Training Review - Week 21 - May 22 to 28

Monday I still had to go to work. I pedalled both ways just for something to do, and in the evening I went to swimming but just paddled up and down in lane 2 while everyone worked on their open water drills.

Tuesday was lost to travelling. The red-eye to Heathrow, a flight to Vienna without my bag making the connection (although Tamarah's identical bag made it?!) and a drive through the 30 degree blazing sun with no sunglasses to get to our hotel in Bratislava. My bag did arrive about an hour later as the BA driver took the toll road while we meandered along the scenic route by the Danube. We did manage to make it out in to the city in the evening to see the Presidential palace and get some dinner before crashing out.

Wednesday morning I went out for an easy 20 minute jog before we headed out to do touristy things for the rest of the day. The temperature was much cooler, almost like home. Visiting the castle and the old town with a couple of cafe stops filled out our day nicely. If you can get past the abundant gravity and the general lack of repair of some parts of Bratislava the rest is actually up there with any other city in Europe. If the amount of ongoing building work is any sign of the future, Bratislava will be a fantastic place to visit in about 5-10 years time. it isn't bad now, but it could still do with a bit of work and an influx of some Americanised customer service.

Thursday I took another easy jog in the morning before another day of serious touristing, with the temperatures at home soaring into the mid-20s we were left wandering around in the high-teens. Starting with a visit to the Slavin, a huge monument on the hill dedicated to fallen Soviet soldiers, then back into town and through the Bratislava city museum. Racking up 24,000 steps in a day was not really in my tapering plan, but it was another proper holiday day.

Friday I finally had to get a bit more serious about racing. In the morning I did some yoga and stretching before a less touristy day. The hotel room was a bit small but I managed to get some done. The afternoon was registration, briefing and swim familiarisation. Nice water, could easily swim without the wetsuit but the general chat is that the suit is faster so I will be wearing it. After another nice meal in town and a nearly 20k step 'rest' day we had an evening of giggles trying to apply the number transfers and watching Facebook posts of some of the other efforts. 

Saturday was ETU Bratislava Aquathon, which will get a post to itself. And then a drive to Vienna for the last couple of days of our holiday. 

Sunday I decided to take a rest day rather than a recovery run. That still turned into >25k step day as we walked down to Schonbrunn Palace. This also resulted in my first sunburn of the week as the temperature finally broke through 30 degrees.

Target totals - Swim 1.5 miles. Bike 14.0 miles. Run 3.0 miles. 

1 short core, 0 short light weights and 2 short stretching sessions. 40 mins of yoga.

Monday - Commute ride to office 7.1 miles in 29 mins.
Commute ride from office 6.9 miles in 30 mins.
Swim with TPT 1,200m in 50 mins. 

Tuesday - Travel day.

Wednesday - Easy jog 1.6 miles in 16 mins. 

Thursday - Easy jog 2.0 miles in 22 mins.

Friday - Swim familiarisation 500m in 10 mins. 
Stretching session.
Yoga session 10 mins.

Saturday - ETU Bratislava.
1,000m swim in 17:31.
5,000m run in 20:48.

Sunday - Rest day


Actuals - Swim 1.7 miles (1,700 m). Bike 14.0 miles. Run 6.7 miles. 0 short core, 0 short light weights and 1 stretching / rollering session. 10 mins of yoga.

Cumulative (Cumulative target) [Cumulative Stretch target]
S 66.6 (62.0) [71.3], 
B 829.3 (620.0) [744.0], 
R 424.6 (375.0) [423.8].