(What follows is an update on my training for the triathlon)

June 14, 2006

I managed to finish the Royal Windsor triathlon this last Sunday in 3 hours and 32 seconds and I enjoyed every bit of it.  I was of course disappointed that it took me over 3 hours, but since that time includes the few minutes that it took me to change the rear tube (the tire was flat when I started the biking part), I can live with it.

The partial times were:  30:49 for the 1.5km swim, 1:32:07 for the 42km bike (including the repair on the tire) and 53:12 for the 10km run. for the 42km bike (including the repair on the tire) and 53:12 for the 10km run.

You can see some pictures on www.sportcam.net (look under Royal Windsor triathlon, my number was 1528)

As you know, I am raising funds for Project , a charity that runs a refuge for some 40 children in the outskirts of Lima (www.projectperu.org.uk ).  You can still donate money on the following link: http://www.justgiving.com/atriathlonforPeru ( ).You can still donate money on the following link:

Thanks for your support,

Daniel

March 24th, 2006

I got almost all my gear ready, including a tri-suit, a wetsuit, goggles, helmet, rented a bike in the UK (that I need to try before the race!), running shoes and even special running socks (I know it sounds silly, but believe me, you do not want to get blisters!).  I am still missing the bike shoes, pedals and gloves, but will get them soon. I started my outdoor running training a couple of weeks ago and I will start my outdoor cycling training soon (with snow and icy patches is not too fun to ride!), but for the outdoor swimming I will wait for at least another month (the Zurich lake still looks like an ice-rink to me!)

Training is right on schedule, still with more than a month to go I am almost on my peak in terms of time per week spent on training (12 hours an 23 minutes!)

There are always obstacles when you are training, some are enjoyable (holidays), some are not (work or pain) and some you just have to take with humour, like the “claw”:

Two weeks ago, after a long session on the bike (2 hours) I was feeling a tickling sensation on my left hand.  When in the shower I realised I couldn’t move the middle, ring or little fingers. I didn’t think too much of it until I went for a swim and realised that my left hand would not form a “scoop”, but rather a very deformed “fork” or “claw” as my dear colleagues at work refer to it.  On my next bike session I realised that I was bending my wrist inwards and putting pressure on it, so now, after two weeks, I can swim again without going in circles…

Another interesting development occurred yesterday, when I got my first sports/medical massage.  I didn’t think I was going to need one so soon, but my body begs to differ: the temperature outside was about 3 degrees Celsius  and ,just to make sure you get the whole picture, I did stretch my legs before the run, but completely ignored any other part of my body…next time I will know better.  I was in the middle of a long run (64 minutes) when I filled my lungs with a deep breath of cold air and suddenly felt as if my back had exploded (now that I think of it, I maybe even heard a loud “bang”).  I went down on my knees and it was quite painful to breath.  I was running alone and without my mobile, but at least there were plenty of people on the track.  It was too cold to stay there, so I decided to walk as soon as I could bare the pain, but it took me at least a couple of minutes to be able to stand.  I jogged back to the office and took a hot shower that helped a lot, but the pain got worse by the hour, so I booked the massage and got a 30 minute slot.  I am going back for another one next Monday (my resting day), and plan to have one at least every other week from now on.   

That is it for now; I have plans to take a holiday with my parents after Eastern (a driving trip around , targeting specially Bordeaux and Burgundy , for no special reason).

Daniel