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Goals

Background

  • Swimming as a child (grades 5-6): 8 sessions/week, 5-6 km per session
  • Break of ~20 years
  • Age: 31 (32 in 2026)
  • Height: 182 cm, weight: ~81 kg (was 76 kg in February 2025)
  • Quit smoking: February 2025
  • Body fat: ~21% (was ~18%)
  • Max HR: 193, resting HR: 59
  • HR zones: Z1 97-115, Z2 116-134, Z3 135-153, Z4 154-173, Z5 174-193
  • September 2025: 10km Belgrade in 54:30 (peak fitness)
  • December 2025: half marathon in 2:10 (pace ~6:10/km)

Motivation

Not about results, but about lifestyle: - Staying in shape - Discipline - Resilience / stress resistance

Ironman — a target on the horizon, not a hard goal. If it happens — great, if not — that's fine too.

Current State (January 2026)

Running

  • Half marathon: 2:10 (December 2025, pace 6:10/km, avg HR 174 = Z5)
  • Z2 pace: ~9:20/km at HR 129
  • Cadence: 176 spm, stride 0.94m (at race pace)
  • Weak aerobic base — need Z2 work

Swimming

  • 1,600m per session
  • Freestyle pace: ~2:05/100m on intervals
  • SWOLF: 32-36
  • Progress: building toward 200m+ intervals

Cycling

  • Not in focus for now (stationary bike at the gym, in case of injuries/knees)

Issues / Injuries

  1. Shin splints (tibial periostitis)
  2. Started in September 2025
  3. Still slightly aching

  4. TFL / IT band (side of hip, pocket area)

  5. Gets overloaded, "snaps" over the joint when walking

Strength training needed for prevention

Training Setup

  • Location: Belgrade
  • Pool: 20m
  • Turns: flip turns (no resting at the wall)
  • At home: kettlebells, 10kg dumbbells, resistance bands

Swimming: preferences

  • Warmup and cooldown: breaststroke (comfortable, calm breathing, helps get in the zone)
  • Main work: freestyle (for triathlon)
  • Breaststroke comes easy — foundation from childhood, can swim long without fatigue
  • Current goal: progression toward 200m+ freestyle intervals

Weekly plan (winter 2026)

Day Workout
Mon Swimming (morning)
Tue Run + strength
Wed Swimming (morning)
Thu Easy run + main strength
Fri Swimming (morning)
Sat Long run
Sun Rest

2026 Goals

  • [ ] Swim 4 km
  • [ ] Boka Half Marathon (December 13, 2026, Tivat to Kotor) < 2:00

Long-term (someday)

  • [ ] Ironman (3.8 km swim + 180 km bike + 42.2 km run)