Working Offshore and Garage Building Project
In my last post, I wrote an evaluation of triathlon season 2021, and I also mentioned that I was working offshore again. After that 11-week project in Florida USA, I was home for just 2,5 weeks, in which I started to build up my triathlon training and, in the meantime, make some modifications to my garage. Building an extension and building a gabled roof instead of the old flat roof.
The training went fine, slowly coming back to a somewhat decent shape. I didn’t do many long endurance workouts. Most were short workouts focused on the proper technique for swimming and running, and once in a while some speed workouts. For cycling, the workouts were mostly 1.5-to-2.5-hour rides, and all in quite low intensity, except for a couple of interval training. At the end of my short break at home, I had to rush to make the roof watertight since my next project was brought forward slightly. I’ll have to continue and lay the roof tiles and build the sidewalls of the extension when I’ll come home next time. The outcome will be that I’ll have my own dedicated space for a home gym 🙂 I’ll show some photos when I’ve finished my own “pain cave”!
Currently, I’m working offshore on a different research vessel and in a different location. This time in the Mediterranean Sea. Florida wasn’t too bad but the Med isn’t too bad as well, especially considering the weather conditions back home where it’s raining a lot and just above or around freezing temperatures!
I can train every day for about an hour, depending on how busy and demanding the project is. Sometimes I’m able to squeeze out a long workout and when we’re in a harbor for fuel bunkering or receiving new provisions, I’m able to have a quick run on the quayside. Nothing crazy, just an easy run and stretch the legs! On this vessel we have a rowing machine, indoor bike, lose weights, and a bench. I’ve brought my swim elastic bands (360 Swim) and some resistance bands. With the swim elastic band, I’m able to do a ‘dry swimming’ workout to simulate the swim technic and train my back muscles. It works pretty well and last year, after the lockdown ended and continuing to train with the 360 Swim band, I felt that I didn’t lose too much of my swim technique. There are three colors with different resistances (light, medium, and high resistance) and I’m using the red and blue versions.
Triathlon Race Plan Season 2022
I’ve been thinking about my triathlon race plan for 2022; which races are interesting due to the location, atmosphere, or special routes, which races would I like to do, what’s possible work-wise and also training/preparation-wise, and what distances I’d like to race this year. Especially since I’m not consistently training, which I know is best for any endurance athlete, I require a couple of months to prepare myself and get into good shape before I can properly compete in a triathlon race. Considering the above, I made a list of interesting races and had to stripe through a few since they didn’t fit well into my plan.
The following races are my plan for 2022:
- Ironman 70.3 Zell am See, Austria, 28 August 2022
- Ironman 70.3 Erkner – Berlin, Germany, 11 September 2022
- Ironman Cascais, Portugal, 15 October 2022
Starting with the Ironman 70.3 Zell am See in Austria. Exactly 5 years ago, I finished the triathlon in Zell am See together with a friend. That was my first real triathlon (only did a try-out a few months earlier) and ever since I’m addicted to the sport! In that race, I finished in 5h20m as 68th in my AG and I’m certainly hoping for a better result this year! Zell am See is located in a beautiful area of Austria, in the middle of the Alps surrounded by high mountain peaks, at a lake with very clean water and great scenery. Five years ago, I lived in Austria and after registering for the race, I cycled a lot in the mountains around Innsbruck. Currently, I’m living back in the Netherlands where we don’t have any mountains.
Between the Ironman 70.3 in Zell am See and the race in Erkner is only 2 weeks, but after discussing these races with my coach, we think it’s doable. It won’t be completely ideal but when I’m in a good shape for Zell am See, I might be able to continue the peaking for the Ironman 70.3 Erkner race. The area on the southeast side of Berlin is very flat but apparently a very green area with lots of forests, lakes, and rivers. Must be nice scenery and a good combination with a visit to Berlin to explore the city and meet up with a friend.
After the race in Erkner, it is only 5 weeks until my first full-distance triathlon: Ironman Cascais in Portugal: 3.800m swimming, 180km cycling, and 42.2km running! Which would mean a week recovery, a few weeks of training, and then the taper for Ironman Cascais. The area of Cascais is apparently very beautiful as well: along the Atlantic Ocean and “mountains” starting just north of the town.
I’m looking forward to my first full-distance triathlon! How will I cope with the long distances? A swim of 3.8km I’ve done last year regularly during open water lake swim training. The swim course is in the bay of Cascais which is open to the Atlantic Ocean so hopefully, the weather will be favorable without crazy high waves. The 180km long bike ride hasn’t been my typical bike training so far, but the distance isn’t even that far. It must be a great route since part of the bike course goes through the National Park Sintra-Cascais and along the ocean/river road to Lisbon but the route doesn’t go all the way to Lisbon, it turns around at the Belém Tower. I’ve understood that the climb in the national park is quite steep and has in total approx. 1450m vertical, but you’ll only have to conquer the climb once (even though it’s a 2-loop course). The full marathon will be a new challenge. I’ve never run a marathon in my life yet and this would certainly be something that I need to slowly build up and prepare for!
I’ve already booked a nice apartment very close to the start and finish of the race, and also close to the beach and city center.
In the meantime, I’ve been reading blogs of other triathletes to get their inside race information and maybe some tips for the preparation for my first full distance Ironman.
Some of these blogs are:
Dutch triathlete Maca: https://www.amstelracing.nl/triathlon/ironman-cascais-2021/
Two Germany triathletes from Radsport Gaimersheim: https://radsport-gaimersheim.de/2021/11/rennbericht-ironman-portugal/
Mariusz from No1Fitnesskilcullen: http://no1fitnesskilcullen.com/ironman-portugal-🇵🇹-cascais-2021/
Jeroen de Meester (4th overall, 1st in his AG): https://www.jeroendemeester.be/2021/10/ironman-portugal-cascais-champion/
