You are half way ... said a ladies voice

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.

Fitness and diet

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.

Cup of tea anyone?

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.

Stepping up

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.

Slump

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.

74 days to go (marathon)

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.

World Cup Final

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.

Pictures from 70.3

What next?

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?!

Wonderful !!!!

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.

1 day to go

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 .......

2 days to go

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?

3 days to go

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).

4 days to go

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.

5 days to go

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.

6 days to go

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......

8 days to go

11 days to go

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 !

12 days to go

Work, work, work

14 days to go

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.