Best laid plans of mice and (iron)men...

As the title suggests, things haven't exactly gone according to plan. What a forgettable experience Christmas 2009 will be.

Anyway, it meant training took a very back seat for a few days but got back on the horse tonight. Had to switch days around a bit and was supposed to do a 45 min brick. Decided I needed to blow some cobwebs away though so it ended up being 1 hour 17. Felt great although tough after not having been on the bike for a few days.

Focus is back and I am going to achieve my goals in 2010. Some way. Somehow.

No more false dawns

Illness over so back on the horse we go. Did a swim session down at Kingfisher last night. Took a while to get going and it's amazing how quickly swim fitness goes but got into it after about 20 mins. Late though - the session isn't till 9pm. Luckily, Chris had gone out and bought an electric blanket earlier in the day so getting into that with my post-swim hot chocolate made it all worthwhile.

Then did a 45 min treadmill session this morning as the slush has iced over so still quite treacherous out there. Wasn't as boring as I thought but I must remember to take Dora's nursery rhymes off my iPod playlist. Try as I might, I can't get that many endorphins out of the Grand Old Duke of York....

Turning into an ailment

So was back Thurs and Fri and did turbo and run sessions. All set to do my 1.5 hour bike session (indoors due to snow and ice) but woke up feeling terrible. It seems like this thing has turned into gastric flu. Have spent most of the day asleep or worse and feeling very very sorry for myself. Have done no Christmas shopping, missed out on a night away at friends', mince pies and the park with Dora and Chris and the 4 July date is just looming larger and larger.

Hope it's not the virus Harriet had as that lasted 3 weeks.

Finally

feel well enough to train. Still wasn't an easy ride as feel slightly battered after the week but good to get the heart pumping again. Turboed inside though - snowing outside and garage f-f-f-freezing. Also couldn't miss Gavin and Stacey!

Mother Nature can be a determined bird!

OK so pushing through may not be the best thing. Feel dreadful today. Just scared of missing any training. Going back to the book this week so today is due to be rest day anyway. Praying for some miracles before tomorrow.

SO UNFAIR.

Pushing through

Well, the programme started on Sunday and the first cold started on Tuesday. By Friday I was slain but yet to drop a session. Good job Tesco have got a 3 for 2 on effervescent echinacea and Vit C! I know it breaks all the rules but it's not the worse cold ever.

Went out on the bike for an hour this morning and felt good and certainly better than when I fell off on Wednesday!

In need of a rest

so it's good that it's my rest day today. Despite the programme due to start on Monday, I actually realise I have trained every day since last Friday. So, it's good that it's a rest day.

Hard swim at Kingfisher last night. Was feeling slightly under the weather and tired after lots of sessions but hung in there. Get so much more out of group swims than going solo. Did not like the breathing on 6th stroke lengths though - serious lung bust.

Working half day today so off Christmas shopping with Dora. Can't wait. First stop: Costa for an enormous creme brulee latte and a babycino!!

Underestimation

Day 3/4 - I think I may have underestimated the task in hand. I mean, I know it's a long way and isn't called Ironman for nothing but I realised last night on the turbo that this is going to be such hard work. On paper, 30 min turbo and 15 min run sounded buckshee but keeping the heart rate over 145 in a freezing cold garage with only Eminem on the iPod to help me was no mean feat. But, I survived and I guess things can only get better.

Brought bike into work and cycled at lunchtime. Got off to a bad start when I fell off coming out the car park. Some a-hole in a car was driving towards me, slowed down and then sped up again. Didn't unclip in time and went splat. But, session 4 of the week cracked so all good.

Day 1 of 208

Today is the official start of my IM training programme. However, such is the busyness of my life that I had to start it a day early as childcare issues would have made me miss a swim on week 1 which isn't a good start.

All good except Virgin gym only just thought to tell me that the pool I thought was 20m is actually only 18. Good job I checked but not till after the session. Grr.

Got up in the dark to run this morning before Dora got up. That went well although it's now 1.30pm and ready for sleep already. uh oh.