

Same case for cycling, I started using the trainer (some call it turbo machine). It is supposed to enhance the speed performance, similar to interval training in running. The plus factor of using trainer is that, we can train in any sort of weather, and in front of our favorite TV shows or DVD movies. If I manage to consistently do turbo sessions, I should be able to feel some comfort in cycling, especially when I did not have any opportunities to do any long rides. I just did the one-and-only turbo session last night because it was raining, while watching “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” on DVD. And I can say I enjoyed the movie very much.

Obviously my trainer is of a much older version than this one.

And if you noticed, I used the terms “if”, and “feel” repeatedly. Both are imaginary and conditional kind of words, and you know how dramatic I may sound when I write on my blog. Hahahaa.

So, with few more days left to go, I now feel like a form five student entering the examination hall. If weather permits, my last minute training will end today with a swim and cycling sessions. If it rains again today, that means my training has ended yesterday (gosh!). I’ve been tapering very well for the running with totally no run for the whole week since last Sunday. I'm not really sure what to do for tomorrow though. Maybe I’ll start my carbo and ORS loading disciplines. And on Friday, I’ll be busy shaving my legs.

And on a second thought, I think the title of this entry should really be “How NOT To Do A Last Minute Triathlon Training”