A while back, I wrote a list of things I wanted to do in 2014 at the start of the year. Now it's all over and done with, I thought I'd compare what I wanted to do with what actually happened.
Things I wanted to do in BLACK
What actually happened in RED
Brighton Half Marathon - 16 Feb 2014
Last year I finished and didn't die. This year I need to finish, not die, AND do it faster than last year, which means beating all the twos - 2:22.
This year I ran with my lovely wonderful younger sister. AKA Sis. She hadn't trained since the Bacchus Half in October 2013. She was right up with me on target until about 10km, when, bless her, she lost a bit of confidence and a lot of legs. I promised I would stay with her no matter what. Unfortunately that meant that we stopped for an indeterminate amount of time, then ran FAST for another indeterminate amount of time, then rinse and repeat. So, basically, my race was a 10k on-pace, followed by a "Surprise!" 11km of interval training. I'm not sure who was more knackered at the end - her or me.
Time - 2.31.
But, can I just say?? (Yes, I can! It's my blinking blog!) The following week, in training for the full marathon, I managed to smash my half marathon PB down to 2:15. I then ran another couple of miles to the nearest loo, where I VD'd. Apparently VD doesn't mean what it used to in the 90's. No, it means Vomiting and Diarrhoea AT THE SAME TIME. And it's common in long distance runners. Sod that for a laugh. Not that it's particularly easy to laugh when you're VD'ing.
Brighton Marathon - 6 April 2014
Never done a marathon before. Probably never will again.
Yip. That's not happening again. I finished. I didn't die. My time began with a 4. But it ended with a 90. But finally, I've done it. And I never have to do that ever again. Unless I want to, of course....***
Uncle Steve's Sprint(ish) Triathlon - 8 Jun 2014
This will be my third time. Which means I have to beat my PB of 1:36, or else Uncle Steve will beat me with a stick
DID IT! Smashed my PB by a whole 3 minutes! And got COWBELLS! (write up and insert link)
River Arun Iron Swim - 14 Jun 2014
This is a whole 3.8km swim. All in one go. Need to train really hard for that one. Might have to swim a bit, and everything.
I NAILED it! (By that I meant I didn't finish last, and, for fleeting seconds, actually enjoyed myself) (write up and insert link)
BTRS Half Iron #1 - 26 Jul 2014
A nice practice one for the big one at the end of the year. Just for "fun".
Well, that'll teach me for planning. I accidentally did a different half in May instead. And won it!
Virgin London Olympic Distance Triathlon - 3rd Aug 2014
The original, and still the worst. I've done it twice before, both times I've been sick in my mouth during the swim, and both times the sick has tasted nicer than the water. Not really bothered about the time, just love it when I overtake some of the lycra-clad speed-freaks with bikes more expensive than my house (if I had one) when going up unexpected hills.
Hmmmmm. Well, I came, I chicked, I didn't puke. Slightly slower than last year due to a ridiculous hypo a couple of hours before the start, but hey, I didn't give up, and I was even sensible for once.
Evans Brighton Sportive, featuring the Bastard Beacon from Hell - 31 Aug 2014
Never done it, but apparently it's 90 miles of hell. The start is also around 10 miles from home, so if I don't get a lift from anyone, this will be the equivalent of an Iron Man bike leg.
I would have done this, honest guv, but I was ill. Really. I even went to A&E and they didn't laugh at me. In fact they gave me morphine, and got me specialists, and were really nice to me and everything. They also said "no cycling or running", and I believed them. So moving swiftly on.......
Bacchus Half Marathon - 15 Sep 2014
Now that one really is for fun. And wine. And hog roast. Aiming for a personal worst
Fun was had! Wine was had! We recorded a PW of 3 hours 25! Dressed up as a crayon! Or was it a traffic cone? Rog hoast snuffledz! More wine drunkled! Conkled out! Sleepsies....
Update; it appears that I managed to break my fastest 1 mile record right at the end of the race. Note to self - if you want to go fast, run when you're very drunk, hungry, and desperately need to go to the loo. (write up and insert link)
BTRS Half Iron #2 - 4 Oct 2014
Last year I stopped for chips and a coffee in T2 and ran the slowest half marathon-plus-1k ever. This year I want my time to start with a 6. Even if it ends with Eleventy Twelve.
Oh blimey. I can't count the number of times this plan changed.
Starting from the top - the date. It was actually 27 Sep 2014, but that was the least of my problems.
Then the distance - it was actually an Iron distance, but with a "Surprise!" 5k swim at the start. Other than that, spot on.
However, due to nasty medical issues and slight laziness, both cycling and running were off the agenda. But as you know, one of the wonders/annoying things about triathlon is that there's always something you can do, whether you want to or not. In my case my mantra was "Just keep swimming", and boy, didn't I? 5k NAILED! (write up and insert link)
IRONMAN BIKE!!! 6 Nov 2014
Big Daddy took me out and kept me company for 112 miles on the bike. It only took 13 hours, but hey, I'm an Ironman! (If transitions can span 8 months)
ST LUCIA!!!!!! - 22 Nov 2014
Completely unplanned. Completely brilliant. Completely doing it again next year! (write up and insert link)
*** Um.... I've signed up for next year's marathon, even though I don't want to.
