End of Year Review


So, as with every year, the most obvious place to start is with the targets I set for the year way back in January. Except life got in the way, so a lot of them are meaningless. 

Against those targets:


Targets by numbers

Represent GBR age-group at an international event.
Take part in a GBR age-group qualifying race for a 2020 European Champs.
Take part in a GBR age-group qualifying race for a 2020 World Champs.


Swim 141.5 miles. - 146.3 miles

Swim under 6:15 minutes for 400m. - 6:21 at Fraserburgh Aquathlon.
Swim under 12:00 minutes for 750m. - 11:22 at Dundee Aquathlon. (might have been short 50m?).
Swim under 26:00 minutes for 1,500m. - 25:13 at Huntly Standard. (might have been short 50m?).


Ride 1,850 miles. - 1,709 miles

Run 745 miles. - 745.6 miles

Run a 5k in under 20 mins or 10k in under 43 mins. - 20:09 at Elgin Parkrun. 44:48 for Moray 10k.

>52 Yoga sessions 
>52 Stretching and rollering sessions.
>40 Core sessions.
>40 Weights sessions.

>50 Run reps or ‘fast’ sessions. 
<50 ‘Junk’ swim session.

Stopped counting all these properly after May.

Stretch Targets

Qualify for the GBR Age-group team for a 2020 European Championships. - Selected for Walchsee.
Qualify for the GBR Age-group team for a 2020 World Championships. - Did the times, waiting for the official notification.
Medal at the Scottish Aquathlon Champs. - Didn't go. 
Finish top-20 at World Aquathlon Champs.- 34th.

Swim 155.7 miles. - 146.3 miles.

Swim under 5:53 minutes for 400m.
Swim under 11:46 minutes for 750m. - 11:22 at Dundee Aquathlon. (might have been short 50m?).
Swim under 25:30 for 1,500m. - 25:13 at Huntly Standard. (might have been short 50m?).

Ride 2,035 miles. - 1,709 miles.

Ride a 10-mile TT in under 26:00.
Ride a 25-mile TT in under 1 hour 12 mins.

Run 819.5 miles. - 745.6 miles.

'Run my age' for 10k.

Run a 5k in under 19:20 or 10k in under 41 mins. -  20:09 at Elgin Parkrun. 44:48 for Moray 10k.
Run another 5k in under 19:40 or 10k in under 42 mins. - 20:09 at Elgin Parkrun. 44:48 for Moray 10k.

>78 Yoga sessions
>78 Stretching and rollering sessions.
>52 Core sessions.
>52 Weights sessions.

And so to the great long text bit where I try to make sense of all of that:

Swimming

2019 was my longest swim year ever. 

 Despite losing a chunk of time in May and June, I still came up with a big number for the end of the year. Mostly thanks to being unemployed since August and having the time to swim any day I feel like it. 

 I was swimming really well until April. Sticking to my plan to do designed sessions rather than just junk swims. From May onwards I lost that control and ended up doing an awful lot of junk swim sessions. I did some decent race times but not really what I had hoped for. I still think there is more to come in the pool than I am managing. 

 Dundee Aquathlon looked like a performance step change, but it may have been 50m short. Huntly Standard Triathlon also looks like a good swim, but may also have been 50m short. 

Overall I am happy enough with my swimming numbers through the year. 


Biking

I didn't Time Trial at all. Partly due to work, partly that I just didn't feel like it. 

 The riding I did do was either easy commuting or turbo sessions. The only consistent bit of bike training was in August and September when I did my alphabet challenge. It is getting into my head way too much that the bike is my weak sport and I could just be an Aquathlon specialist. 


Running

The start and end of the year were both good for running and I did sneak over my target for the year, on literally the last day of the year. I am at least back to being able to run properly after nearly 2 years of ankle rehab. It would have been nice to get under 20 minutes for a legit 5k somewhere. 


Triathlon

Most of the triathlon targets I set were around getting in to GB teams. I was at the World Aquathlon Championships this year. I also managed to qualify again for the 2020 European Champs in Walchsee, Austria and should have qualified for the World Champs in Almere, Netherlands. I had an okay race season. Probably should have done more races. 

I didn't go to the Scottish Aquathlon Championships. 

I went to the World Aquathlon Champs and came a disappointing 34th.

I didn't go to the European Aquathlon Champs despite having the qualifying and selection. 

Others

I got ridiculously lazy again and did a fraction of what I should have. Especially after May. 

 ----------------------

Other, Others

I was rubbish at blogging after May. 

I am going to write a plan for 2020, but the minute I get a real job it gets thrown out. 



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