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Sophie's journey to Tri Liverpool - February

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We met Sophie last month when she made her vow to take on her very first triathlon in 2016. See how she's getting on as the Tri Liverpool start-lines edges ever closer...

"As with a large proportion of the population, I started the New Year determined to begin my 12 months ahead of training with real purpose. However, these plans were soon destroyed due to the word that fills any sportsperson with dread: injury.

Over Christmas, while running I had felt a niggle around my right heel, which got worse with each run I attempted. This accumulated in me limping back from a morning run, simply unable to continue as the pain was too much. Diagnosed with tendonitis, the order was rest - something, as my friends would confirm, I simply do not do. My saviour however was the fact that I had entered the Liverpool Winter Run 10k in mid-January, which my sister would be traveling to Liverpool to join me for. Therefore I was determined to make it to the start line. Consequently I vowed not to run, but instead cross train to cover my desire to exercise, and combined this with immersing my foot in ice multiple times each day.

The benefit of training for a triathlon was that my cycling cross training sessions now did not feel pointless. In fact I really enjoyed them! I completed high intensity interval (HIIT) sessions on Watt bikes at my University, which came with the added motivation of many of my friends joining in the training. Intense and quick, I loved the change in structure from my more traditional longer, slower-paced workouts and being able to push myself during the intervals. It was also great to exercise with friends, providing extra motivation, encouragement and the opportunity for a few sweaty selfies!

I strongly believe this training assisted me with my Winter Run 10k performance and after two weeks of no running at all, I lined up at the start line feeling stupidly nervous. How fast should I run? Can I even run this far with no training? Answer: of course I could! In fact I beat my previous PB time in the process, finishing in 46.55 minutes. Thankfully my ankle did not flare up at all and I really enjoyed the race and being able to run with my sister and fellow Nike Run Club members. This has taught me a valuable lesson; to listen to your body and not push on with an injury, something I will take forward over the rest of the year.

I am now planning on easing back into the mileage and frequency of my running sessions again, whilst continuing the HIIT cycle sessions.

So this month, I’ve covered running and cycling; as for swimming, well I’ve bought some goggles…."

 

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