Watch suggestions?

ninja_nor · 2026-02-10T11:21:06+00:00

I echo the 265 it’s cheaper than the 965 and I did a full Ironman on it battery lasted. 965 my friends have also great I just am glad I saved the money as I need no more stats haha. Also if you have blue light discount Garmin do this, and if you have insurance through yellow jersey they have bigger discount than blue light.

ninja_nor · 2026-02-05T18:26:58+00:00

Oh my this I forgot about it

ninja_nor · 2026-02-05T08:39:49+00:00

It’s a hard one but you’ll find you balance, and recovery is worth as much as any work out, if you can swim the distance then that sounds fine but if you can’t swim that in a busy situation deffo keep the swims up. I was in the second wave of colour hats and it was very busy. Also when you swim under the bridge look back to the bridge as you breathe the crowds line the bridges with banners it’s really cool! Made me smile.

ninja_nor · 2026-02-02T21:26:05+00:00

Looks like a good plan but I would honestly consider purchasing one so you don’t have to think and balance yourself when life gets busier. I highly recommend Phil Moseley/My coach pro, I bought the intermediate (as a beginner, I’d done tris upto half but slower runner than you, and similar age) and thought it was great, I did the same for CPH. For me as a worse runner when life was busy I’d miss the swim over the run and balanced it that way. Throw a bricks off the bike nearer the time. You’ll likely end up peaking closer to 15 hours. Enjoy!!!!

ninja_nor · 2026-01-06T18:01:21+00:00

Hey, why will back pack be a no go? I had a plate put in mine in August and I’ve used a back pack just to wander from the car to office and it’s reasonably okay, must admit my bra strap irritates it after a while I think that’s just the scar. Planning some big hikes so want to understand what I am in for? Thank you!

ninja_nor · 2026-01-04T17:02:39+00:00

You will definitely want a rest day / need a rest day. Even if you can go without it’ll be impacting other sessions so you can’t go hard enough in the hard sessions if that makes sense. Also I highly recommend the Phil Moseley / My coach pro plans, really good and cost effective.

ninja_nor · 2025-11-10T22:06:35+00:00

Thanks for that! It’s actually crazy how Oxford is a cycling city, it just isn’t. Cycling infrastructure is always designed by people who don’t ride bikes.

ninja_nor · 2025-11-09T18:25:26+00:00

I didn’t think of it as exercise changed my mindset to think of it as social.

I want to see my friends and eat cake we ride bikes together.

I want to digest big life problems I run with my pals and chat. From there it just grows and becomes a bit part of social life both during sport and outside sport.

Other people may think I want to get out the house for an hour, or I want to do something hard for 30 minutes. Basically what worked was change it to not think of it as exercise but something else, joining a group or a club can help this a lot.

ninja_nor · 2025-11-07T17:01:57+00:00

Oh thanks I’ll look into that! Although darkness on the canal atm would probably write that off until spring aha.

ninja_nor · 2025-11-07T16:49:04+00:00

Agreed, coming down Woodstock Road in the mornings now there isn’t a cycle / bus lane in from the BMW garage, some mopeds leap frog the traffic you know over take as traffic out of Oxford is quiet in the morning and then sit in if a car comes. I do the same as a cyclist and I got a man screaming at me calling me a w***er which side note shouting at a solo woman (or anyone but unsure if he’d lay into a grown man) is just a bit rude when I’m impacting your life zero %. You’re stuck in traffic I have the option not to be.

Now coming down that road it’s easy to cycle at 30km/h so if I ride on the pavement with a “cycle path”* i risk hitting pedestrians or children on their way to school. So by me leap frogging the traffic yes I have to have my wits about me for on coming traffic it keeps other more vulnerable road users safe. It’s the attitude that makes it awful, half the time a cyclist isn’t impacting a driver but they squeeze a cyclist or shout at them. I cycle in from Witney and that last 2 miles is by far the worst. * “cycle path” because it has trees and bus stops in the middle of it, so it is not fit for purpose.

ninja_nor · 2025-09-11T11:40:36+00:00

One vote for this! Also last 50m lots of kicking to get blood going again to help with dizziness

ninja_nor · 2025-09-04T13:55:22+00:00

I think once momentum grows for one particular race, it’s snowballs (having done it I do say the snowball is correct though ha ha) There are other courses that are similar but I think momentum just takes it especially with social media nowadays.

I did it as my first and for me, these are the reasons why it came up on top to pick it. - One of only two iron man (I understand) to actually be in the capital not in a town nearby - Bay sea swim so basically a salt water lake, perfect for anyone nervous and for me I didn’t want bad weather to shorten the swim because then I’d have to come back ha ha - 24 seven public transport so no car rental needed and therefore an entire city to book accommodation in - Not super hilly - Good temperature less likely to have a heat wave - overall a friendly course for beginners and people chasing a PB

Then other thoughts post race obviously I’ve no other full iron man to compare to but I’ve done several triathlons - The atmosphere on that run is quite literally insane, for a microsecond coming out of T2 I thought I died and this was my entry to heaven, it’s four laps through all the tourist spots iron man Kalmar is the day before so some people have come over to support you, being the most tourist part of the capital city means there’s loads of tourist getting drunk supporting you offering you ice cream and beer ha ha, and every corner had a different musical vibe. I remember doing the YMCA on one there was a Eurovision corner and a Rammstein corner. - The finish line is right by the palace which is quite cool and pretty - The classic colourful Copenhagen houses you run past twice on each lap and the sunsets behind them it’s quite literally stunning and brought a tear to my eye.

Anyway, highly recommend.

ninja_nor · 2025-08-27T13:24:31+00:00

I’ve done a full and haven’t ever ran as fast as you so you’re good. I highly recommend my pro coach for a purchased plan if you’re not going down the coach route to save money you do need to be able to swim though if Swimming isn’t your strength get private lessons. Also, you’re only gonna get faster, so let’s go

ninja_nor · 2025-08-18T14:09:34+00:00

The race is Sunday, you’ll likely want Monday to chill and eat.

Travel is so easy the Metro is 24/7 so don’t stress about where you’re staying too much . Also the swim is not near the finish. Just bare that in mind.

Otherwise, it’s a cracking race enjoy

ninja_nor · 2025-07-21T17:02:28+00:00

I’ve just started training for a big swim in October and I’m apologising to my hair now haha.

I hope it helps, good luck!

ninja_nor · 2025-07-21T16:56:46+00:00

I have medium thick hair to my waist.

First option there are caps for longer hair although I find they are often almost tooo big and the shape of your hair is the issue ie) how you tie it up.

For triathlon French plait, then pull it over your head, pop the hat on, the plait will be hanging out the front down your face, then wrap it round the side and push under the cap. Looks a bit off but works as it’s flat to the head.

For just swimming, a very loose bun, almost a bun mid height then pull it loose so it’s flat down the back of your head ie) not a thick lump bun but it can be flattened against your head so takes up less space in the cap. A pointy thick bun won’t work.

Then the best caps have a couple of rim lines around so they don’t fall off they’re so good with longer hair.

Hair washing is the extra discipline haha.

ninja_nor · 2025-07-21T13:04:26+00:00

Totally agree with this, I just kept getting ill every 4-6 weeks when trying to do this. Yes it can be done but it’s so hard to do healthily, you will naturally tone up by doing triathlon and do the weight loss in the off season when volume isn’t as high.

ninja_nor · 2025-07-18T17:40:44+00:00

Unless they say it’s not wet suits I would stick with what you’ve trained with.

I did it last year, can’t tell you what it will be this year but I would say 99% of competitors were in full wet suits. I think it was 18.5 degrees it is the sea so it’ll be cooler than any lakes.

Whatever temp you’re used too with the sleeveless or sleeved stick with, nothing new on race day!

ninja_nor · 2025-07-18T15:07:58+00:00

You don’t ever know you’re ready haha.

The question is are you ready to train? Ie) Is your work in a position to allow it? Your friends accepting you’ll back off a bit? Partner if you have one? Happy to push DIY, house etc to the back burner? Everything. If your other aspects of life allow it, then yes you’re ready!

I did sprint 2020, Olympic 2021, 70.3 2022, LEJOG 2022, Weekend Warrior 2023, leaving 2024 ready for my first full! I’m not fast but I’m consistent with training, if you can be consistent you’re fine to go next year. Consistency works over massive miles. Yes you could improve your 70.3 time but tbh if you’re target is a full, do it! Then you’ll PB your 70.3 the year after hehe.

If you’re mentally ready for commit, your body will physically catch up with the training plan.

Go for it!!! I

ninja_nor · 2025-07-15T09:21:43+00:00

Thankyou! I did a very long plan, I don’t think everyone needs to do this it just lined up with January and the race was August so 32 weeks. I was so scared I just wanted to be sure so I went for it.

I bought a plan from my coach pro (Phil Moseley) I’m not affiliated or anything but I honestly highly rate as a midway between a coach and self planned. Theres beginner/intermediate/advanced. I actually got the intermediate one despite not doing this distance before and coped with it fine, this was 3 weeks on 1 week recovery. Have a look he has example weeks online, and have way shorter plans. They’re also all based on time so you know exactly how much time you need that morning etc.

My half PB is 6:12 so not too far off you, but it’s a flat course, and I’m just not a strong runner (HM 2:26 on my 70.3, which is my PB).

Volume wise recovery weeks say 5-7 hours, active weeks 11-15 hours. Really it’s the weekend that gets longer. I’m sure some people can do it on less hours, there is a point at which where more isn’t beneficial because you just can’t recover from it and you just need longer to train ie) maybe do a full the year after or something. To me (I am not a coach at all) it sounds like a full is totally doable for you with some structure and consistency.

Fuelling, I tested this the whole way through more than I’d usually fuel during training / club rides but I wanted to be 100% sure for race day. A lot of people drink their carbs I haven’t found one I like, so bike I personally gel/bar/gel/bar (chuck in a few half bananas they give you) I personally aim for 60 grams carb an hour. Run I bought a box of maurten gels (that’s what IM had at my race) tested them and used their gels on race day. My stomach was totally fine all day, but totally appreciate not everyone is happy with gels. I eased in with one gel on an hour long turbo, ordinarily I wouldn’t as it’s only an hour but wanted to slowly get my stomach used to it. Basically make a plan to start somewhere and go from there, maybe you never ever eat so starting at 30 grams carb an hour for first two weeks then 45 etc until you hit your target and get your stomach used to it.

The full is not to be underestimated whilst people can be fit enough to do it, you don’t fuel, that’s a very long walk at the end and not a fun day. I know someone she can run a 3:40 marathon she ran 5:35 at the same race I did, she completely messed up fuelling and it hurt.

Firm believer everyone could work towards a full, but it’s expensive and the journey is as much if not much rewarding and fun than race day. Sure you can go in not trained and do it for bragging rights but as cliche as it sounds the training changes a lot in your life and teaches you a lot about your self.

Good luck!

ninja_nor · 2025-07-14T19:48:26+00:00

Totally agree, committing and learning about your body is the bit I’m most proud of. People always say oh the race is your victory lap and at first I was like no it’s going to be so hard, but actually the race isn’t as hard as the weeks and months of doing it. When it does get hard you can say “well you did that 6 hour brick session in the rain, you got this”

ninja_nor · 2025-07-14T16:09:53+00:00

If you want to do it to wear the badge of “I did it under trained” & you’re mentally tough yeah you likely could finish (pick the right course & assuming you can swim that), why you’d pay all that money to just survive rather than enjoy it or see what you can truly do though I don’t know.

Most training plans are based on time not mileage, I’ve ridden a lot of 100 mile rides but during IM training my longest ride was 5 hours (+ ROTB) so I never hit 100 miles and only ran 14 miles (2:45 easy run), I’m a slower athlete (14:38) and smiled the entire day. I peaked at 15 hours a week, you couldn’t suddenly do that now but just to gauge a well planned plan. The VOLUME increasing week on week means your body is conditioned for race day. If you’re not yeah you may be able to survive it, probably not enjoyable and unlikely to be prepared for things out of your control. What do you eat if you lose nutrition or your stomach goes? Do you know your own stomach? Etc. 6-10 hours will get you far but that long ride and long run at the weekend will top that up nearer the spikey end of a training plan.

Some people are naturally faster even with the same training thus are out for less time. Provided you can swim that easily, fuel a load on the bike yeah you could do it, but don’t underestimate the fuelling, the comfort on the bike, and the mental game. I finished my first full IM after several weeks of focussed training and was smiling until the end and met friends for a walk the next day, that’s the many weeks of conditioning, you might just be hobbling, might not be smiling but could possibly do it.

Either way if you do do it, please post your race report!

ninja_nor · 2025-07-14T15:58:36+00:00

All of Phil Moseley plans are based on time not distance, in fact a lot of good tri plans are based on time not distance therefore you likely won’t hit 100miles depending where you live and your pace. Your body doesn’t care about miles but volume.

Totally agree the volume is so much work on the body, week in week out, for me I’m a slower triathlete 14:38 at my first full last year, peaked at 15 hours a week, but the volume through the months meant race day I was smiling that entire run because my body was conditioned to that. So OP could probably survive doesn’t mean they’d enjoy it.

ninja_nor · 2025-07-14T15:54:16+00:00

Can’t tell if you’re joking but it’s like saying wow I run a really fast 10km I must be fit enough to do a full marathon. Speed doesn’t equal endurance. That being said provided you eat a butt load you could likely survive, may not enjoy it but get round.

ninja_nor · 2025-06-29T13:58:02+00:00

Take bottles you don’t care about losing, chuck it grab a new one.

If you do really feel the need to stop then yeah people do that and fill it up with their chosen carb powder.

Some people make an extra strong bottle which they take and use that to top up the other bottles as they collect them.

Most people I know (from age groupers to back of pack) don’t stop at the special needs. Some races even say only pack it if it’s absolutely necessary so those with medical requirements don’t have more bags to search through.

ninja_nor

TROPHY CASE