September Training recap 2026
Sooo I thought I’d start doing monthly training updates.
I thought it might be nice to look back at them. Especially when I’m hopefully somewhere on the run course in Texas next April wondering why the hell I signed up for another Ironman.
After Kona I really didn’t think I’d do another Ironman for a while.
That lasted well… Texas is booked for 24th April 2027, so unfortunately that means I actually have to train for it.
I had a pretty lazy few months after Kona. And by pretty lazy I mean I basically did nothing at all. 😂
I kept saying I’ll start again next week… then next week… then maybe Monday… You know how it goes.
But September has actually been pretty decent. So here we go…
Week 1 – 1st-6th September
Started the month with a 1hr 8 swim on Tuesday.
Then a 1hr 27 run Wednesday, followed by a walk, bike and short run on Thursday.
Friday was a rest day and then I had a 1hr 13 run Saturday and 55 mins on the bike Sunday.
And that’s it really. Nothing particularly exciting happened. But I trained. Multiple days. In the same week.
So that’s already an improvement. 😂
At this point I’m still very much trying to get some fitness back rather than worrying too much about pace or power.
Week 2 – 7th-13th September
Another surprisingly decent week.
Monday – 1hr 8 run
Tuesday – 59 min swim
Wednesday – 1hr bike
Thursday – 45 min strength + 1hr 9 run
Saturday – 46 min run
Sunday – 1hr bike
I even did strength. FORTY FIVE MINUTES OF IT.
Honestly probably the biggest achievement of the month. I really need to keep doing it though because I’m getting older and apparently just running and cycling isn’t enough anymore. Rude.
Anyway… Another week done and I was starting to get into a bit of a routine again. Not fast. Not fit. But at least consistent-ish. 😂
Week 3 – 14th-20th September
This week I started with a 55 min run Monday, 59 min swim Tuesday and then a 2hr 10 run Wednesday.
Thursday was supposed to be another run, which I did miss , but did do my 1hr bike, then Friday was rest.
But this was also the week I decided to change my training around. Because obviously I can’t just follow one training app and be normal. 🤣
I’d been using HumanGo, but I found AthleteData and signed up for their coaching trial.
It connects to basically EVERYTHING.
Garmin, Oura, Apple Health, my calendar, even my bloody work shifts. 😂
Which actually sounded perfect for me because my work shifts are all over the place. Some days I’m up at like 3am, other days I’m working late, and trying to fit a normal training plan around that can be a pain in the arse.
So from the weekend I started following the new plan.
Saturday was a nice easy 45 minute run – 5.7km.
And Sunday was 1hr 15 on the bike – 30.8km.
Both easy Z2 stuff. Nothing exciting but both felt alright. And obviously now I’ve got about 847 more bits of data to stare at after every workout. 🤣
Week 4 – 21st-27th September
This is where it actually started looking like I’m training for an Ironman again. 😬
Monday started with a 2,000m swim – 55 mins.
Then later that day I had a threshold run with 3 x 8 minute efforts.
First proper harder run for a while and I didn’t die.
Tuesday was 45 mins easy running, then Wednesday was a rest day.
Thursday I did 75 mins on the bike – 27.9km, then Friday another easy 50 min run – 6.5km.
Saturday I went to Horsham parkrun with a friend, so this wasn’t a proper 5k effort.
We just ran together, had a chat and finished in about 35 mins. Which was actually really nice.
Sometimes I forget running doesn’t always have to involve staring at my watch every 14 seconds. 🤣
Then I was supposed to do 45 mins strength. I did 23.
And Sunday was my longest bike for a while.
1hr 48 / 45.4km The plan was 1hr 45 so I’ll take that. And I actually really enjoyed it?! I know 45km isn’t exactly impressive when I’m going to have to cycle 180km in Texas… And then run a marathon. HAHAHAHA. Let’s not think about that yet. 💀🤣
Anyway, the week came to just over 7 hours of training, with 8 sessions.
Which I’m actually really happy with. Especially considering a few months ago I was basically doing sod all and wondering if I’d ever get my motivation back after Kona.
Week 5 – 28th-30th September
Tiny week because September rudely ended on Wednesday.
Monday rest.
Tuesday 60 min bike – 25.5km.
Then finished the month with a double on Wednesday.
🏊🏽♀️ 2,200m swim – 1hr 2
Then…
🏃🏽♀️ 44 min threshold run – 6.2km, 2 x 12 mins
Not a bad way to finish the month tbh 😬😂
September By The Numbers
🏊🏽♀️ Swim: 10.2 km – 4h 51m
🚴🏽♀️ Bike: 241.5 km – 10h
🏃🏽♀️ Run: 105 km – 13h 43m
🏋🏽♀️ Strength: 1h 08m
TOTAL TIME: 29h 43m
TOTAL DISTANCE: 356.7 km
Actually pretty happy with that.
Especially the 105km running. Didn’t even realise I’d done that much until I looked at Garmin 😂
Still a longgggg way from Ironman fit, obviously.
But considering I spent most of the months after Kona doing sod all… I’ll take it.
September wasn’t perfect. Missed a run, shortened some strength and I’m still nowhere near where I used to be. But at least I’m training again 🤷🏽♀️🤣
Next up October…
Gabi xx
