Oh no, my head has been turned to adventure racing by a colleague...... I know I'm already signed up for a 70.3 and I'm looking to do a full ironman in August but these do look interesting
http://www.arwc2007.com/
http://www.dynamicadventureracing.co.uk/
http://www.ecochallenge.us/
http://www.ecoprimalquest.com/
Crumbs up early tomorrow for 6 hour drive north to Scotland, trainers and tea bags are packed?!
The good thing about a morning run around the streets near my hotel is that its very simple, down 5 blocks across 3 and back 5.
My only problem being away from home is the food. I'm eating out most evenings and its difficult to eat healthily, the portions are huge and dominated by meat!!!!
I'm Christmas shopping at Stanford shopping centre and I notice a chap with an IronMan sweatshirt. I ask him, which Ironman course he did, and then I notice his shirt says world championships. So my question turns into how was Hawaii. OK he said this is the second time I've done it and I'm still walking.
Wow. I was gobsmacked. What do I do now..... bow.
Anyway shopping all done and off for a cup of tea, oh blast Americans don't do tea!?
Oh well I'm off to get a cup of tea.
My application for the London marathon was rejected. Over the past 10 years I've applied 8 times, all rejected. I would have got an automatic place this year, however I did not apply in 2003, I was moving house, this broke my application concurrency. I have to wait until 2009 to get a place now??!?!?
Hmm ok back to training.
Hmmm still toying with the idea of doing the full UK ironman in August. Oh well while I dither, I'll focus on the 70.3 for now. Just off to hit the swimming pool for an hour or so.
I was in Barcelona last week for the Microsoft Tech-Ed conference. My hotel was fantastic it had a great steam room, sauna, hot tub, the works. Alas, I spent more time in the steam room than on the running machine.
Damn I must get back into a regular training programme, I've just seem to have lost the will-power ....... COME ON ......
Stats from marathon on Sunday .... hmmm I think I went too fast for the first 13 miles. I did not do enough training sessions longer than 13 miles. Doh I am so stupid, I should have done some more longer sessions.
Mile: Time
01: 08:10
02: 08:08
03: 08:14
04: 08:16
05: 08:28
06: 08:33
07: 08:44
08: 08:51
09: 09:03
10: 09:06
11: 09:14
12: 09:21
13: 09:39
......and then I slowly ground to a halt .......
14: 10:14
15: 10:44
16: 11:06
17: 11:02
18: 11:12
19: 12:01
20: 12:02
21: 12:53
22: 13:13
23: 12:21
24: 12:47
25: 11:13
262: 11:22
Right that's it I'm giving up all sports and exercise and I'm going to lie in bed forever.......OK maybe not, but bugger do my legs ache. Well, I finished my first ever marathon, the time was terrible.
First off I forgot to but Vaseline between my legs in the groin area and so now I'm rubbed and sore and then I got terrible cramp at about mile 18 and lastly I DIDN'T DO ENOUGH TRAINING. Its all my own fault.
Oh well a good learning experience for next time ....... ARRRRRGGGGGHHH no more please.
Yikes only 12 hours until I start my first ever marathon. Alas the weather forecast is for wind and rain. Oh well, bring it on !!!!!
Funny as I start my marathon, the real athletes will be finishing their epic race, Ironman Hawaii.
Kids, kids, kids, kids ....... work, work, work, work.
My son and daughter have been squabbling all day today with the exception of them going to school. Oh crumbs I have 8 years of my kids fighting.
The only thing that keeps me sane is exercise....... I have my first marathon on Sunday ....... yikes.
Crikey only 9 days to go until my first marathon, blast I should have done more training. How do people balance a family, a demanding job and training ...... sorry I'm tooo tired and have to go to bed.
Despite hitting the gym last night in a kill or cure attempt, I just can't seem to shift this cold and cough. Its just after 8pm and I'm going to have to go to bed, I feel very tired.
Hopefully I will get into the London marathon in April 2007, after my 10th year of applying.
I had hoped to do a full ironman next year but I still unsure. Anyhow, while I dither some more, I've entered to do the UK 70.3
No training for the next couple of days as my wife is away on business to Spain. I'm on kid-sitting duties.
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Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
Inspired from listening to the theme tune to Brokeback, I've pulled my guitar out from under the stairs and I'm hooked, I'm not very good, but hey! Alas, this is not helping my training for marathon in a couple of weeks.
In an attempt to get back on track I hit the gym after work, gosh the gym was packed.
I'm off to watch spooks, strum a few chords on my guitar, oh and have a cup of tea.
I watched Brokeback Mountain on DVD last night ..... I've seen this movie before at a cinema in San Francisco ..... it's a great movie ......
Accompanying me on my 11 mile run this morning was the music from the movie by Gustavo Santaolalla. I was completely lost to the hauntingly beautiful guitar, clear blue sunny skies and the autumnal Oxfordshire countryside.
I hit a constant 9.11 minute mile throughout my 11 miles and felt that I could keep on going at this pace.
Only 27 days to go until my marathon, I feel that I'm on target for a good first marathon attempt.
Blast, still feel like crap ... arrrggghhh I haven't been sick for years why now.......???!!!!!
I'm down with flu, sore throat, cough and trouble breathing .... gosh I'm very tired. Hopefully I'll be back to training soon. I've only got 35 days until my first marathon.
So I have seven weeks left until I run my first full marathon. Rather than continue with my unstructured training, I'm attempting to use a plan from someone who knows what they are doing. Although I'm not entirely convinced but hey I'll give it a go.
Week 1
Monday: Rest?????
Tuesday: Easy Run - 3 miles at 10 min pace?????
Wednesday: Rest????
Thursday: Tempo run - 5 miles at 8:55 min pace
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Long run - 8 miles at 10:30 min pace
Hmmm does not seem very difficult, but hey its only week one. Lets see how I progress. My goal is to complete marathon in 3 hours 45 min.
This is great iPod Nike+
I pushed the center button on my iPod and was off for a quick lunchtime three mile run. Every mile in my headphones a nice ladies voice would call off the mile markers, a push of the centre button and I had my pace, its great, I feel like I have an onboard coach.
But what did make me smile was right at the end of the work-out as I pushed the stop button on my iPod ..... Paula Radcliffe congratulated me on my fastest mile, this was cool. Thanks Paula.
A wonderful morning for a run, it was a peaceful sunny Sunday morning and I left with iPod and new Nike+ ipod connector. It tells me via audio my distance and pace, its a great bit of kit. I kept to 8 minute pace for the last three miles, which was unusual for me, I guess it must have been the sunshine and great music that pushed me on.
Its been an OK week for the running schedule, I just need to start and pick up the pace! Good news though I seem to be getting my fitness back and coming out of my slump.
Crikey this is tough. I've started to step up the run distances and frequency in preparation for my first marathon in October. This weekend I'm aiming for a 12 mile run.
For the past year I was focused on training for my first UK 70.3 half ironman. Having completed this back in June I now find myself in somewhat of a slump.
I can not seem to get back into the swing of training. I thought maybe not having a goal was the problem and so I have signed up for a full marathon in October. Hopefully I will snap out of it soon.
Just returned from a long vacation a few pounds the heavier and I seem to have lost my fitness?!!!!
I need to get back into the swing of training for a marathon in October.
Wahooooo I've got a VIP ticket to the football world cup final, Italy v France, sorry have to be quick as I've got a flight to catch.
Hmmm what next?
Since my 70.3 I've done a couple of short distance runs and a long cycle ride. On Friday I did a 21:15 for 3 miles, with my last mile run at 6 min 41 seconds?!! Not sure where that speed came from.
I have a "London three bridges" relay race on Thursday and then the London Chase Corporate challenge the week after.
Not sure what my next challenge will be ..... maybe a full ironman?!
Wow what a fantastic experience!!!!
I set two alarms for Sunday morning, one at 3.20am and another for 3.30am. I need not have bothered as I was already awake. Trying not to wake the wife and kids, I snuck out of bed into the lobby area of my hotel room. I put my clothes on and pick up my "white" bag and cycle pump.
I crept down stairs and into the lounge area of the hotel, it was a small hotel and the staff had laid out weetabix and milk and two glasses of OJ. At 04:15 my taxi arrived and 40 minutes later dropped me off at the venue.
"OK! I need to check my bike and pump up my tyres".
"Wow, everybody has the same thoughts".
"BANG !!!!"
"Oh cripes what was that" ..... somebody had over-pumped their tyres, poor chap. Fortunately a mechanic was on stand-by.
I finished with my bike and started to put on my wetsuit ..... Ooops I need the toilet. Hmmm .... a long queue.
We were all called to start the swim. The klaxon sounded and we were off. I was at the back of the pack and started to swim, but I was disoriented and could not stop swallowing water. After a minute I finally calmed down and got into a rhythm, a mixture of breaststroke and front crawl. The swim was tough, but I was so pleased to have finished and stumbled out 42 minutes later.
I ran through transition and out onto my bike. I hit the first hill after a matter of minutes. The cycle course was very tough, several 14% hills. During the descents I would zoom pass several people, I guess I was good at going downhill. This one chap shouted across ..... "this is the third time you have passed me on the descents" as we just hit the start of a long climb he added "I guess I'll see you later"???
With 10 miles to go I started to get cramp, I managed to push through and pulled into transition with a cycle time of 3 hours 45 minutes.
The run was difficult with a nasty hill climb. We did three loops of a circuit and the supporters and fellow runners were very friendly. I hit the 12 mile marker I started to smile, when I hit 13 miles, I was laughing, and when I came onto the red carpet and the finish-line, I was laughing and crying.
I don't quite know what was happening, but crossing the finish line was a tremendously wonderful feeling. I have not stopped smiling since.
This will be my last post until after the event. I am so very, very, very, scared. In my job I've presented to a room full of hundreds of people, I've managed projects that have tottered on the edge, I've been in the middle of critical IT crashes, but never have I felt so nervous about something than I do now. This is stupid especially as its something I signed up for?!!?!?
The swim scares me the most...... I just hope I can do this in under the cut of time. I know the bike and the run will be tough but I can handle those.
Oh flippin heck.
In 45 hours time I will be wading into a lake at 06:05am on Sunday, taking a deep breath and .......
I've struggled to find a taxi who was prepared to take me from the hotel to the venue at 04:30am on Sunday morning, phew finally found someone who would do it!!!! This way the wife and family can have the car and won't have to get up and drive me to the venue. Hmmm not sure why she's coming?
I'm final planning and checking mode........ kit is all OK, bike needs a final check which I will do tomorrow, hotel is OK.
The venue for the UK half ironman does not have very good cell phone reception and so I've bought a couple of two-way radios to keep in contact with family over the weekend.
I've just checked the weather forecats for Sunday and it looks like it will be Sunny intervals and 24c (75f).
My race number was assigned today, I like this number, it feels lucky.
I did my last brick workout yesterday evening and I'm now onto drinking loads of water and bumping up my carbs intake. Its a vain attempt to try and boost my glycogen levels, which should hopefully increase my endurance for the race.
I know I need to cut down on my training, however I had to have one last brick work out this evening, it was great.
I never thought I would be this scared about a race, just typing this gives me a knot in my stomach..... yikes..... Just to add to the pressure, today I drove past a local triathlon event, the competitors were out on their cycle leg, crikey they looked great....... oh why, oh why did I sign up for this flippin half iron man, I can hardly swim !!!!!
Sam (in picture) gave me some good advice....."just try your best daddy"......
What can I say to that......
I've lost weight and I'm down to my fighting weight of 70.6kg with 12.7% body fat, my fitness levels feel OKish, my only weak point is still my swimming. Oh crumbs swimming......quick don't think about it.
Tum te humm tum te hum nah nah nah,
yep forgotten about it........
Forgotten what .....
oh yeah swimming
doh !
I'm working tomorrow morning (Sunday), have to be up for a 5am conference call. :-( Hopefully the call will only last for an hour, please, please all work properly tomorrow, then I can get out early for a long cycle ride.
YIKES !!! I think I'm in the second swim wave straight after the pros. I'll have the M18-24, M25-29, M30-34, M40-44, M45-49, M50-54, M55-59, M60-64, M65-69, M70-75+ followed by the female age groups all passing me........!!!!! oh crikey....... I'm really, really scared now.
Only 17 days.....!!!! OMG !!!!! PANIC !!!!!
Left work on time this evening so I could get my run in this evening before kick-off. England are playing Hungary in a football friendly, this evening. Struggled this evening with my run as my knee is still huring from my crash a couple of weeks ago.
What happened to this week, where did it go....passed in a fast blur. My wife was in Poland and so one parent family again.....screwed training schedule, but hey did get a couple of good runs in and a swim.
Great news though my local gym are getting two double endless pools, wahoooooo!
This was the colour palette of the sky this evening. I was out on a six mile cross country run. It was very wet and windy. I really had to push myself to get out the door into the wind and rain. No sooner as I had taken 10 steps and I was soaked to the core. The colour palette, variations on grey, I call it "runners soggy feet grey".
OK !!! come on, who's pinched the flippin sunshine. If you find it would you kindly, please return it to Oxfordshire asap. My feet seem to be permanently wrinkled from all the rain.
Yikes only 25 days to go to my half ironman, that's like only .....t.w.e.n.t.y.. f.i.v.e....days....... no but really that's nothing, yikes, yikes, yikes.
OK I won't think about it., I'll worry about something else. Hmmm, I know I'm off to google where the sunshine has gone.
squelch, squelch, squelch.
one two......JUMPIN JACK FLASH ITS A GAS, GAS, GAS ...... yeah. I'm half way through my run this evening with Rolling Stones on my ipod, when the music stops.
Silence....except for the howling wind and rain which has completely passed me by. I suddenly feel all alone on this country road, with field and trees for miles. I was so engrossed in my run and singing along to the stones .....I hadn't really noticed the weather or that it was getting dark. Quick, quick get the stones back on again this is way too scary.
I had a good 6 mile run in the rain, I like running in the rain, it feels great.
This evening I caught up with watching my DVD recording from the swim session yesterday. Wow, I was doing loads of things wrong, my swim technique was terrible. Anyhow, I hope to test out some of what I learnt tomorrow.
I took the day off work today for a monster 6 hour swim session. It was tough, but very enlightening. I spent the day with a swim coach learning how to swim free-style properly, I learnt loads but I'm very tired.
Blast.......I couldn't help myself....... it was a crappy day at work and in a moment of weakness, lost all my will-power and I've just scoffed a snickers.....!!! Do you know how many blinking calories there are in a snickers ....... bgzillions.
I'm not sure where I'm staying for the night of my half ironman. All the local B&Bs are fully booked. I was thinking of sleeping in my car and I would have a great view of the lake. My car is a people carrier so I could easily get a comfy bed and duvet inside. I guess this is probably going to be easiest as I would have to be on site for 5am ????
Anyhow, great 6 mile run yesterday evening, best time yet ..... alas my knees are killing me today. I'm looking forward for a long ride tomorrow.
I was out for a cycle last night when ....
...puh puh puh..... yuk .....
.....just swallowed a fly...... yuk!!
Despite the wildlife it was great to be out, it was a fabulously warm evening. OMG only 35 days left until the half ironman, yikes.........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My wife is away again for a couple of days, this time its Turkey. I'm still recovering for my weekend crash, its not bad just some bruising and stiffness, I was able to get a swim session in last night and now I'm off to bath and feed the kids.
I persuaded my wife and family to come away with me for the weekend. The plan was for me to check out the half Ironman cycle and run routes. So with family in tow we all set off early Saturday morning and two and a half hours later arrived at Wimbleball lake. After a quick bite to eat with my family, I left them and set-off to cycle the 56 mile cycle route.
Bloody hell this is steep and I’ve only been cycling for 10 minutes ...
8 miles later ....
wow this is fast……whoa these roads are narrow…..whoa, arrrgghhhh oooo eeee SPLAT boing, boing…oooph aouch !!!!!! 
I was traveling at 32 mph and flew round a corner, hit the brakes skidded and went head long into a rather large hedge with stinging nettles. I remember bouncing along in the hedge and landing on my left knee and head a couple of times, once I finally stopped bouncing I sat up. Crumbs I’m shaking, quick check my bike, phew it’s OK. Bugger …. my shoulder hurts, ouch my knee, oh blast I’ve been stung all up my arm. I nnnneed to sit down for a second.
Two minutes later I’m on my way (the wrong way) pulling bits of hedge out of my helmet and jersey. 
The next morning I was up and out to check out the run course, still suffering from bruising I took a gentle jog around the ironman run course. Despite being cold, it was a beautiful sunny morning. The lake was mirror-like and in 39 days time I would be diving in!!!!
Despite my mishap, I’m so pleased I came to check-out the course beforehand. It’s going to be very tough; the cycle route is going to be a killer …. I’m scared, very scared but I guess that’s the best bit !!!!!!
Really horrible day at work......however this evening was great. I was out for a cycle ride followed by a run. It was super.
Yesterday was one of those days. Out of the house at 05:30am and on the road for a 3 hour drive to a business meeting. By the time I got home, I still had loads of work problems to deal with and I was really struggling with time, motivation and energy to go out for a run. Anyhow at 8pm after parenting duties and work completed, I managed to get out for a six mile run. I'm so glad I pushed myself to do this.
Yipee back into the swing of things. Yesterday, I nipped out between chores to get in a six mile run, alas afterwards back to reality and mowing the lawn!!!! Today I was up and out early before the household was awake for a great two hour cycle ride. The rest of the day was spent at an under-sevens, six-a-side soccer tournament with Sam (black and white jersey), he enjoyed himself. Although standing around, cheering him on with aching muscles for five hours was an interesting experience.
Where did this week go? Tough week with work. But phew its Friday evening looking forward to long weekend on my bike and running.
My wife is still away on business and I've come down with a stinking cold, but good news my new wetsuit arrived today. Doh ! probably a stupid idea to order this over the internet, yep you guessed it wrong size. Despite the sizing guide being spot on. i.e. I'm 6ft 1in and 76kg and so according to the Orca sizing chart I should need "MT". Nope does not fit, I've got broad shoulders and chest so I think I'm going to need a size 8.
My wife is away to France on business for a couple of days, so I'm back to being one parent family again. I should really sort out a babysitter for an hour so I can keep my training going while she is away.
I had a wonderful cycle ride yesterday for a couple of hours, followed by a swim with the kids. Swimming was great as I had a chance to work on my technique. The total immersion style of swimming seems to be working for me.
I was worried about my knees as the past couple of weeks I've started to run for longer, but I would struggle afterwards with pain in my knees. But hey, I did a 6 mile run yesterday and my knees don't hurt ... well as much as usual????
Anyhow today was filled with domestic chores, washing, grocery shopping and cutting the grass. I'm looking forward to a nice long bike ride tomorrow.
I have a confession, I CANNOT SWIM, this is quite serious, especially as I will have to swim 1.2 miles in under 1 hour in 56 days time. Alright I'm being a bit of a drama queen, but in the world of triathlon, I really can’t swim, well OK I swim a front crawl for about 25 meters and then drown.
So I have 56 days to learn…gulp…..first step was to buy myself a DVD!!!! A learn to swim DVD from total immersion. It’s quite good. I watched the first 20 minutes last night. My wife thinks that my lack of knowledge in some of the fundamentals of swimming is bleeding hilarious. It’s a good job that I’m a fairly confident person, otherwise I’m sure her quips and mickey taking would have pushed me to quit and hide.
Anyhow, I went to the pool to put my new found knowledge into practice, I still nearly drowned, but this time I did it in style !!!!
My wife is away in Spain, training schedule is shot......I'm being both Daddy and Mummy this week.
Castle, knights and a 6 mile run, what a great easter Monday. We all trooped up to Warrick Castle today for a day watching knights battle, archers and a firing of a large trebuchet. After a day of mediaeval events it was good to come home and get a 6 mile run in this evening.
The cows were mooing, the birds singing, the sun shining and my bike was purring ..... or was that me???!!!! Great long ride in the Oxfordshire countryside today.
Wahhoooooo, yippppeeeee ..... no work until Tuesday ...... its sunny and I've just got back from a 6 mile run, I'm so happy...... I've got a great swim planned for tomorrow and a lonnnnnnggggggg bike ride the day after....this is fabulous, I'm grinning like a cheshire cat....this is better than drugs, sex, better even than chocolate.......!!!!!
I had a great run planned for this evening. I was thinking about it all day today........just got home from work it’s about 10pm.........I’m grumpy and knackered and going to bed :-(
My wife is in
I picked my bike up from my local bike shop yesterday. It had been in for a service and overhall. My bike needed a new freehub, new chain try cassette, new bottom bracket and brake cables front and rear (£136.50p). Also it has some wear on rear wheel cup and cones which will mean a new wheel at some point as well as a new headset.
I was really looking forward to a ride on my bike this morning, however I did not have any power in my legs!!! Not sure why? Probably dreading the idea of coming back to the rest of Sunday..... a day stripping wallpaper......with a break to take my son to soccer practice.
My wife is in Spain on business all this week, alas I've not been able to get out for a run, cycle or swim, no babysitter for the kids. Wifey is back on Friday, hope to be able to hit the pool and gym in the evening and then wahoo its the weekend. Saturday I'm looking forward to a good run and Sunday a long cycle ride.
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh work work work work work work work work work work work work kids kids kids kids kids kids kids kids kids kids kids sleep work work work work work work work work work work work work ..... no time for training.
Aouch, ooo, eeee, errr..... oh dear, my knees hurt, I'm struggling to walk. Climbing into bed last night felt great, but getting up this morning was funny, I'm like an old woman. I'm really happy to have run the half marathon yesterday, but crikey my knees ache, oh well better start doing longer runs.
Wahooo I finished, my first every half-marathon. I finshed in 1hr 57 minutes, not a great time but I enjoyed myself. Ouch!!! my knees hurt, I'm off for a long soak in a hot bath.
I took my bike into my local bike shop for a full service and repair. (I just don't have the time or skills to do it myself). My bike needs new brakes, cables, freewheel, new chain, bottom bracket. I've had the bike since last year but its done a lot and lots of miles and I guess I've worn everything out. I can't wait to get it back fully repaired on Thursday. Oh crikey half marathon on Sunday !!!!!
Wahooo it arrived today, a new super duper saddle, only 190g, I should go rrrrreally fast now. Err umm I think I might need to focus slight here, as I have a half marathon on Sunday, and I don't think a bike saddle is going to help me much with a run. Hmmm maybe I should start to concentrate a little.
On Saturday, Sam and I went to a triathlon trade show. We were both amazed by the folks swimming in the endless pool It was very good as they had cameras in the pool and the pictures shown on a big screen. They had a guy with a microphone who talked through swim techiques. I learnt loads. Sam spent most of the time collecting freebies from the different stalls.
I'm very good at procrastinating ..... I currently find myself day-dreaming back to my vacation to St Lucia last month, hmmmmm. RIGHT snap out of it .....back to work. Good gracious only 83 days to half ironman and 9 days to half marathon ...... gulp !!!!
I'm not sure I understand heart rate thresholds etc, but what is clear is that my max and average heart rate is lower doing the same run at the same time when compared to last year. I had a good run today, I'm concentrating on running as I have a half marathon next week, yikes.
Late home again from work. It was a huge struggle to force myself to get my arse down to the swimming pool this evening, I forced myself to go, despite being so tired and I'm glad I did. It feels great sitting here afterwards knowing that I was able to push myself to do a good swim session this evening. Its so about mental ability.....
Sunday was manic. Up and out early for my Sunday bike ride, which was cold but great to be out on my bike. I really had to push all the way home as I had to get home to take Sam for his first football match. I came in showered and out the door with kids in tow in about 5 minutes. Sam had a great time at football (he's on the floor in the picture). Two hours later back home again to get changed and then out again to meet the in-laws …. come Sunday evening I was knackered.
Despite the wind and cold I got a good cross country run in today, although my knee and calf is feeling a bit stiff.
We all hit the ten pin bowling alley this evening, not sure this counts towards my ironman training! After a hard game of bowling sustenance was required!
Work, work, work, work, work. Hit the gym lunch time, uh oh my knee is feeling a bit dodgy. I should be able to make it to the pool for a swim this evening.
Good hour in the pool yesterday and 5km run. Alas, no training today..... working all day and stuck on a conference call all evevning....... due to finish at 11pm.
Wow less than 100 days to go to my half ironman and 20 days to my half marathon, I'm number 361.
Fiddlesticks, I seem to have put on weight with my trip to the US, I'm up to 76.6kg, I blame that packet of M&Ms and a fondness for Taco Bell. Anyhow, I had a good couple of hours on my bike today although my fingers were so cold. I really hate the cold, I ended up scrunching my fingers up inside my gloves until they warmed-up, I think I need another pair of gloves.
I attached new tri bars onto my bike, first time I have ever used them, they were really great, got into a good position I actually seemed to be going faster today. Back to work tomorrow, will hit the gym for lunch and a swim in the evening.
So I'm in the British Airways business lounge at San Francisco waiting to go home. The training plan for this week didn't go very well as the meetings ran long and sleep was short, I managed a run (22:12 mins for 5km) and a swim so the week was not a complete wash-out, OK who am I kidding........!!!!!! I'm looking forward to getting back to a proper training routine and can't wait for a bike ride on Sunday.
OK enough excuses, just get out there Paul..... but....but...but... "High Winds And Heavy Rains Lash The Bay Area" .... nope no excuses get your arse out there. Here goes, I've found a local swimming pool which is only a couple of miles from my hotel, so planning on jogging to the swimming pool and hitting the pool for an hour or so.
So I missed my early Sunday morning cycle through the cold and windy Oxfordshire countryside. I'm currently sitting in the British Airways business class lounge waiting for my flight to San Francisco. Its a shame that British Airways planes don't have tread-mills or cycle machines on them as I've go the next 11 hours to kill.....maybe I could jog up and down the aisles.
I could be usefully using this time to train and start to get my fitness back. ** Note to self google swimming pools in San Francisco.
So I'm off to change into my jogging kit for my epic 11 hour jogging trip at 30,000 feet up and down the aircraft aisles. If the captian would like to put the plane at a 15% incline that would help the training session.
Oh dear. Work has just been crazy since returning from vacation and there has been no time for training !!!!! I'm now off to San Francisco on Sunday for work and so my training schedule will be screwed. Good news is my hotel has a gym and I should be able to get a couple of jogging sessions in as well.
Crumbs this is difficult balancing work, a family as well as fitting in training sessions.
Ooops ..... my training slipped slightly whilst on vacation and I have to confess I had a couple of beers. It was a great vacation, superb weather and great location. Anyhow I'm back and ready to get fully immersed into my training.
Do you think I could do my Ironman swim wearing a snorkel, hmm OK maybe not !!!!???
Wahoo, I'm off on vacation to
This afternoon, I'm off to drop the kids off at my mothers/sisters house. Yes, yes, OK, OK, I know what you are thinking …….we are terrible parents for dumping our kids and running out on holiday for a week. I've done the guilt and got it under control into a nice box so please don't start me off again.
My kids are very grounded and sensible, (they take after their mother),
I'm sure they will have a great time with their grandmother, auntie and three nephews...... oh crumbs perhaps we are bad parents, oh crikey, that's done it.
I can’t wait to get away from this cold and miserable British weather and go running, cycling and swimming without wearing five million layers……… ooooohhh yes give me the heat and the freedom to train all day oh yes.
…….hmmmm but what if our plane crashes, the kids would be orphaned..... err ummm hadn't though of that !!!!!
Knocked out with a cold, sore throat and upset stomach!!!!
blast, blast, blast, puh.....
Blast caught a cold and sore throat. No time to stop though must keep going..... quick cross-coutry 5km today
cheerio for now.
Early into work this morning, worked through lunch, fell asleep on the train coming home. Father-inlaws 80th birthday party this evening.......no training. Did get a groovy bottle cage in the post today.
Fiddlesticks!!!!! ....... late home from work, again. Now do I eat and then go to the gym or go to the gym first and then eat? Hmmmm tricky, I really struggle with this one. I'm so eager to get to the gym or for a swim that I forget to eat. Typically I do exercise first and then end up having dinner at 10:30pm, which is really too late.
Note to self --- sort out your eating schedule and google > training, eating.
Swim: no
Cycle: no
Run: 5km treadmill
Gym: 1 hour
Frustrated today......training becomes like a drug and if I don't get a run or cycle I get grumpy.
Today I'm very grumpy. Hurumph, could not get out today as had to work through lunch in a cold, noisy server room, blast also working late tonight. Puh back to work, I guess.
swim: no
cycle: no
run: no
gym: no
Lunch at the Gym, a quick 5km on treadmill and then 30 mins on the weights. This evening I hit the pool, hmmm not in the best mental state ...... the conversation in my head whilst swimming went kind of like this.
"Come on faster catch that guy in the next lane"
"Yep your catching him ....."
"Oh pants...is this lap 7 or 9" ....
"must be 7 because I'm on the up leg"
"No hold on it could be lap 5......nah must be 7"
"I must remember Sam's soccer kit for the morning"
"wow he's fast"
"crumbs she's fast"
"hmmm maybe I'm just slow"
"bother .... is this lap 11 or 13"
"no wait a minute I'm on the down leg so must be 12"
"blast I didn't send that email to my boss"
"must remember which lap I'm on, I'll keep repeating it so I don't forget"
"12.....12.......12.......12......."
"..........................err ............"
"......10.......10......10.......10"
swim: 1 hour | forgot how many laps
cycle: No
run: 5km treadmill | 23mins | 1%
gym: weights 1 hour
One of those days!!!
Plan "A", I'm working from home today and so nice 1 hour lunchtime run.
Oh no my son is off school, he's poorly today and so lunch time run scuppered.
Plan "B" when my wife comes home, scoot off to the swimming pool this evening.
Nope, wife has a late meeting will not be back until 10.00pm
Kids need bathing, dinner needs cooking and data replication from the US to UK on production database servers has just stopped working........!!!!!!
Swim: No
Cycle: No
Run: No
Quick I've got 20 minutes to get home, changed and across to a party to pick-up my daughter. Oh crikey I've just cycled up and down hills for about 1 hour 30 minutes, come on legs faster!!!
OK quick route home and so that's main roads all the way, blast that's a shame I was enjoying myself on the quiet country roads listening to http://www.trigeekdreams.com (iron-will your laugh is infectious).
Bloody hell !!!! that was close, the roads are very greasy and I think I was pushing that corner a tad tooooo fast and nearly came off, heart rate just rocketed. Phew home at last, no time to change quick, jump into the car and pick up daughter. Oh its fun balancing training and families.
Swim: No
Cycle: 40km | very hilly | 1hr 30 mins | 6c or 42f
Run: No
Wahooo my first post. I've been training over the past couple of weeks for a half ironman. As the title says I've got 133 days left to go.
So the running and cycling are coming along OK. However my swimming is terrible, I can not do the front crawl, really I do a couple of strokes, head down and forget to breathe, yikes PANIC. I can breast-stoke very fast !!!!! OK I have a problem and not long to sort it out. Seek professional help or when in a crisis go shopping and procrastinate and so I've just bought some new swimming goggles which will solve all my problems. ..... not!
Swim: Nope not today
Cycle: None today, will do tomorrow
Run: Gentle 5km | cross country | 23mins | 3.1c or 36f
