Halfway There
I’ve reached the halfway point of this triathlon training, which on paper sounds like I’ve got a grip on things and know exactly what I’m doing. The reality is a bit less polished than that. It’s more a case of still turning up, still putting the work in, and still trying to convince my body that this was a sensible decision rather than one of my better bad ideas. That said, being halfway does mean something. A few months ago this was just talk, the usual “I should probably do something about it” conversation that never really goes anywhere. Now it’s miles in the legs, lengths in the pool, and a routine that has somehow embedded itself into everyday life.
I was at The Grosvenor the other night setting up the quiz and had a few more comments along the lines of “you look good.” I still don’t quite know how to take that. Growing up, that wasn’t exactly the standard feedback, so hearing it now feels slightly odd, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t appreciate it. Something is clearly changing. There’s no mystery behind it either. No injections, no powders, no grand plan. It’s the same thing people have always been told and usually try to avoid hearing. Eat a bit less and move a bit more. That’s all it is. Although I remain convinced that a week of cycling only just balances out one proper plate of fish and chips and a couple of cans of Pepsi. I haven’t done the calculations, but I’ve got a fair idea which side is winning.
Training has just sort of grown. There wasn’t a big moment where it suddenly stepped up, it’s just gradually become more of a thing. Longer rides are now normal, swims are more frequent, and running has finally made an appearance, even if it still feels like something I’m borrowing rather than something I actually do. One ride ended up just over 40 miles, not through careful planning but because the Bawdsey ferry wasn’t running, so we had to double back and head out via Woodbridge. There were plenty of hills, plenty of effort, and a few moments where I questioned the decision-making process that led me there, but that’s part of it. The rest of it is just fitting sessions in where they can go. Swimming a couple of times a week before work and again on Sunday morning, extending the ride to and from work to add extra miles on the bike, and the running still not as frequent as it should be.
Whilst cycling comes naturally, it’s the swimming improvements I’m most happy with. I started with 10 lengths with a good minute in between, then increased to 12 before settling on 16, which is roughly a quarter of a mile. Now, on the advice from coach Gemma, I’ve switched to swimming for 20 minutes and seeing how many lengths I can manage. Build the stamina and the distance will follow.
Now for the kit. I’ve got proper swimming shorts, which meant addressing something I genuinely thought was completely normal for most of my life, which was wearing boxer shorts underneath. Turns out that isn’t a thing. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid, purely down to my mum’s advice at the time, which was along the lines of “put your pants on underneath, if your shorts fall down you don’t want everyone seeing your little willy.” Fair enough logic when you’re eight. Less relevant now. So the boxer shorts have gone. Swimming shorts only. No issues so far, which is always reassuring.
Next step is prescription goggles. £122 for a pair of goggles may finally mean I can swim under water. But it may mean facing up to my fear and finally admitting I’m a bit scared of putting my head under water!.
One thing I didn’t really expect from all this is the people side of it. You turn up to the pool often enough and suddenly you’re not just the bloke in the slow lane trying not to drown. People start talking, asking how it’s going, taking an interest. Walney, Birdy, Pat, Roger and the rest of them have all been great. It’s only small conversations, bits of encouragement here and there, but it makes a difference. It stops it feeling like you’re just grafting away on your own. The same goes outside of that. Katie, as always, just nods along when I come up with another bright idea and doesn’t try too hard to talk me out of it, which probably says a lot. Louise has been there from the start, and Gemma’s advice has been massive. No nonsense, just telling me what I should and shouldn’t be doing, which is exactly what I need.
Physically, things are changing. Not in a dramatic, overnight sort of way, but enough to notice. Clothes fit better, some now hang off me, moving feels easier, and certain areas are definitely smaller than they’ve been for a long time, including the boobs. It’s not complicated, it just shows that the work is doing something. The bigger change, though, is in the head. The sessions themselves are manageable. Some are harder than others, but none of them are impossible. The difficult bit is getting out the door when you don’t fancy it, which is more often than you’d think. That voice is always there, telling you to leave it, do it tomorrow, you’ve done enough already. That’s the real battle. The only difference now is I’m not entertaining that conversation as much. The decision has already been made, so you just get on with it.
There’s a line from The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner that sums it up quite well. It’s just you and the effort. No shortcuts, no one else doing it for you. That’s where this is now. The talking bit is long gone. This is just the doing. From here it’s about building things properly, getting the running up to a decent level, making the swim feel less like survival, and keeping the bike consistent. Then turning up on the day looking like I at least vaguely belong there.
The Numbers So Far
From 14th December 2025 to 1st April 2026, this is where it’s got to:
Swimming has crept up nicely. What started as stopping every few lengths has turned into 8.75km in total, which is about 5.4 miles. Still plenty of work to do, but it’s no longer a case of just trying to survive each session.
Cycling is doing most of the heavy lifting, which probably isn’t a surprise. 1,034.61km on the bike so far, or just under 650 miles in old money. That includes the longer rides, the extended commutes, and all the bits in between. This is where the base has really built.
Walking has quietly added up as well. 86.78km, just under 54 miles, without really thinking about it too much. It’s not the focus, but it all counts.
Running is still the one that needs the most work. 7.4km so far, about 4.6 miles. It’s started, which is the main thing, but there’s a lot more to come here before July.
Plenty done. Plenty still to do.
Dec 14th 2025 to April 1st 2026
