What a turkey

And I thought cycling was my strength.... 25 miles yesterday seemed equally as hard as about 90 miles just a few months ago.

I just hope that I can regain that kind of endurance as quickly as I lost it or I'm going to be in trouble come September. I've planned to hit the New Year running, literally. I've got a 1 hour run and another 25/30 miles on the bike lined up for the 1st of January. Let's just see how that works out......

Christmas Swimming

After feeling quite pleased with myself for getting in a run, swim and cycle in the few days before Christmas, two days of high calorie (and alcohol) intake combined with as much exercise as a fat house cat have ruined me. I plopped into the pool yesterday expecting a disappointing session but came away with a refined technique, a faster, more comfortable pace, and an idea how to help the breathing problems. I'm off out to buy a nose clip before hitting the pool again later. I might look like a numpty but considering I'll be in a wetsuit, with a condom on my head and fighting strangers in a cold river at 6 am, a nose clip is the least of my worries.....

Which way to the beach?

After a Christmas day and Boxing day of being a complete fat pig, it was time to get back on the training bandwagon - so why not combine a trip to Devon to do the usual visiting familly routine with an hours yomp along the coast near Torquay, South Devon? Great shout.

Not sure how far I covered as the GPS signal was too weak for my run keeper, so I did a 30 mins out, 30 mins back run at as high an intensity as I could maintain. Serious DOMS today - mainly due to attacking hard the couple of hundred stairs up and over the headland. My legs were saying no but the new leggings and trainers santa had bought me were screaming for more!!

Doing a coastal run, albeit a short one was awesome and a pretty inspiring place to train - I can sense a few ironman training camps away by the sea over the spring and summer may be on the agenda!!

7 mile trimtrail on Christmas Eve, it's play time

A seven mile trimtrail to wash away yet another good night! The energy for training in this holiday period has been high but somewhat difficult and counter productive as the beers and mince pies are calling me!!

Swimming in the snow

With the snow all around it has been near impossible to get on the bike or get a run in so it's back to the pool. I did manage a strength session on the legs yesterday and a spin on exercise bike but it's not the same. Hopefully the Christmas break will give me a chance to put some miles in on the road, depending on the weather of course!

Wednesdays have started to become swimming days so I thought I'd carry that on through Christmas and hit the pool at 7:30 this morning. Shocking session.... I wasn't concerned with distance covered rather technical improvement, but I'm not sure I've helped myself much! The stroke seems smoother but I'm struggling with my breathing. There's a 50 meter pool nearby and I think that might give me a better chance to relax and find a comfortable breathing pattern.

Training

Monday 20th December 2010, 10mile all terrain run 1hr 15minutes http://runkeeper.com/user/38386442/activity/21403290
Weights: Chest: flat bench press: (set 1: 15reps 60kg, Set 2-5: 8-10 reps 80kg, Set 6: 3 reps 90kg Set 7: 20 reps 60kg) Cable Crossovers (Set 1-4: 10-12 reps 22.5kg) Arms: Bicep Curls: (Set 1-7: 10 reps) Tricep press (Set 1-4: 20 reps 32.5kg)

First competitive event post entry to the Iron Man

Sunday 12th December, Andy Reading 10km in Bicester, road race, flat
course, time: 38:36 minutes, position 51st.

Very happy with my time for this event, I approached this race with
aggression and speed, the use of self talk throughout the race help me
to maintain focus. As a result I managed to run faster than my
previous 10k time by approx of 1minute 30sec.

Although I enjoy the physical demands of running the shorter
distances, over the next 6weeks my focus will lie on increasing the
mileage that I'm doing in preparation for the 50miles from Oxford to
Henley.

Sent from my iPhone

Race number 50 miler Thames Trot

Exciting morning, however some what daunting, a small hurdle in the preparation to the Iron Man!

Have you seen this man???

Have you seen Neil Prior? If so please let his fellow Ironmen competitiors know as they are very worried about him! - He was not seen at the pool this morning and it is not like Neil to miss a session, especially one that quite often involves a trip to the jacuzzi!! All KFC's within a 20 mile radius have been informed of Neil's dissapearance - he is expected to turn up at one or more of these establishments in the very near future - if you see him, remind him he is a pool session down!!

Saturday December 4th - Lets get some miles in the legs!

A few pics from Saturday's run - 15 or so miles from Burchetts Green down to Wargrave, across to Henley to pick up part of the ironman run course then back up through Hurley. You can see the weather was pretty bleak but that didn't stop myself and Phil posing for a photo outside the world famous Leander rowing club - just to show those rowers whats it's really all about! The run was awesome, injuring my ankle doing it was not! I was nearly sick at the finish as well! Work to do I think!

The tow-path at Henley on Thames - part of the ironman run course!

I'm in!

And there were 5. Now all we need to do is to get us 5 to work out this modern day technology stuff! This is my attempt and as seem as I was having breakfast at 0530hrs this morning prior to cycling and swimming, this should be easy when compared. However, I think I'm better at the physical than the brain types stuff! I am also going to go crazy and attempt to upload a video....bonkers!!

First training run

As the team completed their first training run, nearly 10 months before race day, we found ourselves running alongside a British athlete of the very highest order.

We even got the chance to speak with Sir Steve Redgrave at the finish line where he commented on our inspirational performance in the Marlow Santa Fun Run and wished us well for the Challenge Henley 2011 event.

December 3rd - First poor training session

Managed to hit the gym at 7:30 this morning. I was aiming for 7 but the cricket was on the radio and though I'd listen to England dismantle the Aussies for a bit (mistake #1).

I started with some cycling but then changed my mind and hit the treadmill, only to remember that I have a ligament damage in one ankle, which is still swollen after 2 weeks (mistake #2). The Santa fun run on Sunday might not be so fun....

A few weights and core exercises later and I'm done. RUBBISH. Lesson learnt. Plan training sessions correctly and stick to that plan. Ironman training programme research this weekend so that I can start a 9 month plan on the 18th.

December 1st - 07:00 - Pool session

(L-R) Alex, Neil, Phil.

December 1st - training begins!

290 days to go... which isn't really a very long time so we'd better get cracking eh?!

Big pool session at 07:00 this morning. Myself, Neil and Phil strutted into the Magnet in our speedo's looking every inch the.... overweight, out of shape complete novice swimmers that we are! However I think we were all pretty happy with our efforts, completing around 50-60 lengths in 45 minutes. Not spectacular by any means but its a start. It was about minus 3 outside but we sure worked up a sweat in that pool!
Off to work now to load up on calories, conserve some carbs and oh yeah... do some teaching!

"Expect nothing, blame nobody, do something!"