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[jjleonard]

I saw a mate of mine run the marathon at the weekend - first try and he did it in 4 hours 5 minutes.

I've been thinking about setting myself a tough target to achieve fitness and general wellbeing, but the marathon would be too much for my poor knees... so I've committed to a triathlon.

the London Triathlon, August 2010 - at olympic distance, so:

1500m Swim
40Km Bike
10Km Run.

Right now I've just quit smoking, I have the fitness levels of an 85 year old man, and I can't swim. Looks like quite a challenge!

 

[Jimbob]

Thats one hell of a challenge!

[nick v6]

best of luck to you mate

ill be cheering you on from the comfort of the pub

no seriously, go for the goal mate get in the gym (and not jims cafe)

best of luck

[jjleonard]

God loves a trier, so I've heard. I reckon 15 months to get into it shoould be enough - the G/F is all for it, until she realises how much training I'm going to need to do.  

[Gaffers]

Well done dude!

The commitment is half the work although it wont feel like it when you're training for it! lol

I have done a few triathlons over the past 10 years and I have friends who work in the business of organising triathlon events.  A mate of mine knows the guy who runs the London one.  I have a lot of training equipment which makes a big difference and I used to swim for the North West - I have taught a lot of people how to swim or to swim better  

I am moving back to the UK to Aldershot and I am on a fitness drive due to some office porkage  .  Who knows once I know my movements over the next 18 months I may even commit myself to the race, I have always fancied it.  The offer is open for some training together if you feel like it.  Over in Aldershot I have access to an Olympic sized pool which is very handy for long distance outdoor swim training and of course PTIs with oodles of nutrition advice etc.  I quit smoking 5 years ago so I know what you're going through.

Drop me a pm if interested  

[jjleonard]

Nice one Gaffers - i'll probably take you up on the offer. you're 70 odd miles from me so I'll probably end up turning visits into training days to make the best use of the facilities! I'll drop you a PM once i've done some gym work and improved my base level fitness.

I'm going to the gym tonight to establish a baseline for my CV fitness - just seeing what I can comfortably do in short bursts then I'll build my programme up from there.

[jjleonard]

And before any of you lot ask - NO pictures of me in lycra or the wetsuit until:

a) I've bought one
b) I don't look like a fat penguin in one.

[Gaffers]

And before any of you lot ask - NO pictures of me in lycra or the wetsuit until:

a) I've bought one
b) I don't look like a fat penguin in one.

Mate, lets do it!  

Well I need to start recouping my fitness also, working 13 hour days does nothing for your waistline trust me.  I have only done sprint distance before but I am up for this in a big way.  With the distance we could meet up for weekends and help fine tune each other's training and techniques    I will also try and get a PTI on board to help steer us in the right direction.

I had a look on their website and they dont seem to be taking entries for 2010 yet, unless you found something  :-/

[jjleonard]

And before any of you lot ask - NO pictures of me in lycra or the wetsuit until:

a) I've bought one
b) I don't look like a fat penguin in one.

Mate, lets do it!  

Well I need to start recouping my fitness also, working 13 hour days does nothing for your waistline trust me.  I have only done sprint distance before but I am up for this in a big way.  With the distance we could meet up for weekends and help fine tune each other's training and techniques    I will also try and get a PTI on board to help steer us in the right direction.

I had a look on their website and they dont seem to be taking entries for 2010 yet, unless you found something  :-/

I'm with you mate! Mind you, I just did a quick session in the gym (10 min interval training each on bike, cross trainer and the rowing machine), and my fitness level is POOR. Plus the fact that I had bad form on the rowing machine so my right knee twinges a bit - best lay off that machine for a while.

Their website isn't taking entries for 2010 yet, and I would imagine that they won't until the 09 one is finished. I've read the charity sponsorship stuff, and they say to apply individually first, then go to a charity - i'm probably likely to go for macmillan cancer trust, but I'll decide which one close to the time.

I reckon i'll need three months of gym time to get to a comfortable level of fitness, plus I'll need that to learn how to swim.

THEN, we start in earnest.

[Deva1992]

Good luck with that one mate!  

[kevinminton]

Good luck! The journey may be uncomfortable, but you'll feel real good when it's done.

I'd suggest you get down to your local runners shop asap to get some proper running shoes. Otherwsie you'll get no end of problems with knees, ankles etc if your shoes don't cushion, & don't support your foot properly as it rolls around under load (sounds familiar). I wouldn't feel confident that the sheds will have the expertise - you'd be better at a specialist shop. My local one (Birmingham Runner) will video your gait on the treadmill, study your old shoes etc before making a recommendation.

You can do it!

[jjleonard]

Good luck! The journey may be uncomfortable, but you'll feel real good when it's done.

I'd suggest you get down to your local runners shop asap to get some proper running shoes. Otherwsie you'll get no end of problems with knees, ankles etc if your shoes don't cushion, & don't support your foot properly as it rolls around under load (sounds familiar). I wouldn't feel confident that the sheds will have the expertise - you'd be better at a specialist shop. My local one (Birmingham Runner) will video your gait on the treadmill, study your old shoes etc before making a recommendation.

You can do it!

That's the BEST advice I've heard about selection of running shoes. I need to find a specialist as my home town is full of sheds.

[kevinminton]

I don't know these people but Google does: http://www.arosports.co.uk
and their website says all the right things - incl video gait analysys analisis analysis.

[Gaffers]

Good luck! The journey may be uncomfortable, but you'll feel real good when it's done.

I'd suggest you get down to your local runners shop asap to get some proper running shoes. Otherwsie you'll get no end of problems with knees, ankles etc if your shoes don't cushion, & don't support your foot properly as it rolls around under load (sounds familiar). I wouldn't feel confident that the sheds will have the expertise - you'd be better at a specialist shop. My local one (Birmingham Runner) will video your gait on the treadmill, study your old shoes etc before making a recommendation.

You can do it!

That's the BEST advice I've heard about selection of running shoes. I need to find a specialist as my home town is full of sheds.

Like I said I can teach you to swim too, I used to be a coach  

Ref the trainers that is very very sound advice, personally I dont put anything other than professionally fitted saucony on my feet for training and they must be swapped every 6 months.

Ref the fitness level.  We all start somewhere and remember I had a bad heat injury a few years ago which seriously affected my fitness.  That coupled with an office job and I am by no means fast...yet  

[jjleonard]

I don't know these people but Google does: http://www.arosports.co.uk
and their website says all the right things - incl video gait analysys analisis analysis.

Nice one fella - did a google for them earlier and they have a running shop in harpenden, about 6 miles from the office, so I reckon a visit tomorrow lunchtime should do!