2 weeks to go.........

I can't believe there are only two weeks before I have to take on my weekend.  Here is my Just Giving page if you wanted to sponsor me! https://www.justgiving.com/Jessica-Verrall

I have been focusing a lot on swimming - especially open water swimming. 

Pool swims have been good - I have started swimming Wednesday mornings at 6am as well as Monday evenings and Friday mornings at 6.  We did a 400 metre time trial this month - last month it took me 6 minutes 18 seconds - this time around it took me 6 minutes 2 seconds! I would really love to break the 6 minute barrier.

Here is a classic google face selfie:

I have just invested in a pair of Zoggs predator goggles which are UV protected and should stop digging into my face so much! 

I have also been open water swimming.  So far I have hated being in the open water - I feel as if my technique is terrible and I find it so tough to put my head down in the water... However we went to Threipmuir reservoir in the Pentlands and I battled my fears:

I actually really enjoyed swimming! It was amazing to be in the water in the sunshine.  It was really cold but once I got used to it I was ok.  Putting my face and head in the water took my breath away but once I got used to it I really enjoyed it.  We only swam 500m - the Great North Swim will be 2 miles but I feel like I'm ready.  

Runs

I have been on lots of runs - I enjoy the running part of a triathlon mainly because it is the last one you have to do! But also because I know I can do the distances in a triathlon: the run part of the sprint triathlon I will do is only 5k!  The 10k I will do on the Saturday of my weekend will be my 'recovery day' - I won't be running to do a really good time - I will just cruise through and try and enjoy the run around Wimbledon common. 

A run I enjoyed at triathlon was along the Water of Leith: we ran up and down every path of stairs of a section of path that goes from the main road down the water.  It was an absolute killer on the thighs and calves! But a good mental toughness challenge. 

Cycling

I did a good 40km cycle with work to South Queensferry. 

It was cool to see the Forth Road Bridge close up! 

I did a cycle and run on Saturday to practice runs off the bike! This is Portobello at 7am! A lovely day

I cycled the route that people ran at the marathon on Sunday! Glad I'm cycling the route and not running. 

I then went for a run to the meadows.

I actually weirdly feel ready for my weekend now- the run off the bike I did on Saturday was so much easier than before and I feel ready for the triathlon. And I really enjoyed the open water swim on Friday and feel excited and not terrified for the great north swim! Roll on my weekend!!!

5 weeks to go- first mini triathlon

So this has been a big weekend for me! 

On Friday I went swimming in portobello in the SEA- it was soooooo cold!! 

The sea was very choppy and everytime I went to breathe I got a face full of water.... My body warmed up after a while but my face was absolutely freezing because it had no protection from the sea. 

I didn't love it but I didn't hate it! The more I do the better so I've just got to keep getting in the cold. 

On Sunday Elspeth, Tania and I went to North Berwick novice triathlon- it was really raining and we had to leave Edinburgh at 7am.... 

We got there and racked our bikes and put everything ready for the changeovers. 

We got given wave times for the swim 

It was so nerve wracking having a number and being competitive! 

The swim was only 250m and flew by- before I knew it I was on my bike! The cycle was lovely - all around North Berwick, the coast and more inland. 

It was pretty cold and I was feeling a bit tired but was still enjoying it. 

The transition to the run was really hard- even through the run was only 3km it still felt like a really long way. When I got off my bike my legs felt like jelly. My 3k time ended up being 6 minutes slower than my personal best time but I hadn't realised how much my legs would struggle! 

But it all went well and I WON!!! Wahoooo! 

Only a month to go until my weekend of pain!! This mini triathlon has given me a wake up because it a full triathlon is going to be so tough- especially after a 2 mile swim and 10k run the two days before... 

The training continues! 

6 Weeks to go

**text giving update: text "JVER91" Followed by the amount eg £5 to 70070 to sponser me** so for example you could  text JVER91 £5 to 70070  and I would be super duper happy!

 

SWIMMING:

 

Total hours spent in the pool over 10 days : 7

 

On Mondays I go swimming the Royal Commonwealth Pool - we normally swim around 2 kms per session - a mixture of drills and endurance work. 

 

On Fridays I have been at the Leith Victoria Pool right by work.  At 05.30 the sun is well and truly up now  - so it doesn't feel like too much of a struggle to get up at that time at get to the pool for a 06:00 start! I have really started to love swimming - I feel like I'm improving so much and I really love being in the pool.

 

 

I have been enjoying swimming training but I now need to get out and train in open water. It is still a bit too cold! I have my wetsuit ready though - picture to come next week :-)

 

 

RUNNING:

 

 

This is the triathlon club doing a warm up hip flexor drill - loving life in the park in the sun!

 

This is running around Arthur's seat - I love running around Arthur's seat - it is very hilly but the views around Edinburgh are amazing

This is Stuart's Melville School where we train on a Wednesday - it is very pretty and looks like Hogwarts!

This is the top of Costorphine Hill - I love running up it and reaching the top and seeing the view! I don't really like coming back down again though - running fast down hill really hurts my shins and knees! This was a very hilly 10k and I struggled swimming in the pool afterwards - I had to stop because my calf was cramping.
 

Lunch time runs:

I have done 3 lunch time runs over the past two weeks.  On the last run I did it hailed for about 10 minutes - apart from that it has been really sunny and nice. 

Total running for week 1 of this update:

Total running for week 2 of this update:

Cycling

I haven't been spinning at all for two weeks - so I need to get back to training.

I have been for some outdoor cycles in the sunshine. 

Not long to go!!!!! aaahhh