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. : (