A new blog! This one will chart the adventures of Monique and me as we train and race triathlon.
Many years ago, my second ever blog post was about my first multisport event. Since that time eight years ago, I have done more and more triathlons and duathlons. Last year was my first ever half-iron distance. I had thought about a full Ironman in 2015, but after a dismal showing at the Ironman 70.3 in St. Pölten this year, I decided I don't have the mental endurance.
Monique started running (with a passion) a little over two years ago. Her running career culminated in an amazing 3:32 at the Berlin Marathon in 2013. Now, running is not enough for her and she wants to start triathlon, and cross-triathlon in particular.
We decided that we would like to share our triathlon experiences in the blogospere. I will write about my adventures in English and Monique, naturally, will write about hers in German. We might even translate each other's blog for your sake :).
So... on with the blog!
Today was interval training for running. Monique is (among other things) a coach at Sportskanonen. I used to be a running coach at Trigantium. So, I led a group of three relatively new runners in the warm-up and Monique led us in the actual interval training. Then I took over again for stretching at the end.
We trained this time in the park around Schönbrunn Palace. Monique had scoped out a circuit of around 800m. The interval was divided into the following segments:
- An uphill sprint of about 120m.
- A gentle jog of about 300m.
- Down some stairs
- Stride back up the stairs (two times)
- A little slaloming through some trees
- Two more times striding up the stairs.
- Gentle jog back the way we came to the beginning.
- Repeat as necessary.
The intervals focussed on
- Sprinting up the hill
- Lifting the knees and pulling the arms back up the stairs
I managed 4 of these intervals before my asthma made it progressively difficult.
Apart from not getting enough air in my lungs (normally not an issue, but I have been having problems with my asthma for the last three weeks), it was actually an enjoyable workout. When I am training regularly (which hasn't been the case this season), I try to include one sprint/interval workout per week. This one is recommendable.
