Triathlon Training....the end is in sight!

This Saturday 2nd August my 4 months of training should have paid off, the big Virgin Triathlon has arrived (and I am terrified!)  I have been proud of what I have achieved over the last couple of months especially, in particular the swimming of which I can now do front crawl and look half way decent.  I have learnt it so well thanks to Virgin Adult Swimming lessons that I feel I might even attempt the Triathlon with that stoke, something I never thought possible a few weeks ago!

I feel that I will carry on cycling around London whenever possible too.  This training has changed my life style I have enjoyed every second of it and hope I have now inspired a few of you to keep doing the same!  We are in a stage where health and fitness have become imperative in our lives people are really enjoying it, the whole fashion industry is getting involved like I have never seen before and being healthy has become a normal part of life not in an obsessive way but in a way of balance you can enjoy your life socialising but balance it with exercise.  There is so much to choose from that there must be something out there that you can start to enjoy too!

If you want to support me even more then please find the link for donations that myself and my three other crazy friends are raising, this time for Great Ormond Street Hospital

https://www.justgiving.com/SimplyTRI/

thanks in advance and good luck to anyone else taking part roll on the next challenge for 2015, what will it be!  

Training for the Triathlon

This weekend I took myself on a 20 mile cycle to and from Richmond Park but cycling isn't something you have to wear the 'right gear' for unless you are racing, so a simple shorts and t- shirt combo with my must have plimsol trainers are perfect summer cycling wear! This week I am giving away a pair of must have Kenzo for Vans white soled trainers for one lucky reader to exercise in style with! Just leave a comment below, on Instagram @nataliehartleywears or RT the blog on twitter to enter! Deadline Sunday 27th July...good luck!

Men's grey marl t-shirt by Uniqlo

Men's shorts (cut to right length and roll up) by Gap

Trainers by Celine

Want to WIN these this week?!

Triathlon Training ... the kit

who doesn't want a wetsuit (or a unitard!)

The pieces exhibited here are my essential kit for the Triathlon who ever said that a triathlon was sexy!) but sadly with a wardrobe full of cool sporting attire the end result will be held wearing these figure hugging numbers! To be honest am not really sure i would want to swim in the thames with anything less than a wetsuit, in an ideal world a face mask with breathing apparatus would be nice too!  Then the wetsuit comes off to reveal this unitard which remains the look of the day to get you through the half marathon cycle and the 5km run

I have been swimming three times a week at Virgin Active, cycling my Tokyo Bike nearly everyday and taking spinning classes once a week at Psycle and Boom! Cycle with three weeks left it is full steam ahead lets hope I don't injure myself in the process as there is a lot that can happen between now and then!

Triathlon Training

New training clobber!

Dress like an athlete I have been told! 

 With so many people entering this thing I need my spectators to spot me in the crowds so have picked a selection of pieces to help get me spotted in the crowd! Colourful trainers seem then obvious choice and whether you want to wear chic monochrome with a spot of colour or just mix it all up these pieces are essentials to wear and a supportive bra probably the most important whether you have tits or not (as my case may be!)so head to Adidas and take your pick it's all available in store now

Or for those who want to go even brighter this is an essential light weight jacket by Nike that geniusly keeps you warm and free from rain but feels like you are wearing nothing

Summer Whites.....

 The master at slogan tee's Henry Holland and this time he says 'wear them with nothing' so I have.  No colour that is (apart from the specs), its all about white for a clean fresh approach to summer for me.  This week you can WIN my outfit (the t-shirt and trousers) so please leave a comment below to enter or find me on instagram nataliehartleywears and leave a comment there, deadline Saturday 12th July, good luck! 

TIP... simple tailored trousers are my summer must have piece great with all shoe styes and just add a top of your choice but for me the t-shirt is the ultimate in effortless style trying not to hard is key for me for summer dressing

t-shirt by house of holland

trousers by banana republic

shoes by nike

sunglasses by karen walker

Triathlon Training, The Next Installment.....

Swimming!

So my big challenge when I started was to take up front crawl and this has been a big hurdle since the beginning.  I can swim don't get me wrong but everyone has been explaining how front crawl is a more effective and faster for the event.  Our recent trip to Tokyo got me swimming three times that week but purely because I could walk from my room to the pool and no effort was necessary.  But I can't do more than 2 lengths with front crawl, I just can't get the breathing right and the coordination of arms and breathing plus I feel like my body is a heavy weight and not gracefully cutting through the water!  I have taken drastic action and contacted Virgin Active for adult swimming lessons.  

This week was my first session and besides feeling a bit stupid using flippers and floats in the swimming pool the count down is on and commit to this challenge and learn the skill that got me into signing up for the Triathlon in the first place.  He starts with the basics and then we put it altogether for a final few lengths drowning as I swim he explains that actually practise makes perfect and I should be swimming four times a week!  Who has time for that I ask but I think with a month to go I have to make this happen so this weekend is spent swimming and the following and the following.  It's good to have a challenge to work towards its the only way to get fit and stop you feeling guilty when you still smoke!

For anyone grown up out there who fancies joining me and learning to swim properly contact Virgin Active gyms and get a personal trainer its well worth it and doesn't matter how old you are!