The beginnings

OK. Let's start with a few bits and bobs about what this blog is about and a bit about me.

This blog is my attempt at recording my training, thoughts etc etc towards entering and hopefully completing (competing in?) the NZ Coast to Coast race in 2010. This is basically a race across NZ's South Island running, cycling and kayaking. It can be done as an individual across 1 day or 2 days (there is a team event but I am not really interested in competing in that). More discussion on which event I decide to go for in later posts.

The format is basically a:
3km run
55km cycle
33km run
15km cycle
67km kayak
70km cycle

The best overview is to look at the overview of the course at http://www.coasttocoast.co.nz/Coast_to_Coast.pdf


My biography (sporting)

Running
Running on/off for 27 years (more on than off). Completed quite a few marathons both on roads and in hills/cross country. Completed numerous half marathons and shorter distance events as well as a few longer distance events over 50km-80km (30-50miles).
PBs - 10km 38:50 (a long time ago), half marathon 1:27:45 (4 years ago), marathon 3:19:xx 6 years ago

Cycling
Never really trained at cycling as an end in itself. More as a necessity for competing in triathlons from 1991-1998. Not done very much until a couple of months ago since then

Kayaking
Did lots of whitewater and slalom paddling back in the 80s. Got to quite a respectable level (div1) in C2 slalom in UK and lower divisions in C1 and K1. Nothing before in multisport boats

Recent training (with respect this event)

Started cycling again after 10 year break (apart from odd couple of week periods of training) in November 2008. Can now cycle a very hilly 45km route without too much difficulty and suspect I could complete a ride called "Long Bays" without killing myself. Need to work on this discipline quite a bit as have very little leg strength nowadays.

Started in long multisport boats in Jan 09 and have had about 8-10 sessions so far. Need lots more experience in this discipline especially in terms of longer distance stuff and moving water. Live very near the estuary and open ocean which hope to use a lot once own kayak purchased.

Running has been very sporadic over last few months although with a lot of years in the legs I know I can get back to fairly comfortably running 30km in a couple of months. However, since a great deal of the run section (should probably call it mountain section as not sure what sort of rhythm you can keep up) is very mountainous and rocky I need to spend a lot more time running steep hills and boulder hopping.