Weekend of mixed fortunes

Got up at 5am for my 4-hour ride on Saturday. Did the first 30 mins on the turbo waiting for it to get light (God, I'm weird) and then headed out. Pretty soon realised that I'd been slightly over-ambitious about the weather. The forecast had said sunny and 17 degrees but, in retrospect, I think they may have been talking midday sun. Got to the end of the road and had to turn back for my full gloves.

Half an hour later and suddenly the bright, clear morning turned into something like the heath scene in Macbeth. Heavy and very cold mist and was getting really irritated as my bike lights wouldn't stay on. In the end, I got off and tried to fix them. Living in modern times is superb sometimes as I was able to Google from my phone how to get them working. After a demonstration on You Tube, I set off again but because I'd been stopped for about 15 mins, my body temp had dropped and I soon realised I couldn't feel either feet or my little finger. Decided to abandon ship and head home. I mean, it's probably no secret that I'm rather a fair-weather cyclist but there was literally nothing enjoyable about the time I was having. Got home and Dora was just waking up so had a lovely cuddle and put the electric blanket on. About an hour later, no sign of the mist and it was scorchio. Typical - especially as Chris had to work.

Managed to get a turbo session in in the afternoon in the garden when Dora was sleeping so managed about 2 hours total - 2 hours short of plan. What can you do eh?

Determined to right the wrongs, I decided to go for another chilly experience and headed to the lake this morning. Last year, my first open water swim was the last weekend in April so this was really pushing into virgin territory. Needn't have worried. Very cold for the first 100m or so and then just totally loved it. Did 1500m and felt like I could have done more. Alas, the lake was turning into a water skiing lake at 9 so I had to get out. Love the new venue though - Princes Club - and Dora had a lovely time on the swings and slide so all good.


Just about got my costume dry and then it was off to Dora's swimming which was lovely. Then, this afternoon, we played in the meadow near the house and my friends Liz and John looked after her while I ran for an 1 hr 30. Was scorchio and in parts the towpath was like the Waterloo & City Line but felt OK and at least had fluid with me this time.

So, all in all, a good week. Disappointed I didn't get my long ride done but that's life, I guess. Must do better next week.

Running on Empty

Despite a good week including a turbo session in the sunshine in the garden yesterday, had a bit of a meltdown today. Not sure why but just woke up feeling a bit miserable and was hit by a cloud of doubt and tears : (

Luckily, I was able to turn the tanker around. Downloaded some songs for my iPod for my run and despite feeling very dehydrated and sluggish, I was soon back into my stride after running in the sunshine listening to an extended version of Bizarre Inc's 'Playing with Knives'. Suddenly I was transported back to being 19 years old and dancing on the stage at Rio's nightclub in Bradford. Hilarious memories. Anyway, it's very fast and suddenly realised my heartrate was about 160 which was pushing into a zone not prescribed for the session!

So, today I both lost and re-found my training mojo all in the space of a few hours. The dehydration was also a bit of a lesson. The type of schoolgirl error that there is no excuse for these days.

Quotes of the day

'Hard work conquers talent'.

Taking this into consideration, I swapped hard work at work at lunchtime for a hard brick on the roads. I'll never be Hollie Avil (who the quote comes from) but hopefully sessions like that will make the Klagenfurt roads inch by marginally quicker.

Early starts so much more palatable in the Summer

Had a good rest day on Monday with tonnes of 'Green and Blacks' and spent the evening with my book club book - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (gripping but didn't end how I wanted it to). Because I was so against the clock i.e. 300 pages to do in 4 days, had to do some serious power-reading and it ended up with me dreaming I was in the book and all this fast-paced stuff going on. Woke up at 4.45 on Tuesday feeling like I'd been in a washing machine all night. Lay there for a while, cuddling with the cat and then the light started pouring in so thought I might as well get up and train.

As the early part of this week is a recovery from the 'race', I had to do an hour's run but at a very steady pace. So lovely running on a mild April morning with a giant currant bun in the sky. The time flew. It was the sort of morning that makes open water swimming a total pleasure and I began to get really excited that all the lakes will soon be open. In fact, one of them just near me is open already. I know entering the water this early would, in reality, be less idyllic than in my mind's eye but I am toying with giving it a go at the weekend! Weird, I know.

Mum resumed childcare duties also on Tuesday and so was able to swim in the evening too. Did about 2.5k and used my new lap counter. Occasionally forgot to press the button but think I did 133 lengths and virtually had the pool to myself so that was lovely. Just wish it was slightly longer. Trying to work out how many lengths I'm supposed to do for 7 x 125 and 7 x 75 is a pain.

Have missed blogging

It's been a very busy few days but I don't like going too long without an update. Need to offload while still fresh in the mind.

So, since last update:

Thursday - rode at lunchtime at work and got my new top speed out the bike - 32.7mph (mixture between exhiliration and triple pampers!).

Friday - had a conference up in London so a very early start. Then after work met up with Dora and Chris at a 2nd birthday party in the sunshine. Was feeling hot, tired and bothered but Chris had to work in the evening and needed to run for 40 minutes. Thought it might end up as a treadmill session which would have been criminal in that weather but, fortunately, my lovely Ironmate, Liz, stepped in and looked after Dora so I could get out. A perfect early evening sunny run and the stresses of the week just seemed to evaporate. Came straight back again though when I got back and Dora, who'd had a lovely time, decided her parting shot to Liz's daughter was to bite her finger and make her cry. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

My Dad came Friday night and it coincided with a 'light' ish weekend on the training plan. I say 'light' but, actually, that isn't strictly true. This weekend I was supposed to do an Olympic tri (1500m swim, 40k bike and 10k run). However, this is the UK and the plan was not written for UK athletes so they simply don't exist (open water too cold). Shame as the weather was probably good enough. So, I decided to do a DIY one. Cheated somewhat as, having Dad around, I broke it up over the weekend. Did the swim and bike (with a break for a pub lunch!) on the Saturday and the run on the Sunday morning.

Fairly pleased with my results though.
Swim - 25.56
Bike - 1 hr 33
Run - 51.32
Total - 2 hours 50.

OK so this doesn't include transition and it was over the weekend rather than back to back but, adding in a bit of fat here and there, it puts the total around 2hours 54 ish. Could I sustain the pace over the entire Ironman? Almost certainly not but it is good to know there is a glimmer of the old Soph in there somewhere. Not like that big, lumbering lump that shuffled round Windsor last June in 3.11.

Was lovely to do lots during the weekend too, including a trip to Dad's boat.

I used to be indecisive but now I'm just not sure

One of my main failings is my indecision. Think I drove Chris mad yesterday. First I was cycling home from work; then I wasn't. Then I was going to tri club; then I wasn't. Then I was going cycling outside; then I wasn't. That is sometimes the trouble with triathlon. Spoilt for choice.

But what resonated was when he looked up at the ceiling, tutted and said "well, what does the plan say?". He was right, of course, and the plan said that Wednesday was a brick. So, in the end, knowing that the light would fail on the roads, I went to RPM followed by the treadmill at the gym.

I always work that much harder at RPM than I do on the turbo - maybe it's the lure of the flashing lights and the hardcore tracks. Was a good session apart from the gaggle of girls who turned up on their first time and did nothing but talk and laugh throughout the whole session. Don't get me wrong, I get a buzz from anyone taking up exercise but there is nothing about a proper spin class that makes you want to talk, let alone laugh. Very annoying. Still, I was pushing myself so hard that in the end I drowned out their chatter.

During my treadmill session afterwards, the indecision crept back in again. I knew I had a swim and a bike to do in the next 24 hours and I also knew that the masseur is coming tonight which would make both hard to fit in. But, I was also torn that Chris was probably sitting at home starving waiting for me to come home with food. In the end, the realisation that if I didn't do it then, I'd be back there at 6.30am doing it, made the decision for me. Was a good swim and only short as this is supposed to be a race week but felt really odd after the brick - all the wrong way round.

Poor Chris - he was practically emaciated by the time I got home : )

Oh what a beautiful morning!

Yesterday was a rest day and though it was lovely there wasn't much time for laying around resting - too much housework, gardening, cooking and playing to be done. So, the alarm went off this morning and the training treadmill began again! However, on a beautiful Spring day like this one, it was a real pleasure and got away with only pressing the snooze button once. This is the view from the gym as I was waiting for the pool to open.



Only time for a couple of k but was good nonetheless.

Then tonight got out for my hour run and ran in Bushy Park. It is so nice to have the lighter evenings. Had the place virtually to myself except for the deer. Gutted I didn't take camera phone with me. They were so close. Got slightly carried away in there and ended up doing more than an hour and it was dark when I got home.

Bed now - if the weather is like this tomorrow, I might cycle home from work. Fingers crossed.....

Time for reflection

Out Friday night with lots of lovely good friends which was nice. Had a few glasses of wine and felt ever so slightly sluggish on Saturday morning but nothing a new barnet and a 3k swim couldn't sort out! Was pleased with my swim as it took 1 hour 1 min including rest and was only 800m short of the full distance. Thankfully it was a proper set as swimming 170 lengths straight would have been a bit of a bind.

Then on Sunday when I could have just kicked back and celebrated birthday and Easter, I decided to carry on regardless. Ironman stops for no (wo)man! As I hadn't done the whole ride distance on Friday, I did 45 mins on the bike before my 1.15 run. Felt really good and chuffed to have done 10.5 hours training last week after my pitiful attempt the week before. Then had a lovely lunch with my lovely family.



So, all in all, week 17 good. Passed a couple of milestones - namely my 36th birthday and the 100 days-to-go mark - and feeling positive. Don't feel my age and, in fact, feel pretty energetic. Sat next to a woman at the hairdresser's on Saturday who may have even been younger than me and who had just had a facelift and had nasty, sore staples in her head and a tight, fixed look. Found it really sad and think I'll stick to exercise for keeping me young (at heart if nothing else).

Easter Holidays - Spink-style

Was so ready for 4 days off work. Been a long-haul since Christmas which wasn't relaxing anyway. But, no vegging on the sofa for me - straight onto the turbo when Dora went to bed and began the hardest session I've done yet. At one point I thought I was going to pass out but, thankfully, Chris came to take a photo of me and oiled the chain and after that it was marginally easier. Such a helpless female sometimes! Felt good afterwards and doubly pleased that I'd had two hard bike sessions in as many days as on Wednesday night I went to a spin class at the gym and then straight on the treadmill.



Fast forward to today then. Long bike is usually scheduled for Saturday but weighed up the forecast and decided today was the better option (hmm - more of that later). Dora and Chris headed out with me and we had a lovely first hour and stopped for a brew. They left me then and headed off home. 40 minutes later I heard my phone ringing. Turns out they'd punctured on the way home and had no pump. Cycled as hard as I could to them and found they had taken refuge in a pub (spot the pint of Guinness!!!!).



Chris changed the inner tube and the replacement one had something wrong with the valve but we set off anyway. It was lashing down by this point and Dora was about an hour past nap-time. Not much further on and Chris punctured again so we agreed I'd go on ahead and pick up the car. Cycled as fast as my legs would carry me. Happy with 19mph in the driving wind and rain and came back to pick them up by which time, Chris was having to run along in the rain pushing the bike with Dora on it. She wasn't particularly amused with her parents' idea of Bank Holiday fun, I must say. Finally got home filthy and wet and it took Dora approx. 1 minute to fall asleep!

Only cycled 2 hours so was 1.5 hours short of what I was supposed to do. Will have to make the time up somewhere else in this Easter break although I think rain is inevitable. Felt strong though so not a total dead loss especially after hard bike sessions Wed and Thurs.

So far, so good

...in Week 17. Determined to right the wrongs of last week, I didn't take Monday as a rest day as seriously no justification for doing so. Chris wasn't working so was able to get to Kingfisher to train. It was an awesome swim session and perfect for IM training. Didn't know how I was going to go as club swimming has been largely off the menu recently but, luckily, my endurance swims are paying off. I felt like I could have swum for hours and kept my form for most of the session. Another good boost at the end when talked to another guy at the club doing IM this Summer who is also juggling work and a toddler. That makes 2 others + me in the club doing the same and is making me realise that, largely, Ironman isn't the domain of the young, free, single and superfit and, instead, is for people who just want to cram as much into their lives as possible. Also makes me realise that I'm not a total freak!

Worked from home yesterday so was able to get out for an hour's run in the soggy, horrible weather. Good run and wore a Garmin for the first time in months to see how I was faring distance-wise. Without getting boring and bogged down in stats, I was very pleased with the improvements I'm making.

Up again this morning at 6 to swim again although shorter this time as a little against the clock. Got home and the rest of the family (including Elsie Cat) were all still sparko. All right for some! Have to say, not liking the fact that mornings have got darker again temporarily. I'll allow them that as their excuse.

My other life

What a long week Week 16 was. As I said in my post last week, I knew training was going to be a toughie. Wasn't quite prepared for how tough. Work conference was good but relentless. Never got to train on Thursday and on Friday was so tired from late nights and early mornings that only managed to run for half an hour.

On Saturday, we flew to Aberdeen for a wedding with our last-minute addition (Dora). It was supposed to be a weekend 'off' from sleepless nights but neither of us could face the weekend without her after such a heavy working week so we got her added onto the ticket and sorted a babysitter so we could enjoy the evening do.

In my mind's eye and having seen on the website the hotel facilities, I was all set on getting to the hotel, training, a relaxing shower before the wedding started. How naive. We made the plane with seconds to spare and lots of running through Heathrow airport (me in heels and with Dora in a pushchair and Chris with 4 bags and a car seat). At the other end, waited ages for a cab and then got to the hotel and weren't able to check in until 2 - when the wedding was due to start. So, Saturday ended up being a rest day. Great wedding and lots of lovely people and laughs. Was fairly sensible drink-wise (me, not Chris) so woke up fairly fresh. Managed to swim and run at the hotel but it wasn't anywhere near what I was supposed to do.



So, Week 16 ended up being 5 hours of training when it should have been about 11. No point banging my gums about it. Had a good time and it was good to dabble in life outside Ironman. After all, it doesn't pay to be one-dimensional.

Back on it this week and off to tri club tonight for a swim as Chris not working. Happy days.

Blogging on the road

What a week! Have a big 3-day work conference this week and despite getting home at 11pm last night, here I am at 7.15 heading back into London. As this week is the very epitome of the juggling exercise that is my current life, I wanted to record it real-time and as an alarm bell for any future hare-brained scheme!

So, the detail:

Decided I needed to front-load the week as I knew how frantic it was going to get. Instead of the normal rest day, I was in the pool at 6.30 on Monday morning and testing out the neck which was OK. In the evening, I decided to do a hard turbo as I need to get my power and mph up. Worked so hard and was dripping when I finished. Not sure but think I do have a tendency to wimp out on the turbo so it was good to know there was still life in the old dog (i.e. me). Finished that about 9.30, ate, bed and then up again at 5.30 on Tuesday for an hour's run. Dora proved a good motivator that morning as I hadn't really planned to go due to the late turbo but she stirred briefly and I thought I may as well get up. Good job I did as had forgotten I had the Osteopath in the evening so wouldn't have been able to run anyway.

Wed was back up to London for meetings before the conference started. Didn't like the idea of not training at all so managed to shoe-horn in a quick session on a spin bike at Virgin's City gym, working as hard, if not harder than I had on the turbo on Monday.

Today I know there is no scope to train as this conference is 8.30am-10.30pm but that's ok. This week is taking it out of me, not to mention how much I'm pining for my little girl (saw her for just half an hour yesterday and today) but sometimes work has to be the absolute priority and it's this job that helps put food on our table and allows me the funds to enter a foreign IM. Anyway, it's tempered by Mum being here to look after Dora and sounds like they had lots of fun yesterday

Halfway House

Did a naughty thing and had an unscheduled day off on Saturday. Was tired after my long ride and a late night at the OW Dinner and went to Dora's friend's 2nd birthday where Dora was not well behaved at all. So, I made the decision to put my feet up and watch France v England. Should have turboed for all the luck I brought them but needed the rest. Had a bad night with Dora too so something is unsettling her : (

Was supposed to be doing Reading 1/2 Marathon today but Chris's boss got back from a trip early and so he had to work so I had to can it. Such a shame as it was such a beautiful day too. So warm and almost Summer-like and actually probably a bit too hot for racing. Instead took Dora swimming and then headed to Harriet and Bill's and ran in Windsor Great Park.


It was a great run although had too many layers on, was a bit dehydrated and the paths were chokka with people out walking. Still, did an hour and a half and felt good. When I went out Dora was snoozing in the sunshine in the garden and when I got back she was still asleep so that made me doubly happy. Feels wrong training when she's awake.

So, week done. Didn't manage to swim at all although with my neck the way it has been, I think that's the sensible option. Given how painful it is at times, I'm pretty chuffed I've been able to do as many hours this week as I've done. Today also marks the halfway point in the training programme. So, 15 weeks from now, I'll hopefully be within cut-offs and dragging myself round the marathon. Fingers crossed. Looking back at the last 15 weeks, I think I've come a pretty long way. I mean the consistency had been building up before it started but I'm beginning to think nothing of an hour run which is now the minimum session and the bike seems to be getting incrementally easier, especially now I'm out on the roads more. Still a long way to go and I am painfully aware that anything can happen. But, all good.

O! to work a 4-day week

Since the last post, I did an hour run on Thurs which felt good and neck held out no problem and then Friday treated myself to a day's holiday. Have got a full-on conference next week followed by a weekend at a wedding so I imagine that the week is going to lack training volume/quality and is also going to be pretty tiring. I wanted to make sure that I had a long ride under my belt before all that so, as Chris was off, we set off for the notorious zig zag of Box Hill, home of a race called the 'Ballbuster' (enough said). The ride out there was nice (apart from the A24 to Dorking where we were holding our own with juggernauts). At the bottom of Box Hill, Chris had to leave me as he was meeting someone for lunch.


Now, the first time I climbed Box Hill on a bike, I literally couldn't keep the pedals turning and Jona not only cycled himself up there but he alternated between giving me and then Alice a helping hand - literally pushing us, our weary legs and our bikes up. We both conquered it eventually after several attempts but it'd been about 4 years since I'd tried and I found myself alone with either a climb to the top or a return to the A24. It was an easy decision. I won't lie, no danger of being called up for the Tour anytime soon but I got there. The tradition is to have a cup of tea and a cake at the top but the lady was busy and the weather looked ominous so I cracked on. Here was the view though.


So from recording the lowest cycling speed in the training programme yet (6mph), it was into the driving rain and off to the Epsoms Downs to record the fastest (32.2mph!!!!).

All in all a good morning out. 52 miles in 4 hours which gives me a slow predicted bike time in Austria (8.5 hours) but every revolution yesterday was taking me nearer to being able to complete the distance which is more than I once would have dared to hope for with cycling.

Back home, quick shower, excruciating massage with Tom and then off to spend the rest of the day with Dora and Chris eating cakes, buying Dora more shoes and then back, quick change and out to a dinner at Twickenham. What a day! Wish I could do it every Friday.....

Resilience

has been the watchword this week. The neck felt better after the Osteopath so decided to run on Tuesday night. Did an hour and it felt fine but woke up on Wednesday morning and it was as stiff as a board. Not good.

Really struggled with the motivation on Wednesday night to do anything. The neck was still sore, I was really really tired and just couldn't really be bothered. It was also swim club night and Chris wasn't working so could have gone but really don't think I would have been able to turn my head far enough round to breathe. Talked it over with Chris and he advised me to take the night off and have a jacuzzi round at the gym. I was set on that path for all of 2 seconds as the decision came with a wave of guilt that I just couldn't shoo away.

So, onto the turbo I climbed for an hour brick. The first 25 minutes were interminable. The neck didn't hurt apart from turning to look at the session sheet but I found my resilience somewhere and by the time I got on the run, I was into it. This is why a goal and a race is good. Without one, falling asleep on the sofa would have been the only outcome.

Neck no stiffer this morning too so clearly hasn't done me any harm and at least I start another day without a pall of guilt hanging over me.

Never take anything for granted

A great weekend's training. Rode further on Saturday than since the 1/2 Ironman and felt pretty good afterwards. Not sure I could have done double the distance AND a marathon but still good nonetheless. Still slightly disappointed that I can't seem to get my average speed above about 14.5 mph but I have to remember that I was cycling alone and into a fair few headwinds so mustn't grumble.

Then on Sunday, Dora was so excited that it was Mother's Day that she woke me up at 5.45am and didn't go back to sleep. Chris had had a pretty late night at work so we left him to sleep and went downstairs. When he got up, I got out for my 1 hour 15 run. Legs felt like lead for the first 24 minutes and then all of a sudden, I found a spring in my step and I felt great. The sun was shining and really warm and it was one of those March mornings when you get really excited about open water swimming!!? I suddenly started to feel like Ironman was really going to be possible. Must have run just shy of 9 miles and felt like I could have gone on - only couldn't as there was the small matter of Dora's swimming class and then the big pig-out Mother's Day lunch. OMG did I carb up! Yummmmm.

All good then.....until this morning. Went to lift my head off the pillow and it was like being shot in the neck. I literally couldn't move for about 20 mins and when I finally did it hurt no matter where I lay. Had to get up as had a meeting in London and was in loads of pain and stressing big time. After the high on the run yesterday, I honestly thought it was 'it'. I felt about 100. Luckily, rang the Osteo and he could fit me in so dragged myself through my meetings and got round there. He said it was all a bit tight and locked up but that it would be fine and did some manipulation. Now, following that and a bath, it feels so much better than this morning. Still sore when I turn to look over my shoulder but don't feel quite as concerned. Just shows though never to take anything for granted. So much duress on the body is ultimately going to lead to niggles and prevention is definitely better than cure.

Bed calling

and, yes, it's Saturday night at only 20.45 but that's where I need to be. So, all I have to say is 3 hours 9 minutes in the saddle today; 45 miles; achey neck; sore bum but chuffed.

Night night : )

New Toy

The treadmill is finally out of its box, over its assembly hitches and living and breathing. On Thursday, to celebrate, I did a brick session - 45 mins on the turbo and then 15 mins on the treadmill. Due to work and a family roast dinner, I had to do it after eating and putting Dora to bed and the roast hadn't completely digested so that's ruled Quorn Kievs out for a snack on 4 July!

Treadmill is a bit narrow and slightly basic but definitely does the job and, most importantly, gives me options.

So taken with it that tonight (Friday), I did my hour run session on it including a 7.5 min effort in Heart Rate Zone 4. Wasn't half as boring as I expected. Think I'm just getting used to time spent staring at the garage door and have also perfected the art of texting while running so happy days.

Couple of photos - one of me on aforementioned treadmill and the other of Dora following in my footsteps (literally) : )

Quote of the Month

"Cycling isn't a game, it's a sport. Tough, hard and unpitying, and it requires great sacrifices. One plays football, or tennis, or hockey. One doesn't play at cycling" - Jean de Gribaldy

Never a truer word spoken.

Out in the open

Dora was a superstar for the babysitter. Went straight to sleep and stayed that way so off I went to get some swimming done in the open air pool just down the road. Was in fear at how cold and how slow I'd be but it was balmy (when arms were under the water) and I gave a good account of myself. Was probably one of the most expensive swimming sessions I've ever done with having to pay for childcare but hey ho. Whoever said IM was cheap? Also managed half an hour on the turbo at lunchtime which is good although not the brick session it should have been. No time.

Was all set for taking Friday morning off work this week to get my 3.5 hour ride in but got to go to a meeting the CEO has called so no go there. Consequently, after Dora had done her early hours disturbance bit, I spent hours stressing about how I was going to fit everything in. Aaagh - why didn't I just sleep?

On a brighter note, booked the post-Austria R n R location yesterday so well excited about that.

Iron-woman

Terrible night on Monday night - heading for Dora's terrible twos and think she's beginning some new night-time strategies which we need to nip in the bud. Was up at 6 on Tues to get out to do an hour run but just as I was tiptoeing away, her eyes opened, arms outstretched and said "Mummy, cuddle". That was the run over with then?! So, had to shift stuff and went running at lunchtime at work. It was shy of what I was supposed to do but the efforts are getting longer so did about 9 mins of effort out of a 51 min run and felt very comfortable considering.

Then in the evening, had a very long-drawn out bedtime session with tears and cot rocking till nearly 9pm. I was firm and went downstairs and finally did it....the ironing that is. Took 2 hours but so good to have it done and can now call myself iron-woman (of sorts). This does, however, fly in the face of last week's pledge to make life easier, paying for it if necessary so, from Monday, our cleaner is going to do the cleaning and an hour of ironing a week. Bring it on!

Also got a babysitter coming tonight so hoping to get to the club swim. All that stands in the way of that is a good girl at bedtime. Come on, Dora, do it for Mummy....

Round-up of Week 13

Haven't had a moment to update these last few days. Thursday managed a brick as Chris had an early finish and Friday just scrimped a run due to timing out for various reasons including making the first First Friday at the pub with the girls in ages. Pushed the boat out with my Lime & Soda at 40p a pint. Better than the Student Union!

Then, some rare and welcome news on Saturday that Chris was looking potentially at the weekend off. Could hardly believe it! The timing was great as big bro and wife home so they were headed to Mum's. So it meant the family all got to meet up. Managed to get out on the bike on Saturday but hadn't fully appreciated how 'undulating' the Northants roads are. Was supposed to do 3 hours but didn't want to miss all the fun so managed 2 hours 20 and feel OK about it as if I swap the hills for the Greater London traffic stop-starts, the quality of the ride probably adds up to the same. Was also a beautiful sunny day and the route pretty steeped in history.



Cycled past both the Naseby battlefield and Althorp House and what both had in common were cheeky, cheeky hills. Ground up those at about 6mph and got a new top downhill speed of 29.8 so that gives some idea of the gradient!

That evening, everyone was hitting the town. I was pretty tired from the ride and a lonnnng week so I opted to drive. I still can't decide whether that was a mistake or a good idea. Being sober and driving (and exhausted) when everyone else isn't is never the greatest idea. But it was nice to wake up with a clear head. The Goose Bar at least made for immense people-watching though. Every microcosm of provincial Britain was in there that night and I felt very old and very boring!

Up early on Sunday to support my friend, Liz, at her half marathon - her first race since her baby was born just before mine. She did really well and Chris kept reiterating how much more smiley she was than I ever am during races (must remember to smile in Austria...).



Then got home and went for the Sunday run (1hr 15). Didn't feel quite as bouncy as usual but then had had a late night and a 5.30 wake-up thanks to Miss D.

So, all in all a funny and long old week. Didn't stick fully to plan and drifted into self-doubt but picked up towards the end. Looking forward to early bed tonight though and guess what? The ironing STILL isn't done. Aaaaaaagh.

Variety is the spice of life

Well my life certainly isn't boring. I write this from the train tonight following a discussion dinner I went to with Will Hutton, political journalist and commentator. Really interesting and enjoyable evening even if arriving in Piccadilly did make me realise how much I've grown out of London. Some call it vibrant; it felt downright claustrophobic to me.

Since the last blogpost, lots has happened. Did a turbo session last night even though it hadn't been scheduled and had already run in the morning (as I knew I wouldn't be able todo it tonight). Also had another rude awakening at 4.45 and 5.45, a swim as there was no point going back to sleep and, biggest of all, the closest Ironman quitting wobble I've had yet. Probably just the tiredness but just felt pulled in so many directions and it made for lots of eye water!!

But, have got a grip and realised that if celebrities with dubious training pedigree can cycle from John O'Groats to Land's End in a relay over 80 hours at -15, then this is still wide open to me. I just need to be better at asking (and paying for) help.

So, still in the game but do think a full night's sleep wouldn't go amiss. On the way to the dinner tonight, had to be woken up by a fellow passenger at Waterloo. Oh, the shame of it!

Pain barriers

Nice rest day yesterday - even felt like I could have trained most of the day. Did hit me in the evening though just as I was about to do the ironing. Just couldn't face it so left it hoping the elves would come....they didn't.

Terrible night. Dora whimpered for about an hour and a half solidly. Went in a couple of times and did as much as I could for her but there's a tooth coming front bottom row and I think it's giving her big grief. Last time I looked at the clock was 3.35 and then the alarm went off at 6 for my swim. Decided to sack that and run instead.

As soon as I started I got really painful stomach cramps and it took me about 5 minutes to run upright. Luckily it was a beautiful late winter morning with the sun and mist rising above the racecourse and I had taken my iPod so I ran through it. it's all good practice training through the pain as I'm sure on the day, there'll be plenty of that. Managed the 45 min session and when I got back Dora, Chris and Elsie were still out for the count.

So glad I pushed through and that the session is done. Now just need to find an hour to swim today....

Danbury Training Camp and other stories

Feels like an age since I last updated the blog. Been a busy old week and no mistake. Bit of a highlight week at work but it also generated a fair amount of stuff to do and Chris has also been working hard so have needed to plan carefully.

Had decided to buy a treadmill so that I can still run if there are no childcare options. It arrived (when the delivery driver finally got his a** out of bed) but, typically, came with a million screws and instructions so my plan of a brick on Thursday had to be abandoned. Sorry but on that score, happy to defer to a man. No matter, as I managed to do a run which included efforts instead. Then on Friday took a half day and got out on the bike and then a run straight afterwards so brick got done eventually. Should have listened to the woman in the bike shop when she warned about wind though. She must have thought I was either a legend or a waffler when I announced that I thought the journey there was all right. It was literally like cycling into a brick wall on the way back.

Then, bright and early on Saturday, Dora and I headed off to Jona and Susan's for the Danbury Training Weekend! Alice and Paul came too and Team Austria 2010 headed out for our 2.5 hour ride leaving Susan doing her children's entertainer bit. We were really lucky to get a gap in the weather and it was dry. Great ride with lots of lovely quiet country lanes and great company. Flew by compared to the monster turbo sessions. Also got a top speed of 28.7mph out. Woo hoo!




Got back and Susan had done an awesome job - the girls were very excited as they'd done dressing up, Play Doh, playing in the wendy house and general chasing about!




All celebrated with a greedy curry and bumper bags of M and Ms. Great evening even though Chris was working hard again and didn't arrive till 7am on Sunday.

Took a little time to get going this morning after late night and restless children.



But, a plan's a plan and the 4 of us went running in the woods for an hour which was seriously muddy but lots of fun.

End of a great week and lovely to see and train with friends. Don't feel half as depleted as I expected to. Perhaps the programme is paying dividends...

Rest

Rest day was lovely - all about chocolate really. I'm actually in danger of becoming obsessed with the stuff. But, looking at the heart rate monitor on Sunday night and seeing that I had burned around 5000 calories during Week 11, who the hell cares?!!

The other bit about rest is that I need more of it. Dora has suddenly reverted to helpless infant and Monday night had to go into her 7 times, last night 4 (and Chris 2). I might get her to read the section in the book about the importance of those around would-be Ironmen being energy 'givers' and not 'takers'....

All that said, I've pressed on. As she gave me an early alarm call yesterday, I decided I might as well get up and go swimming. Did 2k so short of what the plan said but not bad in 39 mins (inc rest). Also managed a run at lunchtime despite the foul, precipitous weather.

Today I'm going to need to shift stuff around. No chance of getting to the club swim and going to save the brick session I'm supposed to do until tomorrow when my sparkly new treadmill arrives!!!!

God is an Ironman..

...apparently. That's what Chris said today anyway on account of the luck I've had with weather this weekend.

Had a good weekend training. Saturday did 3k in the pool - 171 lengths at our pool(!!) which was fine although Aqua aerobics was on and the bit where they ran round in circles quite literally made it like I was swimming against a current!

Then when Chris got back from personal training and D went to sleep, I got out on the bike. Beautiful, sunny day although a bit nippy on the feet. Struggled for the first hour due to the hills but then seemed to get better as I went on. Did 36.5 miles.

Today, we planned to take Dora to the park as she was desperately in need of air and open space. When we got in the car, it was absolutely tipping down and none of us were particularly in the mood. Had a snack in the cafe and, as if a magic wand had been waved, when we came out the sun was out. I ran while Dora and Chris played in the puddles and looked at all the ducks.


Even though I had a moment during the ride yesterday when I just still could not get my head around how I am going to survive the bike, I have finished this week feeling good. It was also lovely to turn training into a family outing and we both agreed that if it wasn't for training, we probably would have taken the lazy, sitting around option.

Speed surges

The Build Phase of the plan introduces more intensity into the training programme. It is introducing it very gradually and so only amounts to about 5 mins out of an hour session so far. I am not being lulled into a false sense of security though as I know the frequency and duration will increase. The beauty part of Don Fink's plan though is that is so gradual that it doesn't shock the system too badly as is never more than 10% per week.

Had a lovely run at lunchtime on Wednesday. It was a beautiful, sunny day and was able to get along the canal towpath just near the office. Ticked along nicely and, as it was flat, the efforts didn't kill me.

The turbo yesterday wasn't quite as incremental though. Had to work hard and was sweating buckets. Legs pretty wobbly after and still are today but I definitely feel fit at the moment. Hoping to get the bike out on the road tomorrow to give it the acid test. Fingers crossed for no weather/spouse working curve balls.

The starvation is mega too. I literally cannot stop eating! Just saw off full lunch AND creme egg.

If you're going to get ill, may as well do it on a rest day!

Well, Gordon Ramsay did us proud. Despite us being heinously late, they were very welcoming and attentive and, despite my worries beforehand, they had a high chair.

Dora was mostly very good although got tired towards the end so we skipped pud which was just as well as I hadn't managed to crank out my run in the morning.

When we got home Chris needed his bed in a big way and so I dropped Dora with my lovely friend Liz (Dora's 2nd Mum at the moment!). I was supposed to do 1.5 hours but there was no way with a belly full of Roast Pumpkin and Ceps soup, Leek and Pea tartlet, handcut chips and a glass of champagne! But, a run after a monster turbo the night before is a run so managed just over 45 mins. Felt good despite the slight stitch caused by the aforementioned.

Felt fine on Monday until about 10am when was overtaken by some horrible sickness thing. Felt sick as a dog all day but managed to hang on at work till about 4 and then just went home and slept. As quick as it arrived, as quick as it left and woke up this morning feeling normal which is good as Build Phase starts today. Eeek! Chris home tonight so decided to do the Wednesday brick. So, just back from spinning at the gym followed by 15 min treadmill run. Filthy, wet night outside so was the best place for me and nice to see a bike heart rate at 160bpms! Worked hard.

Fighting Demons

Well, the bike ride in Northampton didn't happen. Mum is still pretty out of action and it just wouldn't have been fair to expect her to look after Dora for 3 hours while I cycled. We did all go together to Virgin gym in Northampton though. Dora and Mum sat having hot drinks and snacks while I managed to do a 2k swim. So nice to swim in a 25m pool again. But I do realise how much swim fitness I've lost in just 3 weeks since training with the club. Going to have to bite the bullet and get a babysitter on Wednesday nights.

Chris taking Dora and I to Gordon Ramsay for Valentine's Day (so lucky!!!) so knew today was going to be hard to fit in a 3 hour ride. So, had to bite the bullet and get on the dreaded turbo. As it was a sort of last-minute decision, I hadn't made any dinner as it was 7.30 and didn't want to be finishing the session at midnight. So had a handful of wasabi nuts (that traditional energy snack?!!) and got on with it. It was gruelling, to say the least. Even though I had finally set up the DVD player and was going to watch Series One of 'Gavin and Stacey', I was even fed up with that after Episode 2. Had to go back to the iPod in the end. Somehow managed to drag my weary carcass through the session although can honestly say I only felt good for about 20 mins of it. On the day, I'm probably looking at at least another 5 hours on the bike and I'm really beginning to wonder if it can be done. I NEED to get out on the road.

So, off to Dora's swim class and then our eating fest at Boxwood and then need to shoe-horn a 1.5 hour run in somewhere before Chris goes back to work tonight. Poor him, he's working so hard at the moment. Record late finish this morning....he got home at 8.15am. : (

Post Script

Before I forget and disappear for the weekend, Chris has told me to log that he thinks I've worn out my bottom bracket. Apparently this should mean something like me becoming a cyclist or something. I just hope it doesn't mean I cream in on the Northamptonshire roads at the weekend!

On the up

Have worked out that I actually think the training is getting addictive. As mentioned in Monday's post, I felt really down but it occurred to me as the clouds lifted on Tuesday that the last 3 Mondays I'd been a misery. I know Mondays generally aren't anyone's favourite day but I'm putting it down to missing my endorphin rush. So, all restored now. Have had to juggle the plan around a bit this week as London meetings and Dora being cared for by lots of different and lovely people (she's so flexible, bless her). Tuesday night was all set for a long, fast spin when 15 mins in, Chris walked through the door. Wholly unexpected and the first night he'd been home from work before 11pm for about 2 weeks. I made the most of it and turned my spin into my brick so managed to turbo for 45 and run for 30. Felt so strong on the run and no niggles. Sure warming up on the bike is the biggest reason triathlon works for me.

Yesterday not so fortunate though and he wasn't home till 11.45pm so had to bite the bullet and do the spin. Don Fink's upped the ante a bit this week in preparation for the build phase which starts next week so the session was 1hr 15. Went OK though.

Dora and I off to Mum's tonight for Uncle Ron's funeral so feeding Dora, packing all our overnight stuff (inc travel cots, high chairs etc), bike, bike gear and running stuff when I get home from work will be a challenge. Exhausted just thinking about it.

Down in the dumps

That's how I'm feeling right now. Although I managed to salvage a fair bit from last week's plan, including a 1 hour 15 run in beautiful Bushy Park yesterday, I just feel a bit worn out with training, life and juggling everything. Hoping it's just a 10-week itch and perhaps a rest day will mean I can catch up on sleep and break the back of the work pile that seems to get no smaller. But, worth recording the highs and lows.

On a positive note, at least the cleaner's been so the house looks nice and D got on fine at the new childminder's!

Finding inspiration in the strangest places

I'm going to get slagged for this but 2 hours 45 minutes on a turbo does strange things to people.....

The night's entertainment was its usual mixed bag of rubbishness - Channel 4 News, Take Me Out (yes, again),the National Lottery Show (???) - so I went back to the iPod playlist. Was going through a bit of a rough patch when little Joe McElderry piped up with lyrics that just seemed to hit the nail on the head and drag me out the other side:

"I can almost see it, that dream I'm dreaming but there's a voice inside my head saying you'll never reach it...but I, I got to be strong, just keep pushing on".

Before I got on the bike tonight I really was questioning this whole project. Now I've done this week's long 'ride', my head's back where it needs to be. Thanks Joe/Miley (although still think Olly had the edge).

Goodnight zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Work Sandwich

Woke up feeling slightly restored so decided to test the water by dividing today's run up. Left the car at nursery and ran back. Worked (like a dog) all day and then ran back to pick them up. It was a good way of doing it illness- and injury- wise and also meant it happened because I certainly couldn't have taken an hour out of working this lunchtime. It is beyond busy at the moment so after a trip to the vet and Dora's bed, it was back to the grindstone. Fairly gutting for that reason and the fact that Chris working meant I couldn't go out for my NCT girls' night.

However, the night perked up somewhat when my lovely Chris got some chocolates delivered to me by a courier. Valentine's Day has come early, chez Spink! Question is, will there be any left in a week's time?

Should have listened

to my body. Have had this cold this week and thought it was minor but it's a grower! Felt fine running on Tuesday but last night when putting D to bed, I felt so sluggish. Was really torn about getting on the turbo but something in my head wouldn't let me not train.

I thought about doing just half an hour but after about 20 mins felt much better so did an hour.

But, am paying the price today. Full of cold and having a day off training. : (

Week 9

So, only 2 weeks of the base phase left. Bit daunting but have purposefully not looked at what is in store day by day in the Build Phase. Crossing bridges when we come to it and all that.

Rest day on Monday was welcome and woke up on Monday morning with cold no. 2 of the IM plan. How annoying. It doesn't seem to be too bad and certainly not as bad as the December one. Have avoided the swim so far this week but tested the water with a run last night and felt OK. My friend and (old Ranelagh sparring partner, Jo, was over from Boston for a few days so we went for our first run together in about 6 years. It was great. The hour flew as we didn't stop talking and we think we did about 8 miles. Awesome. The really great news is that, after all this time, she is moving back to Blighty and is going to live in Windsor so am very excited about that. She's already talking about more triathlons so plenty of opportunity to lead her astray!

Off the beaten track

The Sunday run this week was wonderful in Week 8. Chris managed to get the day off (hurrah) so he stayed at home with Dora while she slept and then they both ran to meet me for a Starbucks.


Did a route that I discovered on the wonderful Green Belt Relay a few years ago. Started at Walton Bridge and ran along towpath and along Weybridge Lock. After about 5 minutes, I almost had the place exclusively to myself. Running felt good too. Struggled to keep heart rate in Z1-2 as was so fired up. Also experienced something that is starting to be a regular thing. On my Sunday runs, I always start off a bit sluggish but suddenly about half way through, I get an energy burst, shivers down my spine and can visualise the Finish Gantry on 4th July. With this week seeing the start of Week 9, that day of reckoning getting nearer and nearer!

The title of this post is 'monstrous' given how much I seem to have used it to describe the week.

The fact that the blog hasn't been updated since Tuesday speaks volumes. Despite more days off to look after Dora, it has been 100mph. But, am only 30 mins adrift on the planned training which was a run but probably not a bad thing as that stepper did monstrous things to my calves. It was in a totally different part of the calf from the niggle the other week but it was like the stiffness you get after running after a long lay-off.

Dora had her first sesh at the gym creche which went OK for her after she was reunited with bunny (bad Mummy left it in the bag). So, have done both my swims this week. First one was steady state 2.5k. Well timed out on doing it all but did about 2.1 in 37 mins which isn't too shabby. At Virgin that means 118 lengths (and a lot of tumble turns) but a London Irish player was pretty in awe so it can't be bad!

Mum came back from America yesterday and the ankle is in a pretty bad way. She's also getting used to crutches and being incapacited which isn't easy for her. As she was here though and Dora was in bed, I managed to escape for a run on the road without the baby jogger and felt strong.

As it's a recovery week this week, the Sat ride dropped back to 2 hours but I was determined that would be on the road this time. 2 monstrous Sat turbo sessions in a row are neither desirable nor fun. Fate was smiling on me, it seems, as the family offered to babysit and also woke up to blue skies and sunshine. The added bonus that an impromptu text to Alice meant I got a cycling buddy. Hooray!


We started off in Windsor and, even though neither of us could feel various extremities, we were bathed in sunshine.


I then managed to lead us onto a lovely dual carriageway towards Bagshot so we had our fair share of dealing with muppets devoid of spatial awareness.

1hr 20 in, I checked in with home and Mum was keen to get her ankle looked at the hospital so I headed back and Alice carried on for a bit. So, that left 2 options for the day: 1) Sack the planned training at 1hr 20 or 2)make up the time on the turbo after Dora's lights out. Being the model trainee that I am, I opted for 2) but lesson learned tonight, for God's sake give up 'Take Me Out'. It really is so painfully awful. I feel for all the people on there as the talent is absolutely pitiful. Most the blokes that are on it get their nails done (and wonder why they're single) and tonight some dude came on and did a Billy Elliot ballet number stumbling all over the place. Cringeworthy. So, DVD next week.

Right, monstrously long post and monstrously tired so time for hot powerbar drink, electric blanket and wondering which side of midnight I'll see my husband tonight. One more run to go and then rest day and SLEEP!!!!!!!!!

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

I absolutely promise this photo wasn't staged. What a legend that girl is.

Resourceful or mental?

All kit was laid out ready for a 6am run this morning but when Chris got home from work at midnight last night, he said he had to leave at 6.30 so that was out of the window. Had meetings all day at work so no chance for lunchtime run and no babysitter tonight so decided I would try and do an hour on the Reebok Step our friend Jane has lent me.

Well, I managed 17 minutes and pretty impressed with that tbh. Calves felt like tennis balls so had to get on the turbo. Have decided to turn today's session into tomorrow's brick (even though it was in reverse).

Praying the boss man lets him go in normal time or later tomorrow as a swim and a run down. Failing that, I'm in the market for a treadmill (although I shall not be buying the manual ???? one from Tesco Direct).

Finishing the week off on a high

Well, the 5am start didn't happen! The training load took its toll and just took forever to get going on Saturday - even had to go back to bed when Dora had a nap which is pretty unheard of for me. Then the afternoon was spent with Dora and her little friends Cordelia and Josh at a kids show and had a lovely time. It did mean, though, that I had my 2.5 hour bike session hanging over me all day! Discussed swapping days with Chris to do the Sunday run but he reckoned it could be bad news for my shins. So, at 6.30pm I got on the turbo and turboed through Total Wipeout, So You Think You can Dance and Take Me Out (not having learned from last week). It actually wasn't as boring as I feared but that's because I think I'm getting used to repetition. Also followed 2 structured sessions within the time so that made it a bit more interesting. Also had the curry Chris had ordered to look forward to at the end and that went down a treat.

Then at lunchtime today, rounded off my week with a 1hr 19 min run. C and D joined me on the first lap and she fell almost straight to sleep so they left me and I carried on. Felt really sluggish for the first couple of miles but then felt great. Even did a little over what I was supposed to do.


So, all done and feeling good. That's not to say I won't enjoy my rest day and recovery week (ooh - a whole 1 hour less to do - wow!).

(Ooh edited to say that the other high of the weekend was getting into my favourite jeans - unworn since November 2007. BACK OF THE NET!!!!)

Burning the candle

at the beginning, middle and end. Friday night and 2 more big training days before a rest and already done about 6 hours training this week but am feeling it. Have also had 2 sessions with sports masseur and an osteopath which always makes me feel rough (all that nasty lactic being flushed out). Had another 2 days off this week as Mum still away but work is crazy at the moment so ended up on conference calls most of the time which is not good. Day off in lieu required if it ever calms down. Not sure when that will be though. The news Stateside is that Mum has broken her ankle which is a nightmare for her. It will also bring huge pressure on childcare front and the training to boot.

Need to do a long ride tomorrow and it's more than likely that Chris will have to work. Currently considering starting on the turbo at 5am but have about as much enthusiasm for that as I do for space tourism!

The brighter news is that I ran for 45 mins today. It was supposed to be 1hr 15 but I timed out so made the rest of the time up later on the turbo as Chris working. No major pain in shin or calf to report but will see how it feels tomorrow. Apparently it's caused my right leg being shorter than left and a weak sacrum. So there you have it.

Telly rubbish, Big Brother very childish (v disappointed in Vinnie Jones) and have no idea who half of them are so precious sleep and recovery for me. Thought about a glass of Chateauneuf du Pape but didn't even fancy that! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

"Remember childbirth....."

I'll get to the title of this post in a bit but first off, reporting so far a good week and pretty much following the plan to the letter for once! 2 swims done at dark o'clock on Tues and Thurs and a brick yesterday (also at dark o'clock). Only difference was a turbo instead of a run on Tues due to my ongoing shin and calf niggle.

Which segues me neatly into the explanation of the blogpost title. Have found a new sports masseur, Tom, who is great. He said he'd go easy on me as it was the first session and, largely, he did as promised. Until, that is, it got to the IT Band bit. Embarrassingly, when I got there I made the mistake of saying the ITB was "pretty OK at the moment". WRONG!! OMFG! I was biting my fist, was almost sick and almost in tears. Just as I was thinking to myself "come on, this isn't as bad as labour", Tom pipes up "you'll be OK - remember childbirth". And with that, those memories that I've shoved into a cupboard under my brain came flooding back. Was it as bad? No, certainly not and actually it's a good leveller.....Ironman race day pain just cannot be as bad as either of those events. And with that, I dried my eyes : )

Integration

The weekend's been fab. Done loads and caught up with Dad and Giles (I was the only one to avoid the alco-fest and subsequent hangover from hell though - gutting at the time but smug-inducing afterwards!) and also managed to finish off my week. Alas, woke up on Saturday with a pretty sore calf and shin so have decided to listen to the warnings and swap to bike until it eases. Also lining up treatments with masseur and an osteopath (free sessions I earned rescuing someone's dog!!). So, swapped Sat and Sun around and did a hour turbo as a replacement for the run whilst watching 'So you think you can dance' (toilet) and 'Take me Out' (double toilet) when I could have been out celebrating Alice and Paul's engagement instead : (

Then, as forecast, the sun put his hat on today and as Chris was finally released from his 36-hour working day so I did a two-hour ride which Chris and Dora joined me on with her on the bike seat. Had a lovely brew at Hampton Court and then did some 'through and off' (which translates as me being made to go on the front far too many times). Anyway, 2 hours 6 mins, 29.36 (Chris wouldn't let me round it up) miles and 1031 calories later, session and week were done. Felt great, didn't feel too depleted afterwards and Chris said I looked much stronger than before. Big smile on my face - still that might be the 2 glasses Oyster Bay that I've had to treat myself with : )

Hmm...

...can't work out if it is easier training for IM when working or when Mummying. Have had a couple of days off this week as Mum is away so have been looking after Dora. In my mind, I thought that working f/t was adding to the strain of training but I reckon it actually makes it easier. If I was a SAHM (Stay at Home Mum), I reckon I'd be less likely to do the training. I was so worn out after looking after Dora yesterday that I had to drag myself onto the turbo last night. Did it though and, boy, was it tough. An hour in Zone 1 Heart Rate but doing 100rpm. Are they serious? The two aren't compatible in my world. Turning the pedals at that rate just makes my heart rate go through the roof. Seriously needed my powerbar shake after that.

Then had to get up early doors to do an hour's run as working and off to a dear Aunt's funeral this afternoon and seeing the family tonight as my lovely Daddy and brother are back. Did a mixture of road and treadmill which was quite a good combo.

Other sessions this week including a slightly changed brick on Wed as there was beautiful fresh snow that I had to get out in. So ran in the morning and a turbo session later on.

Chris back working now so the pressure's on...

I have a following!

4 people are now following my blog. How cool is that?!

Started writing it as the 3-d version of my training log but happy that people are interested and care. Thanks guys!

Like the Weebles, I will wobble but I won't fall down.

Even though I had a solid week in Week 5/30 and that 2010 is about making the glass half full, I was beset my those horrible little voices in my head yesterday telling me I wasn't up to it.

It was scheduled a rest day and boy, I am in need of sleep but Chris goes back to work this week so who knows if I'll get the chance for a decent swim session. With that, I headed out to the Kingfisher session starting at 9pm (usually not far off my bedtime!!). They'd changed the lanes around so the first half was a little frustrating as kept seeing feet in my face but no-one moving over (not the sort of swimmer or person to ask people to get behind me). Second half was better though as said swimmer finally got the hint and it was then it clicked how improved my fitness is. I was absolutely flying and felt great and more to give should I have needed to.

It was also great as the guy behind me announced at the end he is in training for IMUK which is his first triathlon, as well as working f/t, having a baby and another on the way and not having started a training programme yet.

So, all in all, feeling more positive and ready to take Week 6 on the chin. With Chris back working and Mum away, i know it will be harder but will just have to plan better.

Job done

Was all set for another hour on the treadmill but couldn't face it so decided to risk the ice instead. Chris and Dora dropped me off at Walton and I ran along the towpath to Hampton Court. It was fine - lush in fact - and not too slippy at all. The shin niggle that had bothered me a bit in the last week also didn't seem to pose too much of a problem so hopefully I've managed that away (running without compression socks and in slightly old shoes will just never happen again).

Chris managed to get a coffee at Hampton Court while he waited and Dora got her nap in so all worked out beautifully.

Was one swim adrift last week so 7 hours total. Considered going last night but was so fatigued that it wouldn't have been a quality session. Way ahead of 'Just Finish' and just shy of 'Intermediate' and considering everything else going on, gotta be happy with that. Also feel good that it's all being worked around Dora's sleep. Know that won't always be possible but it is important to me that our precious time together isn't messed around too much.

The 80-20 rule

pretty much applies to everything in life, I reckon. And I reckon I've decided that Ironman is 80% mental and 20% physical. My friend and training buddy, Jona, warned me about the need to overcome the mental wall. Think I've started to experience it this week. On Friday, I needed to run for an hour and the ice was so chronic, I had to do it on the treadmill. Amazingly, it wasn't that bad. Broke it down into bitesize mental chunks and varied the entertainment sources (including a half hour Sky special on the Consumer Electronics Fayre in Vegas - hmm, interesting. Not.).

Then yesterday was a 1hr 45 min turbo - again due to ice. As we were visiting friends and their new baby, it meant a 6am start which was a really toughie. I pretty soon realised I hadn't recovered or fuelled enough from the treadmill session so I sacked it at 1hr 15 and decided to do the other half an hour after the visit (and scoff). We got back home at 9pm so had to summon the resolve from the depths. Did it though and had much more energy so it worth breaking it in two to get some quality out of my planned session.

Sun morning now and another hour to run today. Feeling really tired so far as Madame Dora decided it would be fun to wake up at 6.30. Typical when yesterday it was 8 after my early start!

However, Chris is constantly on hand with hot chocolate and Powerbar recovery shakes so being well looked after.

Training through bizarre-ity

Life got bizarre last night. Mum has been trying to fly out to stay with brother now for the last couple of days but the airport is seriously disrupted due to snow. Finally her flight was cancelled so she returned to ours. However, Mother being Mother, not only did she turn up but she brought a German lady she'd befriended at the airport with her for the night!

Notwithstanding, I needed to train so did a 45-min turbo and went back indoors to find Susie, the German lady and Chris, deep in conversation about anything and everything while Mum was in the shower. Then we all sat down to dinner together.

Curioser and curioser, said Alice (well, Sophie).

All for the cause

According to the Media, we are in the midst of the 'Big Freeze' but there's a job to do so did my brick as I should have done. Soon warmed up on the turbo in the garage and then headed out into the powder. It was lovely running in it - bit like running down the beach (with some obvious exceptions...). So, with yesterday's run and 150 lengths in the bag, on track so far this week which is cool.

6 months today...

Jan 4th means only one thing. 6 months till D Day. Just as well then that I have woken up with legs of steel!! Am slowly beginning to realise that the 'Intermediate' training programme might have been slightly ambitious so currently somewhere between 'Intermediate' and 'Just Finish'. But, hey, that's OK.

Yesterday had a bit of deficit to make up so managed 2 garage turbo sessions and a run with Dora in the jogger. Slept like a log and this morning, my quads feel like rocks. I could also eat my own bodyweight in basically anything but currently craving a cheese and onion pasty (hmm - perhaps nutrition needs some work). Luckily, I will be saved from myself as the kiosk at work is undergoing a refurb. So, Ginsters will have to wait a while!!

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.

Positive Mental Attitude

Shockingly horrible week so decided to blow away the cobwebs with a Park Run. Bill was able to babysit Dora while Harriet, Gregor and I did it. Was good to be able to see where I am although the result a tad disappointing as a few minutes off PB. 25.48 but a lovely morning and an unknown quantity in terms of the course so not going to beat myself up too much (apart from the embarrassing warm-kit-tied-round-waist photo - eek!).

Also managed 3 hours of cycling yesterday (turbo and road) which took weekly exercise total to 5.5 hours so starting the week feeling positive.

Hello Again

Been a strange old time - went away to Florida and loads of other stuff going on - but have maintained some base fitness.

Trying to structure my week similar to the way it will be structured from 7 Dec onwards. Doesn't always go to plan e.g. last night was supposed to go to club swim but had meltdown toddler for 1.5 hours so without question she was the priority (poor little poppet). Made up the deficit this morning though and was one of the early birds at the pool at Virgin Active. Not even 11am and already ready for lunch and a siesta!

Mixed bag

Been a mixed bag this week. Dora and I did Bushy Park again on Saturday and did it in 26.46 which was quite an improvement.

This week's been a bit patchy as been away at party conference. Did manage a run which was great as got to see quite a bit of Manchester and a technique swim (although in flippers that were size 'L' doh) but way too many off-days than I'd like this week.

Still, I need to just keep things ticking over for the next couple of weeks anyway as off to Florida on Monday so will be on enforced aquathlon experience anyway.

Hawaii Ironman tomorrow. Thinking of Jenny Budgett who has finally qualified. Go, Jenny!

Multi-tasking

So my lifestyle choice has made me realise that I need to be a pro at multi-tasking and Don Fink's book confirms that so Dora and I did the Bushy Park Time Trial this morning. Glorious sunshine, crisp air so off we went. Had a drama parking so just took a risk and parked illegally (shh!) and managed to sweet-talk a marshal into keeping an eye on it.

Started at the back with the other baby joggers, kids and people running with dogs but felt pretty good so managed to claw quite a few people back. Dora had the time of her life. She thought she was very pro zipping past people and spaniels!

Finish time: 27.10. OK so it's 4.5 mins adrift from my BPTT PB but not bad given the ballast (sorry Dora, darling - you know what I mean). Didn't hang around for the results so it won't count but great fun nonetheless. Take my hat off to the people that organise those events for scant reward.

Don Fink instils calm

Jona told me about a book Don Fink has written for would-be Ironmen with lots and lots in their lives other than triathlon. It's compelling reading. He mixes time management techniques with training and gets the net result that it is possible to be career person/parent/friend and Ironman. It's helped me chill so much on the enormity of it all so, thanks, Don (and Jona).

Training all good - legs a bit weary today after turbo sessions, runs and bike rides so looking forward to an easy day. Enjoying though at the moment.

Building Up

Well, can now report that training is becoming more regular, more consistent and it's paying dividend. The times are beginning to creep down on the run, the turbos are getting longer on the bike and I seem to have had a bit of an epiphany on my swim technique. Oh and did I mention the weight is finally back to pre-pregnancy stakes. Woo hoo!