The past two nights I've been waking up mid-dream (night-mare). I'm dreaming that I'm in an ironman event and have completed the swim but then get lost during the run or bike leg, at which point I wake up in a sweat, rather anxious and confused.
Not sure what the dream means. Probably my subconscious telling me that I've eaten toooooo much chocolate and not done enough exercise this holiday.
I've been procrastinating and sulking all day and finally dragged my arse out of the house for a run. It was that or watch High School Musical with the kids.
It was rather cold and foggy, but I'm pleased as I managed a fair pace for about one hour. I'm not sulking anymore ...... exercise is a great tonic.
Wahooo its nearly Christmas, no work for week. Yippeeee ..... OK long run on Saturday, Cycle Sunday, Swim Monday, Cycle & Christmas Lunch Tuesday, Cycle Wednesday ..... aaachooooooo, snivel, sniff ..... blast where is my hankie!!!
Oh bugger that I feel terrible. I've caught a stonker of a cold and right now feel like going to bed ............ Ok maybe a run tomorrow will sort me out ... kill or cure.
The roads were very quiet this afternoon. I was out for a gentle 1 hour run before it got dark. It was flippin cold.
We are looking to buy a new car. We test drove a BMW 5 series touring yesterday, it was beautiful to drive, I'm in love. Alas, it failed the wife test. Would my bike fit easily into the back of the car in 1 minute with two kids in the rear seats. (Silly test I know, but I have an inpatient wife).
Despite trying to persuade my wife that I would take both wheels off, the saddle out, remove the handlebars, the forks within 30 seconds, it was with a heavy heart I confessed it failed. Other cars we have looked at the passed this test with flying colours, just pop out the front wheel and in it slides, even with kids sitting in the back seat.
Today it rained cats, dogs, chickens, polar bear and penguins. I did battle with the elements as I cycled from Oxford to Marlborough. It was a tough cycle what with the cold wind and the rain.
It took slightly longer than planned , plus I was late setting out which meant when I came into Marlborough, the light had just about gone. (Slightly stupid really as I did not have any lights on my bike).
My daughter is 6 years old and already she has broken her poor old fathers heart. Today over breakfast she told me... . ..... ... I can't say this .... . . . that <trembling voice> she is in fact a MANCHESTER UNITED fan and would not like a Chelsea football kit for Christmas, she would like a Man U kit.
My son and I are still in shock, but I guess we will have to come to terms with her decision. (Psst son lets put her up for sale on ebay).
The weekends slipped by and I stayed cocooned in my house. Despite the guilt and the lack of exercise, which started to effect my sanity, I really struggled to make the first step or push of the pedal.
Today, I finally plucked up the courage to venture back out into the dark cold evening, back into the breach, as I hit the road on a regular training run.
Its was a relief to be back, I just hope this is the start of normality again.
I've just submitted an application for the 2008 White Horse Challenge. This is a 150km cycle race around the Berkshire countryside in April.
I always do this at the end of the year, I get gun-ho and sign up to marathons, triathlons and cycle races for the next year. I forget about the hours of training that lies ahead, the cold dark mornings in January and February, the panic in March as the early races approach .... and then in April I normally fall apart and get cross with myself for entering these events.
I know that if I don't do this now, while the joy of crossing the finishing line in 2007 is still fresh in my mind, I will never enter any events.
06th Apr 2008: Grove half marathon (confirmed)
13th Apr 2008: London marathon (waiting for lottery place - 9th year of applying)
18th May 2008: Copenhagen, Denmark marathon
25th May 2008: Edinburgh marathon (not sure about this one if I do Copenhagen)
15th Jun 2008: 70.3 Half Ironman, UK (confirmed)
23th Aug 2008: Reykjavik, Iceland marathon
07th Sep 2008: Ironman UK
................unless I win the lottery, in which case I will be sitting on a beach.
The first 15 miles were great, I felt fantastic, hitting around 8:30 minute mile pace .......... but then I died. The earlier climbs and a killer over the top of a flippin huge mountain at 23 miles wiped me out. I was resigned to a slow overall time and was now aiming just to finish. The weather was terrible, wind and rain, but ever onwards.
At about 24 miles a women 100 meters in front of me suddenly stopped and started shouting, grasping her leg. Cramp!!! I stopped to help her, much to the relief of fellow competitors, but I was not racing for a time just to finish. She had cramp in both legs. She moved to the ground and I lifted both legs up in the air pushing them against my chest, as I rubbed her calves. I walked with her for a couple of minutes and left her walking slowly but determined to finish.
I crossed the finish line and was not too disappointed with my time, considering the weather and hills. Its certainly sparked me on to do another marathon soon, but this time, a marathon without any mountains.
I ran in the "Hanney 5 - Stewart Horwood Memorial Trophy" race yesterday. The winner finished in a time of 25mins 32 seconds. This was toooooo fast for me, I tried to stick at my marathon pace and was quite please with 39mins 31 seconds, a bit too fast.
Gulp only 12 days to go.
I'm running the Hanney 5 mile tomorrow, its a good course, I train on the roads every week.
All too often nowadays I find that work stuff fills my head and the only way to clear the junk out, to reset myself, is through a tough workout. A full on, gritted teeth, gasping for air workout, that's what happened today at the gym. It started with knocking up the tread mill to a 14% incline, continued with the rowing machine, which I crawled off gasping for air and then pulled and pushed the weights till I could do it no more. I'm sure it was incredibly stupid ...... but just sometimes ....... I need to do it.
Now, I'm back to proper controlled training.
I've been out for the count with a cold and flu for the past couple of weeks. I'm recovered now and back in training for marathon in 19 days time (OMG) !!!!
Hit the gym this evening. Started on the treadmill with heart rate really low for the first 5 minutes but them knocked up the speed and heart rate bounced up to 175 bpm ..... nearly collapsed at the end of the work out. Probably should not be doing this, but had a lot of aggression to work through !!!!!! 30 minutes on the weights and then crashed into the steam room ...... Ahhhhh
It was Sunday 7am and a great morning for a run, a cool crisp morning with blue skies and not a cloud in sight ...... perfect.
However, I got to about mile 4 and died, no oomph. I looked at my stop watch and was shocked by the slow time. I struggled for another couple of steps and then stopped. It was a beautiful clear quiet morning but I couldn't run another step, I can't explain really, but today I had no oomph.
I have 40 days left until my marathon.
Its my birthday today ......... woke up this morning a year older,wiser, grumpier and slower, oh no I'm soooo old.......
Crikey 6 dead rats, 4 dead rabbits, 2 dead pigeons and a partridge in a pear tree, well OK not the last one, but that was the carnage I saw out on the roads yesterday, very smelly.
I've bumped up my distance for longer runs and now go running with a water bottle, its awkward but at least I'm not dying of thirst and ending up like a crispy rat on the side of the road. Yeuk, I'm off to think about something else.
Phew knackered from a 10 mile run this evening, started out way tooooo fast, I nearly died at mile 7. I've downloaded a marathon planner schedule training thingy. Oh dear I'm rather behind. I've got to do another 13 miles before Saturday and then next week I have to run 50 miles in the week?
I've calmed down now and stopped being so angry all the time ...... side effect is that I can't run as fast?!!!!!!
Just got back from my usual 10 mile run. Found myself running the last 2 miles in dusk. Alas I trod on a dead rabbit which I failed to spot because of the failing light. (Yeuk).
I've just got back from a 10 mile run this evening. 10 miles of running on angry. Yet again my anger and frustration with life and work pushed myself all the way around my run. The higher heart rate and aggression partnered easily with my anger.
I hope this phase of being angry all the time goes a way soon.
Despite the long weekend up in London watching "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" I was still able squeeze in a couple of training runs. Gosh only 60 days to go until my Snowdon marathon.
The Joseph show was OK, I thought the director compromised on the show as it did not seem to flow very well. The performers were excellent, the narrator played by Preeya Kalidas was superb. (I could have done within out the kids in the show, I found them very annoying).
I went out for a 10 mile run. I achieved a PB. I was able to do this because I was angry and forgot about the running. The more angry I got the faster I pushed myself. As I approached the end of my run I had worked myself into such an angry state that I could have given Paula Radcliffe a run for her money. I would probably still be running if it had not have gotten dark.
Alas, my anger still resides with me and now causes me to be awake at 10 past midnight.
Hmmm..... anger..... good for training bad for sleeping !!!!!!
"Bjork - Play Dead"
Oh dear its Monday morning and the work week stretches out in front of me ...... I must stop procrastinating and get a grip.
Can I just go and hide?
I know, I'll go for a run at lunch time that will save me.
So its been two weeks since I came back from my holiday and earlier this week I finally snapped back into life. I had a shave (getting too much grief at work about growing a beard) and no.2 haircut. So that's it, back to humdrum.....
On Monday I mapped out a 12 week marathon training schedule. doh! I'm arelady behind as I've only managed a six mile run this week. Just about to hit the road for a nine mile run, although its just starting to rain!!!! oh well guess I'll get wet.
I met Martin Johnson yesterday. He came into my office as part of a corporate motivational talk, (my company is sponsoring the Rugby World Cup)
He's a great guy, although I did feel sorry for the chap, having to come to a very boring data centre with a load of blokes asking for his autograph every two seconds.......
Had a quick chat with him about the Tour de France, as he saw a stage while he was on holiday in France this year. Great guy told some good stories.
I normally don't have any problems sleeping, when my head hits the pillow I'm out for the count until the alarm jumps into life at 05:45am. However, last week at about 04:00am I just woke up, wide awake, just like that. Normally it takes several bashes of the sleep button before I actually wake up.
Being wide awake and nothing to do, I embarked on a very early morning run through the vineyards and countryside of southern France, it was fabulous despite a close encounter with a wild boar!!! I suppose I should go for a run this evening......... ... . . .... . blast this chair is too comfy .... maybe tomorrow!!!
We left our villa in France early Saturday morning (06:18am). It would take 13 hours to drive the 770 miles through France to our home in England.
Its about 8am, we are travelling along the A75 motorway and we are somewhere between junction 17 and 18. The road is fairly quiet and I can see a single blue car approximately 300 meters ahead of me.
There is a puff of dust, the blue car HITS the central crash barrier, my heart stops, the blue car spins up into the air. I look in rear-view mirror, I can see cars behind me, I try to finger the four way emergency indicators to come on, the blue car lands onto the road and debris flies everywhere, my speed has dropped to about 50 mph and I'm dodging glass and bits of car. The blue car is now on its roof spinning across the road, it hits the inside barrier and spins across towards the centre of the road. My speed is now down to 30mph, I'm following the blue car waiting for it to stop.
The blue car finally comes to a stop on its roof, I'm out of my car running towards the blue car. The road is so empty, I'm running along the motorway towards the blue car. It takes me about 30 seconds to reach the blue car. It might explode quickly pings through my head, there is no smoke, we will be OK.
I finally reach the car and as I do three guys crawl out. The driver has blood coming from his head, he's shouting and kicking his car, the passenger in the front seat has flesh torn up and down his left arm with blood everywhere, the third guy in the back seems ok.
They are standing looking at the car. I move them to the side of the road away from the car. I get the guy with the terrible arm injury sitting down, holding his arm in the air. The driver seems OK, despite what looks like raw flesh on his head. I'm by myself for about a minute when more people arrive.
Phew, one more day to go and then I'm off on holiday for two weeks. I really must crack on and get some work done, however its very difficult ...... I'm procrastinating already! I've been side tracked by Google maps. Apparently it will take over 13 hours and is 825 miles to get to our holiday villa. (I get to introduce the kids to the Tour de France on Sunday)
Oh well must get back to work......
When I'm up in the London office I walk past a building site. I'm always intrigued by this sign, its rather peculiar and completely alien to me as an office worker.
I guess I'm lucky, as when I limp into work after a tough weekend on my bike or running, I can crash in my office and don't have to move far. At work I'm only required to exercise my brain and not my knackered body.
Its Friday evening and I'm on the train heading home from London. My eyes are feeling heavy and if I'm not careful I'll fall asleep and end up in Wales.
I've just switched my ipod on and Snow Patrol are doing a great job at keeping me awake. My foot is tapping and I'm happy. Yippeee its the weekend. I love Fridays ;-)
OK, its my stop, better get off the train now. The plan this weekend is long run, cycle and watching tour de france. Ooop here we go ......
Sent from My Blackberry
I love my trainers, they feel ...... perfect. Alas, like my body, my favourite trainers are wearing out. I've tried to find exactly the same make and size again, but the Asics Nimbus VII has moved on to version VIII.
Hurumph my new trainers are not as good, they don't feel right.
On Sunday I took my son Sam to an under 8's football tournament, his team lost two, drew one and won one.
I'm standing on the sidelines when this almighty roar comes from behind me...... "Come on johnny get in there" .....
I think I was deaf for the rest of the match. The poor kids get so confused with parents shouting instructions as well as the coaches shouting alternatives. Poor kids spend most of the time looking to the sidelines for approval.
My son (in red and black) did really well, but I guess I'm biased. Anyway his efforts on Sunday inspired me to get back into training, I've got a couple of months before my next marathon.
When I first started going to the gym I never used the sauna or steam room, too busy on the treadmill, rowing machine or pumping weights to improve abs and buttocks.
Hmmm then a couple of months ago things started to change, I would workout for about 80% of my gym time and the remaining 20% hit the steam room, then it changed 50 - 50 and now its swung around completely. Yup head straight for the steam room ........Ssssssssss
At the gym there were three guys working out on the weights, they had muscles on their muscles, it was impressive, in a freaky kind of way. Although their movements were very awkward.
"Yes mate no carbs after 5 o clock".
I wouldn't mind a body with a few more muscley bits but crikey not that extreme.
I'm sitting on a train heading home from a day of meetings in London, my head feels like its about to explode. As I watch the green countryside whizz by, part of me is saying "go for a run when you get home", however the other half is telling me "your knackered, crash on the sofa"?
This internal battle is set to continue for the next couple of hours until I get home. I used to enjoy going for a run or cycle, but now I really have to push myself. I wonder what happened, why have I lost interest?
Update: I hit the gym for an hour or so.
Its rained a lot today, my weather station says 20mm, is it really summer? I'm stuck studying this evening (arboriculture), well OK I confess, I was slightly side-tracked (easily done) by Tim Henman and Wimbledon?
Next definite goal is the Snowdonia marathon, but that's not until end of October. Considering the Reykjavik or Helsinki marathon in August, but need to bribe family first?
After months of training, last weekend I finished my half ironman, I was 5 minutes faster than last year.
The weekend started early Friday morning with a trip to the bike shop to pick-up my bike and to Sainsburys for some last minute groceries.
The car was packed with my tri-gear, bike and sleeping bag and so I headed off to Wimbleball, the UK half ironman site. The journey was slow and miserable, heavy rain, thunderstorms and traffic dominated the four hour journey. (An omen for the weekend perhaps).
All went according to plan, early evening on Saturday after finishing my pasta I crawled into my sleeping bag in the back of my car and fell asleep.
I woke before my 04:30am alarm, I was freezing and shaking. I quickly put on more layers but was still shaking from the cold.
At 06:05 I waded into the lake and I started my second half ironman adventure. As I rounded the last buoy, I longed for the swim to be over. This was different, a strange feeling to last year...... "Come on snap out if it" ....I said to myself.
The swim was finished, nothing special just survival. I transistioned to my bike and begun the important leg of the race.
Everything was going to plan, physically I felt OK, nutrition was OK. I sat up on my bike out of the aero position, I looked around and a thought zipped through my head......"why am I doing this" ...... at this point, mentally I had lost my race. The remainder of the bike leg and the run where now just a chore, a task that I needed to finish.
I crossed the finish line 5 minutes faster than last year, but this time it was very different. I was not smiling or crying with joy like last year. This time I just wanted to get my gear and go home. I did not enjoy this, I did not get a buzz from the challenge. Although I had finsihed the race, mentally I had lost.
Errr ummm PANIC......!!!!!
One, two, three ...... breathe ..... two, three, four and breathe..... OK here we go, just need to pick up my bike from the bike shop and then a four hour drive to the 70.3 Ironman site.
So this is it. All the months of training through the cold, dark winter mornings has been for this event, come Sunday afternoon after its all finished it will have been worth it, however right now, with butterflies in my stomach and heart racing ..... I'm not so sure.....
Here goes. ... . . ..... . .
Yikes, bike shop phoned this morning, there was something wrong with my rear wheel alignment. They are able to fix it, unfortunately I needed to shoot off for a meeting and so will have to leave them to it.
Oh no just got back this evening and there was another problem with my bike, the headset needs replacing???? Gosh tomorrow morning will be a panic as I must get my bike by lunchtime at the latest.
I've just checked my bike into my local bike shop for a full service and check up. I'll pick it up tomorrow after work.
I leave for the half Ironman Friday morning. I've started to get my stuff together for packing, thought I would get a head start as tomorrow I'll be shaving my legs !!!!!
Arrival: Chocolate muffin sir......
NO thanks. I've got an apple in my bag.
Mid-morning break: Huge chocolate cookies
NO. I'll have a cup of tea please.
Lunch: Three different cakes
NO. I'll have some fruit please.
Mid-afternoon break: Carrot cake or chocolate dessert
BLAST. Carrot cake is my favorite. I cave in.........
In four days time I will be too fat to do this half ironman.
I'm at a conference in London for most of this week. Its been very tricky as there are biscuits, chocolates and cakes everywhere at the breaks. I did so well for all of today but finally succumbed to a cream scone and jam, doh !!!!
Hmmm I guess I'm supposed to be tapering with only 6 days to go. Unfortunately I could not help myself and hit the road for a 2 hour cycle. I had a great ride, fabulous weather. At one point in the ride I reached 53 mph, lets hope I can repeat this form on Sunday?
I will head down to Wimbleball on Friday morning after I've dropped the kids off at school. Friday evening I'm staying in a B&B close to the race site. Saturday I will head over to the camping ground, which is next door to the start line. I'm camping Saturday evening (in the back of our MPV) and then I'll be all set for Sunday??????!!!!!!!
Oh crikey, I've got butterflies already .......... kdjfhkjdfhl . . . .... .. . . ..... ... .. kjdfpiqurwytifhkuharrrrrgggggghhhhhh.
Today was a day for a serious haircut.
"Hello, number 2 all over please"
"Errumm are you sure"
"Yep, number 2 all over"
"Do you know what you are doing sir?"
"Oh yes. Today is Thursday and I've got 9 days to go. Its a day for a serious haircut"
"OK number 2 all over it is" .....pause ..... "right'o here we go then"
.... 10 minutes later ......
"Oh it looks quite good really, you suit short hair."
"Thanks" I said. I'm looking down at the amount of GREY hair on the floor. Where did that grey come from, surely its not mine?????!!!!
omg only 9 days to go ......
F**&%***"!()_%&()&"£$#@#~~ excuse the language, as I've injured my right knee yesterday whilst on 9 mile run, I hope drugs and rest for a couple of days can fix it. Depressed!!!!
I couldn't resist, they arrive next week!!!!
Last night while on 9 mile run I was past by a barn owl and a world war II Lancaster bomber, strange run really?
Just entered for the Snowdonia marathon. The race starts at Nant Peris (300ft) on the A4086 and then climbs to the top of the Llanberis Pass (Pen y Pass 1,100ft), at the end of October that will be cold !!!!
Cycled over to in-laws yesterday, the weather was terrible. The roads were very slippery with all the rain. I thought I was a goner coming down a hill, I must have hit about 40 mph when I felt a wobble .... scary stuff.
Just got back from a 9 mile run this evening.
I got home from work last night at about 8:30pm. I was absolutely shattered and could not face going for a run or cycle. Guiltily resigned to missing a days training, I was getting changed into my casual clothes, taking off my shoes and was so close to crashing in front of the TV. A small voice shouts ..... DON'T DO IT, GET YOUR ARSE OUT THERE LAZYBONES...... 20 minutes later found myself diving into the swimming pool doing laps. I felt much better afterwards.
This evening I went out for a 8 mile run. Blinking flies everywhere, they had a good chomp on my legs. Doh must remember insect repellent for my next run.
I couldn't resist. No bloody will-power today. Puh, I won't do that again. I managed to justify the cookie to myself because last night I hit the gym. I set the treadmill to 8% incline for the workout, crikey afterwards I felt like collapsing.
Anyway to make up for the diet detour I hit the road this evening for a long run.
Missed training for the past couple of evenings due to family commitments. It was such a relief to get out for a run this evening despite it being dark and miserable weather. I'm an addict and need a running fix otherwise I will go crazy.
Despite the wind and rain, I went for a run yesterday, it was tough pushing myself to get of out the door, but I'm glad I did.
There were some amazing colours, the sky had various shades of grey, but it was wonderful mixed the vibrant shades of green from the trees and silky wheat fields. I like the month of May and especially living in the countryside.
I was out of bed this morning at 06:30 am for a cycle ride. It was still raining!!!?. I was about 10 miles into my ride just approaching a 8% hill when pssssssstttttt.. ... . . blast I forgot my puncture repair kit.
This picture was taken a year ago standing at the starting point for the UK half Ironman at Wimbleball lake. Yikes..... I am so not ready for this.
The weather forecast this weekend looks rather miserable, I don't mind running or cycling in the rain, just as long as its not cold and windy.
Despite the wind and the rain and more appealing activities such as having dinner with my family, I still venture outside into the grey for a run. Crikey, it was really difficult to push through and not sit in front of the tv, but one thing I have learnt about myself is that exercise keeps me sane.
I was at the RHS gardens at Wisley yesterday when a feathered friend came up to me and said;"Quack".
Which translated into English means; "Give me that biscuit fatty your supposed to be in training?" I am so far behind in my training schedule. Even now in the last light I can hear the birds chirping outside; "Puh. You were supposed to go for a run tonight.....what happened".
During the week my alarm clock bounces into life at 05:45am. Monday through Friday I hate it as I'm normally desperate for more sleep. The weekends were fabulous as I could escape from my alarm clocks demands. However, this has changed as my alarm clock now encroaches into my weekends.
Finding time in my families schedule that allows me to skulk off for a couple hours on my bike is tricky, especially with a partner who has no sympathy for the amount of training needed for an Ironman, which is entirely reasonable. The only free family time where I can do the training is very early on Sunday mornings or late in the evening after the kids are in bed.
When my alarm clock woke me this morning at 05:45am, I switched it off and hid from my guilt under the covers, I was just tooooooo tired.
Fortunately, my partner was in a good mood this morning and I was able to horse-trade for a couple of hours on my bike outside of my allotted schedule, it was great a great ride, although its payback time tomorrow ..... crumbs relationships ?????!!!!
Over the past couple of days this little guy has been singing his heart out from a tree in my garden. He starts his tune when the sun comes up and does not stop until late afternoon. I saw him again this morning, although he seems to have disappeared now, I hope his singing paid off and he has found a friend.
Ooops, as I type this, I've just seen him sitting in the tree, he's not singing!!! I wonder if he's lost his chirp?
Anyhow, if you know of any lonely chaffinches, please tell them to head over to south Oxfordshire.
I've just got back from a run this evening. I hit my PB for six miles on Saturday, I wasn't sure I could repeat it again this evening. Anyhow, I was 1 minute off Saturday's time, but I know the reason why ..... it was all that gardening on Sunday!!!
I was out on my bike this evening and saw my first Swift. I guess summer is on its way. Yippee. It was quite and eventful cycle, it started with a Kamikaze rabbit who decided to run in front of my bike, followed up by a crazy dog chasing after my ankles.
Gosh only 52 days to go....
Wahooooo. Finished work early at 5pm, jumped onto my bike and hit the road for a 2 hour cycle. It was fabulous ........
I was working from home today. This afternoon I looked out of my office window and I see this female Sparrow hawk. She had swooped down and grabbed a pigeon. She was sitting in the middle of the garden looking rather annoyed that her lunch had a lot of wrapping. I was watching her for about two minutes plucking out the mass of feathers.
I tried to get a better picture, but scared her away, she picked up the pigeon in her claws and with a couple of wing beats was up and away to eat her lunch in piece and quiet.
Guess who I work for, see this article , so you can imagine that today at work was interesting !!!!!!
The kids are at their grandparents this weekend, yippee long run planned for Saturday and lonnnnnnnnngggggg cycle on Sunday.......groovy, I love weekends.
Yeuk, first day back at work after my holiday to Egypt, Jordan. The picture is from the walk into the hidden city Petra, Jordan, its an amazing place and is up for voting for one of the new seven wonders of the world. I want to go back to Jordan, the place and people are fantastic.
Alas, the training schedule suffered while on holiday, I managed a couple of swim sessions, however this was more about practising technique than a serious workout, hmmm ok I was snorkelling.
Back into the training regime tomorrow, jeepers only 67 days to go, but as my guide in Petra would tell us ...... yalla, yalla.......
I hate commuting into London, 50 minutes of standing on a train trying to read my newspaper is not fun, grrrrrr.
Anyway, I don't care this week as I'm off on holidays to Egypt/Jordan for a week of sun, sea, sand and pesky kids!!!! It should be great fun, the kids are really looking forward to it. The hotel has a gym, steam room etc wahhhhoooooooooo.
Home from work on time. Dropped kids off at school disco then hit the road for a quick six mile run before losing the light. It was a great evening for a run and wow great time again, the consistent training seems to be paying off. Six miles is starting to feel easy, I guess I need to start and pick up the distance.
Blast!!!! I'm in the London office today, so no chance of training. My wife is at gardening club this evening and so I'm babysitting, oh well I'll get a good training session in tomorrow.
Wow just back from my regular 6 mile, Saturday morning run and I've blitzed my best time this year by 4 minutes, just shy of my all time PB by 1 minute.
What was the difference about today from previous weeks ...... hmmm could be this power gel or it could have been the regular training and this was just a placebo. Anyway, today's run was fantastic. The best bit was entering the mile split times into my run tracking spreadsheet, excellent.
I had a fabulous weekend last week which started on Friday, in fact I enjoyed it so much that I'm doing the same again this weekend.
Yesterday (Friday), I dropped the kids off at school and hit the road for a 3 hour cycle around the Oxfordshire countryside. It was brilliant. great sunshine, quiet country roads, gorgeous rolling countryside. (Route is here at www.bikely.com [great web site]).
The best bit of the whole day was cresting a climb and then flying down hill no handed, arms out stretched, head up in the air, shouting yes, yes, yes. (probably not very wise especially as there are lots of pot holes in the road).
Today, I'm out for a six mile run, although my legs are feeling rather heavy from the cycle yesterday.
Crumbs, not long until my 70.3.
Yup I've got Friday off work and I'm off for a lonnnnnnng cycle ride. It was lovely sunshine today, I only hope its sunny tomorrow as well. Actually to be honest, even if its peeing down with rain I don't care, as I'll be cycling through the lovely Oxfordshire countryside and I won't be at work. Yipeeeee.........
Wow where did February go?
Work has consumed my life over the past month and exercise has been confined to the weekends. Midweek, I'm just too tired when I get home from work and want to crash and fall asleep. I found myself getting angry and depressed with the pressure of work and not being able to do any exercise. I think it started to affect my relationship with my family. Anyhow, I'm now resigned to be a weekend warrior and cram training into Saturday and Sunday along with domestic chores, I long for weekends.
Last weekend was great and such a relief. I was able to do a 6 mile run while Sam was at soccer practice and then a 2 hour cycle ride to my in laws on Sunday. I love weekends.
Damn !!! ..... I worked through my lunch-hour and missed the opportunity to hit the gym. OK, plan "B" .....after work, my wife is picking up the kids and so I can leave work early at 5pm and get a couple of hours down the gym before my wife and kids are home.
Blast!!! ..... My wife's train is delayed, I'll have to pick-up the kids. OK, OK, I'll go to the gym later this evening, I'll skip dinner and go after I've put the kids to bed.
Arrrggghhhh!!!! ...... argument with wife .... delayed slightly, but I'll get to the gym
Crikey!!! ..... its late and dark and cold outside, come on .... push on to the gym (despite broken and painful arm).
Bugger!!!! .... car park for the gym is packed ...... keep going ......
Phew !!!! ........ relief at last EXERCISE .........
My seven year old son is funny. He came with me on my run, he was on his bike and I was running behind him. He was wearing his iPod cycling along humming to his music. I followed him smiling with the thought that maybe in a couple of years he would be running with me, or maybe I will be on the bike following him, who knows!!!! He was a great pace setter!
The plaster-cast on my arm comes off tomorrow, I can't wait .........
I love Friday evenings........ no work for two days and I get to go running and cycling...yummy. So plan of attack is 13 mile run tomorrow while my son is a soccer practice and then a couple of hours on the bike Sunday morning........ yummy can't wait, oh I do like weekends.
I'm off to make a cup of tea and think about running !!
Have you ever tried running with only moving one arm? I've just completed 5km doing this and my shoulder of my good arm aches, I think I must have been running lopsided to compensate for my broken arm.
Its fabulous to be training again, I can't wait to get this plaster-cast off my arm.
The morning train into London is packed, some of my fellow commuters are sitting on the floor. Anyhow back to my blackberry and listening to my iPod (great podcast from Bevan and the guys at Ironman Talk).
I took my family swimming this weekend, alas I was confined to the side lines with my broken arm in plaster, I was jealous!!. Anyhow I hung onto the plan to go for a long run in the afternoon. I was genuinely up for it, I was in the zone and ready to commit to a training regime again. Blast, I procrastinated too much and got sidetracked providing computer support to a neighbour which took longer than anticipated. By the time I finished it was too late to go out for a run.
hhhmmmm just excuses.......tomorrow, training starts for real even with a broken arm ...... no more excuses!!!!
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My X-ray examiniation shows an undisplaced fracture of the distal radius (see red line) which extends into the articular surface. (Picture snaffled from) 
I went for a run yesterday, it was great to be out running again, despite the dull pain of my arm, it was bearable. The doctor says that I'll be in plaster for three more weeks and should avoid contact sports and ice-skating for at least six weeks. Puh no problems there as you won't get me on ice skates again.
I've just submitted my membership to join the Whitehorse Harriers I wanted to get some regular training in this year and hope joining a running club would help.
I'm sitting in the trauma dept at John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford. Wow its busy, mainly with people on crutches with a broken feet/ankles. I'm certainly in the minority with my broken arm. But what a mix of people, from an Air Force squadron leader, with broken foot to old folk wearing funny socks, kids in school uniforms and a snowboarding teenager. We are all waiting to be processed.
"Florence" ...."Ruby"...."Michael" ...."Carol" .....
Ooo was that my name being called.
"Hello there, please take a seat". The room is dark. A very nice Xray technician maneuvers a large machine attached to the roof ito place. She disappears behind her desk and zoomph, click.
"Thank you very much please take a seat in the waiting room."
Oh right ok, back to my family of fellow patients. I need a wee, hmm have I got time before my name is called. No because as soon as I go I bet my name will be called. Hmm I'll cross my legs and wait ...... and wait and wait.
15 mins later.
30 mins .....
45 mins errr *&(&%%$*@
Phew finally. I'm now waiting in cubicle 8.
15 minutes later ....
"Hello, OK broken arm .... right lets have a look at your new XRays." We check out my new xrays and my arm looks much better, I can see a faint line where the break was. I'll be in plaster for another 3 weeks.
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The ice skating rink was packed and my son had finished and wanted to go home.
"Just one more go dad" said my daughter.
"No more, come on lets go home"
"Please...."
"OK come on then"
I was holding onto my daughter when her skates tangled with mine. I fell backwards and heard a loud crack!!! It was my left arm..... ouch.
I hoped nothing was broken however when I tried to undo the laces from my son's skates I knew it was serious. Unfortunately, my wife wasn't answering her phone. So, with a broken arm I drove to the hospital. After an hour or so at hospital, I was x-rayed and had my arm in plaster (the tea from the vending machine was terrible). Fortunately it was my left arm, however my right is also bruised and very painful. I finally got hold of my wife and she picked me up from hospital.
Crumbs what a way to start 2007. I'm not sure how this will effect training.
