Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Puh some days!!

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 .........

Monday, January 29, 2007

Pace

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 .........

Friday, January 19, 2007

Wahooo weekend

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 !!

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Swinging one arm?

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.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Hmmm excuses!!!

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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Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Undisplaced fracture of distal radius into articular surface

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.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Hospital

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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Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Monday, January 01, 2007

BROKEN ARM !!!!!

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.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Adventure racing vs Ironman

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?!

Friday, December 15, 2006

Blocks

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!!!!

Monday, December 11, 2006

Crumbs do I bow !!!!

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!?

Saturday, December 09, 2006

San Francisco here I come

Wow it only seems like yesterday since I was here. I'm currently sitting in the British Airways executive lounge waiting for my flight from London to San Francisco (10:30). My hotel has a swimming pool and gym, so there will be no excuses for getting in some training, also the weather is much better than here in London.

Oh well I'm off to get a cup of tea.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Hurumph .....

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.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

212 days until 70.3

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.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Fiddlesticks

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 ......

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Ouch my legs hurt

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

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Completed first marathon

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.

1 hour 30 mins to go????!

Crikey I'm soooooo nervous. Oh well here goes........

Saturday, October 21, 2006

12 hours until marathon

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.

Monday, October 16, 2006

5 days to go

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.