It's Thursday and all I want to do is crawl into bed. Not feeling 100% think Im coming down with a cold, the normal headache, achy body (maybe this could be from the weekend?) sore throat and ears ...... blah blah blah. Had planned to call in sick but unfortunately it just means I will have more work to do tomorrow and would need to cancel and reschedule a heap of meetings planned for this afternoon.
Bummed that I missed my ride group this morning, but ended up sleeping thru the alarm, expect because not feeling well. Surprising since I do have more than one alarm set, which Liza appreciates every morning hehe. So I have been privileged to attend a couple of group rides with the Quay St guys, hence thought I would share my early observations and a couple of tips/rules.....
Observations:
1. You would be amazed how many riders are on the roads at 6am or earlier
2. Groups are like tribes, with their own name i.e. Cafe St guys, Baker Boys ...
3. Riders have their own sign language, in short if they point or wave, move or you will hit something
4. Riders have their own sayings i.e. car up, car back, all on ....
5. At first other riders can be overwhelming but dont be scared off, everyone I met is very supportive
6. Find a group that suites your ability and your personality
7. Wear fluro if you need to, but keep it to a minimum
8. If you got reflectors on your bike, remove them immediately
9. Unless you are a PRO or riding in a team, stay away from the matching outfit i.e. poker dot outfit seen the other day
10. You get what you pay for
Rules:
1. Never half wheel anyone or use your brakes when in a bunch (my first lesson)
2. Always have enough cash for a coffee, as rides either start or end at a cafe
3. "HTFU"
4. "HTFU"
5. In all cases "HTFU"
I will tell you more about half wheeling in a later installment.
Thursday 30 August 2012
Sunday 26 August 2012
The showdown weekend
A couple of old nanas sitting on the couch oohing and ahhing everytime we move. A busy weekend kicked off on Saturday with the normal brick session, although given the beautiful sunny day I could not bring myself to do wind trainer indoors so I skipped that and headed for a road ride after the swim. No running today (bonus) due to the run race on Sunday.
Sunday, the big race! and some might say the rematch between Liza and myself. Some background for those not in the know .... in our first ever event together, I was much fitter than Liza so ran and biked with her the whole way UNTIL we got within 10 metres of the finish line, when I went to grab her hand so we could pass the line together, Mrs got white line fever and gave me the stiff arm and then made a mad dash to the line and hence taking the win by millimetres. So back to current ..... today was going to be the agreed rematch, and winner takes bragging rights and loser must be the others slave for one day.
What can I say ^&%#@! I hope when I am slave, she takes it easy :(
So this is how it played out, a half marathon distance on the North Shore, so nothing is flat. She took off at a steady pace along the beach with a short up hill, I took it slow as I know I need time to warm up the joints anyway I know I can kick ass on the uphills so was not worried. Perhaps I should have remembered that if there is a hill there is normally a corresponding downhill and Liza long legs is turning into a gun on the downhill.
I suspect following a group the wrong way down north head, getting to a dead end, meaning we had to run back up the hill to find where we had missed the turn off didn't help the spirits, neither did getting passed by two walkers ! I was running, admittedly not fast but running all the same....
About 13k into the 21 - I was really starting to feel the pain, I have been getting sore hips in the last week, a recurrance of long hours of training and a misaligned body. Some nights the ache can make me restless. So I need to get back to the chiropractor and keep on stretching. Anyhow in the past I would have pushed thru to finish the event, however now I know today was a training run and is NOT the end game. So why risk injury ? Hence I decided to DNF, limp back to the start/finish line and cheer on some mates and Liza.
For about 10sec at the end Liza was gutted, she thought I had past her and she had missed me. She was tyring to work out how I got to the end before her. To bad I cannot keep a straight face.:)
Sunday, the big race! and some might say the rematch between Liza and myself. Some background for those not in the know .... in our first ever event together, I was much fitter than Liza so ran and biked with her the whole way UNTIL we got within 10 metres of the finish line, when I went to grab her hand so we could pass the line together, Mrs got white line fever and gave me the stiff arm and then made a mad dash to the line and hence taking the win by millimetres. So back to current ..... today was going to be the agreed rematch, and winner takes bragging rights and loser must be the others slave for one day.
 |
| GO LIZA! |
So this is how it played out, a half marathon distance on the North Shore, so nothing is flat. She took off at a steady pace along the beach with a short up hill, I took it slow as I know I need time to warm up the joints anyway I know I can kick ass on the uphills so was not worried. Perhaps I should have remembered that if there is a hill there is normally a corresponding downhill and Liza long legs is turning into a gun on the downhill.
I suspect following a group the wrong way down north head, getting to a dead end, meaning we had to run back up the hill to find where we had missed the turn off didn't help the spirits, neither did getting passed by two walkers ! I was running, admittedly not fast but running all the same....
About 13k into the 21 - I was really starting to feel the pain, I have been getting sore hips in the last week, a recurrance of long hours of training and a misaligned body. Some nights the ache can make me restless. So I need to get back to the chiropractor and keep on stretching. Anyhow in the past I would have pushed thru to finish the event, however now I know today was a training run and is NOT the end game. So why risk injury ? Hence I decided to DNF, limp back to the start/finish line and cheer on some mates and Liza.
For about 10sec at the end Liza was gutted, she thought I had past her and she had missed me. She was tyring to work out how I got to the end before her. To bad I cannot keep a straight face.:)
Thursday 23 August 2012
Wind Trainer Class No More!
Now regular readers will know I loath Wind Trainer classes, major boring ......... so how exciting that I have met up with a local group who ride Tuesdays and Thursday mornings on a regular route with fast flats, and some hills. It means I can replace my Wind Trainer sessions with these morning rides and pickup the swim in the evening. Double sweet!
Apparently they have some crazy pac to ride in all weather, and although I am up for most things, I think I will just make sure I have a waiver/out clause for a "just in case"... I mean some may call me crazy for signing up for Ironman, but gee I aint that crazy to promise in all weather!
Liza and I went out on Wednesday night with a couple of mates, first time we had caught up since the wedding, so a few stories to tell. Unfortunately a mid-night finish, not so cool when the alarm goes off at 5.15am. I must really love these group rides!! :) So tonight I get time to write this blog, cos Liza has sneaked off to bed at 8.30pm, I need to explain rule no.5
I have included my first ride, so I can compare the stats in a few months. The route is no secret, its you, your group and 25,000 other crazy cyclists. Its kinda like running the TAN in Melbourne, if you have done it before you will know what I mean, it must be the only running route in Melbourne, get the picture.
Apparently they have some crazy pac to ride in all weather, and although I am up for most things, I think I will just make sure I have a waiver/out clause for a "just in case"... I mean some may call me crazy for signing up for Ironman, but gee I aint that crazy to promise in all weather!
Liza and I went out on Wednesday night with a couple of mates, first time we had caught up since the wedding, so a few stories to tell. Unfortunately a mid-night finish, not so cool when the alarm goes off at 5.15am. I must really love these group rides!! :) So tonight I get time to write this blog, cos Liza has sneaked off to bed at 8.30pm, I need to explain rule no.5
I have included my first ride, so I can compare the stats in a few months. The route is no secret, its you, your group and 25,000 other crazy cyclists. Its kinda like running the TAN in Melbourne, if you have done it before you will know what I mean, it must be the only running route in Melbourne, get the picture.
Wednesday 22 August 2012
A new strategy
Dont you hate when someone points out the obvious!. Well only because I did'nt think of it myself. Regular readers will know I have trouble balancing between work and training. So I will be taking a new strategy where I will deadicate time in the morning for training and look to start work around 10am, which sounds bad until you realize I dont generally finish work until late.
I will let you know how it works out.
I will let you know how it works out.
Sunday 19 August 2012
A lonely ride
I did'nt realize how much I like to ride with a group! Today I did a 60k ride (3 hours), recorded in the Garmin map below. I love my Garmin!. Previously I had riden both these loops previously in two separate rides, but within no one to talk with, the distances seemed a lot longer than had expected.
Liza was also a super star today as she ran for 2.5 hours whilst I was out riding, now we are like two old ladies having a nana nap on the couch. I feel totally buggared, which is depressing given I only biked 60K, back in Chch I could bike 90k in 3.5 hours, but yes it was flat, not the undulating country side of Auckland.
Liza was also a super star today as she ran for 2.5 hours whilst I was out riding, now we are like two old ladies having a nana nap on the couch. I feel totally buggared, which is depressing given I only biked 60K, back in Chch I could bike 90k in 3.5 hours, but yes it was flat, not the undulating country side of Auckland.
Saturday 18 August 2012
Ride down hill fast!
Another saturday and another brick session :) Must admit I was not looking forward to getting in the water especially after the lighting and thunder storm last night. Not to mention a late night on Friday after going to the movies with mates, but I made the most of the time by stealing a small nap during the movie. Not the first time :0, soon I will be known as Nana and noone will want to go with me.
Somehow I managed to drag my butt out of bed and made it to the pool almost on time. We started out with a 600m time trail, unfortunately I jumped a lane to skip ahead but a slight tactical error as ended up coming in last place and then stayed at the back for the remainder of the swim session.
Thank goodness the biking was on the road rather than wind trainer in the hall. The team headed down to the Birkenhead Ferry terminal, where we completed hill repeats riding from the ferry building up to the shops and back. Coach and another cycling genuis were giving pointers on how to ride down hills at speed, who knew it could be so fun !!! almost made the ride back up the hill pleasurable. Managed to get the bike up to 65k without feeling like a bundle of nerves.
So managed to NOT fall off the bike, then go make an egg of myself by falling down some stairs at netball. What a *#@^% ! managed to bruise the knees of both legs and draw blood on the plams of both hands. Nothing serious! but stings like a buggar and can tell it will hurt during riding tomorrow. Sweet :(
Somehow I managed to drag my butt out of bed and made it to the pool almost on time. We started out with a 600m time trail, unfortunately I jumped a lane to skip ahead but a slight tactical error as ended up coming in last place and then stayed at the back for the remainder of the swim session.
Thank goodness the biking was on the road rather than wind trainer in the hall. The team headed down to the Birkenhead Ferry terminal, where we completed hill repeats riding from the ferry building up to the shops and back. Coach and another cycling genuis were giving pointers on how to ride down hills at speed, who knew it could be so fun !!! almost made the ride back up the hill pleasurable. Managed to get the bike up to 65k without feeling like a bundle of nerves.
So managed to NOT fall off the bike, then go make an egg of myself by falling down some stairs at netball. What a *#@^% ! managed to bruise the knees of both legs and draw blood on the plams of both hands. Nothing serious! but stings like a buggar and can tell it will hurt during riding tomorrow. Sweet :(
Thursday 16 August 2012
Its been 9 days since my last confession
A weekend down south and work, work and more work! doesn't make for good training. This week has almost been a write off. I dont know how Im ever going to do K2, with only one day available for big rides, if the weather is crap on a Sunday then the big rides just arent getting done.
Tuesday 7 August 2012
Loserville
I must be a real loser! this weekend we are heading down to Christchurch to see family and friends, which is fabulous, as Dad turned 65 today and has just had a double knee replacement and we always love to see our nephew and nieces. But at the same time Im thinking I will miss Saturday brick and the Sunday Group ride. I know ......
Then to make me a double loser ... was speaking with my Bro about the pending hill rides I need to knock off in preparation for K2. He suggested I take a look at the cassestte on my bike, perhaps I could swap out for a lower gear so easier to ride up the hills. So I did my reasearch seems he was right .... so we headed down the bike shop to see what could be done. Personally I was hoping for a miracle that would make hill riding easy, yeah right!
Not sure if the guy at the shop was practiced at holding a straight face, but I was super embarrassed to learn I was already using the lowest cassette possible for my bike..... Buggar and Dam! Unfortunately for me it is all down to the motor (me) so looks like I need investigate those performance enhancing drugs :) or just get on with the training ....
Then to make me a double loser ... was speaking with my Bro about the pending hill rides I need to knock off in preparation for K2. He suggested I take a look at the cassestte on my bike, perhaps I could swap out for a lower gear so easier to ride up the hills. So I did my reasearch seems he was right .... so we headed down the bike shop to see what could be done. Personally I was hoping for a miracle that would make hill riding easy, yeah right!
Not sure if the guy at the shop was practiced at holding a straight face, but I was super embarrassed to learn I was already using the lowest cassette possible for my bike..... Buggar and Dam! Unfortunately for me it is all down to the motor (me) so looks like I need investigate those performance enhancing drugs :) or just get on with the training ....
A Bit of Biff in the Pool
A mild'ish morning, at least no major rain overnight which drops the pool tempature by a few degrees. Managed to get thru another 90min session although it was a bit all over the show today with a set of 100s so the various speeds of the swimmers in our lane meant some were over taking whilst others were trying to rest. I will do better next time .....
Already carrying a bruise from my last biffo session in the pool, then today I manage to get a fellow swimmer right in the face as they stood up when I swam past. Hurt me, but must have hurt them way more ... But seems a 'bit of biff' was the flavour of today as everyone in our lane was playing biffo with the lane next door. Then to end the day we did some sprints all pushing off at the same time, replicating a ocean swim start, and ofcourse a bit more biff.
Unfortunately missed the wind trainer session tonight due to late work meetings at vendor offices, but after learning about the passing of a mates mum, it reminded me, it is not worth sweating the small stuff.
Already carrying a bruise from my last biffo session in the pool, then today I manage to get a fellow swimmer right in the face as they stood up when I swam past. Hurt me, but must have hurt them way more ... But seems a 'bit of biff' was the flavour of today as everyone in our lane was playing biffo with the lane next door. Then to end the day we did some sprints all pushing off at the same time, replicating a ocean swim start, and ofcourse a bit more biff.
Unfortunately missed the wind trainer session tonight due to late work meetings at vendor offices, but after learning about the passing of a mates mum, it reminded me, it is not worth sweating the small stuff.
Monday 6 August 2012
Over it or Thru it !
Yah Sunday group ride time and a chance to get out on the bike and stretch those legs!. Got to learn a frew more local loops with the odd hill or two :) thanks to a hockey crazed sunday rider.
This week our life flashed in front or our eyes as we came within centemetres of either flying over the top of the van or going straight thru it! We were gunning it on a straight piece of road as we trying to catch the green light, some nuffy in a van decided to turn left into a drive way cutting in front of us ... &^#@*&& !!!! ... thank whoever that our top speed was not so speedy and we managed to slam brakes and swerve to miss the beep, beep. Lucky for him cos our bikes would have been worth more than his van so he would have been up for a pretty penny, not to mention the hospital bills !!!
Despite the weather forcast showing rain with thunder and lighting in the afternoon, it was a pleasant day, great for a quick 2.5 hours.
This week our life flashed in front or our eyes as we came within centemetres of either flying over the top of the van or going straight thru it! We were gunning it on a straight piece of road as we trying to catch the green light, some nuffy in a van decided to turn left into a drive way cutting in front of us ... &^#@*&& !!!! ... thank whoever that our top speed was not so speedy and we managed to slam brakes and swerve to miss the beep, beep. Lucky for him cos our bikes would have been worth more than his van so he would have been up for a pretty penny, not to mention the hospital bills !!!
Despite the weather forcast showing rain with thunder and lighting in the afternoon, it was a pleasant day, great for a quick 2.5 hours.
Sushi and Cupcakes, my kind of training!
Saturday morning brick, back to the 8.15 start so I can attend coach's session, and lucky for me because today had benefits!
In the pool for 200m sets with a few lengths of other strokes including butterfly, dam hard when you haven't swam it for a long time !!!, then quick change over and onto the bike. What a treat today :) whilst biking we were first presented with sushi as an entree then after a bit more up hill sections (i.e. high gear, high resistance low cadence) out came the cup cakes, awesome!!! I great way to keep me motivated to keep pedaling :)
Coach must have thought we ate to much as for the run, she sent us down to the Chelsea Sugar Factory with a series of uphill runs, nice one!.
Have had a request for more photos so will take a few at the next brick session.
In the pool for 200m sets with a few lengths of other strokes including butterfly, dam hard when you haven't swam it for a long time !!!, then quick change over and onto the bike. What a treat today :) whilst biking we were first presented with sushi as an entree then after a bit more up hill sections (i.e. high gear, high resistance low cadence) out came the cup cakes, awesome!!! I great way to keep me motivated to keep pedaling :)
Coach must have thought we ate to much as for the run, she sent us down to the Chelsea Sugar Factory with a series of uphill runs, nice one!.
Have had a request for more photos so will take a few at the next brick session.
Sunday 5 August 2012
Playing catchup
After Wednesday's shocking weather I decide to try catchup everything on Thursday, starting with a run in the morning, a swim in the evening followed by a wind trainer session.
Managed to get out for the run, although after all the rain perhaps heading into Chatswood reserve was'nt the best plan !!! Very mossy and slippery, a few close calls but somehow managed to stay on the boardwalk rather than in the creek. Then always forget how steep the Colonal Road is and it goes longer than you always remember, but again managed to drag my butt around the streets and even run up the hills.
So feeling rather satisfied went for a swim at 5pm, but dum dum it actually started at 5.15pm so mucked about with a few extra lengths, an easy technique set, however everytime I moved I got cramp in a new muscle. Dam it! Not one to normally get cramp so when it was recommended to go home and rest I took advantage and ditched the wind training. A the good side managed to get to Miss Caitlins netball which was a bonus!!!.
I can tell when I start to get run down as the cold sores thrive and things just arent 100%, so really enjoyed having Friday off also :)
Managed to get out for the run, although after all the rain perhaps heading into Chatswood reserve was'nt the best plan !!! Very mossy and slippery, a few close calls but somehow managed to stay on the boardwalk rather than in the creek. Then always forget how steep the Colonal Road is and it goes longer than you always remember, but again managed to drag my butt around the streets and even run up the hills.
So feeling rather satisfied went for a swim at 5pm, but dum dum it actually started at 5.15pm so mucked about with a few extra lengths, an easy technique set, however everytime I moved I got cramp in a new muscle. Dam it! Not one to normally get cramp so when it was recommended to go home and rest I took advantage and ditched the wind training. A the good side managed to get to Miss Caitlins netball which was a bonus!!!.
I can tell when I start to get run down as the cold sores thrive and things just arent 100%, so really enjoyed having Friday off also :)
Wednesday 1 August 2012
Cats and Dogs or Cows and Sheep
Raining cats and dogs! not ideal when you know at some point you need to pull off a 100min run sometime today. I mean do you go now or wait until it's raining cows and sheep, cos that is how the day is looking on the weather forecast, and Im not sure I have enough patience to do 100min on the treadmill.
A good day yesterday with a swim in the morning then a 50 WT in the evening (note I have swapped Tuesday and Thursday WT sessions). A good way to get out of the cooking, cleaning and ironing - anyway isn't that why you get married :) Love You !!
Below is this weeks training plan, from next week it is looking to step up again with more amd more focus on hill rides as we begin the preparation for K2 in October.
A good day yesterday with a swim in the morning then a 50 WT in the evening (note I have swapped Tuesday and Thursday WT sessions). A good way to get out of the cooking, cleaning and ironing - anyway isn't that why you get married :) Love You !!
Below is this weeks training plan, from next week it is looking to step up again with more amd more focus on hill rides as we begin the preparation for K2 in October.
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