My next competition is now just 2 weeks away which means I'll need to switch some of my training to shorter sessions that match the requirements on the day. The Duathlon is a 2 mile, 10 mile, 2 mile dash and it's a repeat of my first Duathlon back in November. It will be a good chance for me to get an idea on how much , if any, progress I've made since I started my training this year. I suppose the fact that no two events are identical makes it hard to get a good handle on how you're doing. Next Sunday will be good as long it isn't too cold.
Okay that's next week, but that means the London marathon is now less than 10 weeks in the future, crap it's getting here fast. 15.5 miles is due on Sunday and that's a thick end of 2.5 hours of running. Just mapping it out on the computer took forever, my youngest son did suggest using the bike, but I'm not sure I can pull that one off on the day. We are definitely getting into the realms of creams and balms, I'm currently suffering from chafing caused by my running tights last Sunday. Doesn't chafing mean you are doing something the body isn't designed for? Does that make this running lark un-Christian, perhaps I'm consigning my soul to eternal damnation and that's going to sting more than my sore balls.
Week 7
How things have changed, I actually looked forward to my Monday rest day this week and at no point did I even consider any exercise. 14 miles is a seriously long way, but only constitutes just over half the marathon distance. All the training schedules say to only increase your distance by about 10% each week, which on the face of it sounds quite reasonable, but 15.4 miles still sounds a bloody long way too.
Tuesday saw my body starting to return to normal which was nice, so I started the day with a 45 minutes spin class. Cycling in the warm with loud music is always better than freezing rain and freezing my arse off. Received an email from the cricket club today with all the kids cricket fixtures, looks like the 27th May is a free day so it seems like this will be my first Triathlon. Better start getting in the pool again. I don't want to drown, that might spoil the day.
Wednesday is swim day and yet again I'm off on my travels, sunny Solihull this week and guess what, no chance to swim, not much chance to do much of anything to be honest. It's a 3 hour drive home so I wasn't feeling that hopeful, but a combination of school half term, good weather and the reasonable finish time to the meeting meant I was home before 8pm. Time for a quick something to eat and a late night turbo in front of the telly. Now I know Blade Runner is a cult movie, but the final directors' stretch it out cut or what ever it was called wasn't much cop, but it did fill the two hours required and as a bonus by butt was feeling a lot less raw as well, happy days.
Thursday as usual started off with the obligatory spin class, always a good start and this was no ordinary Thursday. I'd managed to secure some evening babysitting, thanks Mum, so I headed off to the gym with all the other grown up men of working age. Now the plan was to do an 8km run, that's what the colour coded schedule said, but this was too good a chance to spend some quality time at the gym and there was an hour spin class at 7 o'clock. So I swapped my water for Maxifuel go faster juice, took an extra towel and set off. 3 hours and 7 pints of sweat later I returned home showered, completely knackered but with an hour on the bike and 45 minutes running under my belt. Good job
Now Friday was my rest day, but I've moved it to Saturday at the moment to allow for my cricket nets and as I managed 3 sessions on Thursday I didn't need to squeeze in anything extra on Friday morning, so I didn't bother. Also I was still a bit drained for Triple Thursday so I comforted myself with some light reading (both Triathlon and non sport), a liberal dose of gaming time and a little cricket. Next.
Rest day proper, but still plenty to do, I have a Triathlon to find, a 15 plus mile run to map out and a trip to the Triathlon Show 2012 to sort out. I've outrun my usual routes so to get in the distance I need I basically need to run around the whole of the Southend on Sea area taking in the sea front, casino, sports centre, airport and hospital. The route comes to 15.35 miles, that's close enough for me. Looks like I'll go to the Tri-show on the Saturday although I still need to arrange a baby sitter. I also think I've managed to find a sprint triathlon that is less than an hours drive away, reasonably priced and with a slightly sensible start time. Why do they all start so early, doesn't anyone enjoy lie-ins.
Queue the drum roll. Sunday morning is here, fade in the epic movie music and 15 plus miles awaits me out there, dun-dun-da. All I will say on the run is it hurt, I didn't like it and it wasn't fun. Not one bit. Why, why o why?
Training this week
Swimming 0 hours
Cycling 4.25 hours
Running 3.5 hours
Cross training 1 hour
Sunday 19 February 2012
Monday 13 February 2012
Is this the best they can do
Now I'm pretty sure that sitting on a seat stem minus the saddle must be pretty painful and I'm hopeful that I never find out, but I'm not sure exactly how much less painful sitting on my saddle is. Also my cycling bib shorts seem to spend all their time protecting the crown jewels and not enough effort covering the waste disposal system. In nearly every turbo run I do the first thing that starts to play up is the under carriage? I wonder what the drag coefficient for a small decorative cushion is?
I suppose the old adage of no pain no gain still holds true and if it was easy to do everyone would be doing it, but I didn't expect all the pain to be in my butt. Another pain in the arse is the way everything else gets in the way of training, you try to plan and plan and plan some more, then remain flexible, but all that real life stuff just gets in the way. Trying to have enough time for work, wife, kids and other bits and bobs plus 6-10 hours of training and extra sleep is not easy. In fact it's not the training that is toughest its actually being mentally strong enough to get your kit on and fit it in, that's the tough part.
Week 6
Monday is usually a rest day, but the weather outside was still very white and with no run on Sunday there is no need to rest. A long day at head office meant today was a turbo day, a late night movie session. Priest (vampire movie) was actually not too bad and the 100 minutes went pretty quickly. It seems the quality of the movie does have an affect on butt pain.
Still too icy outside so still no street running, so down the gym in the morning for an early run. Just over 4 miles on the treadmill was pretty good and okay on the old knees with the last mile at race speed with the chilly Duathlon in mind. After lots of longer distances at slow speeds it was good to crank it up a bit. Just over 3 weeks to go so need to start incorporating some extra quick stuff with that in mind.
Another Wednesday and another busy day and another missed swimming session. I just can't seem to find time in the middle of the day at the moment plus the pool isn't available on Tuesday and Thursday evening, need to think of something else. If I don't get in the pool more often I'll forget how to swim completely. Also what's the chances of this white stuff doing one, snow is fun, this ice rubbish is seriously annoying and affecting the schedule.
Thursday and still no sign of a thaw so it's spin as usual in the morning and then a run before the wife goes to work. Spin class was ram-ode. I do like my spin, you get to do speed work and hill climbs plus you don't have to stop for traffic lights or dodge stupid runners in the cycle lane. I manged to squeeze in a 5 mile run just before dinner and then proceeded to nodded off just after 9 o'clock. More snow on the way was not the news I wanted to hear.
Friday morning and no more snow, game on, although I do have a job to do so that comes first. Cricket in the evening so I pop down the gym for 5km on the treadmill at lunch time. The last kilometre was at full tilt, the duathlon is just over 2 weeks away now. A little something to focus the mind. Nets was good and it's good to actually get to exercise with other human beings rather than pounding the streets on my own.
Rest day Saturday so the day is limited to three games of chess and a beach cricket tourney on the wii, yes I am the Daddy although I do need to work on that little pick up shot and my youngest son needs to work on losing with at least a little grace. 14 mile run tomorrow, that doesn't sounds like fun as more snow is forecast tonight.
Sunday morning breaks revealing a light sprinkling of snow that quickly turns to slush. It's a little warmer, but I'm not sure it is much above 0. 14 miles is the furthest I've ever run and every week is now a journey into the unknown. As I do my pre-run stretches I feel at least 5 twinges that could be serious enough to cancel the run or maybe Aliens have landed and I'll be needed to defend the planet rather than spend the next 2 or so hours running. No? Oh well, maybe the invasion will be next week instead. The mental challenge is so much more than the physical one. On go the shoes fitted with elastic laces, obviously, and off we go. The wind is low, the snow piles manageable and the sleet and rain doesn't start until I'm almost at the furthest point in the run. The final time was good as were the bacon rolls and new experimental cake i consumed just after I'd finished. Sunday afternoon was the usual mix of sore knees, tight muscles and heavy eye lids. What more could you ask for.
Training this week
Swimming 0 hours
Cycling 2.5 hours
Running 3.75 hours
Cross training 1 hour
I suppose the old adage of no pain no gain still holds true and if it was easy to do everyone would be doing it, but I didn't expect all the pain to be in my butt. Another pain in the arse is the way everything else gets in the way of training, you try to plan and plan and plan some more, then remain flexible, but all that real life stuff just gets in the way. Trying to have enough time for work, wife, kids and other bits and bobs plus 6-10 hours of training and extra sleep is not easy. In fact it's not the training that is toughest its actually being mentally strong enough to get your kit on and fit it in, that's the tough part.
Week 6
Monday is usually a rest day, but the weather outside was still very white and with no run on Sunday there is no need to rest. A long day at head office meant today was a turbo day, a late night movie session. Priest (vampire movie) was actually not too bad and the 100 minutes went pretty quickly. It seems the quality of the movie does have an affect on butt pain.
Still too icy outside so still no street running, so down the gym in the morning for an early run. Just over 4 miles on the treadmill was pretty good and okay on the old knees with the last mile at race speed with the chilly Duathlon in mind. After lots of longer distances at slow speeds it was good to crank it up a bit. Just over 3 weeks to go so need to start incorporating some extra quick stuff with that in mind.
Another Wednesday and another busy day and another missed swimming session. I just can't seem to find time in the middle of the day at the moment plus the pool isn't available on Tuesday and Thursday evening, need to think of something else. If I don't get in the pool more often I'll forget how to swim completely. Also what's the chances of this white stuff doing one, snow is fun, this ice rubbish is seriously annoying and affecting the schedule.
Thursday and still no sign of a thaw so it's spin as usual in the morning and then a run before the wife goes to work. Spin class was ram-ode. I do like my spin, you get to do speed work and hill climbs plus you don't have to stop for traffic lights or dodge stupid runners in the cycle lane. I manged to squeeze in a 5 mile run just before dinner and then proceeded to nodded off just after 9 o'clock. More snow on the way was not the news I wanted to hear.
Friday morning and no more snow, game on, although I do have a job to do so that comes first. Cricket in the evening so I pop down the gym for 5km on the treadmill at lunch time. The last kilometre was at full tilt, the duathlon is just over 2 weeks away now. A little something to focus the mind. Nets was good and it's good to actually get to exercise with other human beings rather than pounding the streets on my own.
Rest day Saturday so the day is limited to three games of chess and a beach cricket tourney on the wii, yes I am the Daddy although I do need to work on that little pick up shot and my youngest son needs to work on losing with at least a little grace. 14 mile run tomorrow, that doesn't sounds like fun as more snow is forecast tonight.
Sunday morning breaks revealing a light sprinkling of snow that quickly turns to slush. It's a little warmer, but I'm not sure it is much above 0. 14 miles is the furthest I've ever run and every week is now a journey into the unknown. As I do my pre-run stretches I feel at least 5 twinges that could be serious enough to cancel the run or maybe Aliens have landed and I'll be needed to defend the planet rather than spend the next 2 or so hours running. No? Oh well, maybe the invasion will be next week instead. The mental challenge is so much more than the physical one. On go the shoes fitted with elastic laces, obviously, and off we go. The wind is low, the snow piles manageable and the sleet and rain doesn't start until I'm almost at the furthest point in the run. The final time was good as were the bacon rolls and new experimental cake i consumed just after I'd finished. Sunday afternoon was the usual mix of sore knees, tight muscles and heavy eye lids. What more could you ask for.
Training this week
Swimming 0 hours
Cycling 2.5 hours
Running 3.75 hours
Cross training 1 hour
Monday 6 February 2012
Things just got interesting
Up until now my training sessions have all been of manageable lengths, less than 2 hours, which is something I've done many times in the past, a game of football, a long innings in cricket or 2 spin classes. Last week's run was 12 miles which took less than 2 hours, next weekends is 14 miles and this will take me over that 2 hour figure. I'm officially entering unknown territory, if I was James T Kirk I'd be asking for a couple of those red suited fellows to join me. If I was 8 years old I reckon I could get away with asking to hold my mummy's hand. It's definitely squeaky bum time.
This psychological change got me thinking about the obsessive nature of this whole escapade; was this obsession actually bordering on addiction, or had I jumped over the addict border avoiding the redneck patrols and rented a small studio apartment on the edge of the redlight district, working as a barman in a seedy lap dancing club. Who knows?
What is addiction anyway? I've had a look at the symptoms and see how many you recognise.
Pronounced mood swings
Weight Loss
Changes in energy levels
Disconnection from other interests
Change in social groups
Financial unpredictability
Yep, I recognise those and add to that my obsession with reading niche magazines, visiting sport shops and an attraction to getting up early on a Sunday, you can see what I'm getting at.
Week 5
As the Boom town Rats said (google it if you are under 30) 'I don't like Mondays', so a trip to the office today is a good way to fill the day rather than sitting in my office at home looking at exercise paraphernalia and think up naff excuses justifying why I need to deviate from the much vaunted schedule which stares down at me in all it's technicolour glory from just above my monitor. In the end I watch some telly and read my book. Boring.
Tuesday, hooray; customer site visit, boohoo. Only time for a late night run today because I have to go to the shops and buy a new suit because none of mine fit any more. They make we look like I've stolen my clothes from a very fat scarecrow. Didn't think I'd ever have to buy a new belt because all mine are too big!! Tuesday was a proper winter's day and the run required 3 layers, hat, gloves, snood and long shorts. And another thing as if you weren't aware already, hot dogs and delicious home made cakes are not good preparation for a 10km run.
Month end reporting on Wednesday meant a seriously busy day, but I still planned to swim at lunchtime. That didn't happened, too busy, so I changed my plan to a run before the school run. That didn't happen. How about a spin class in the evening, nope. A blast on the turbo trainer after dinner, no chance. Finally how about a late night run, any chance? No. Bollocks!
A good plan is an adaptable plan and so with nothing happening on Wednesday I decided to mix and match and get my exercise in when I could. I managed to do an early spin class on Thursday, but by 8 in the evening I'd done nothing else, time to make up the turbo trainer me thinks. Unfortunately by the time I got to use it the clock was well past 10pm. It's not ideal but I managed 2 hours on the trainer watching Gladiator. I bet Russell Crowe's butt didn't ache this much while he was slaying brutish barbarians. Shower and bed just after 1am.
Still pretty busy on Friday as well so no time for anything through the day so I decide to leave for cricket early and do a 6km run just before nets started. Holy cow it was cold, the little red snow flake in the car means sub zero temperatures. Just over 30 minutes later I'm back in the warm, it wasn't too bad once I got going but my lips hurt the whole time.
Holy hole in a doughnut Batman, Friday was cold but Saturday was more so. I've got a long run tomorrow, snow permitting, so just a stroll along the sea front today. This month's Triathlon magazine dropped through the letter box yesterday so this was a good excuse to spend a couple of hours on the sofa, tea and cakes provided. Thoughts of sunning myself while competing in the likes of Dubai and Hawaii may be just a pipe dream, but maybe one day and if you don't dream you have nothing to aspire too.
Now I know there is a little sadomasochist in every triathlete, you know that drive that pushes your mind to write cheques your body can't cover and sad little bald men to nail their testicles to planks of wood, but running in a foot of snow didn't seem like much of an idea. I was actually looking forward to running in a little snow, but 12 inches seemed a little excessive. So scratch Sunday, lets see what Monday brings. The weather was rubbish but the couch is comfy so used the time to read, read, read. I read some great articles on nutrition, apparently bananas are good for absolutely everything, except piles. By the way can I class 45 minutes of clearing snow as a cross training session?
Training this week
Swimming 0 hours
Cycling 3.5 hours
Running 1.5 hours
Cross training (not inc snow) 1.0 hour
This psychological change got me thinking about the obsessive nature of this whole escapade; was this obsession actually bordering on addiction, or had I jumped over the addict border avoiding the redneck patrols and rented a small studio apartment on the edge of the redlight district, working as a barman in a seedy lap dancing club. Who knows?
What is addiction anyway? I've had a look at the symptoms and see how many you recognise.
Pronounced mood swings
Weight Loss
Changes in energy levels
Disconnection from other interests
Change in social groups
Financial unpredictability
Yep, I recognise those and add to that my obsession with reading niche magazines, visiting sport shops and an attraction to getting up early on a Sunday, you can see what I'm getting at.
Week 5
As the Boom town Rats said (google it if you are under 30) 'I don't like Mondays', so a trip to the office today is a good way to fill the day rather than sitting in my office at home looking at exercise paraphernalia and think up naff excuses justifying why I need to deviate from the much vaunted schedule which stares down at me in all it's technicolour glory from just above my monitor. In the end I watch some telly and read my book. Boring.
Tuesday, hooray; customer site visit, boohoo. Only time for a late night run today because I have to go to the shops and buy a new suit because none of mine fit any more. They make we look like I've stolen my clothes from a very fat scarecrow. Didn't think I'd ever have to buy a new belt because all mine are too big!! Tuesday was a proper winter's day and the run required 3 layers, hat, gloves, snood and long shorts. And another thing as if you weren't aware already, hot dogs and delicious home made cakes are not good preparation for a 10km run.
Month end reporting on Wednesday meant a seriously busy day, but I still planned to swim at lunchtime. That didn't happened, too busy, so I changed my plan to a run before the school run. That didn't happen. How about a spin class in the evening, nope. A blast on the turbo trainer after dinner, no chance. Finally how about a late night run, any chance? No. Bollocks!
A good plan is an adaptable plan and so with nothing happening on Wednesday I decided to mix and match and get my exercise in when I could. I managed to do an early spin class on Thursday, but by 8 in the evening I'd done nothing else, time to make up the turbo trainer me thinks. Unfortunately by the time I got to use it the clock was well past 10pm. It's not ideal but I managed 2 hours on the trainer watching Gladiator. I bet Russell Crowe's butt didn't ache this much while he was slaying brutish barbarians. Shower and bed just after 1am.
Still pretty busy on Friday as well so no time for anything through the day so I decide to leave for cricket early and do a 6km run just before nets started. Holy cow it was cold, the little red snow flake in the car means sub zero temperatures. Just over 30 minutes later I'm back in the warm, it wasn't too bad once I got going but my lips hurt the whole time.
Holy hole in a doughnut Batman, Friday was cold but Saturday was more so. I've got a long run tomorrow, snow permitting, so just a stroll along the sea front today. This month's Triathlon magazine dropped through the letter box yesterday so this was a good excuse to spend a couple of hours on the sofa, tea and cakes provided. Thoughts of sunning myself while competing in the likes of Dubai and Hawaii may be just a pipe dream, but maybe one day and if you don't dream you have nothing to aspire too.
Now I know there is a little sadomasochist in every triathlete, you know that drive that pushes your mind to write cheques your body can't cover and sad little bald men to nail their testicles to planks of wood, but running in a foot of snow didn't seem like much of an idea. I was actually looking forward to running in a little snow, but 12 inches seemed a little excessive. So scratch Sunday, lets see what Monday brings. The weather was rubbish but the couch is comfy so used the time to read, read, read. I read some great articles on nutrition, apparently bananas are good for absolutely everything, except piles. By the way can I class 45 minutes of clearing snow as a cross training session?
Training this week
Swimming 0 hours
Cycling 3.5 hours
Running 1.5 hours
Cross training (not inc snow) 1.0 hour
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