Adina Levy

Sprint Triathlon before I turn 30... TICK!

On Saturday, training was a complete sprint triathlon dress rehersal at Kurnell. I am so so pleased with how it all went! I'm sure it will lead to less surprises on the day :D

The swim start was in heavy rain (which didn't stay around too long). My main memory of it is plenty of jellyfish (harmless ones, I'm told) and trying to sight but only being able to follow a trail of orange swimming caps. Luckily everyone else was going in the right direction!

Swim time for 750m: 14:36 (Helped by the tide I'd say, but still very very pleased with this time!)

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On to the bike - It was a slow start in the first 5km with hills, unfamiliar roads (and still slowly gaining confidence on the bike with cleats). I warmed into it and managed to keep an average pace of very close to 25km/hr from 5-20km, which I'm pleased with. THere was a lot of shouting nice things at other Can Tooers and being shouted at with nice things. The encouragement that everyone shares with each other is so invaluable and a big part of why I had so much fun!

Bike time for 20km: 50:29 (I reckon I can improve on this for the real thing!)

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Then onwards to the run - It was 3 repeats of and out-and-back course that ended with running around a marshall. I had the distinct feeling that he kept moving further and further away :P The run was steady, and my mind was really into just grinding away the kms. I had a job to do and I got it done. The end was very very sweet - being one of the slower folks, all my training buddies and more Can Too folk were cheering me in at the end - again this is so powerful and made me work just that much harder in the final metres.

This was my first 5km run since tearing my calf about 2 months ago - I am so so pleased I can run the distance and feel great afterwards!

Run time for 5km: 34:53 (More improvement to come I hope!)

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Total time (including transitions): 1:46:44

Overall this 'practice' race was such a confidence booster! All I can do now is train the best I can and stay non-injured and healthy, and then see what I can come up with on the day! (19 days to go!)

On the fundraising side of things - The support from family and friends, old and new, has been overwhelming! I am so lucky to have such generous people to support me in my crazy endeavours and to support the very important work that Can Too's funds makes possible - helping more cancer researchers be able to carry out their research ideas, and moving towards more cures and less cancer.

5 workouts for 2016, by the 2nd day!

Before midday on 2nd of Jan I had completed 5 workouts (needless to say the 3rd was a rest day!). Training over the holidays was actually pretty steady, considering I was in 3 different cities/locations. I managed to find a local outdoor pool with a duck in it north of Brisbane, hike to the top of Australia's highest mountain (or hill, depends how you look at our 2228m Kosciuszko), and cycle and run a few times. Now it's back to regular programming with huge Saturday mornings of bike/run/swim training and more throughout the week. Only 5 weeks to go now, so it's time to dive in and get on with the hard work (enjoyable too!).

For xmas I got a fancy new triathlon watch, and one of my favourite functions is the GPS open water tracking. The photo is from New Years Day group swim from Clovelly to Gordon's Bay, my longest open water swim ever! The other advantage about my new fancy gadget is that it makes me feel like a Real Triathlete (a slow one, but one nonetheless!).

Until the next update...

Adina

Learning to walk/ride/swim/run from the start

The last few weeks have been pretty challenging as I've learned to ride my bike with cleats (scars included) and learned a totally new swim stroke. My physio is also getting me to use a different posture when I walk and run so I'm essentially re-learning EVERYTHING! Fairly exhausting but I'm starting to come out the other side and feel the pay-offs.

Today was 1km 'straights and curves' at the running track (I did 2 of the 4 sets, as I'm still being careful to increase bit by bit after an injury). I'm really pleased with my times 6:17 and 6:20 - for a slowpoke like me it's great to move away from the 7 minute kms!

The next few weeks I'll be training on my own as I'm off to Brisbane, Canberra and Perisher. Exciting holidays with not a lot planned other than TRAIN! Lots of swim/run/bike on my own so I can return on Jan to the group training and SMASH IT!

On the fundraising front I've been making Power Slice™ and selling it at training. It's a date and almond slice and it's selling like hotcakes! All natural, all energy, all deliciousness. I'm going to keep up the power slice sales in the new year so look out! I am happy to take special orders for 10 power slices, and may even deliver it to you!

Until next time...

A

Today is the day (Well, Saturday actually)

Today is the day... Of my first big bike/swim training session with Can Too for a sprint triathlon in February.
Today is also the day... That I was brave/silly enough to get proper shoes and cleats for my bike.
If you feel like spurring me on in my training, donations to Can Too would be very much appreciated, however small or big.

More updates to come. Particularly fun ones may be about my first try with the cleats... Stay tuned!

Adina

I'm training for a Sprint Triathlon with Can Too!

Friends and family!

I am training for a Sprint Triathlon in February with Can Too. They are a health promotion organisation that engages and inspires individuals and the community to achieve personal health, wellbeing and altruistic goals.

Can Too provides training and coaching for the event, and in return I am raising funds that go towards innovation in the prevention, care and control of cancer. Most funds raised go to Cure Cancer Australia, who support innovations in research. Funds also go to The Cancer Council NSW. Both excellent organisations are doing incredible work to minimise the risks and dangers of cancer.

Thank you for your support! It's greatly appreciated and will make me swim, bike and run that bit faster!

Adina