71 days to go

I am so not ready for an Ironman in September, I'm procrastinating with my training and to be honest its rather feeble.

Thursday night was great. Tony from work entered us into the three bridges relay, I've done the race for a couple of years. You start at Westminster bridge run along the Thames for two bridges over the bridge and back up the other side. Its a relay race with four in each team. Not sure how my team did, but we aren't that fast so the time does not matter. (Oh I'm on the end D68)

This weekend I must start and get some distance into my cycle and run sessions. I must, I must, I must.

73 days to go

Errr ummm

Finished

I finished the UK Ironman 70.3, 1 minute 19 seconds faster than last year, I'm slightly disappointed with the time as the cycle and run felt a lot faster. The swim was OK until about 600 meters from the end when I suddenly cramped. It later transpires, after seeing the doctor, that I tore my calf muscle. (I'm due to see the physio this week).

Despite the problems with the swim, I transitioned onto the bike without problems. I was struggling slightly during the bike leg, but felt mentally OK. The transistion to the run was fine, and once into the swing of the run I managed to make up 10 minutes on last years run time.

Hopefully, a couple days of rest and I'll be back into the swing of things for Ironman UK in September.


UK Ironman 70.3 from Paul Rollings on Vimeo.

Here I go !!!!

Supposed to be working from home this morning, however I can't concentrate. I have my stuff dumped into piles in the bedroom and office. I'm sure I've forgotten something. I will head down to the Ironman site after lunch today, it will probably take about 4 hours.

I've done the UK half Ironman for the last two years, and this year feels different. I know I needed to do more training, however I feel fitter and mentally I'm better prepared.

Sunday at 6am (BST), I will be diving into a very cold lake ......... as for what comes after that ..... who knows!!!!

3 days to go

I had just arrived into Reading station and was walking to our office when I glanced into an hairdressers window. They were open. What the heck I thought to myself. Today is a day for a serious haircut. 10 minutes later I had a number 2 haircut.

Tomorrow its the legs!!!!!

4 days to go

I wrote this post sitting on a train stuck outside London.

"My thoughts have wandered to Sunday and the 70.3. I've done the UK 70.3 for the last two years, the thing that gets me is the early sunday morning. I normally get to the start line about 1hr before the start gun at about 5am. I can feel it now, the cold morning, clear blue sky, the nervous butterflies in the stomach, the cold wet grass on my bare feet. I can feel this now sitting on the train. Yikes ......... Why am I doing this"

9 days to go

Work, work, work, grabbed 1 hour down the gym. Despite slump in training intensity, I'm still feeling confident that I can hit a good time in 9 days time.

0707

This is my race number for the 70.3 next week ........ It feels like a lucky number!!!!

10 days to go

Village flooded yesterday, that's our main road in my village!!!!!???? Fortunately the sun came out today and dried up all the rain. I'm on kid duties tonight. No training for two days .....aaarrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhh ............. grrrrr .....

13 days to go

I was so nearly hit by a car today, he missed by by about 5cm. I was cycling along into Lambourne when out popped a car from the other side of the road, he swung into my side of the road, and I really don't know how he missed me. I was so so close to ending up on his bonnet.

*&^%$£@()*^%%6£$%&( !!!!! ..... ooops sorry gestered the driver, and then he sulked behind me, until I pulled over out of the way.

45 miles on the bike today.

14 days to go

The food at in my office restaurant is very good, and its very hard to steer clear, especially if like me you missed breakfast. Fortunately, my will power was strong. Instead, I hit the roads for a 5 mile run around Hyde Park.

This was my route:

100 days to Ironman UK

Gosh only 100 days to go until Ironman UK, yikes I'm scared!!!!

17 days to go

Its been raining all day and I was going to chicken out of my evening run, however I pushed myself outside into the rain. It was quite refresing runing in the rain, despite having to hurdle all the puddles.

18 days to go

I was watching the Giro d'Italia last night, flippin heck those chaps were powering up a mountain with a gradient of 23%. Just amazing. I hate going up hills, I really can not do it, no matter how hard I practice, I just know that will be my undoing in 18 days time. The UK 70.3 has killer hills in the bike and run.

Just got back from the gym and I'm chomping on a bowl of pasta, I'm starving might have to go back for seconds.

Puh!

Rain, rain go away, come back another day. Hurumph toooooo windy and its raining. This scaredy cat won't go out for a run or on his bike. Depressed.

Yippeeee .... long weekend

I've recently moved offices and I'm now working in the London office, which is bad as I'm back into the commuting rat run. However, it does have some good points, my head office has approx 1,000 employees and quite a few good runners. Lunch-times are now spent running around Hyde Park or Regents Park. The guys took me on a run up Primrose hill last week, phew that was a tough one.

Its a long weekend, which is great as I need more training time ........ only 20 days to 70.3 and 104 to full Ironman.

Frank Sinarta, Van Morrison and Vivaldi

"Come fly with me..... lets fly, lets fly away....." said Frank ...... a few minutes later the harmonica of Van kicked in from the "Bright side of the road"......... wahooooo great music ..... sunny blue skies and I'm on my bike. Hmmmm and then "Spring - Four Seasons" from Vivaldi merged in, the shuffle function on my iPhone was certainly mixing up the music.

I'm currently average 40 miles a ride and I need to step up the distance if I'm ever going to be able to finish my full ironman in September. Yikes, only 26 days until half ironman and 110 until the full version!!!!!

Behind you

Feeling better and I'm slowly snapping back into the swing of things. I was out for a run this evening when I could swear I heard someone running behind me. I kept looking over my shoulder, but no one was there? I think I'm paranoid.

Err umm .... very peculiar

Wow, Sunday was a fabulously warm and sunny day, a fantastic day for a bike ride.   I passed several cyclists on the normally quiet Sunday roads, it was brilliant.   After a pleasant 40 mile cycle, I cut short the ride and detoured home as I started to feel slightly peculiar.  I showered and changed, but then had to go to bed to lie down, all of a sudden I had no energy.  

Zonk !!!!! I was out for the count. I woke up an hour or so later running a temperature of 101 f, terrible stomach pains and a stinking headache.  I managed to crawl into work today, fortunately my temperature has gone, alas its knocked training out for a couple of days.

Yellow and green

Today was a day of yellow and green.  

Fields of yellow rape seed, next to fields of green grass.  A yellow banana, washed down with a yellow sports drink dropped onto my yellow/green Palo Alto cycling top.  3 hours of yellow and green, and then a shower and changed back into blue.  

Window shopping

Oooooohhhhh. I do like window shopping for new bikes ......

45 and 129

There are ONLY 45 days until my half Ironman and 129 until my first full Ironman attempt. Yikes..........??????

Craving scooby-doo sandwich

The start of the Whitehorse challenge opened at 0755am and I was the second person out of the gate with a group of 7 others.

For the first two hours it was great, we averaged about 23mph zooming along in a cool paceline. Then we hit the first hump and I was dropped. For the next 30 mins I as out by myself. We then hit a monster of a climb and I was engulfed by a stream of 40 to 50 cyclists zooming up the hill. From then on I was travelling backwards. I did not mind as it was sunny and the coutryside was beautiful.

Then it, started cramp and a craving for a huge scooby-doo like sandwich. The climbs were killers and when I saw a road sign indicating a 17% gradient I could have died. I didn't care too much about the time as I just wanted to finish.

Yikes, I've got a lot of training to do before September and my first full Ironman attempt.

Here we go

just finished breakfast and about to set off for race

Yikes 150kms

I'm doing the Whitehorse 150km cycle race tomorrow and I've got a cold and runny nose. The weather forecast is for rain. However there is no holding me back, while my body is weak and tired I'm focused and ready to bring it on!!!!!!

OK, I've just finished watching a Nicholas Cage film and I've had a testosterone boost, come tomorrow morning I'll be whimpering.

OMG

My entry has been accpeted into the UK Ironman in September ....... yikes what have I done!!!!!

Wait list for IM UK 2008

Tammy, IronTim and Iron Kahuna have inspired me to enter for a full Ironman, and so I'm currently wait listed for IM UK in September. Over the past couple of years, I've been staying at 70.3's tooooo scared to graduate to a full Ironman, well that's about to change.

Next week is my first event of the year, the White Horse Challenge. 150kms of cycling through the English countryside, yikes.

Mexico to Sweden

I'm home from a great holiday in Mexico, however first day back at work has me flying to Sweden. The contrast between the two countries could not be greater.

Its 1am local time, not sure what timezone my body is in? Hmm my body is not in good shape, the hotel in Mexico was all inclusive, geared towards an American market, crumbs the food and drinks are very sweet. I managed a couple of runs, but phew running in temperatures of +30c was tricky. Oh I must go to bed I have to be up early.

Wahoo off to Mexico

Grrr late home from work, needed to finish handover notes, going on holiday is a painful business. One problem still outstanding that I need to dial in for on Friday...... haven't told the family yet????

All packed. Must go to bed soon as I need to get up at 3am for 11 hour flight.........

Romero, Hoy and the British Cycling team

Awesome racing at the track cycling worlds in Manchester, both the missus and the kids are sucked in. This is crazy normally they don't like my stuff. Just watched Chris Hoy beat Sireau, it was a great two legs, with Hoy pipping the frenchman by mm in the first race.

I just wish the British cycling team got more coverage in our media.

Doldrums

So home late from work, knackered and completely brain fried, I know I'm not going to make it out for a run or to the gym tonight. I seem to be saying that a lot recently ..... "I'll go for a run/gym/swim/cycle tomorrow".

I spent the evening crashed in front of my computer, did read a good article that has me kicking myself for not going for a run. I can certainly relate: "Running Can Make You High"

Digitizing CD collection

So procrastinated all day today, clearing out my office and digitizing my entire CD collection. Several hours and 12GB later all done, just enough time for a run in the wind and snow before bathing the kids.

The weather was terrible this weekend.

Horrible weather

Yeuk, what a horrible weekend, the weather was terrible, wind, rain and snow.

I've been cowering in my office away from the elements, until I finally cracked I needed to get outside. With a zillion layers I braced myself and ventured out on my bike.

Phew it was very windy and after a couple of hours being buffeted on my bike I had to call it a day.

I'm off to Mexican sunshine in 11 days time .....

Knocked for six

Out with fever........

Bosses new bike

My wife's boss has just bought a new bike ...... oooohhh arrrhhhh, it looks great.  

If I won the lottery I would have a bike for each day of the week.

Just got back from the gym, 5k run on dreadmill (21mins), 2000m on rowing machine (7.58 mins) and 45mins on various weight machines. Blast washing up is calling ......  

Mexico

Hmmmm ...... my family and I are off to Mexico in a couple of weeks for holiday. Unfortunately the dates clash with my first event of the year (Grove half marathon).  Oooops.

My mate Mac

After weeks of frustration with Vista and 18 years of dealing with Windows, I've finally snapped, enough is enough.  On Monday, my shiny new Apple 24 inch iMac arrived.  Its truly beautiful.

Mac and I are now best buddies.  If only Mac could ride a bike, although I was mightily impressed with his trek to my house, he started off in Prague.

85 kph and nearly wiped out

Perhaps this sign should also read and valley of the cyclists.

I was out on my normal Sunday cycle ride and I'm on the long downhill, I must be hitting about 85kph when my back wheel lifts up and dances sideways ........ phew it was a scary couple of seconds, it landed on the ground and then quickly snapped back into line. I thought I was a goner.

The best bit ....a long downhill

I was out on my usual Sunday cycle ride, and after 1 hour of climbing and rolling hills I get to the best bit. A lonnnnnnnng downhill........ its not very steep, but it does go on for a while..... wahoooooooo.

Ironman training - gardening?!

Gardening, well digging a vegetable bed actually, I bet this is not part of normal triathletes training programme. I don't see Chris McCormack training regime involving lugging large bags of compost or digging and weeding large vegetable beds.

Well, this is now part of my secret training schedule to blow away the UK triathlete competition .... I'll have to wait until June to see if it pays off.

I've submitted my application for a lottery place for Hawaii ...... don't stand a chance of getting a place and I would probably pee my pants if I did .................

Cold fingers and runny nose

Wow, what a great weekend, the weather was fantastic.  It all started Friday night with a monster session at the gym, followed by Saturday afternoon and a 10 mile run, and then today and a 3 hour cycle ride in the Oxfordshire winter sunshine.

Its Sunday night and I've got work tomorrow, lots of ironing, loads of household chores and my body is tired ....... but I don't care because it was a fabulous weekend.

Layers

What a palaver getting dressed for a cycle ride during the winter????

I start with a cotton vest, (I know its probably not great, as cotton holds moisture, but it seems to work for me). Next over the top, a long sleeve Lycra close fitting shirt, then a short sleeve loose dri-fit t-shirt, next comes Lycra arm warmers, then long leg Lycra bib pants, over the top Lycra padded racing bib shorts, racing cycle jersey and a wind proof gillet, all topped of with hat, gloves and overshoes.

Having the layers works well for cold days, although after a long cycle ride on Sunday and consuming two bottles of water, getting all those layers off to go to the bathroom is somewhat of a challenge.

Yippeeeee

I heard a strange sound this morning.  Birds singing.  Its still only January and the birds have started to sing.  I open the curtains and I'm greeted with a fabulous looking day, a great day for a cycle ride.  

My iphone is loaded and charged, I've got two water bottles, banana, bike repair kit and all set for a great cycle ride.  Sure enough it was a fantastic ride, the weather was great, the roads quiet, excluding the horse riders, runners and other cyclists (my kind of traffic).  Today was the best day of the year. 

(I apologise to those folks in deepest, cold winter).

First Amendment Area

NOISE.  I crave silence, no noise, nothing, just silence. 

I was running, when all of a sudden I stopped, switched off my music, pulled out my earphones and just stood still.  My breathing slowed and just for one minute there was peace and quiet, it was beautiful.

Jet lag

I can't sleep.  Which is very interesting, lying awake in bed at 02.30am listening to my wife snoring!!!!!!!!!! 

My wife and I are complete opposites, in every way, absolutely everything, even our breathing?  I can't sleep due to jet lag and a snoring wife, I've read about 10 zillion books, counted all the sheep in the world and so I try to match my wife's breathing pattern, I nearly start to hyper-ventilate, gosh she breathes fast when she sleeps.

Two doors down

My hotel room is two doors away from the hotel gym, which is great as I've hit the gym everyday, although I think I might have over done it on the step machine.

San Francisco is great, I just wish I had my bike with me.

San Francisco

Wahoooo I'm off to San Francisco tomorrow morning for a week, its not holiday but work.  I'm flying out British Airways business class and back first class.

A week of the hotel swimming pool, sauna  and gym....... piece of quiet from noisy family, shopping, eating out ahhhhhh.

Smarties

I managed a 10 mile run this past weekend, which seems to have put a temporary halt to my weird dreams. Alas, Monday thru Friday is still devoid of any training.  I'm really struggling to get arse into gear. 

I'm down to my last 5 smarties (chocolate M&Ms) and when the last one goes, that's it no more procrastinating.  I'm committed to a road of no more chocolate and a strict exercise and diet program.  Just scoffed another smartie, only 4 left and no excuses. 

Three orange and one green smartie to go.  No stop, couldn't resist 3 left ...... 

UPDATE: Scoffed the lot ..... strict exercise and diet routine has kicked in from now.

Grizzly bear dream

I'm in an ironman event, however instead of swimming, I'm in a sail boat.  I've just finished the swim (sail) leg and enter transition when out pops a huge grizzly bear.  The bear chases and catches me and is just about to bite my head off when I wake up. 

I must get out and do some exercise, before my dreams turn me into a nervous wreck.

(Picture: Dave Hurteau of Field & Stream magazine)