Another Tri blog begins

Hi,

after becoming engrossed with DC Rainmaker's blog about his triathlon journey I thought that I could do the same. I am a recent convert to the sport of triathlon, having only completed one season but I did enough on a limited and haphazard training schedule to encourage me to go full on next season.

Apart from physical limiters preventing me from being on top of the podium, like most of us I have financial limiters that have put me at the lower end of the triathlon gear but I really think (or at least I want to believe) that having the best gear is not really going to win me any races. Hence the title of the blog, The Tigh-tarse Triathlete, I am doing it on a shoe string budget. I sold a guitar and computer to get my current bike, bike computer and some clothing.

Of course I would like some top of the line gear but I am doing alright with what I have so unless I get sponsored (ha ha) I think I will be wearing and riding the same stuff until it falls apart.

Some background about me; live near the coast south of Adelaide in South Australia on a small property (5 hectares) surrounded by lots of beautifual natural bushland in a house my partner and I built. It is a great place to bring up our children and a very nice place to run and ride. Being near the coast I can get in a bit of swimming but now that is getting into winter I have to try and find time to get to a pool, which is a little hard as there are none close by.

I got into Triathlon last year after taking up running, then buying a bike and needing a focus and always being intrigued by Triathlon I entered a Sprint Tri last November. Since then I have been a trifle obsessed. The biggest challenge is trying to find a balance between family life, work committments and training. Last season there was no plan, I had no real base of fitness before the season but managed to achieve my main goal which was to finish the Victor Harbor Triathlon in less than 2 and a half hours. I got home in 2.25.25, although the swim was not 1500m. I also finished my first Half Marathon in mid April this year in 1.37.52. Running is my weakest leg in the triathlon so completing a HM has given me the confidence that my running can be improved quite a bit

This upcoming season will be different, I am putting together a plan that will hopefully take me to a sub 5hr finish at the Ironman 70.3 in Geelong in February 2010. I have two other races I would like to do well in, the Victor Harbor Triathlon and the Murray Man Triathlon. I am also toying with the idea of doing the Adelaide Marathon this August but I need to convince myself that I can do it without damaging myself. Swim speed, running speed and endurance will be my main areas where I want to improve and if I can stay motivated and if anyone cares I will keep this blog as a record of the season's progress.