Procrastinating

Holiday

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......

No hats, no boots

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.

Run at sunset

Went for a 10 mile run yesterday evening, the sunset was fantastic.

Yipppeeeee Friday

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

Favourite trainers

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.

Sun and soccer

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.

Sauna and steamroom

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

Muscles

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.

Meetings, meetings and more meetings

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.

No chance of training in the mornings

I'm amazed that some people are able to spring early out of bed before their family wakes up and go for a run or cycle. For me when the alarm goes off at 05:45am until getting to work is a slog of getting myself and the kids ready for school. (My wife escapes from the morning madness).

The mornings are crazy, what with a daughter who refused to get her socks and a son who can't find his clothes right in front of his face. Remembering equipment for swim practice, guitar lessons, football club, homework and then forms to sign, breakfast to make and shoes to shine, there is absolutely no chance that I could get any exercise in before going to work.

To those mothers and fathers that do, I take my hat off to you and salute you.

Wimbledon, work, rain and studying

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?

Wet sunday looking for worms

I'm not sure what I'm doing?! For the past six months I had a goal, but now I just can't motivate myself to get back into a training regime. I had plans for an early Sunday morning run, but it was grey and raining, which was a good excuse to have a lie in. Plan "B" ...... go for an afternoon run.

Its afternoon now. Hmmm not so sure, I much prefer sitting here watching the birds from my office.

Finished but failed

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.

1 day to go

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. ... . . ..... . .

2 days to go

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.

3 days to go

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 !!!!!

4 days to go

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.

5 days to go

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 !!!!

6 days to go

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?