Who's a little competitive?

After a great weekend with family in town, today was back on the bike and back into the training routine.  Rather than the normal 5.30am start we kicked off at a leisurely 6am :).  The weather has been dreadful and I suspect this is why only four of us showed.  But was a great wee group, and today I really enjoyed the bursts of competiveness to the top of each hill and then along the back straights on the way home.  Always a giggle when you think you got someone beat then they peg you at the last minute dam it!!

Learned about 'stomping' today, it refers to when you stomp on the pedals to get that burst of speed when racing out of corners or latching onto a passing bunch.  Had to put it into practice a few times to keep up with those cheeky buggars trying to sneak ahead when everyone is slowing for the corner.

Interesting story (for me anyway), my brother who happens to do a bit of riding himself was having a laugh at some of my previous posts, one inparticular related to the wearing of fluro.  It seems he was fully aware of the unwritten rule, regular riders do not wear fluro, however it seems he forgot to mention this in any previous discussions we have had on riding.  His comment was, "it was appropriate that I wore fluro as it showed my novice status".  Cheeky sod, I thought family was mean't to give you the heads up, inside word, that type of thing .....

Over this past week I have been quietly debating (internally) whether or not I could pull off a double whammy with regards to events.  Since opting out of K2 and listening to people talk about the Taupo Cycle Challenge (160k), it is something that I would be quite keen to knock off the list.  Unfortunately the timing is not ideal, only 2 weeks before the Taupo Half Ironman, will 2 weeks be enough recovery time?????

Yesterday I had a word with coach and in her calming words, "I am happy for you to to do Taupo cycle just means we won't taper for taupo half and that's cool as we want you peaking at March and doing two big events back to back means you can then have a good couple of weeks EASY.....I always say you must do what you enjoy doing and if your loving the cycling then go for it :)"

So just sorting a couple of logistics, but looks like Im in ! ..... it will either do two things 

1) remind me how far 180k is and hence scare me into more training, as I struggle to do 160k, or 

2) remind me that somewhere deep inside I do have the mental toughness and Im on track for March 2nd.

Personally Im picking it is more likely to be point 1.

Here is the Taupo Cycle race ....

Look who I met on the Street

World Series Podium, Andrea in 3rd

Yes it has been a few days since my last post, and yes that means the training has been a little lite and work has been overwhelming.  In short I have a project needing fulltime attention and on top I am now supporting a speedy QA, UA and Field Test, all within the next 7 weeks. A sweet combination for a perfect storm, therefore need to put focus on it now, hence early morning finishes and early morning wake ups.

However, what a awesome distraction to have family up to stay this long weekend. And it happens to be the ITU World Series Race in Auckland. :). Managed to sneak away yesterday for an unexpected ride with a buddy, we only had 1.5 hours approx, so we headed towards Albany and did some hill repeats up Albany hill.  Gee, never thought I would say that given 6 weeks ago I had been too scared to even contemplate riding up this hill. Just reminds you how far you have come.  Shhh but managed to beat my previous downhill record, 63.3kph, don't tell Liza..... :)

Me, Andrea and Liza

Yesterday we all (including family) went to watch the Elite Womans Race of the ITU Grand Final, and wouldn't you know it ! We bumped into Andrea Hewitt on the street, see photo.  She had just been crowned no. 3 in the world, see the other podium picture.  Nice work !!!

This morning was mean't to be another ride, but decided to hang this morning with the kids and watch Ben 10, Scooby Doo and other exciting programs :) whilst the rest of the family slept.  Thanks to my regular early morning starts I was wide awake by 6am, so it was kinda cool to have the kids to hang with ...... I promise to go for a run later.... promise.

A promised sleep in

Last night we went to dinner with mates, we were the old couple who trundled off home at 9pm, they thought it was because we are newly married and wanted some quite time, but I can assure you it was straight to sleep when we got home.  How exciting we are !

Sunday morning and I have the day off from training, so promised Liza a sleep in.  Unfortunately the consistently early mornings mean't I was wide awake at 6am.  So I fetched a coffee, sat up in bed and read the property press.  When I read that I got the laptop ... not sure it was the sleep in Liza was expecting, waking up to the sound of me taping on the keyboard, Buggar! Sorry :)

I have noticed over the last 2-3 weeks my legs have been getting tighter, especially up around the gults (bum).  Must be all the bike riding ?? but when I then run my legs from my butt to the back of my knee start to cease, then my hips are painfull and I struggle to strid out and I get a wee wobble on.  So buggar that, hence today off to the massage lady we went (both Liza and myself). 

As always I love to give Liza a bit of jib as her calves are normally so tight that when lightly touched she almost leaps off the table.  And no change today however she got some paypack when it came to my turn on the table.  The masseuse confirmed the gluts (butt) was very tight and proceeded to dig deep and stretch it out (or whatever it is they do??) I can tell you I was almost hitting the ceiling.  Lucky me, as part of the training plan this will now become a regular treat, yeah right!  More a monthly/fortnightly torture....

Race Day Simulation

Lunching with the squad

Wind Trainer Session  :(

Half Ironman Training Camp this weekend, well sort of, the weather has turned to beep beep beep meaning we will swim in the pool rather than the ocean and wind train instead of road riding, and we know how much I hate winder trainer !!!.  Plus we are not actually going anywhere, just hanging in Auckland, so really just like a normal Saturday brick... with an afternoon catchup and chit chat with mates.

Kick off at 8.15am, but need to arrive early to setup the bike etc... into the water for a few lengths warmup, then all on for a 2k swim, that is 60 lengths of the pool.  The consensus in the changing room is everyone lost count around lap 10, so I waited until the fastest guy in our lane finished, then added a few more lengths as figured he must have lapped me a few times.  Anyway jumped out at around 38mins which was ok for a steady swim.

Now dam it onto the blinkin bike, and the best news of all, the 2 hour clock doesnt start until everyone is out of the water so anything between now and then is extra.  I did contemplate hanging out in the changing shed, but that might have been a bit obvious.  I did volunteer my music today, wary that some may not find Neil Diamond inspirational ??, it was infact Liza's ipod which I stole. I guess most liked it as there were a few singalongs and a request for a copy.  mmmm perhaps she does have some good music taste ??

2hour 15mins and 75k later, it was off with the bike and on with the shoes, for a run down to Birkenhead wharf and back.  The downhill is nice on the way out, even with the wobbly legs, but the uphill on return sucked.  At one point I was run two lamp posts, walk one.

Yum Yum

After a mere 3hour and 50min session, it was rush home for a shower and back to someones home for lunch, see the spread and that was after we had eaten, thats what you get when you hang with Iron Maori guys, sweet !!!  Coach talked on nutrition and race day preparartions.  Now I was temped to bring along some beer, but as the talk was on what we should and shouln't put into our bodies I didn't think it would be proper.  Actually I just didn't want to get any ribbing from everyone :).  My beauitiful wife wipped up some muffins as my contribution, I think I eat everyones food but mine, oops.  But the muffins were great, lots of kisses xxx



 

A Wonderful Morning

Yesterday (Wednesday) I had a wee sleep in as both Liza and I worked late last night, as a result we missed our run with the Crew.  But sounds like that was a good option as they slugged out 80min on hills with tried legs. But plans were to meet down at Takapuna Beach at 5.15pm for a swim and maybe do the Run/Swim Series, Race 1.

Come 5pm Im slipping into my togs whilst on a work telecon.  Thank goodness we don't have video conference !!.  By the time I got to the beach approx. 5.20pm, I had assumed they would be in the water already, so I lugged my stuff and headed to the water edge.  Waving out to a group of bobbing heads in the distance a small wave washed over my feet #$%@!! COLD and then it started to rain .... after 10min of frantic waving and NO acknowledgement I thought blow this and headed back to the car.

As folks were arriving for the Swim/Run Series I tried to sneak away only to be sprung by a training colleague, dam it!.  Oh what a shame I forgot to bring my running shoes :) !!  Anyways at ride group this morning it was revealed that neither of them went swimming and I was the only buggar to show ....

What a wonderful morning, no rain and only a breeze.  Another 5.30am start with the Quay St guys, folks are trying add more distance to the ride so today we took an extra detour, see map below.  If you are ever thinking of buying a house, which we are, then I recommend riding in the local neighbourhood, there are some areas which have noticeable cold spots. 

PS Nice to see Liza at breakfast at the cafe this morning, after her run!

Some refer to the little loop at the point as the nipple :)

Comradeship in Sport

Never really experienced before now, but today I got to feel the comradeship that sport can generate, a sense of extended family that gives you the right to enjoy the company of folks whom you have never meet simply because of a common interest in cycling and a mutural friend.

Quay St riders welcomed my mates friend in our ride this morning, unfortunately it didn't work out as planned and I can promise it has never happend before, but we did infact lose her on a downhill. Buggar! Some mild panic and searching by the boys but still no luck so we opted to skip the last hill, praying she was able to find her way back.  Did I mention she is not from Auckland.

Thank goodness, she was already ordering her fruit smoothy when we pulled into the cafe!!! And we breath again ...... so sorry ..... and please comeback to join us again !

A couple of pics from Liza's 40th, a quiet affair ....

Liza and myself, I am Wilma Flinstone can you tell?

The Training Support Crew

Back in the C

Takapuna Beach

Saturday morning 7am, 60 + people gathered on the beach edge listening to the race simulation instructions, with only a few weeks until the ITU World Champ Race in Auckland many of the club members are in final preparation for the big day.  Normally we would still enjoy the warm water of the swim pool, but race simulation means experiencing the chills of the ocean. And goodness it was #$%@! COLD!. 

Thank the bee gees the wetsuit still fits!, a swim suit is more snug that your average suit, showing
 my every mountain and valley as I try to graciously slide into it with the help of a plastic bag.  I notice some slick up with the olive oil to aid a quick escape in transition.  The water seepage thru the zip is always something to look forward to when creeping into the icy chill.

Todays swim was a 1500m down and back across Takapuna Beach, taking at least 20min to recover ones breath, only when your extremities i.e. hands, feet and face came down to water temperature did it seem to warm slighty.  The return leg was motion sickness stuff, white caps off the top of the waves, so bad there was a scattering of swimmers who had opted to get out and wander back along the sand.

Plan was to swim, bike for an hour then meet up with Liza for the run and help her to knock off a few more Ks.  However whilst trying to peel off the wetsuit (perhaps I need to look into this olive oil trick), the heavens opened and the wind swirled.  I looked across at my mate and we both opted to skip the bike leg and head out for a run.  Don't worry! no opportunity to slack off as we had already agreed to meet Liza at the beach we ended up going for two runs, approx 10k.

A bit of a slow start to the week but the support team went running on Friday (usually my day off), just so we could laze around on Sunday. Recovery from Liza's 40th on Saturday night.  Happy Birthday Beautiful ! :) So in all not a bad week.