Welcome to the thread Ben, nothing like setting yourself a high benchmark to focus the mind 
I hope it goes well do you, I know a few people going for good times at Staffs should be a great race.
How have you done at sprint/Olympic and have you used TR plans?
I’ll add you to the roll call.
That’s why I like the training plans, there’s no noodling
I’ve been fuelling my workout for years and it’s just the right thing to do for so many reasons 
Good luck at the half this weekend!
With those results I’m glad you are not in my AG at IM Wales 
Good luck at Staffs
Thanks Joe, Should be a great event. The weather is even looking Ok which is rare for the Uk.
Only raced a local sprint tri this year. But not untested at the distance, just Ironman branded events.
Last year raced 3 70.3’s with the highlight being the win in the Welsh Middle Distance Tri Champs. I tend to specialize in hilly courses (the hillier the better), so my 3 IM branded Events should suit me on the bike at least.
Not currently on a plan, working with a coach at the moment having been offered sponsorship with a tri team for the year.
Thanks Joe! Its nice to read through everyone’s updates.
I have Eagleman 70.3 coming up this weekend. The last 6 months has gone super well for me, until 2 weeks out from the race. I did a race simulation 2 weeks out from the race as my final big day before taper. Nothing crazy…1:40 bike at anticipated race power, followed by a 1:15 run slightly slower than race pace. And felt an old familiar pain creep into my left leg RIGHT at the end of the run.
This did not derail any of my swim or bike training. However, I decided not to run at all these 2 weeks in hopes of recovering before race day. So the run is going to be a crap shoot. Fortunately its more a B race for me before Ohio 70.3 6/7 weeks later.
This has happened a few times before. It results in this really weird tightness through my entire left side. My lat/QL on the left feels tight, pulling my hip up. The hip feels locked up. A bunch of compensation turns my whole leg tight and twisted feeling. Causes pain on the outside of my knee and in my left lower back.
When its happened in the past I typically notice that my pelvis has not been pointing forward. Its like its twisted to the left. Like my belly button would be pointing left. If I catch it early enough and just mentally focus on keeping my hips square and pointing forward, it usually clears up pretty quick. But once it does, I stop focusing on it and it will pop up a few weeks later as a result.
So fingers crossed that I can let it rip on Sunday! If not, it’ll be a nice aqua-bike to test race paces for Ohio lol
So i havent missed much, on the bike. The run i couldnt keep up with the barryP stuff (aka i listened to my body and took more breaks). I’m 1 month out and don’t feel my run is ready… i can probably do low z2 for the half-marathon.
The swim is what it is, first open water swim this weekend, been doing 2 swims in pool for 45 minutes most weeks because my masters swim team STILL HASNT RESUMED.
I know i can do the full swim, and the bike well, i did a 120km ride last sunday and i wasnt suffering after the fact so a 90km shouldnt be horrible.
Main goal this month is to keep the swim steady and the run steady. The bike seems to just be happening as long as i show up.
The weight loss also has been pretty successful overall, down 9kg since Feb 1st , maybe i lose another kg or 2 before i race.
I also have a practice sprint tri to get me in the race mindset and to try out my new trisuit (which absolutely didnt fit me 3 months ago when i got it).
I just twanged my back picking up my 4 year old’s Cheerios spilt on the carpet…
I got the 955 (non-solar). It’s definitely more bulky than the 935/945. I’ve never owned a Fenix model, so can’t compare unfortunately.
You need to get a dog for that.
Yes and worsened it this morning and now on a hard floor immobile. well, that’s one way to taper… 
What a month.
FINALLY getting over the pneumonia thing.
Still coughing and stuff… but much better.
Rode the bike for the first time in 2 weeks today. It was MUCH harder than it should have.
HR was very elevated.
I guess fitness has gone to the toilet after 2 weeks of mostly doing nothing!
The fitness is still there I’m sure it’s the body still recovering from the illness and repairing all the damage it did.
A bit more patience is all that’s needed. Same for me.
It must be said that we’re all getting in some great excuses in, we’re real pros at it. I’m impressed. I salute us all with a recovery drink. 
Making excuses is the fourth (and most important) discipline. Gotta start sowing the seeds early. Preparation is key.
And while I’m complaining, all my taper workouts have been garbage. That’s always confidence-inspiring. 
Good lucks - hope it goes well for you and your mom!
Early June report:
Swim: I finally got 2 swims in the pool. (1.2km and a 2k). However after a minor surgery on my thumb, the doc said no swimming for a month so swims are out and Beastman triathlon next weekend will be Beastman duathlon.
Bike: Coming along well.
Being in LV LD Tri build plan, it’s mostly threshold workouts which I struggled with at first but I’ve started to get the hang of those. I did 5x4min so soon I’ll tackle 4x5min and then 5x5.
PNW weather being colder & wetter than usual means more indoor structured 60 or 75min rides and less long outdoor rides in aero position. AI FTP bumped me up 2% so 
First race of 2022 (Sisters Stampede MTB cross-country race) went well.
Running:
I finally found a way to increase run volume past 30km/wk thanks to Run Walk Run.
I did 41km last week and I’m on track for 44km this week!
Also my longest run reached 21.1 km this week! With a run to walk ratio of 5:1, I complete these long runs feeling strong and able to do more if I wanted.
I’m starting to believe
It’s about time with 70.3 Salem mid July and IM Pencticton in Aug just around the corner.
I’m still not sure what to expect of the swim next week, but I feel better about it now, having done a few more open water swims (sweet action shot courtesy of my wife on her kayak).
Still gotta get a lot better at sighting, and I need to pace myself better, but at least I think I can finish this thing. I’m also probably going to switch to a sleeveless wetsuit for a little more comfort and flexibility. Onwards!
Nice Popeye mouth action going on there 
Busy busy weekend of racing this weekend.
Good luck to @MK_2 @andrewbryson @Nervous_Energy @Benwgoodfellow for Staffs 70.3 tomorrow - I know a bunch of guys racing there as well as one guy up at Cairns toeing the line with @toribath for the full distance.
@windyyet and @ericgabriel11 at 70.3 Des Moines and @teamsuchevich and @Billabong at Eagleman!
Enjoy the race!
I hope my tracker app can cope as I figure out the race numbers…
Thanks! Going to be an earlier one tomorrow in Des Moines. Pros at 5:30am, AG at 5:45am.
Bib 861.
