One day to Outlaw Half. This is my next big test event before Ironman, Bolton. I’ve done a few half distance races before so this isn’t unknown territory but after all the training I’ve put in this should be a step up in performance. My fastest time so far is 5 hours and 33 minutes at The Full Boar, Market Bosworth. I want to beat that if I can.
I’m pretty confident about the swim, this is my best discipline after all. Something around 30 minutes would be good. My main focus though is to run well off the bike. My personal best half marathon time is 1 hour and 30 minutes, but I’ve not got close to that in my three 70.3 events to date. I’ve always got off the bike with my legs in bits, trying my best to stave off cramp. I’ve been around the 2 hour mark, which is extremely frustrating. Trying to keep my legs fresh is priority number one.
I’ve had a good taper week. After the open water swim on Monday I did a steady 11km on Tuesday followed by a rest day. Thursday was a gentle ride to work and back followed by a low intensity hour long pool swim session. Friday morning was a steady 30 minute run with 7×10 second bursts above 5k pace in the middle. Today was an easy ride out to check the bike out before tomorrow’s race. It was a good job I did as I had some mechanical issues with my rear wheel, but that’s all sorted now.
I made my race cake again today which I trialled during the Rutland Sportive. This is my ‘Superfood Special’ which I’ve blatantly stolen from a book I recently read on holiday by Vassos Alexander (Radio 2 sports journalist on the Chris Evans breakfast show). It’s packed with bananas, eggs, oats, avocado, blueberries and peanut butter. I know it sounds disgusting but it’s not bad. To be fair I had to add cocoa powder to make it more tolerable, I’ve definitely had worse energy foods. It’s my magic ingredient to keep me fuelled up. It worked on the Sportive so I’m banking on it doing the same this time round. Fingers crossed.
I’d like to say I’d been resting up aside from everything above but with three daughters that was never going to happen. The bag is packed, the bike is in the car…I’m good to go. Hopefully I’ll get some sleep before my 3.30 am alarm call. Let’s do this.