I’m back from holiday and into my biggest week yet.. I took on my first ever brick session – yes, cycling straight into a run — and then topped it off by running an implusive Bristol half marathon. 😮💨 Honestly? It nearly broke me, but that’s Ironman training for you.
If you’re deep into triathlon prep or just starting your journey, this is the raw, honest side of swim-bike-run life you don’t always see. From long runs to one of the toughest cycling moments I’ve had yet, this week tested everything —legs, lungs, and mindset.
📍 Based in Bristol, UK
🏊♂️ 🚴♂️ 🏃♂️ Triathlon Training Vlogs Every Week
🎯 Goal: Half Ironman – July 20, 2025 (Tribourne Half Ironman)
🎥 What to expect:
My first brick workout breakdown
Half marathon training update
Behind the scenes of real Ironman prep
Honest highs + lows from week 7 of 16
Let’s normalize struggling through training, because it’s all part of the journey to race day.
#IronmanTraining #HalfIronmanJourney #BrickWorkout #TriathlonTraining #SwimBikeRun #CyclingFails #RunningMotivation #TriathleteVlog #BristolTriathlon #TrainingVlog
Welcome back. Oh gang, we are Oh, we are back. We are back. We are back. Had about three weeks in Scotland. My family came over from New Zealand. Uh went traveling around Scotland. It’s been amazing. But that’s why, you know, the the vlogs haven’t been there. So, it was a good time to reset, explore a lot. I did do a little bit of running. I ran a half marathon in Scotland. Back in 2022, I ran a half marathon in each country we traveled to while we did van life around Europe for a year. So, I had to carry on that streak. Got my Scotland one done after pretty much 3 weeks of drinking. And it was tough. So, we were back into it this morning with a swim. I only managed 600 m, which is, you know, not that great, but it was just good to roll the arm over. I just I’m just knackered still. So, I’m going to ease back into it this week. Really ramp up cuz we’ve got nine weeks to go now until the event. So, we need to get cracking, guys. I’m excited. I’m excited to really lock in on this. Make some good videos. Really just track it and build. So, all right, Wednesday night. Going to do a quick run with Charlie. Little 5k. Just easy one around the harbor. Ease into it. Like I said, we’re just building this week. So, a nice little 5k. Actually, her idea, I wasn’t even going to do one. So, it’s good she’s dragging me out. Start ticking the legs over again after the halfy. [ __ ] no. Didn’t mean to be matching. High five. Oh god. Right. We got a 5k done around the harbor. Nice and easy. About 555 pace. Look. Good to get back into it. Like I said, we got nine weeks, team. nine weeks to start building for this. So, I’m going to start eating right. Project getting jacked starts tomorrow. I’m going to the gym. I’m going to try and commit to two gyms a week. The running’s feeling good. The swimming will take a while. The bike will take a while, but that’s all part of the journey. That’s all part of the journey. So, we’ll see you tomorrow morning. [Music] is trying to take it. [Music] Okay, I’m just going to pop you guys there. It’s been a good start to the week. We did the swim yesterday, obviously the run. This morning I did my first gym session. So I think I’m going to try and get at least two in. This morning was bench press, incline, dips, chin-ups. Now chin-ups I suck at. Dips I suck at. Actually, all of it I’m just not very good at anymore. I think I fell out of love with it because I used to gym so much with rugby and it just kind of seemed like a chore. So now I’m just like trying to get back into it. I need to, you know, need to get a little bit less fat, guys. Need to get a little bit less fat, to be honest. So, gym this morning was good. I’m now getting back from my first bike ride back on Zift. Just going to do like an hour. Um, so just lock in for a little bit. I think just like slowly build it up towards this weekend and then I don’t want to do too much too quick. It’s going good, guys. It’s going good. I’m keen to get back into swing. Keen to get back into routine a little bit. This needs it. My head needs it. My ballet needs it. And we have got a lot to do before I get over that finish line. Right. All set up. We’re going to do an hour. I’m going to chuck on podcast. I had troubles with this before I left. So hopefully Swift goes all right this time. Oh man, I did I did about I don’t actually know like 36. I did 20k. I did 20k. I don’t know how long I did. I did 20k. I was just like get it done. Need to slowly build up. Maybe an hour was a bit ahead of myself. Just straight away my legs were a little bit sore. But fixed Zift. If you’ve been watching for a little bit, I’ve had real trouble with Zift. First I didn’t calibrate it. Then I realized I hadn’t been tightening it enough. So now it’s good. Now I feel like it’s more accurate. I can go with that. So I’m happy. swim tomorrow. Going to try getting another cheeky gym and then long on runs on the weekend. Happy to be back, guys. Happy to be back. Oh, hey. Hey. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. We Friday morning. We’re getting off to the pool. Quick little check. Got our new Claven brand hoodie on. Don’t know if you can see the back. Hey. Hey. Anyway, anyway, off to the pool this morning. Don’t mind the room. A little bit messy. Shards away this. Let’s just ignore that. Let’s just ignore that. Off to the pool this morning. I’m going to try and do just 2K this morning. I’m getting ready. I’ve been talking to my brother back around the training program this weekend. I’m going to try my first brick session, but we’ll talk more about that tomorrow. Today, we’re getting into the pool 2K just however the [ __ ] I want to do it. Slowly building back up. My titties are sore from the gym yesterday. Like, first gym back. God, I’m weak as. I am weak as. Let’s go warm these titties up. That sounded bad. Let’s go. Let’s go get this swim going. Get cranking. Oh, y Friday morning been. How’s your morning been? You lazy [ __ ] No, sorry. Sorry. I’m just a little bit angry this morning. Billy was in the [ __ ] pool again. Look, I’m going to give him props to be fair. Been away for a couple weeks. Come back. He was doing freestyle and I was like, “Go on, Billy.” But the consistency is [ __ ] paying off for you. Then he started doing bra stroke and I was like, “Oh no, breast stroke. [ __ ] sake.” And then the butterfly came out and it was just Billy was back. Billy was back in the audacity of him. Once I hop out of the pool, he moves to the slow lane. He goes from the fast lane to the slow lane to do his bra stroke. Like [ __ ] hell, man. [ __ ] Anyway, 2K done this morning. Great to be back. I did it in 333 meter intervals, which is 10 laps of my pool. Felt good to get back. My shoulder was a little bit sore at the end, but I was doing all right to be fair. But considering the other day I just did 600, so we’re back into it. Need to build up the distance, but swimming honestly is just consistency. My titties tired by the end of it. Let’s keep going. [ __ ] big yellow’s out as well. What a day. All right. So, I thought I’d just like start cuz I really want to start focusing on my nutrition side a little. I’m just going to start talking about what I’ve been doing. And look, this is absolutely just like beginner basics. I am need to start looking into a little bit more. I want to lose a little bit of weight for the race. And like I I don’t know enough about it. I used to when I played rugby, I used to go to a nutritionist all the time, but like I never just like absorbed the information. It was just like being told what to eat basically and like at the same time I was drinking quite a lot. So like it’s probably a waste of time really. But I just in the morning I just go the normal oats. Um I’ve been chucking in some like uh protein with it um as well. This is like one I got through work basically. I chuck all my blueberries. I normally put like my goji berries and cranberries in with it, but like should I be I should probably be like weighing how much I do. It’s not like the most appealing breakfast looking breakfast like but I’m going to start like one thing a week. I reckon just like learning a snack, trying to up the nutrition cuz it’s obviously a big part of it. Breakfast I’ll probably keep simple. Lunches and dinners we cook together but just like calorie counting, snacking. So, if you got any tips, let me know cuz I’m going to get treated, guys. Got to get shredded. So, there’s my bricky bricky with morgs. Bricky with morgs. So simple, but look at that. So simple, but love it. All right, morning gang. I’ve just had a driving lesson. I’ve got a driving test on Tuesday. I I don’t really need to go on to it on this video, but such stupid rulings. I’ve I’ve obviously have to upgrade my New Zealand license because it was I’ve been able to drive manual. I’ve been driving manual. Anyway, long story short, I’ve got this stupid test I shouldn’t even need to take and it’s pissed me off a little bit this morning, the the lesson. But anyway, anyway, back to it. Today we are doing my first ever brick session. So, I’m pricking it a little bit to be honest. So, went and got some food. Got some bagels to have beforehand. I got shells to take on the run. Maybe something uh on the bikes. Maybe I can have a little snacks and bars and some something for afterwards. cuz I don’t know whether to go I don’t know whether to go bagels first or oats before and bagels afterwards. I think we’re going to go bagels first. I I’m overthinking it, but I’m going to try and do about like two 2 and 1/2 hours and then a 20 minute run. It’s first time I’ve done it. Um I’m keen to get out on the road, keen to get cycling. It’s a beautiful day outside. So, we’re starting to, you know, get into the grunt of it now. Should be all right. I slept well. I’ve been sleeping good. I’ve been eating all right this week. So, [ __ ] good. That test just really the lesson really [ __ ] me off. Actually, first, most importantly, let’s just bang a coffee. Let’s have a coffee. Refresh from that test. I keep saying test. Refresh from that lesson. and get ready. Now, let’s make magic happen. Here we go. Not my best. Right. Also, I just bought some creatine. I haven’t taken creatine in years. Like I don’t even think I really took it that consistently, but I’ve just seen so much good stuff around why you should take it, especially for like endurance sports. So, we’re going to get it back on it. Try to get those puppies building, you know. Anyone’s got any tips around any other things I should take? Okay, so now we’re into it. The plan is we’re going to do about 2 and 1/2 hours on the bike and then a nice little 20 minute run afterwards. Like I said, it’ll be my first ever brick session, so it’s going to be interesting. But I’m just trying to get some nice consistent pedaling. Got a big hill coming up at some point. Going to go around a lake and head back. So, beautiful day. Bloody beautiful day. So, let’s get cracking. Honestly, [ __ ] sake. I thought I had the directions nailed. I’m heading that way. I meant to be I’ve just come up a big hill as well. [ __ ] sake, man. Oh well. It’s all part of it. It’s all part of it. It’s hot in this. It’s hot in this jersey, man. Got short sleeves coming on Monday. This is This is cooking, bro. Okay, so I’ve made it halfway up Dundry Hill, man. This is tough. Need to stop. Have a gel. Have some water. It’s hot, man. Oh. Oh my god. It’s a big hills. I don’t know how big it is. I’ll find out and let you know. But right now, let me just tell you, it’s [ __ ] huge, mate. All right, guys. We made it to the top of the hill. [ __ ] that was tough. It was so tough. But we’re on the downhill now. Oh, here’s a car. Yeah, we’re about to head to the downhill bit. Head to the downhill bit, then ground to Magnet Lake. Done the hard bit now. Well, hopefully. You spoke too soon. Maybe it’s probably beautiful though. Look at this. Would you have a look at that? Oh, have a look. This is what it’s all about. Hey, look at that. That is bloody beautiful. What an absolute spot. I’ve never been here. All right, I’m going to stop going have my bar. It’s kind of melted. And then I’m going to look at directions cuz I’m a bit worried that I might be overcooking it a little bit just for my [ __ ] my first one. So, we have a little we have a look. It’s been beautiful. And I think that’s what makes it hard to stop. 11 miles back which will give me about 40k which I think’s good for the first run in a run after this and I’ve never done that so let’s play smart it’s not overcooked up might try and fill up my water bottle that was good lovely lady at the pub let me fill up with the drink bottle the tell you what I could have got a pint which is We could have got a cider, but all right, let’s get back on the road. We got a ride to finish and a run to do. We got a bit on team. We got a bit on. Hope your day is going all right. So, here we go. Another [ __ ] hill. Let’s go. Let’s go. Look at this behind us. Another Another cool site. I’ve never been here as well, so that’s cool, man. That’s cool. I’ve had I’ve had to walk. I tried so hard. This one was too steep. Too sto This one was too steep for me, fellas. Way too steep. The bike was it was good. It was good. I did about 44K 45K and now I’m getting ready for the run. I’ve just spilled water all over myself which is just shambles. But I’m going to do 20 minutes. So hot. Feel right now but never done this. So, let’s see how we go. It’s so hilly, man. I need to get better at choosing roots because like that’s my own fault. Let’s All right, let’s go. Lock it in. Okay, we’re off. The legs feel tired as [ __ ] Um, okay. We’re 600 m in, which is not far. The legs, they feel heavy. I’m not used to this. Everyone makes it look so easy. This is not easy. Holy heck. Second car now. It’s hard to keep the heart rate down to be honest. But legs are feeling all right. Oh, not legs. Feel heavy as well. That’s a 20 minutes first brick done. Let me recollect my thoughts. I’ll come back to you in five. I don’t know. Like I’m really I am proud of myself for doing that. Like I think online it makes it look way easier than what it is, but like it’s hard, man. It’s hard. Like I need something to get my directions going cuz like I just know some good roots cuz I’m just getting absolutely banged up by hills and I get maybe that’s good training but [ __ ] that’s so hard. My course isn’t even going to be that hilly. It was hot. We got it done. I’m glad got the run done. That’s also a lot harder. Like I got a lot of work to do in that but I’m proud of it. It makes it seem like it’s going to be such a long distance. this the halfy we got done. I’m [ __ ] My legs are tired. I got a long run to do tomorrow as well. I just got to keep putting in the grind. It will just consistency will pay off. That’s only my first one. It’s only my first one. Rome wasn’t building day. All right. Morning guys. Morning. We got some good news. Last night we acquired the half marathon ticket. So today I’m running the bristle half, which I’m severely underprepared for. My legs are absolutely [ __ ] knackered from yesterday. And not lie, my stomach’s not in a good way. So hey, it’s all part of it. It’s all part of it. I have one gel as well. So this could be interesting. But no, very excited. Don’t know how I’m going to race it yet. Starts in about 2 and a bit hours. So, very spontaneous, I’d say. Very. Um, but it should be good. Should be good. I needed to do a long run today, albeit not happy, but let’s just crank into it, eh? Let’s get ready. I’ve got to have some good brekie this morning. I’m pumped. I’m pumped. Right. I’m walking there now just so I can pick up my race bib. Um, I’m going to be racing under the name Charlie today. Should be best days to go hunting really isn’t it? But got about an hour. Stomach’s not been good this morning. A little bit worried about how that’s going to hold up, but I don’t know what time I’m going to go for. Might just We’ll see. We’ll see the time. See, got the burp. Got the [Music] I couldn’t see his name, but [Music] Okay, we’re settling into it now. It’s hot, man. It’s hot. We don’t We’re staying under the 5m minute pace. I’ll try to pick it up for the second half. Over halfway now. Country up. Well, I’m truly in the city now. 12 to go. Got about 4K to go. Hold in the face now. Just aim to get it done. Laps [ __ ] up. Got less than a K to go. Holy [ __ ] I’ve fallen off the wagon, but still going sub 145. We got this. There we go. Time to finish line. Looking forward to this. [Music] Right. Put you down here. Let’s have a little little debrief on that. It was tough. It’s tough. I don’t really I think I underestimated it a little. Like when I turned up and the crowds were there, I was like, “Oh, there’s a bit going on here.” And it was like there was people around me and like fancy ass running gear. And it was quite intimidating in a way. And I was like, “Oh man, am I like trying to like shoot a little too far?” Just cuz I haven’t trained for it specifically at all really. I set off really well. I think I was holding it really well and building it. It’s just those last sort of 4Ks got to me. I think like maybe another gel, especially some water. They only had three water stations throughout the whole thing. So like you went about 7K without water at the end and like it was hot. And also like there’s this bit uh there’s a video I took but you’re running through just these people and that was just so overwhelming for me. Like I thought I’d like it but then at that point I was like oh my god like too many people. Too many people. Maybe it was just cuz I was [ __ ] But look we pedd so I’m stoked with that. It was obviously very impulsive to do it. So I’m glad got it done. We got a PB 144. I was looking at about one like sub 140 there for a bit but I just fell off the wagon. I had to walk. There was hills like it just did me and I was so thirsty and I was like I just didn’t have it on me. So it was cool to just be in like a race environment. It’s actually like probably my first proper half marathon event. I’ve done one, but I ran it with SH uh in New Zealand one time and there was maybe 200 people there, whereas this was 20,000. So, it was a lot. But overall, great first week back into it. First brick session, we’re back in the pool. Half marathon as well. So, I’m stoked. Got a lot to build on. We’ve still got a stag due next weekend in Barcelona. So after that then it’s a bit more consistency. But like the legs are tired after the brick yesterday, the halfy today. That’s good though too. I think like that’s really like rewarding weekend, you know? Like I didn’t really drink well didn’t I had like three pints three cans of beer maybe over the weekend. So like it was rewarding. I walk away from that weekend like stoked with how it’s gone. So glad to be back. Stoked to have you around once again. If you haven’t, hit the subscribe. We’ve got about eight weeks left to go after this until that first half iron man. And we got a lot of work to put in. I ain’t going to lie about it. We got a lot of work to put in. So, we’ll see you next week team. Have a good weekend. Love it lots.