88 - Just an update.

Just thought I would give you an update to my training leading up to Shepparton 70.3 in 88 days.

88 in the Chinese culture is significant. In the Cantonese dialect, it often means "Bye Bye" as 88 is pronounced similarly to bat bat. So 88 days to Shepparton and it is also bye bye to worries and stress about this race as I know that I am going to be able to complete this race and more importantly with a smile on my face.

I have been training consistently over the last few months. Swimming at least 2 sessions a week (including the favourite - Friday Endurance), on the bike at least 2 sessions a week (including at one windtrainer session with the tri bike) and running at least 2 sessions a week (at least one interval/runplay/fartlek and one long endurance/hilly run). My body maintenance has been spot on with at least one pilates class a week and time on the physio roller nearly every evening. Strength training has been great and where I have a spare moment before any swim class, its band out of the bag and work on the arms, shoulders and back muscles.

Double Happiness

88 also symbolises wealth and happiness and often used wedding invitations in the Chinese culture (commonly referred to as Double Happiness).

For me, it is a marriage, balance and harmony of both the mind and body training for this race and both these factors will need to be 100% for race day.

It is also interestingly enough that we have had the privilege of being provided with information about Energy and Hydration by Shotz (Darryl Griffiths).

Hydration - your body loses salts when you sweat and this is what makes you dehydrated. You should be consuming water with salts in it to feel hydrated and it is only then your body is able to work - using energy into movement. Contrary to what the media says about salts and how it is bad for you, it does not apply to endurance athletes. This is because we eat good foods (fresh) where as processed foods especially in take-aways are so high in salt it is ridiculous.

Energy - simple sugars such as sucrose gives you the spike but your stomach finds it hard to process it. Maltodextrin (especially in Gel form) is the quickest way to provide your body with the energy it needs over a long period of time.

Ideally (this needs to be changed to suit each individual's tolerance, weight, strategy) - No one should be just drinking water on the bike - a salt/electrolye solution is recommended to replace the salts you lose when you sweat. Energy should also be consumed on the bike and run - this could be in forms of gels, bars, bananas.

88 Training Days left until my first half ironman - I am so excited!