Work takes over … AGAIN !

Dame it!… late telecons on Tuesday, conference on Wednesday so missed wind trainer and hill run. Working late now … question is … do I push myself to go swimming tomorrow morning then head direct to day two of the conference ?, then likely work late to catchup on all the emails before heading to Christchurch on Friday. If we won lotto (only if eh..) I would give up work tomorrow, it interferes to much with LIFE.

Monday easy....back to it Tuesday

Monday was a easy recovery day from the weekend efforts. Was to be a 50min run drill session however had to head into the office and we went out last night, so the opportunity never arose. Both Liza and I were a bit stiff so I booked us a massage, then out for dinner.
Back into it this morning with a good 90min swim, we have moved on from drills and started doing more distance work. Thank goodness given how chilly it was this morning Im not sure we would have coped with a slower session. Remember we swim in an outdoor pool !!! I think we did about 3.5 – 4k this morning.

PS: Im loving the garmin, Liza loaded the data into garmin.com, amazing it shows your ride on a map, elevation and lots of other interesting data and graphs etc…. somehow I need to convince my love that a compatiable HR monitor would be cool, then in 3 months or so… may need to add a power meter Too bad my birthday is next year, buggar!

Garmin test

Today was the first opportunity to give the new Garmin (bike computer) a work out. All good, didnt turn itself off, didnt miss the cadence, a thousand times better than the last one. Now I just gotta change some of the fields so I can read all the data I want and work out how to upload online.

Our sunday ride was an easy (ish) 30+k round herald island and whenuapai, good job too! as the old legs were a bit wearly from yesterdays run. Very proud of Liza as she braved up and came riding with us Nice work honey!. Im picking by the big grin when you got back that you enjoyed it ! Also Im guessing by the fact your now having a snooze on the couch that it was a reasonable work out.
I love riding in the group!

Ahh Saturday again

And that means BRICK. Well not quite for me today, a program change, swim 60min then forget the bike, instead strap on the shoes and head on a long run 2hrs. Swimming is sweet as we are still working on drills, and I have changed my stroke. Two things stick in my head:

1) front quadrant swimming, this is where you need your arms strateched out front to balance your legs so… a good stroke has the arms (at least one) out front the majority of the stroke, like catchup, but almost catchup. I noticed I had periods of no arms in the front and hence started to sink which caused a bobbing motion.

2) catching the water means high albows through the stroke and an early grab, previously I was dropping the elbow under water which meant I was swiping the water rather than getting a good pull.

For the run, I headed off road in central North Shore (still amazes me!), yes indeed there is a network of tracks where you can go off road in dense bush metres from peoples homes. The first 10min was a killer, for the next 20min I so.. wanted to stop, then 40min plus I was good and actually managed to knock up a 1hr 54min run. Going off road means you pay more attention to where you take a step, rather than clock watching.

Now feeling tired, and in desperate need of some good stretching!!.

Swimming in the rain

I know it sounds stupid because you are wet anyway, but swimming in the rain sucks. The spot…spot…spot of the rain on your arms etc..is annoying and the rain is cold. As you can guess, it was raining this morning!

Went for my run last night, was mean’t to be 80min hill run, but only lasted three times up and down Harper Street before the legs started to cease, hence thought best to head home for some stretching. Have another Chiropractor appointment this evening which should help with the tightness in the hip/leg.

An addictive bug

The “ironman” is an addictive bug and it is spreading! Go “TEAM TIGGER” !!!!
Congratulations to the members of “TEAM TIGGER”, you know who you are!, I’m very proud to learn you have signed up for the Taupo Half Ironman in December. Im even more impressed that you all were keen to take on an ironman distance. Too bad the NZ Ironman does not do teams, but seems you are all considering the Wanaka Challenge. NICE WORK.
For the record, I merely mentioned the opportunity. All team members made their own decision to take part !.

Fix me up

This week has been a real “fix me up” experience, B12 shot on Monday, Chiropractor on Tuesday and again on Friday. “Chiropractors specialise in restoring function to the neuro-musculo-skeletal system and how this relates to overall health” sounds a bit flash for me! Having never been to one before it was a real eye opener when he cracked my neck, back and hips. And would you know it before I left I could turn my head further than previous. My coach recommended him because of my ongoing sore hip/bum area. No major issues just the body is all out of line and hence some muscles i.e. bum, are acting and engaging when they should’nt and hence are tight and painful. So I got a few followup visits, but after one session I feel like I can move more freely. Would highly recommend!
All part of the build up, not only the physical training but need to make sure the body can keep up

Back into mid week

A chilly 5 degrees, some might ask why would you go for a swim in an outdoor pool and without a wetsuit! Well that was my leap back into mid week training this monring. As the sun rose the air tempature got cooler. I know! And Liza had the cheek to say I had a cold nose when I got home. Anyhow a good session with lots of drills as we focus on improving our technique, freestyle only ofcourse No butterfly or breaststroke to be found. But I can honestly say I have changed my stroke but now need to maintain it when I get tired or try to speed up.
Tonight is wind trainer night, attendance is in the plan so just need to stick to it and not let work take over. At least I don’t have to go into the office so makes the logistics much easier.

B12 Deficient

The Doc has confirmed my iron is sweet! so looks like we have got that sorted. Nice work. Just the old B12 was low so got my first jab tonight and then one per month for the next few months. Liza will be happy since I just read, “A person suffering a B12 deficiency may feel fatigued or experience shortness of breath…. B12 deficiency symptoms including confusion, paranoia and other behavioral disorders. You may find it hard to focus with the complete inability to concentrate” Explains a lot ….

Thanks goodness I won!

First event since I started training for March 2nd 2013. And I gotta say I was a tad nervous this morning. Liza was also competing and I was under the gun to kick butt, especially since I have been training for longer. It was the XTERRA Auckland run series for off road running, today we entered the short course i.e. 7k. Lucky for me there were hills and more hills, so had the opportunity to run away from by beautiful wife, who I know would have been cursing her way around the course (love you honey!). Anyway not a great time approx 54min but can’t compare to a flat track, as it was not.

In two weeks we (I) have another race but this time the plan is for the mid course 10-15k. So better get some running under my belt.

Good thing also is that we meet up with a couple of ladies from the tri club, so I chased one and Liza ended up chasing the other with lots of high 5′s and a good laugh at the end. They tell me they have convinced Liza to join them for group rides on a Sunday, which is awesome because they are the same level as Liza and will encourage each other! Then we can all meet at the end for a coffee and wild story telling.

Anyway a good weekend of activity, now just need to work it into the week!!!

One brick and Im back

Nothing like a Saturday morning brick to get you back on track. A sweet 1hr swim, a hard core 1hr spin and, because I have a race tomorrow, coach has restricted me to a 10min run. The run was actually hard as my legs started to cease after the bike, but then thats the point and why we practice running off the bike. I felt great! I know that I always feel better after exercise.

A downer week :(

This week would be the worst week since training kicked off. Its Friday morning and hence should be my day off, however given I have had a day off on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Im picking I need to get out for a run at the minimum. Had my doctors appointment yesterday, need to be more consistent at the usual i.e. at least 8 hours sleep not just 6 or 7, have my iron tablets everyday and continue to push the protein although I find it more difficult to digest. Awaiting on the blood test results, will be interesting to see how the iron is holding up.

Here are my excuses …. winter is here! It has been raining so hard that it has pushed out the hot water from the outdoor pool, it has got so cold you had to wear a wetsuit, I know! This may have been one of the reasons why I didn’t managed to drag myself out of bed on Tuesday and Thursday for a swim. Then running in the pooring rain was not so appealing either and work has just been a bit an emotional roller coaster, although nothing I can’t handle, cos to be frank I love my wife more than I will ever love work!!

Cold sore city and feeling tired

Dame it! Im feeling a bit run down. Work load is creeping up at a rapid rate and its dark in the morning and in the night so it would appear the only time I can fit in a run is in the dark, not my referred option. I am after all a bit of a scaredy cat you know!
And it seems I not only gained a wife but another mothering figure, now I get advice from all sides. So I guess I will head to the doc and just make sure the old iron level is looking ok etc…

FYI here is a current weekly training plan

Mon – 45min run/drills
Tue – 60min swim, 90min spin
Wed – 80min hill run
Thu – 60min swim, 60min run/drills
Fri – Day Off
Sat – Brick 60min of each swim, bike, run
Sun – 120-180min bike

Sunday morning rides

ooh ahh ! Im loving these sunday morning group rides. This week we completed a sweet 60k, approx 3 hours with some hills. Im not shy to say I was buggared when we got back and the last hill seemed like a mountain. Coach would like me to tackle K2, a 200k race around the coromandal so I guess I better start loving the hill work eh! Strategy is mind games, if I can knock off one of the hardest road bike races then I can do a 180k flatish ride in the ironman.

The great thing is that there are a few folks in the tri club looking to do K2, so we are planning a monthly training ride in the waitaere ranges, I hear they are full of hills! And if I can drag my butt over these I should be in better shape for K2.

Would you believe it, my stupid bike computer turned itself off during the ride, and just when I was reaching the extreme end with the dame thing, wouldn’t you know it in the mad monday sale the Garmin Edge 500 was on sale for $110 off the price. Lucky for me, the wife loves me and brought me this new gadget. All I need now is 30min spare time to have a play. Many thanks my love. xx

Brick a Brick

Ah saturday morning training! What a coordination of swim gear, bike gear and run gear! takes approx 45min just to pack up the car. Just to give you an appreciation here is the high level list:

SWIM
Togs
Goggles
Fins, Pull Bouy and Paddles
Towel

BIKE
Wind Trainer
Shoes
Towel (another one!)
Helmet
Tights, t-shirt etc….
Oh and the bike

RUN
Running shoes
More clothes ….
Plus food and fluids

See wasnt kidding ah! todays session was the standard 60min pool swim, 60min spin cycle and 40min run/drills. The good thing is with 2 sessions we at least get a sleep in until 7am, which is way better than the standard 5am wake up call.

Dark, raining and cold!

5.30am it’s dark, raining and cold – do I really want to slip into my togs and go for a swim in an outdoor pool?

Well I almost didn’t! until my beautiful wife simply asked, “are you sure, you will be disappointed”. Dame it she was right so I rolled out of bed and got dressed in the dark. I think the getting out of bed is the hardest, once Im there it is all good. The session was good, lot’s of swim drills in freestyle of course. I feel an improvement when going slow but try to speed up and I lose all technique. Everything the coach says is logical so I just got to keep on practicing.

Meet with coach yesterday to plan out the next 3 months. She is great in that she doesnt lecture when you miss a session but focuses on the next stages, she gets that sometimes the work/life balance is not always there.

Wedded and ready to go!

Yes (to me) it does feel different to be married. I braved the wedding day and held back the tears, but that only lasted until day 4 at which point the fact that I had married my true love was too overwhelming and I cried for the the whole day. Tears of joy!, of course So when she kicked me out of bed this morning it merely brought a smile to my face as she finds it harder to let me go, than I find it to step out into the cool air.

This morning was day one back into the training after a lazy 3 week break!. Although I was to continue with the running I must admit I only managed to lace up the shoes a few times, one of which was on the morning of the wedding. I thought dad was going to bike with me, given his concern that I had decided to go for a run on such an important day. He is a caring dad

Today's session was the official start to the winter brick sessions, consisting of a 60min swim at the Birkenhead outdoor pool (a warm 27 degrees), followed by a 60 min bike wind trainer set then a 40 to 60min run set. The Tri Club holds 2 sessions, 7am and 8am, to my surprise there were at least 40 -50 folks at each. I took advantage and opted for the extra 60 min in bed. What I have to do the please the wife. Hehe.
Thank goodness today's session was a relatively easy set, although I do feel buggared and suspect it may be an early night or at least a ‘nod off’ at P and Bry's, I wonder if they will notice?

I'm on the left and my Mrs on the right

Wedding day with 120 of our nearest and dearest